Barbara Thomas

Barbara Jean Thomas peacefully went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007, at home in Columbia Falls, surrounded by family.

Barb was born on Sept. 25, 1927 to Thelma and Winfred Luke in Grandville, Mich. She spent her youth in Michigan, Minnesota, California and Idaho.

While in Idaho, she enjoyed dancing at the USO in Bonners Ferry. There she met and married Harry Mitchell. Together they had a daughter, Cheryl.

In 1950, she married Merle Thomas. In this union, they had four daughters, Coral, Merla, Debbie and Victoria. Together, with their five children, Barb and Merle settled in Spokane, Wash., where they lived until Merle's death in 1970.

Barb was a talented artist. Her passion was oil painting. She loved crafting with her daughters and going to craft fairs. She enjoyed playing cribbage with family and friends and going camping at Two Medicine and Two Rivers. But most of all, she loved to spend time with her family. She traveled often between Spokane and Columbia Falls to be with them all. She will always be remembered for her strengths, generosity, loving kindness and beautiful smile. She will be greatly missed and always in our heart.

She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Merle, her mother, Thelma, her father, Winfred, and her brother, Rowland.

Barb is survived by her five daughters, Cheryl Stevens and husband, Swede; Coral Campbell and husband, Pat; Debra Campbell and husband, Mike; Victoria Allum and husband, Tony, all of Spokane; and Merla Barta and husband, Steven, of Columbia Falls; 16 grandchildren; 32 great grandchildren; and her brother, Craig Frost and wife, Becky, and family of Post Falls, Idaho and Spokane.

A celebration of her life was held at the Fellowship Alliance Church in Columbia Falls on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007, at 2:30 p.m.

Any donation can be made to Hospice in Barbara's name.

Barb's family would like to thank Hospice for all their help and compassion and to all the friends who visited, prayed and made meals to help through this difficult time. She loved you all.

John Davis

John Van Davis passed away at North Valley Hospital in Whitefish on Nov. 10, 2007 of cancer.

John was born to Robert L. and Elva Davis of Edina, Mo. He moved with his family to Dillon and graduated from Dillon High School in 1955. He married his wife of 50 years in Dillon in 1957. He was the father of three children: John Dean, born 1958; Yvvone Lee, born 1960 and Lori Ann, born 1962. His daughter Lori passed away in January 1974, his mother passed away in 1973 and his father in 1991. A sister, Dorothy Jean White, also preceded him in death.

He is survived by his wife and children, John and Yvvone; a brother, Bob, and wife, Sandy, of Whitehall; nine grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

John moved his family to Milfred, Utah, in 1965 where he worked in the mines and farmed. They moved to Ronan in 1968 where he farmed and worked for Cenex and at White's Meats. He and his wife moved to Columbia Falls in 1997. He worked various jobs but loved ranching and working with cattle and horses. At the time of his death he had been working for Avis.

He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle. When it came to kids he was always there to give support and his knowledge.

Graveside services will be held on Friday, Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. at the Calvary Cemetery in Ronan. A reception will follow at the North Crow Club House. Shrider-Thompson Funeral & Cremation Services of Ronan is assisting with arrangements.

Kalob Connors

Kalob Michael Connors, 3, of Columbia Falls died on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007 at Community Medical Center in Missoula.

Kalob was born on April 8, 2004 in Whitefish to Michael Connors and Brandy Klein. He came strutting directly into our hearts and was the comedian of the world with everyone as his audience, and everyone trying to speculate what he might do next. A small person so right in such a big world he could conquer it all.

Life was Kalob's highway and his passion was anything that had wheels: race cars, monster trucks and 4-wheelers. He was always fascinated with fire trucks — hearing the sirens he knew someone was going to help somebody.

Outdoors was where Kalob preferred to be, hunting and fishing. When near the water Kalob found peace. He always spent as much time as possible outdoors playing and enjoying our wonderful world. Kalob was taken from our wonderful world, and we will miss his infectious laugh.

Kalob is survived by his parents; maternal grandparents Dan and Sherie Shewalter and Andy and Diane Klein; great-grandparents Lennard and Bea McBurney, and Judy and Roy Sindon; uncles Tony Shewalter, Braxton Shewalter, Levi Shewalter; and aunt Michelle Shewalter.

Paternal family members Lorrie Kao Allen, Don and Becky Connors, and Papa Garth Allen; great-grandparents John and Mitzi Pemberton, Jim and Ellen Womack, and Stan and Doris Connors; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins, and adopted papas and grandmas.

A visitation will be held from 1 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 15 and from 1 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 16 at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.

A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 17 at the East Haven Baptist Church, 2010 Whitefish Stage Road, in Kalispell. Rev. Scott Keller of the Aletheia Christian Fellowship will officiate. Kalob will have his last ride on a fire truck to Woodlawn Cemetery where he will be laid to rest with a burial ceremony.

Donations should be made to Canyon Quick Response Unit of Coram, West Glacier Fire Department, Evergreen Fire and Rescue or ALERT in lieu of flowers.