Clarice Jane Wood

Clarice Jane Wood, a longtime Whitefish resident passed away Friday, Aug. 31, 2007 at home near Whitefish. She was born Oct. 2, 1924 in White Earth, N. D., the daughter of Clara and Joseph Imsland.

She was called home to her maker on Friday surrounded by her loving family. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends. She was an inspiration to all.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father; five brothers and sisters; and a daughter, Gayle Kolden.

Survivors include brothers, Elmer and Butch Imsland; sister, Marian Hauge; son, Leonard Duffy and his wife, Kathy; daughter, Myrna Duffy Taylor; son, Wade Fish and wife, Penny; beloved dogs, Rusty and Cricket; 13 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and her two ducks.

Private family services will be held. Austin funeral home is in charge of arrangements.

Elmer Sprunger

Elmer Sprunger, 87, died Aug. 22, 2007, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, after a six-month illness with lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Elmer was born Sept. 23, 1919, in Kalispell, to Jerry and Mary Sprunger.

Elmer always referred to his childhood as “growing up in the cedar jungle on the shady side of Swan Lake” in and among the areas of abundant wildlife that would shape his perception of the world in which he lived. The world of his childhood was filled with wild animals that moved freely in nature giving them, and him, freedom.

Elmer got his formal education in schools in Swan Lake and Bigfork, with one year at Butte High in the middle, followed by graduation from Bigfork High in 1938.

He told the story that his parents didn’t want him to marry until he was at least 21, so he waited one day after his 21st birthday to marry Marie Svejkovsky on Sept. 24, 1940.

The young couple moved to Seattle in 1942, where Elmer worked in the shipyard, drafting and doing layout on steel during World War II. It was at this period that Elmer began drawing his amazing cartoons, already filled with his singular commentary on politics and life. They later moved to Bremerton, Wash., where Elmer worked as a carpenter and logger.

Then in 1950, Elmer and Marie moved back to Swan Lake where he took a job as caretaker of one of the Copper King’s estates. They moved to Bigfork in 1953, where Elmer lived the remainder of his life.

In 1956, Elmer took a job at the Anaconda Aluminum Company in Columbia Falls, where he worked until 1971 as a painter and sign painter. Elmer left the plant to devote himself full-time to his artistic career. He continued to sell paintings in galleries and on commission. He always managed to find the time to draw his cartoons, choosing politicians, dignitaries, the human condition, and especially logging of public lands, as his favorite targets. Some of his cartoons were reprinted in national conservation publications. His cartoons ran prominently in the Bigfork Eagle for 24 years.

He never missed an opportunity to share his analysis of current events, both local and international, with his fortunate readers. Many subscribers read the paper only to see his sharp wit in action every week. All the while his thousands of realistic oil paintings of wildlife and outdoor scenes attracted a huge national following. His work hangs in the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma and the Safari Club in Las Vegas. Elmer especially liked to paint wild birds, elk and bear. Examples of his work hang in galleries, public buildings and prominent homes throughout the West.

The Sprunger-Whitney Trail in the Swan Valley was named and established in 1995 after him and long time friend Jack Whitney, on behalf of their conservation efforts and vision to preserve this diverse forest. The trail was built and is maintained by Friends of the Wild Swan. His last completed painting, of a whitetail buck standing regally by the shore of the Swan River, was painted at the same place Charlie Russell chose to make his last painting.

Elmer was preceded in death by his wife, Marie, in 1993; and their daughter, Joyce, in 1965.

He is survived by daughter, Nancy Beardsley, and husband, Don, of Missoula; son, Jerry Sprunger, of Bigfork; granddaughter, Dawn Jackson, of Whitefish; grandson, Tim Rahrer, and wife, Sandy Carson, of Ottawa, Ontario; great-grandsons, Cory Jackson and Brandon Jackson, of Whitefish; great-granddaughter, Coral Carson, of Ontario; brother, Pete Sprunger, and wife, Vivian, of Kalispell; and granddaughter, Daralyn Berning, and husband, John, of Camas, Wash.

Memorial services for Elmer were held Thursday, Aug. 30, at the United Methodist Church in Bigfork. A potluck reception followed at the Elks Lodge in Kalispell, where one of Sprunger’s most famous works is a 5 1/2- by 12-foot mural of an elk herd that is so proudly displayed. Visitation was Wednesday, Aug. 29, in the Johnson Mortuary Chapel.

The family suggests donations in lieu of flowers, to help defray his medical costs.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Elmer’s family. You are invited to go to www.johnsonmortuary.com to offer condolences and sign Elmer’s guest book.

Stephanie “Steph” Suzanne West

Stephanie “Steph” Suzanne West, 47, “went to be with the Lord” on Thursday Aug. 30, 2007, at her home. Steph was born Feb. 20, 1960 to Winfield F. West (Gene) and Rosemary (Hackenberg) West in San Diego, Calif. She grew up in Coram, after moving there with her family in 1964. Steph loved her children and family. She shared her faith and love of the Lord with so many and was a devoted mother, wife, daughter and sister. Stephanie was preceded in death by her father, Winfield.

She is survived by her husband, Randy Beck, and children Justin and Aleisha Goodsell of Columbia Falls; mother, Rosemary of Columbia Falls; four brothers, Steve West of Cottonwood, Ariz., Ron West of Sandia Park, N.M., Jim West of Boise, Idaho and Winfield West II of Columbia Falls; two sisters, Hiromi Tousey of Ogden, Utah, and Jeannine Giesregen of Westchester, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to express a very heartfelt thanks to Steph’s caregivers in Hospice and the wonderful community support she had over the past two years and for the wonderful friends at the Nite Owl who were always there for us. Thank you to the many people who brought and shared their great faith and prayers up to the end.

Stephanie has lost a two-year battle with breast cancer. In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be made to the American Cancer Society or the local Relay for Life. Steph’s wish was that all persons could have yearly check-ups and screenings to catch this disease early. Memorial services were held Saturday, Sept. 1 at the Columbia Falls Assembly of God Church with the Reverend Darrell Newby officiating, and Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory caring for the family.

Kenneth Martin

Kenneth Martin, 55, passed away Aug. 28, 2007, of natural causes, at the family home in Columbia Falls. He was born Oct. 30, 1951, at home, in Streeter, N.D., where he was raised and attended school. He graduated from the State School of Science in Wahpeton, N.D., with a degree in diesel mechanics.

On July 19, 1974, Kenneth married Catherine Boelke, in Jamestown, N.D.

From 1980 to 2000, he was employed as an ironworker with Columbia Falls Aluminum Company. After his retirement from CFAC, he worked as a heavy equipment operator for T-Bend Construction.

Kenneth enjoyed camping, fishing and spending time with his grandchildren. His passion was riding his Harleys.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gilbert and Caroline (Graf) Martin; and his brothers, Eugene and Melvin.

Kenneth is survived by his former wife of 31 years, Catherine (Boelke) Martin, of Moscow, Idaho; children, Matthew and Kim Martin of Columbia Falls, Crista Martin of Columbia Falls, and Trisha and James Brower of Marion; a sister, Loretta, and James Schwalk; grandchildren, Coby, Malachi, McKayla, Tanner, Dustin and Sierra; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He also leaves behind his “grandpuppies” JD, Bedoe, Mel and Panda.

Cremation has taken place.

A family gathering and barbecue will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 9, at the Martin residence. All family and friends are welcome.