Leonard Hetland
Leonard A. "Lennie" Hetland, 88, of Bismarck, N.D., died May 26, 2008, from complications of Alzheimer's at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center under the care of hospice. His journey was long but with the loving care of family and friends it was made easier.
Leonard was born June 7, 1919, in Arnegard, N.D., the son of Leonard and Jensena (Nygaard) Hetland. He grew up in Arnegard and Watford City, N.D., graduating from Watford City High School in 1937. Leonard married June Sharkey in 1937.
He moved to Bismarck in 1937 where he worked at the Prince Hotel as the bookkeeper, registered guests and operated the switchboard for six years before entering the U.S. Army on April 28, 1944 at Fort Snelling, Minn. He completed basic training at Camp Carson, Colo. He was deployed from New Jersey in Dec. 16, 1944 with the 133rd Evacuation Hospital as Technician Fifth Grade. He served as a surgical technician in the European Theatre until being honorably discharged on Feb. 2, 1946. Leonard earned the Good Conduct Medal and the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal. After the war he returned to the Prince Hotel as assistant manager where he worked until 1957.
On Nov. 19, 1950, he married Vera Agnes Goodrich.
Leonard worked from 1957-2002 (44 years) in automobile sales at Fleck Motors, Ned Nastrom Motors and Wilhelm Motors, retiring at the age of 82. His car customers not only included many Bismarck-Mandan residents but also people from across the state and country. He was the recipient of numerous sales awards.
He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He was a life member of the American Legion, a 47-year member of the Elks, and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Leonard was particularly proud of his membership of Apple Creek Country Club where he participated in the men's league and organized tournaments, and supported the dining room by bringing numerous guests for brunch. Leonard played his last rounds of golf in 2007 with the help of his two sons and special friends, Bob Olson and Randy Lehmann. He was an avid fan of Twins baseball and Vikings football. He loved to garden and particularly enjoyed raising and eating tomatoes.
Leonard and Vera enjoyed traveling around the country visiting their family and friends. They spent 38 years traveling to Hawaii every winter. They attended many reunions of the 133rd Evacuation Hospital unit in Omaha, Neb.
Leonard is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Vera; two sons, Gene (Carol), Mililani, Hawaii and Bob (Elizabeth), River Falls, Wis.; two daughters, Elizabeth (Duane) Peterson, Columbia Falls, and Mary (Gene) Van Eeckhout, Jamestown, N.D.; 11 grandchildren, Christie, Michelle, Hawaii; Bradley, Wisconsin; Bethany and Alex, Minnesota; Brett, Iowa; Hallie, Brent, Brad, Brook, Montana; and Adam, Colorado.; 13 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Andrew, Laughlin, Nev.; special friends, Bob, Kathy and Delaney Olson, Randy and Bernelda Lehmann, Brooks and Elaine Hanna, and Peter and Cindy Ostman.
Leonard was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Steven; three sisters, Sylvia, Florence and Lavonne; and one brother, James.
Services were held Saturday, May 31 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bismarck with Rev. Nate Keith officiating. Burial was at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Bismarck. Visitation was held Friday, May 30, followed by a prayer service.
The family requests that memorials be given to the Trinity Lutheran Church, the Alzheimer's Association or the hospice of your choice.
Go to www.parkwayfuneral.com to share memories of Leonard and sign the online guestbook.
George Smith
George F. Smith was born Feb. 21, 1933 in Effie, Minn. He Passed away in Post Falls, Idaho, on May 28, 2008. George graduated from Bigfork High School in Minnesota. He married his high school sweetheart, Bonnie, in 1952. George loyally served two years in the Army during the Korean conflict and worked as ground service for North Central Airlines after he was discharged from the service. George and his family moved to Hungry Horse, where he worked for Plum Creek Lumber Co. as head sawyer for 27 years before retiring in 1993. George and Bonnie have lived in Post Falls since 2006.
George was preceded in death by his parents, Gus and Erma Smith; sisters, Ethel, Esther and Marion; and brother Hank.
He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; sons, Mike and Kelly of Post Falls; daughters Linda and Pam of Bremerton, Wash.; sister, Erma of Anchorage, Alaska; grandchildren Kenda, Jeff, Laura, Jenny, April,David, Rick, Katie, David and Ellie; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at English Funeral Chapel in Post Falls on Saturday, June 7 at 4 p.m. with reception to follow. Friends and family are invited to help celebrate the life of George. People can sign an online guest book at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.
Ruth Bryan
Ruth Lucille Bryan, 96, went quietly to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, May 30, 2008 at Heritage Place in Kalispell.
Ruth was born in Agra, Kan., on Feb. 11, 1912 to Virgil and Ada Hodson. She graduated with honors from high school in Emporia, Kan., and soon after married Kenneth Bryan, a teacher, during the Depression in 1930. She taught school for a short time before they both went to work in the "war plants" during World War II.
She was brought to Columbia Falls in October of 2004 to live with her only child, Ron, after the death of her husband, Kenneth. They were married almost 75 years before his death in Wichita, Kan.
Ruth was the youngest sibling of three brothers and two sisters - all who have preceded her in glory.
Her greatest love besides her family was playing the piano and organ at various churches she attended as well as for weddings and funerals. She was self taught and often played for soloists and choirs in churches, serving her Lord for more than 70 years. When she was moved from Kansas to Montana she brought her precious piano with her and continued to play most of the time without music in front of her.
Due to ill health she was moved into Heritage Place in Kalispell in 2006 yet continued to play for a short time.
Ruth had a heart of gold - showing kindness to all she came in contact with and always with a smile. She will be missed by all who knew her yet she is now without pain in her Heavenly Home.
A funeral service was held on Tuesday, June 3, at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls. Rev. Jerry Buchanan officiated. Burial followed at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls.
Arthur M. Burch
Arthur M. Burch, 79, passed away Thursday, May 29, 2008, at Heritage Place in Kalispell. He was born at the old hospital building in Kalispell on Dec. 14, 1928, to Arthur J. and Carrie (Anderson) Burch.
He attended Hedges, Central and Flathead High School.
In 1938, his father purchased the boat concession in Glacier Park, which operated on Two Medicine and Swift Current lakes. Working in the park during the summers became the high point of his year. Like any young man, he spent most of his time in the park occupied by hiking, fishing and boating.
After high school, Art attended college in Bozeman for one year, then moved to Missoula, where he completed his degree in business. During the summers he worked for his father on the boats at Two Medicine Lake.
After Art's graduation from college he went to work in Denver. While on a double date, he decided that Miss Billy Ann Hurley was the girl for him. Billy Ann reciprocated, and they were married in October 1953 in Billy Ann's hometown of Danville, Ill. The two spent some time in the Midwest, but Art always wanted to move back to Montana.
In 1954, he purchased the tour boat on Lake McDonald from the Glacier Park Transport Company. Art and Billy spent their summers at Lake McDonald and winters in Kalispell, while starting a family that eventually included Art Jr., Scott, Kathy and Susan. During the winter the family lived at various homes on the east side and they spent their summers near the Lake McDonald Lodge and later on Swiftcurrent Lake at Many Glacier.
Art spent his winters building tour boats that still operate on many lakes throughout the Rocky Mountain West. His shop in Evergreen was known locally as "the place where they build those big boats." He also brought his tour boats down from the park for major repairs. He was a very hard-working man and a good boss who was appreciated by all his employees, both in the boat shop and on the tour boats. His other businesses included the first mini-storage in Flathead County and the first mini-storage in Calgary, Alberta.
Art's hobbies included goose hunting in Canada with his many friends. He taught all his children how to ski, ice skate, and shoot, but he never liked horses much. Billy Ann liked horses and she taught all the kids to ride, though Art hauled a lot of hay. Art did not have a lot of hobbies; he loved to work. After selling the boat company to his sons, he started another business building docks and ran that well into his 70s. It is still in operation at the boat shop in Evergreen.
Art and Billy Ann have four grandchildren who all live in Montana. One of them, Sandra, lives in the same east side area and has attended all the same schools as her grandfather.
Art's greatest achievement was the positive impact he had on hundreds of college students who worked for him in Glacier Park. Many of them have visited Art and Billy over the years, and they all said their summers spent in the park were the best summers of their lives.
Art was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister.
He is survived by his wife, Billy Ann, of Kalispell; his children, Art Burch Jr. and his wife, Susie, of Kalispell, Scott Burch and his wife, Barb, of Kalispell, Kathy Van Dyke and her husband, Lawrence, of Bozeman, and Susan Burch of Lakeside; four grandchildren, Cristina, Sandy, Sam and Sara Burch; nieces, Carrie Wick and husband, Dave, and Gena Wilson and husband, Mitch; nephew, Mark VanArtsdale; and other nieces and nephews.
Memorial services for Art were held at 3 p.m. Monday, June 2, at Epworth United Methodist Church, with Pastor Huston Green officiating. There was no visitation. A private urn burial will be held at a later date.
The family suggests that any memorial contributions be sent to the Glacier Park Fund, P.O. Box 5600, Whitefish, MT 59937; Parkinson's Research Foundation, P.O. Box 20256, Sarasota, FL 34276; or to Epworth United Methodist Church, 329 2nd Ave. East, Kalispell, MT 59901.
Leonard Seurer
Leonard "Lennie" H. Seurer, 78, passed away Tuesday, May 27, 2008, at his home in Coram.
He was born Dec. 18, 1929 in New Market, Minn., to Joseph and Veronica Seurer. Lennie was raised and educated in New Market. He served in the Army from 1946 to 1948 and from 1950 to 1951.
Lennie moved to Martin City in 1949 where he worked in the logging industry for many years and then as a truck driver and mechanic.
Lennie was married to Gail on Dec. 9, 1982 in Reno, Nev. They moved to Reno in 1987 and returned to Coram in 1995. He drove dump truck for Bruce Weaver and then drove for Orlie Erickson.
Lennie loved to travel and family get-togethers.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Veronica Seurer; three brothers, Harold, Roman and Bobby; and a sister, Edith.
Lennie is survived by his wife, Gail of Coram; his children, Joe and John of Alaska, Judy Taylor of Billings, and Larry of Minnesota; his step children, Kay Miller of Connecticut, Robin Gravelin of Columbia Falls and Kristee Winters of Hungry Horse; 30 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Visitation was Friday, May 30 at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.
A funeral service was held Saturday, May 31 at the Columbia Mortuary. Rev. David Merkel officiated. Burial followed at Woodlawn Cemetery with military graveside honors.
A potluck dinner followed the graveside service at Leonard's home in Coram.