Ruth Snyder

Ruth Snyder, 76, passed away Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, at her home in Columbia Falls.

She was born Sept. 6, 1932, in Milwaukee, Wis., to Albert and Elizabeth Lucht. Ruth graduated from Milwaukee High School in Milwaukee.

Ruth was married to Larry Snyder in 1955 in Milwaukee. They later moved to Shelby where she worked as a dispatcher and secretary for the Toole County Sheriff's Office. She was the site manager at the Columbia Falls Senior Center for many years.

She enjoyed going to garage sales, painting and drawing.

Ruth was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Red Lucht.

Ruth is survived by her husband, Larry, at the family home in Columbia Falls; children, Tim Snyder of Chester, Dawn Fauque of Cut Bank, Bob Snyder of Martin City, Tom Snyder of Columbia Falls, Karen Rost of Columbia Falls and Paul Snyder of Columbia Falls; grandchildren, Tiffany and Fallon Faque, John, Savanagh and Michelle Snyder, and Kassie and Adriene Rost; sister, Eleanor Dembsky; and brother, Richard Lucht of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

A visitation and a vigil service were held Friday, Sept. 12 at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.

A funeral service was held Saturday, Sept. 13 at the St. Richard's Catholic Church in Columbia Falls. Burial was at St. Richard's Catholic Cemetery.

The family has suggested that memorials be made to St. Jude Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Michael Dempsey

Michael Dempsey, 55, passed away at this home Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008, in Kalispell. He was born March 27, 1953, in Kalispell to Lloyd and Ileta 'Joanne' (Decker) Dempsey.

Mike attended grade school and high school in Columbia Falls, graduating in 1971. He worked in various professions. He worked for Anaconda Aluminum, Plum Creek, Semitool, Flathead Valley Chemical Dependency Center and Wal-Mart.

Mike loved the outdoors. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and huckleberry picking and his hot rods. He also enjoyed spending time with his girls, keeping up with their many activities. He loved music and drumming with the Columbians and other music groups.

Mike was a talented artist. Many family members cherish the personal cards he made or the drawings he added to envelopes. Mike was also passionate about his hot rods and rock and roll.

Mike was preceded in death by his father, Lloyd Dempsey, and his grandparents.

Mike is survived by his daughters, Emily and Sarah Dempsey of Columbia Falls; mother, Iletta 'Joanne' Dempsey, and sister, Ann Kerzman and her husband Neal of Libby, and their daughter, Megan Kerzman of Missoula; uncle Bill Dempsey and aunt Lorraine of Kalispell; as well as numerous cousins.

Memorial services for Mike was held Saturday, Sept. 6 at Johnson - Gloschat Funeral Home with Pastor Ron Pierce officiating. Urn burial followed at Lonepine Cemetery in Bigfork.

Johnson ' Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Mike's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Mike's guest book.

Floy 'Idella' Stalcup

Floy 'Idella' Stalcup, 97, passed away on Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, at the Heritage Place in Kalispell. She was born on July 2, 1911, the second of 11 children to Elmer and Minnie (Johnston) Howell at home (now Elk Park Road).

Both sets of grandparents were early settlers in the Flathead Valley ' the Reuben Johnstons in the 1880s from the Gallatin Valley and the Henry Howells from Illinois in the 1890s.

Her only schooling was eight years at Deer Park School as were both of her parents.

In 1928, Idella married Clifford McBroom and they lived on the family ranch at Big Arm. They had their first three daughters there; Carol, Myrna and Floy. In 1940 they sold out their share and bought a stud mill. That lasted for one year in Whitefish and one in Columbia Falls, where Sandra was born. By then World War II had started and the manpower shortage was affecting their business so they sold the mill and moved to Polson late in 1942 and son Buzz was born there in 1943. They divorced in 1944. She married Bud Ridnour in 1947 and divorced him in 1953. Her third husband was George Stalcup, with whom she had her second son Corey. They later divorced and she remained single the rest of her life.

She became an excellent seamstress early in life and was still busy sewing for many people when she was hit by a drunk driver as she crossed the street in Polson in 1982. She survived grievous injuries but her life was changed forever at the age of 71. Eventually she managed to get around with a walker and live alone in senior housing. Then in 1987 she broke her hip and had to go into a nursing home, where she spent the remainder of her life.

The family would like say a special thanks to the staff at Heritage Place.

Idella was preceded in death by her parents; all four of her brothers, Mern, Ross, Leonard and Walter Howell; two sisters, Shirley Howell and Jean Howell Johns; two grandchildren, Norma Lininger Carter in 2000 and Gary Howard in 2002; a step-grandson, Dean Baker in 1991; a granddaughter and a great-granddaughter in infancy; and all three former husbands.

Idella is survived by four daughters, Carol Poil of Newton, Kan.; Mryna Teskey of Kalispell; Floy Baker and husband Roger of Whitefish; and Sandra White of Salt Lake City, Utah; two sons, Clayton 'Buzz' McBroom and wife Sharon of Canon, Colo.; and Corey Stalcup and wife Valerie of Washington; four sisters, Ruby Howard and Blanche Hoyt, both of Kalispell; Iva Mae Stryker of Columbia Falls, and Jessie Wunderlich of Valier; 14 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren, 11 great-great-grandchildren; many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Graveside services for Idella were held Tuesday, Sept. 16 at Fairview Cemetery on Middle Road east of Kalispell. There was no visitation.

Johnson ' Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Idella's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Idella's guest book.

Steven Lautenbach

Steven B. Lautenbach, 37, of East Glacier Park, Mont., passed away suddenly in his mother's Port Orange home on Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008. A memorial service in his honor was held Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008 at the Daytona Chapel of the Lohman Funeral Home.

Steven was a U.S. Navy veteran and dedicated outdoorsman who loved wild animals, fishing, skiing, 'campin' and lovin' God's love.' He came to love the pristine beauty of Glacier National Park and its quality of life, and dedicating himself to the Park with his work in cinematography, photography and as the inn keeper at the Many Glacier Hotel.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory his parents, Angelina and Richard Ruggiero; sister Cathy Lautenbach, brothers and sisters of the Ruggiero family; two aunts, Georgette (Will) Tenrreiro, and his Godmother; Paula (Spencer) Steinberg; and his loving family from the Many Glacier Hotel.

Donations in Steven's honor can be made to Hospice of Volusia Flaggler, or Glacier National Park Fund, 540 Wisconsin Ave., Whitefish, MT 59937.

Monica Imojean Reed

Monica Imojean (Jeanne) Reed, 90, was welcomed into the Lords arms on Sept. 15, 2008, at The Heritage Place in Kalispell.

Jeanne was born Dec. 8, 1917, in Cascade, to Fred and Grace (Bain) Tintinger. The youngest of eight children, she attended school in Great Falls at St. Mary's Catholic School.

On March 10, 1934, she married Ed Reed in Great Falls and then moved to the Fairfield Bench where they raised sheep and started their family of six children. In 1952 they moved their family to Columbia Falls where Ed worked as a carpenter and Jeanne worked at the Columbia Falls Aluminum Company.

In her mid-40s, Jeanne obtained her beautician's license, opened Jeanne's Beauty Shop in Columbia Falls and continued styling hair years after selling her shop in the mid-70s.

She and Ed resided in their family home on Highway 40. They were very active in the Good Sams, Columbia Falls Senior Center and the Whitefish McDonald's coffee group, and tending their gardens where Ed would make his wine and Jeanne would make her wonderful jams.

Everyone who met Jeanne knew she loved to dance, sing with the Trubadors, feed her animals too much and most importantly her wonderful family.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ed, in 1994; her five brothers, Leland, Lloyd, Carl, Russell and Fred; and her two sisters, Marian Farrell and Tess Squires.

She is survived by her six children, Tom Reed and wife Martina of Escondido, Calif.; Sandy Turner of Kalispell; Terry Reed of Kalispell; Jerry Reed and wife Becky of Columbia Falls; Todd Reed and wife Patti of Whitefish; Mike Reed and wife Sue of Kalispell; 14 grandchildren, Tammy Englehardt and husband Rick of Calif.; Jamie Bronson of Calif.; Brian Reed of Olney; Steve Turner of Kalispell; Teresa Collier and husband Rob of Kalispell; Corrine Turner of Kalispell; JoAnn Reed of Bigfork; Britt Reed of Columbia Falls; Jon Reed and wife Linda of Belgrade; Scott Reed of Columbia Falls; Misty Retz of Whitefish; Kevin Reed of Columbia Falls; Cory Reed of Columbia Falls; Nick Reed of Alaska; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandson. She also loved her extended families, Jerry Whetham of Whitefish; Leroy and Jana Grundmeier, their daughter Kami Doty and husband Kenny, Bill and Linda Hoyt of Whitefish; and numerous nephews and nieces.

Funeral service will be held Saturday, Sept. 20 at 10 a.m. at St. Richard's Catholic Church in Columbia Falls with burial at Woodlawn Cemetery following the service.

Jeanne's family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations in Jeanne's name be made to any of the local animal shelters or the Humane Society.