Floy Stalcup

Floy "Idella" Stalcup, 97, passed away Sept. 8, 2008, at Heritage Place in Kalispell.

She was born 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 the same school as it was for both of her parents, at Deer Park School.

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. Son Buzz was born there in 1943. They divorced in 1944.

Idella 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 drunken 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 to into a nursing home, where she spent the remainder of her life.

The family would like to 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; and two sisters, Shirley Howell and Jean Howell Johns; two grandchildren; a stepgrandson; a granddaughter;a great granddaughter; and all three former husbands.

She is survived by daughters Carol Poil, of Newton, Kan., Mryna Teskey, of Kalispell, Floy Baker and husband Roger, of Whitefish, and Sandra White, of Salt Lake City; sons Clayton "Buzz" McBroom and wife Sharon, of Canon, Colo., and Corey Stalcup and wife Valerie, of Washington; 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 took place Sept. 16, 2008, at Fairview Cemetery east of Kalispell.