Eleanore Wink
On a beautiful summer morning, Eleanore C. Wink, 89, passed away of natural causes on July 20, 2009, in Whitefish.
She was born Dec. 8, 1919, in Malta to Blanche and Edward Clausen, who had homesteaded south of Malta.
After attending schools in Malta and Victor, Eleanore enrolled at Northern Montana College in Harve, where she met and married Irwin Wink on July 15, 1943.
They lived in Havre, raising their two sons and running the family business until retiring to Bigfork in the early 1980s.
Eleanore was extremely well read, enjoyed politics, her church, bridge and PEO, and she was a member of the Havre Hill County Study Commission. Most of all, Eleanore lived for her family and friends, cooking, entertaining and providing a loving home for all to enjoy. She was the rock of the family and a very "proper" lady. Eleanore was loved, respected and admired as a lovely and gracious lady.
Preceding Eleanore in death were her parents Blanche and Edward Clausen; brother John Clausen; sister Grace Loyd; and stepfather Harry Combs.
She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Irwin Wink, of Whitefish; sons Robert Wink, of Bigfork, and Scott Wink and wife Holly, of Havre; grandchildren Natalie Mellem and husband Gerry, of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Emily Van Heel, of North Carolina; great grandchildren Mia, Nadia and Quinn Mellem and Gage and Brook Van Heel; brother Pete Clausen; many wonderful nieces and nephews; and godson Mike Rubie and wife Vicky, of Missoula.
Grave side services were held July 24, 2009, at the Bigfork Cemetery. Memorial services followed at the Bigfork Methodist Church.
Memorials may be sent to the Bigfork PEO, c/o Lynnell Smith, 104 Baylie Drive, Bigfork MT 59911 or Northern Montana College Foundation, P.O. Box 1691, Havre MT 59501.
Donald Odegaard
Don J. Odegaard, 75, of Rock Lake, N.D., died Thursday, July 23, 2009, at Presentation Medical Center in Rolla, N.D.
Don was born March 7, 1934, to Peter and Mae (Rasmussen) Odegaard at rural Egeland, N.D. He was raised and attended school at Egeland.
He entered the Army on Oct. 29, 1953, and served until his honorable discharge in 1955.
Don married Wynn O'Brien on Sept. 30, 1955, in Minneapolis. After their marriage, the couple moved to Whitefish, where Don worked for the Great Northern Railroad.
They lived there until 1969, when they moved to Rock Lake, where they took over her parents' business and built a new grocery store, which they ran for 14 years. Don started a construction company in 1979, along with his sons, Mike and Lee. In 1999 Don retired. Don then worked for the Rock Lake Public School as a janitor with his son and daughter, Darren and Darla, until his time of death.
Don was preceded in death by his wife Wynn; his parents; brothers and sisters Alfred "Bud," Florence Nikolaisen, Howard "Dutch," and Louella Schaefer; an infant brother Robert; and Anna-Mae.
Don is survived by his children Michael Odegaard, of Bigfork, Lee Odegaard and wife Becky, of Issaquah, Wash., Darren Odegaard and wife Connie, of Perth, N.D., and Darla Hunt and husband Mark, of Rock Lake; brothers and sisters Pauline "Polly" Nikolaisen, of Kalispell, Doris "Dorie" Johnson, of Cando, N.D., Lucille "Lucy" Gau, of Cando, Alvin "Al" and Charlotte, of Arizona, Everette and Letha, of California, and Wayne "Bill" and Mary, of Clovis, N.M.; along with several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A memorial service was held July 27, 2009, at All Nations Lutheran Church in Rock Lake. Military rites were conducted by Mooney-Carnahan Post No. 8196, Rock Lake VFW. Burial was held at All Nations Lutheran Cemetery.
James Kindle
James L. Kindle, 84, passed away Thursday, July 16, 2009.
He was born in 1925 to John and Dora Kindle in Decatur County Tennessee. He grew up in hard times, and his mother died when he was three.
James left Tennessee to join the Navy in 1943. During World War II, he served in the Pacific Front and was awarded two Bronze Stars.
After the Navy, he relocated to Great Falls, where he met and married his wife, began a career with Great Northern Railroad and started a family. He worked as a locomotive engineer in Whitefish and Glasgow later in his career.
James loved to fish, enjoyed a glass of beer and sometimes a shot of whiskey. He built a cabin at Canyon Ferry Lake, from which he and his family enjoyed many fine times. He traveled, taking his wife on many trips throughout Montana, and to Canada, Mexico, Hawaii and the southern U.S. He belonged to several service organizations, including the Elks, Mason and Shriners.
He was preceded in death by his brother Riley Kindle and grandson Robert Kindle.
James is survived by his wife of 61 years, Theresa; sister Elaine Stephenson, of Indiana; son James Kindle, of Helena; daughter Barbara Baker, of Whitefish; granddaughters Michelle Marsh and husband Scott, and Brittany Baker; great grandsons Kyler, Dakota and Jacob.
Interment was at Fort Harrison Military Cemetery. Graveside services were held July 20, 2009.