Ronald Brooks
Ronald Edward Brooks, 71, of Valier, died of congestive heart failure Friday at a Conrad hospital.
Ron was born Dec. 28, 1937, in Ottumwa, Iowa, to Ray and Lauraine Lyon. In 1940, he was adopted by his mother's sister, Doris, and her husband, Ross Brooks, of Powderville, Mont., in southeastern Custer County. Ron attended grade school at Spring Creek School. In 1952, the family moved to Miles City, where Ron graduated from Custer County High School. During high school, Ron worked as a bellhop and desk clerk at the Olive Hotel and Nugent Transfer and Storage.
In August 1957, he married Agnes Naasz, and the family moved to Missoula, where Ron worked for the fire department until 1966, Fletcher Logging. In 1959, the family moved back to Miles City where Ron worked for the fire department until 1966, when he joined the Montana State Highway Patrol. Ron graduated second out of the two classes of 42 students from the Montana Highway Patrol Academy. While an officer on the Highway Patrol, Ron enjoyed pistol-shooting competitions. In 1975, he divorced Agnes.
In 1976, he married Mary Jean Crane in Glendive. Jeannie and Ron moved to Columbia Falls in 1978, where Ron was a master plumber until retiring in 2003. In 2003, Ron and Jeannie moved to Valier to enjoy their retirement. Ron resided there until his death.
Ron was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed spending time with his family.
Survivors include his wife, Jeannie; daughters Linda (Ron) Foye of Yuma, Ariz., and LaMae (Greg) Arneson of Sidney; sons Rodney (Betti) Brooks of Great Falls, Raymond (Mary) Brooks' of Yuma and Richard Brooks of Ulm; stepsons Richard Berry of Provo, Utah, and Jack (Tona) Berry of York, Neb.; a sister, Nancy (Jean Claude) Beaune of St. Remy, France; eight grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and five stepgrandchildren.
He was preceded in death by stepdaughter-in-law, Michelle Berry.
At his request, no services are planned. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Pondera Funeral Home, and his ashes will be scattered in June.
Condolences may be posted online at www.gftribune.com/obituaries.
Craig "Finny" Finberg
Craig "Finny" Finberg passed away peacefully March 20, 2009, surrounded by family and friends at his home in Dillon after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Craig was born May 6, 1957, to Math and Norma Finberg and grew up in Columbia Falls.
He graduated from Columbia Falls High School in 1975, attended Montana State University and finished his degree at UM-Western in Dillon. He recently accomplished one of his lifelong dreams and earned his Masters of Sports Science degree from the United States Sports Academy in 2007.
While attending CFHS, he became a basketball legend. Craig earned all-state honors and set a single game scoring record of 40 points during the divisional championship game and led his team to a second-place finish at the state tournament. He was elected to the CFHS Hall of Fame upon graduating in 1975.
After completing high school, he accepted a scholarship to play basketball for the Montana State University Bobcats. Upon completion of his career, he was fourth in school history in scoring with 1,473 points, putting him in eighth place on the all-time Big Sky Conference list. He also owned the single-season assist record with 148, and the single-game mark with 16. His free-throw-shooting percentage of 84.9 percent was a school record, as was his career record of 84.1 percent. He also earned All- Big Sky Conference honors for three consecutive years and was inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame in 2003. After a brief career in the CBA and a tryout with the NBA's Portland Trailblazers, he began his coaching career under Casey Keltz at UM-Western.
Craig began his head-coaching career at Dillon's Beaverhead County High School. In his 18-year career at BCHS, he is the most successful coach in school history with 281-160 overall record and state championships in 1990 and 1999. The 1990 title was the first state title of any kind for the school since 1946.
After his retirement from coaching at Dillon's Beaverhead County High School, he returned to the Bulldog bench to assist Mark Durham for one season, and was an assistant on Steve Keller's staff for the past two seasons. He continued to teach at Beaverhead County High School.
During his life, Craig was an avid sports enthusiast and passionately supported his Minnesota Vikings and Twins, but nothing compared to his love of the game of basketball and being able to coach and teach. He always had a saying to live by "take a negative and turn it into a positive," which is how we will remember him.
He also looked forward to traveling with his wife, Tammy, and often spoke about how much he enjoyed the times when he could just mow his lawn on a sunny day and play with his kitty cats.
Craig married the love of his life, Tammy, on June 26, 2004, in Las Vegas.
He is survived by Tammy; stepson, Shane Sutton (wife, Annie, and their son, Joshua); stepson, Dustin Sutton; mother, Norma Finberg, and Dick Collier; sister, Cheryl Rice (husband, Dave, and their sons, Shane and Brandon (wife, Jessica, and their son, Trey); brother, Chris (wife, Cathy, and their children, Camie (husband, Randy Northrop, and their children, Samantha, Kayla and Kyler); Christopher (fiance, Colleen); sister, Cathy; brother, Cary (wife, Angie, and their daughters, Ciera and Cydney); and mother and father-in-law, Tink and Julie Krause. He also is survived by numerous cousins, aunts and uncles. His father, Math, preceded Craig in death, as well as both sets of grandparents.
Memorial services will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 26, at Columbia Falls High School. Services in Dillon will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at the high school, with a reception immediately afterward at the UM-Western Keltz Arena.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the Columbia Falls Wildcat Endowment Fund or to a Memorial Scholarship fund at the Beaverhead County High School.
The family wishes to express their sincere gratitude for the outpouring support from everyone whose lives were touched by Finny. May his memory live on forever. "We will miss you, Craig."
Kenneth L. Miller
Kenneth L. "Ken-Dog" Miller, 55, passed on Friday, March 13, 2009, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Born to Clifford and Leah (Foss' Miller on Nov. 21, 1953, he was raised in Lewistown and graduated from high school there. Following graduation he worked on oil rigs and hauled oil waste. He was also a UPS driver based out of Missoula and at the mill in Missoula, and eventually put his master carpentry skills to use in his contracting business — Grizzly Construction.
Kenny was a wonderful man and will be deeply missed by his family and his true friends. Ken-Dog enjoyed the outdoors. If he wasn't fishing, he was hunting or hiking. He enjoyed camping and was an avid river rafter living on the North and South Fork of the Flathead. It was his favorite thing to do.
He was also proud to be a member of the Dream Team on Big Mountain which taught the handicapped to ski. He also had the chance to star in a commercial and enjoyed being called "Hollywood Miller."
He is survived by his wife Michelle of the family home; daughter Makenzie Miller; step children Angela Phillips, Aria Haliday and her children Nora and Adam, Jamie Haliday, Jeffery Hughes and Cole Milne-Jones; his parents Clifford and Leah Miller of Lolo; sisters Janet Granthum and her children Lea and Roxanne of Maui, Hawaii, Cathy Miller of Lolo, and Debbie West of Leavenworth, Wash.; and brother James Miller of Missoula, as well as many close friends and extended family members.
You are invited to come celebrate a life full of love and fun the way he wanted. As per his request a Celebration of His Life will be held Saturday, March 28 at 3 p.m. at the family home. It is located at 28321 Cougar Trail in Bigfork (at mile marker 80 on Highway 83 or call 260-2797 or 837-3276 for directions). A potluck reception at the residence will follow the service.
Erin Julie Thompson
Erin Julie Thompson, 35, was taken along with her unborn child and her 13-year-old son, Caden Odell, on March 19, 2009, as the result of a tragic automobile accident north of Kalispell.
Erin was born on Nov. 5, 1973, in Valentine, Neb., to Vince and Dianna Johnson. The family moved to Kalispell in 1974, where Erin spent most of her life.
Erin is survived by her husband, Jason Thompson; her parents, Vince and Dianna Johnson; her brother, Thaddeus Johnson; her sister and brother-in-law, Amber and David Young; her sister-in-law, Lindsay Howard; many aunts, uncles and cousins; and so many people who have been touched by her light.
As a wife, a daughter, a sister, a relative, a friend: words cannot describe how deeply she will be missed. To know her was to love her. And her love will live on through all she touched.
A celebration honoring the life, love, and spirit of both Erin and Caden will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 27, at the Christian Center Assembly of God Church in Kalispell.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family. To send condolences, please go to www.buffalohillfh.com.
A full obituary will appear in next week's Hungry Horse News.
Caden Vincent Odell
Caden Vincent Odell, 13, was tragically taken along with his mother and unborn sibling on March 19, 2009, as the result of an automobile accident north of Kalispell.
Caden was born at home on Dec. 20, 1995, in Kalispell, to Erin Johnson and Craig Odell. Caden was an only child but was eagerly awaiting the arrival of his sibling.
Caden is survived by his father, Craig Odell, and girlfriend, Sarah Elledge; his stepfather, Jason Thompson; his grandparents, Laurine and Chuck Meyer, Wesley and Rosa Lee Odell, and Vince and Dianna Johnson; his uncle, Thaddeus Johnson; his aunt and uncle, Amber and David Young; his aunt, Lindsay Howard; his uncle, Brad Odell; his aunt and uncle, Darren and Alisa Odell; his aunts, Darcy and Cherise Odell; and his uncle and aunt, Tres and Erika Meyer, and Allison and Terry Cox; and many cousins and extended family.
A celebration honoring the life, love, and spirit of both Caden and his mother Erin will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, March 27, at the Christian Center Assembly of God Church in Kalispell.
In place of flowers, the families are requesting that any donations be made to "The Caden Vincent Odell Memorial Fund" at Three Rivers Bank to encourage the joy of music in others for years to come.
A memorial Web site has been set up for Caden at GodBlessCaden.webs.com.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family. To send condolences, please go to www.buffalohillfh.com.
A full obituary will appear in next week's Hungry Horse News.
Travis VanderslootTravis Charles Vandersloot, 29, passed away Monday, March 23, 2009, as a result of an automobile accident near Somers.Travis was born Sept. 14, 1979, in Billings to Robert D. and Cynthia (New) Vandersloot. As a young man, he grew up in Hardin and Butte, then moved to Columbia Falls at an older age. He attended public schools in Hardin and Butte.He enjoyed golf, snow boarding, music and movies. All who met Travis will miss his smile, caring and loving ways. He will be greatly missed.Travis was preceded in death by a cousin, Erin Emmert. He is survived by his father Robert D. Vandersloot and step-mother Nola Vandersloot; mother Cynthia New and step-father Gary Emmert; brothers and sisters Christy Bridwell, Trenn Vandersloot, Justin and Nathan Vandersloot, Amy, Sarah, Ryan and Eric Emmert; grandparents Robert C. and Pearl Vandersloot, Robert New and Virginia McBeth; great-grandmother Marie Vandersloot; Joyce and Don Emmert; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides of the family.A celebration of Travis will be held at a later date in the Flathead Valley. Funeral services will be held in Hardin with burial at Fairview Cemetery in Hardin.Memorial contributions may be made to the Big Horn County Historical Museum. Friends are encouraged to visit Web site at www.buffalohillfh.com to leave condolences for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Bullis Mortuary are caring for the family.