Obituaries

The Bigfork Eagle runs obituaries and death notices for people who have lived in the Bigfork area. To submit, e-mail editor@bigforkeagle.com or call 837-5131. Deadlines are every Monday at noon.

Evelyn M. Johnston

Evelyn Mae Johnston died May 31, 2010, in Puyallup, Wash., with her two sons in attendance.

Evelyn Mae Wiedenhamer was born in Havre on Aug. 23, 1921, to Andrew and Mabel Wiedenhamer. After her husband Andrew died, Mabel married Gilbert Speer and the family moved to the Flathead Valley. Gilbert was a most caring husband and beloved father to Mabel and her four children.

The Speers added three more children to their family while living in Columbia Falls.

After high school graduation, Evelyn was attending a dance at Deer Park School, where she met Calvin Preston Johnston. They married on April 12, 1941. They moved to Southern California, where Calvin found employment at an aircraft factory in Los Angeles.

He and Evelyn were living in Englewood, Calif., when their first son, Gary was born in 1942. After Calvin's military service in World War II, the family returned to the Flathead Valley where their second son, Lindsay, was born in 1948.

The family moved to Campbell, Calif., in 1957 where Evelyn enjoyed her role of homemaker, seamstress and gardener. She always took pride in the lovely flower gardens that surrounded her home.

Calvin and Evelyn lived in Boulder, Colo., from 1966 to 1977, where Evelyn continued her gardening and sewing as well as working as a dedicated Red Cross volunteer at the Boulder hospital.

The couple retired in 1977 and returned to the Flathead where they enjoyed many years of living on their 10-acre farm and traveling in their motor home during winter months.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her husband, Calvin; her mother, Mabel Speer; step-father, Gilbert Speer; brothers, Roy Speer of Lewiston, Idaho, Alvin Speer of Kalispell, Hugh Spear of Columbia Falls; and sister Rena Cornell of Columbia Falls.

She is survived by her two sons, four grandchildren (Erin, Jane, Allison Anne and Kirk), brother Evan (Shirley) Speer of Columbia Falls, sister Jeanette (Mel) DeCarrico of Portland, Ore., and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial services were held at the Columbia Mortuary, located at 1010 Fourth Ave. in Columbia Falls, at 1 p.m. Friday, June 11.

Interment followed at Fairview Cemetery where Evelyn once again joined Calvin, her loving husband of 62 years.

Alvie S. Miller

Alvie S. Miller, 73, died Tuesday, June 15, 2010, from complications of Alzheimer's in Lewistown.

Alvie was born March 6, 1937. He served in the U.S. Army as a ski trooper in Alaska and was an avid hunter. He was in the farm equipment and automotive field as a business owner as well as part sales and working as a diesel mechanic.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and a great-granddaughter.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Anita; two sons, Wade (Bonnie) and Allen (Vicky); two daughters, Pam (Dennis), Penni (Dave); one sister, Carole (Orville); nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchhildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

At his request, no services will be held. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be sent to Flathead Bank of Bigfork in memory of Alvie.