Geneva Hotel
Geneva M. Hotel, 90, died of natural causes in Conrad, on Sept. 19, 2010.
She was born Aug. 17, 1920, in Froid to Sam and Pearl (Kao) Hahn, the second of seven children. She moved to Whitefish at an early age and attended school there.
During World War II, Geneva moved to Seattle, where she worked in a fish cannery, the shipyards and as a window decorator for Nordstrom's. After returning to Whitefish, she continued to enjoy many diverse jobs, such as harvesting Christmas trees, waitressing in local restaurants, bartending at the Palace Bar and working in the deli at Safeway.
The common thread in all of her work was her love of people and her enjoyment of life. She was known for her beautiful smile and quick laughter.
After her retirement, she enjoyed spending time with her extended family and large network of friends, cooking family dinners, baking a special birthday cake or decorating her house for any holiday, but especially Christmas. She was a long-standing member of the Women of the Moose and the Whitefish T.O.P.S. Club.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Hotel; son Richard (Si) Auge; her parents; siblings Roger Hahn, Eva McDowell and Blanche Deeter; and other beloved family members.
Geneva is survived by daughters Gloria Auge, of Conrad, Darlene Mullins, of Whitefish, and Omie Brock, of Eureka; brother Stuart Hahn, of Westernport, Md.; sisters Ramona Ross, of Culbertson, and Carol Davidson, of Clancy; 10 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; 11 great great grandchildren; and many dear friends.
A memorial service will be held at the Moose Lodge, 230 West 10th St., in Whitefish, on Saturday, Sept. 25, at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of the donor's choice in Geneva's name.
John Baker
John Westley Baker, 88, died at Whitefish Care and Rehabilitation Center on Sept. 17, 2010.
He was born Feb. 14, 1922, in Rexford to Ralph and Anna (Sakon) Baker. He graduated from Whitefish High School in 1940, where he was an outstanding athlete. He was elected to the Whitefish High School Hall of Fame in 2006.
During his short tenure at the University of Montana in Missoula, John participated in athletics until his call to duty to World War II. He served in North Africa and Italy with the 341st Squadron and received two Bronze Stars and other merits.
John was active in boy Scouts and attended the National Boy Scout Jamboree in Washington, D.C. He was an avid outdoorsman throughout his life and especially enjoyed fishing. Other hobbies included stamp and coin collecting.
On May 23, 1948, he was united in marriage to Helen Sagen. Together they raised two sons, Jim and Rick Baker.
John was a lifelong resident of Whitefish and worked for Great Northern Railroad (now BNSF Railway), starting out as a carman, then fireman, then locomotive engineer, and retiring after 45 years. He was a member of the Whitefish VFW Post 276, Loyal Order of the Moose, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and the Flathead Valley Stamp Collectors.
He was preceded in death by his wife and siblings Julia Lamberson, Clara Crawford , Helen Doyle and Ralph Baker.
John is survived by his sons Jim Baker and wife Geri, of Whitefish, and Rick Baker and wife Marietta, of St. Paul, Minn.; granddaughter Heather Abbott and husband Art, of Flagstaff, Ariz.; grandsons Brandt Baker, of Missoula, and Michael Long, of Sacramento, Calif.; great granddaughter Lila; and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
Memorial services will be held at a later date. Arrangements are being handled by Austin Funeral Home. Contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.
Virgie Knoll
Virgie Lorraine King Knoll, 76, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Sept. 17, 2010, at the home of her daughter in Columbia Falls, surrounded by her family, after a long and brave battle with leukemia.
She was born Jan.10, 1934, in Pikeville, Ky., to Aaron and Allean (Meade) King. As a young girl her family moved to western Washington, where on June 21, 1948, she married James Michael Knoll. They spent the next 58 years together.
Virgie loved her chickens, wild birds and flower gardening. She loved being outside and would go for walks until her health began to fail. She had the gift of hospitality. Her open-handed generosity was witnessed by all who knew her, from feeding hoboes in the 60s to helping a needy neighbor.
She enjoyed berry picking and all-day excursions with her sisters and large family gatherings, from jam sessions to birthdays and Sunday dinners with whoever just happened to show up after church. She baked cookies by the bags-full for her children, young and old.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, 11 brothers and sisters, and two grandsons.
Virgie is survived by her son Michael Knoll and wife Gail, of Whitefish; daughter Inis Baker and husband Tom, of Lafayette, Tenn.; son Lawrence Knoll and wife Dana, of Centralia, Wash.; son Tim Knoll and wife Kay, of Great Falls; daughter Joan Pedersen and husband Wayne, of Lewistown; son Christopher Knoll and wife Clariece, of Centralia; daughte Mary Husted and husband Pau,l of Columbia Falls; son Nathan Knoll and wife Brenda, of Marion; daughter Mamie Goodwin and husband Dennis, of Columbia Falls; and daughter Judy Roose, of Whitefish; 33 grandchildren; 58 great grandchildren; brothers Gene King, of Onalaska, Wash., and Aaron King, of Yreka, Calif.; sister Iris Hanson, of Winlock, Wash.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of her life took place at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery on Sept. 22, 2010, with graveside services at Cornerstone Community Church.
Lee Longfield
Lee Longfield, 51, passed away of a massive heart attack on Sept. 8, 2010, at his home in Columbia Falls.
He was born Oct. 2, 1958, in Salmon, Idaho, to Alvia Lee and Mary Longfield. Lee graduated from Columbia Falls High School in 1976 and from the University of Reno, Nev., in 1981.
Lee returned to Columbia Falls in 1982. He and his brother Paul bought the Paul Bunyan Bar. In 1984, he married Brenda Felstet and started their family. In 1985, they were blessed with their daughter Meagann and, in 1989, their son Matthew.
Lee fulfilled his dream of becoming a ski-slope groomer on Big Mountain, where he was approaching his 25th year. He was an avid skier and called the mountain his second home. During the summer, he worked at Whitefish Lake Golf Club. He enjoyed golfing with his friends and son in his free time.
Lee always enjoyed watching sports and doing play-by-play with Matthew, whether together or on the phone. Lee's greatest joy in life was his children.
He was preceded in death by his father and his brother Tom.
He is survived by his daughter Meagann; son Matthew; mother Mary; brother Paul; his wife Shawn Longfield and their children Dalin and Terryl, and her husband Kelly Johnson; nephews Micheal Longfield and Todd Longfield, and his wife Shannon; several other nieces and nephews; and many golf and skiing buddies.
A celebration of Lee's life took place at the Eagles Club in Columbia Falls on Sept. 18.
Andrew Jones
Andrew Jones died on Aug. 27, 2010, at Whitefish Care and Rehabilitation Center at the age of 68.