Search Archived Marriage Records
John Leonard 'Jack' Horn, 97
John Leonard Horn better known as "Jack," 97, a longtime resident of Shelby and Happy Valley in Whitefish, passed away on Jan. 2, 2005, at North Valley Hospital in Whitefish of natural causes. Jack lived his last four years at the Colonial Manor of Whitefish.
Jack was born on June 19, 1907, in Williamsport, Pa., to Walter and Laura Horn.
Jack had many jobs and careers in his lifetime. He started his summers in school as a sales clerk at a grocery store and moved on to manage different grocery stores. Jack worked for Sears Roebuck Co. as a salesman, helped build the Alaskan Highway and numerous airport runways. In Phoenix, he constructed the first television station and broadcasting antenna. Jack also worked in Pasadena, Arizona and mountains of Montana. He read many books and always loved his western novels. But most of all Jack loved baseball, especially the Chicago Cubs. "Go Cubs!"
Jack is survived by his wife, Marion (Stansberry) Horn; her daughter, Darnell Piunti and husband, Sam, of Chicago Heights, Ill.; his sons, Tim, Scott and Dunkin Horn; grandson, Jason Piunti and wife, Amy, of Waukesha, Wis.; and granddaughter, Kristi Piunti, of Chicago Heights; niece Delora Brooks, and husband, Charlie, of Hayden Lake, Idaho; and three nephews.
No services are planned.
Kermit Clark 'Kerm' Pearson, 79
Kermit Clark "Kerm" Pearson, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, passed away from cancer at 79 years, Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2005, at the family home in Somers.
He was born on June 23, 1925, in Spokane, to Elza and Pearl (Kreiling) Pearson, the only boy in a family of five.
An avid outdoorsman, he spent his youth duck hunting with his dad, a passion he enjoyed to the end of his life. He was educated in the Spokane schools and graduated from Florida and convinced the Thistle class to hold their national championship on Flathead Lake in 1983. It was such a success they returned in 1987.
Kerm was involved in training dogs most of his life. In the last several years Kerm has enjoyed training his Chesapeakes, Maggie and Jiggs, for hunt tests and fall bird hunting. Kerm especially enjoyed September along the Hi-line with his dogs and hunting buddies, chasing huns and pheasants. His other passion has been fishing or hunting with his grandchildren and their parents.
In September he completed construction of a beautiful 17-foot hunting/fishing riverboat. He needed a bigger boat to haul a couple grandkids, some hunting or fishing gear, two goony brown dogs, and himself.
Kerm's family and friends honor his convictions, his enthusiasm for life, his energy and determination in the face of adversity, his quiet warmth and dry sense of humor. He has been a mentor for many and a role model for all that knew him.
One son, Randolph C. Pearson, preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife for 52 years, Laila Pearson, of Somers; five children, David F. Pearson, and wife, Leslie, of Indian, Alaska, Darrielle Wyatt, and husband, Wally, of Homosassa, Fla., Jennifer Fisher and husband, Jeff, Timothy K. Pearson and wife, Barbara, and Benjamin W. Pearson, all of the Flathead Valley.
Also surviving are three sisters, Bobby Wylder and Margie Lindstrom of California; with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A memorial reception for Kermit "Kerm" Clark Pearson will be held on Monday, Jan. 10, starting at 5 p.m. in the Winchester Room at the Outlaw Inn in Kalispell.
The family suggests memorials may be made in Kerm's name to the Glacier Gun Club, P.O. Box 10382, Kalispell, MT 59904; or Hospice Home Health Options, 175 Commons Loop, Ste. 100, Kalispell, MT 59901.
Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary and Crematory.
Albert ‘Al’ Stinger, 88
Albert Stinger passed away March 14, 2006, as a result of a lingering illness. Al was born on New Year’s Day in 1918 on homestead land west of Ronan and grew up farming and working in that area. During the Great Depression, Al joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1935. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in December 1941 to defend America.
In 1943, while training in the Southern states, he met and married Pearlys (Gilbert) Stinger. He served in the South Pacific as a mechanic on B-29 bombers based on Tinian Island and supported the strategic bombing of the Japanese mainland. After his honorable discharge in 1945, he rejoined his bride and young son, Dennis, in Montana.
He began his career as a cement finisher working on the dam at Hungry Horse while living on the shore of Blanchard Lake near Whitefish. Al and Pearlys made their home in Columbia Falls, where Al participated in the construction of the aluminum plant.
In 1958, the family, now with three boys and a daughter, moved to a small farm at Seven Hills in Bigfork, where he lived out the remainder of his life. As a union worker and an independent contractor, Al worked in the masonry trades until retirement. His career took him from construction on the capitol building in Tallahassee, Fla., to the far north Alaska oil pipeline terminal in Valdez.
As the residents of the Flathead Valley go about their way today, they walk the sidewalks and travel the concrete streets formed by the hardworking hands of Albert and his sons.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Frank, Edward and Henry; and his sister, Mary (Stinger) Nelson.
Albert is survived by Pearlys, his loving wife of 63 years; his sisters, Emily Zimmerman and Josephine Atkinson of Spokane, and Dolores Burch of Condon; also, his children and their spouses, Dennis Stinger and Donna Van-Heel of Billings, Kelvin and Betty Stinger of Trego, Daughter Delrae and her husband, Doug Billmayer, of Bigfork, and Lonnie and Betty Stinger of Deer Park, Wash. His legacy continues with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Al was buried at the Lone Pine Cemetery in Bigfork on Thursday, March 16, in a service attended by his close family and friends with full military honors. His life and legacy was celebrated in a moving ceremony given by Troy Holt of the Glacier Mountain Fellowship.
A community memorial service is pending.
Austin Funeral Home handled arrangements for the family.
Dennis Langton, 88
Many hearts were broken with the passing of Dennis Langton on April 21, 2006, in Whitefish.
Dennis was born Oct. 23, 1917, in Iowa; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will be today from 2-6 p.m. at Buffalo Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home, with the Rev. Bob Nilsen officiating. Burial will follow at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
A.E. 'Toddy' Paulson, 81
A.E. "Toddy" Paulson, 81, died Sunday, Nov. 21, 1999, at his home in Lakeside. He was born Dec. 25, 1917, in Monarch, to John and Bessie Gunn Paulson. After graduating from high school, he worked for Midland Implement and A.C.M. Co., filled in at a golf course, worked as a chemist, and drove an oil tanker for Home Oil. In 1945, he began farming north of Great Falls on Bootlegger Trail, and in 1977 moved to the Flathead Valley. On June 11, 1941, he married Maxine Haight in Lewistown. They raised three daughters, Bonnie, Connie and Donna. He was always so proud of his family. He was an avid sportsman, and enjoying hunting, fishing and boating. He also enjoyed watching boxing and wrestling on television. He was a member of the Elks Lodge #214, Scottish Rite, the Masons, Shriners and the Algeria Temple. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, two sisters and two half-sisters. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Maxine Paulson of Lakeside; three daughters, Bonnie Smith and husband Carl of Salt Lake City, Connie Whiteman of Spokane and Donna Paulson of Great Falls; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 24 at Lakeside Chapel with the Rev. Terry Dunn officiating. The family suggests memorials be given in his name to Shodair Children's Hospital, Hospice or a charity of your choice. Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary and Crematory.
Cecil L. Bernhard, 82
Cecil L. Bernhard, 82, died on Friday, Dec. 3, 1999, at his home in Kalispell following a long battle with cancer. He was born on Sept. 27, 1917, in Kremlin to Xenny and Agnes Bernhard. He was raised in Eureka and graduated from Lincoln County High School. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy. He spent much of his life working in the farming and trucking business. He married Florence I. Splaine of Great Falls in January 1940. They had seven children. They later divorced, and he married Leona Simmons of Lakeside in 1983. He was residing with her at the time of his death. He was preceded in death by his son Robert at age 5. He is survived by his wife, Leona; two sons, Arnold of Tacoma, Wash., and John and his wife Cathy of Missoula; four daughters, Elaine Hauglum and her husband Lawrence of Missoula, Lorraine Decker and her husband Gene of Libby, Bonnie Kaulitzke of Kalispell, and Liz Hilde and her fiance Pat Lynch of Missoula; three stepchildren, Mavis Thornton and her husband Dellivan of Lakeside, Karen Mower and her husband Ralph (R.D.) of Fortine, and Lenore Burgess and her husband Keith of Fortine; three brothers, Maurice and Roger of Eureka and Allen of Libby; two sisters, Helen Doble of Stryker and Beverly O'Brien and her husband, Louie, of Libby; and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held from noon to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home in Kalispell. Funeral services will be at noon Thursday at the Northridge Church of God with the Rev. Sam Cole officiating. Interment will follow the funeral at Glacier Memorial Gardens. Military honors will be conducted by the United Veterans of the Flathead Valley. Arrangements are under the direction of Buffalo Hill Funeral Home.
