Norman G. Borgen
Norman G. Borgen, 86, passed away at Immanual Lutheran Home, and was welcomed into the hands of the Lord on Tuesday, August 2.
He was born May 29, 1919 in Rugby, N.D., to Ole and Thea Borgen. As a young child, the family left the farm in North Dakota and moved to Kalispell. He attended school in Helena Flats.
On Sept. 16, 1940, Norman joined the Army. He served in the South Pacific during WWII with Company F of the 163rd Infantry. He was awarded the Philippine Liberation medal with one bronze service star, the American Defense Service medal, the Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge and a good conduct medal. He was honorably discharged from the military July 16, 1945.
Prior to that, Norman married Florence B. Steele on Feb. 19, 1942 in Tacoma, Wash. The couple was blessed with four children who were also born and educated in the Flathead Valley, Vicky Lynn, Dennis Leslie, Thea Rae and Wendy Michelle.
After his service to his country, Norman was employed by Kalispell Lumber and Half Moon Mill. He operated Evergreen Oil Co, worked as a car salesman, and owned and operated school buses for School District 6 with his wife. He was also employed by Flathead County and the Veteran's Home.
However, his true love was farming. The Borgens owned and operated numerous farms and dairies throughout the years. Norman enjoyed the traditional manner of farming with horse drawn equipment and steam-powered tractors. He loved to give his family rides in a horse-drawn sleigh and buggy. He also brought back a piece of valley history by hosting threshing bees on his last farm located on LaSalle Highway.
Norman assisted in the building of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Columbia Falls and Calvary Lutheran Church in Evergreen. He was also a member of the LaSalle Grange and Antique Tractor Club.
Norman loved to dance, sing in the church choir and be surrounded by family. He took particular enjoyment in watching his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren grow. He will always be remember as "Grandpa Chicken" sitting below his willow tree, in his straw hat and John Deere suspenders, with a cup of coffee and reminiscing about the good ol' days.
Norman was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, twins Henry and Godfred (Fred), Trygve (Ted), and sisters Dagne, and Christine, and grandson Stephen Norman. He is survived by his wife Florence of Kalispell; sisters Mable McPoland and Olga Price of Tacoma, Wash.; children, Vicky of Yucca Valley, Calif., Dennis and Jan of Columbia Falls, Thea of Eureka, and Wendy and Ernie of Columbia Falls. Grandchildren include Justin Brookman, Rae Lynn Benson, Shawn Borgen, Darren Borgen, Jason Curtiss, Misty Brookman, Kendall Gislason, Zane McCaffree and Shane McCaffree in addition to nine great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Viewing was Thursday, Aug. 4 from 4-8 p.m. at Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls. Private burial was Friday, August 5 at Glacier Memorial Gardens. A memorial service followed at 4 p.m. at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Columbia Falls. Memorials may be made to Our Saviors Lutheran Church or to the donor's choice.
Darlene Amaline Gardner
Darlene Amaline Gardner, 71, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, August 2. She met the Lord in her sleep.
Darlene was born on July 5, 1934, in Crosby, N. D. to Anton and Carrie Madeline Sandberg. She married Alfred Gardner on November 28, 1959, in Williston, N.D.
Alfred and Darlene moved to Columbia Falls in 1964. She lived in her current home from 1965 until the time of her passing. Over the years, she had 23 foster children come through her home.
Darlene's life ambition was to lead girls to Jesus Christ. The last 26 years of her life Darlene taught first and second grade girls at Christian Center and Columbia Falls Assembly of God.
Her life touched many as her interests were vast. She was the President of Church Women Reunited, a Campfire leader for 10 years, a Girl Scout leader for 20 years, an avid seamstress, Klothes Kloset volunteer, loving wife and attentive grandma.
She is survived by her husband, Alfred Gardner; daughter, Lorie Bailey and grandson, Bill Bailey.
Memorial services will be held at Christian Center, 255 Summit Ridge Drive in Kalispell, on Friday, August 12th at 11 a.m.
She will be remembered for her selfless service for Jesus Christ and passion for ministry.
Columbia Mortuary is caring for her family.
William David "Dave" Brewer
William David "Dave" Brewer Jr., of Lakeside and Glacier Park died peacefully of natural causes on Friday evening June 17 in his own home in Lakeside, at age 94. He was the son of the late William D. Brewer and Elizabeth G. Brewer of Pittsburgh, Pa. and husband to the late Jacqueline C. Brewer.
Dave Brewer was born August 27, 1910 and was a graduate of Peabody High School in Pittsburgh, Pa. and graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania n 1932 where he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
In 1940 he joined Transcontinental and Western Air (later to become TWA) in Kansas City, Mo. During World War II he was a member of the Air Transport Command, service in Brazil, Africa and Scotland to arrange supply routes for the Allies. He married Jac Creaser on August 28, 1943 in Kansas City.
They moved to Falls Church and then McLean, Virginia where he became interested in growing azaleas. He spent the rest of his career with TWA in their Washington D.C. offices working on route development. He retired as the Senior Director of Regulatory Proceedings after 35 years. Mr. Brewer was particularly known as the architect of TWA's trans-Atlantic route system.
In 1975 he and his wife moved to Lakeside where they built a home. He was the treasurer of his homeowner's association for many years. They spent their summers at his wife's family cabin in Glacier Park on Lake McDonald. Mr. Brewer was an amateur actor, woodworker and cabinet maker, bridge player, hiker, community volunteer, Audubon enthusiast, and supporter and active member of many environmental organizations.
Mr. Brewer is survived by a daughter, Beth (Jonathan) Spatz of Allison Park, Pa. and one son, Bill (DeeAnn Hall) Brewer of Eugene, Ore., 6 grandchildren and a sister, Margaret B. Dowler of Oakmont, Pa.
Contributions can be made to the Glacier Fund, P. O. Box 14, West Glacier, MT 59936 or at ww.glacierfund.org. Cremation arrangements were handled by Johnson Mortuary & Crematory in Kalispell.
Lucas James Floren
Lucas James Floren, 21, of Whitefish and formerly of Havre, died in a motorcycle accident between Kalispell and Whitefish, July 30, 2005.
Luke was born on Dec. 10, 1983, in Havre, and graduated from Havre High School. Luke entered the U.S. Marine Corps and graduated in the honor platoon in San Diego, Calif.
Luke moved to Key Largo, Fla., and worked as an employee of David Davis Electric from July 2002 to March 2005. He also attended the Florida Keys Community College. In April 2005, Luke returned to Montana and began working for Peter's Electric in Kalispell. Luke enjoyed fine arts, music, motorcycling, snowboarding, pool, golfing, rafting, canoeing, fishing and hunting.
Luke is survived by his mother, Kay MacKenzie; and brother, Michael Floren, of Key Largo; along with his father, Raymond and Gloria Floren of Havre; grandmother, Lora MacKenzie Lachelt of Whitefish; aunts, Gwen Lachelt of Durango, Colo., and Karen and Ken Bigelow of Columbia Falls; uncles, Mike and Virginia Lachelt of Wasilla, Alaska, Rod Floren of Kalispell, Ric and Denise Floren of Havre, Robert and Vonda Floren of Havre; many step-siblings and uncles, great aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Luke was preceded in death by his grandparents, Clyde and Evie Floren, Michael Griffith and DeWayne Lachelt.
Cremation has taken place and memorial services were held on Tuesday, Aug. 2, at the Buffalo Hill Funeral Home, and will also be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, at the Fifth Avenue Christian Church, Havre, with burial following in the Calvary Cemetery.
Luke will be always be remembered for his artistic abilities, musical talent and work ethic; but mostly for his eagerness to help others.