Alvin Reid

Alvin W. Reid, 86, a lifetime resident of Columbia Falls, died at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls on Feb. 6, 2005, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was surrounded by family at the time of his passing.

He was born Aug. 15, 1918, in Columbia Falls, where he graduated from high school and remained until the time of his death. Al married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy LaVoy, on Aug. 12, 1939. Together, they raised four children.

Alvin's family moved into the Flathead Valley in the 1800s. The North Fork was the playground for Al and his three brothers. From the time he was a small boy until the time that he was unable to hike the back hills, Al enjoyed the familiarity of the North Fork's splendor.

In 1968, Alvin and Dorothy built a cabin on Spoon Lake that was his pride and joy. He and his family spent countless hours enjoying the cabin, and he spent much of his free time preparing for the many friends and family that he welcomed there.

Alvin started piling lumber at F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber as a teenager. He fell trees with a crosscut saw with his partner, Lou Kollenborn. He served as a Marine during World War II. Upon his return from the military, he began a lifelong career in the lumber industry, which included 35 years as the general manager of Rocky Mountain Lumber. Al was an active member of the Columbia Falls Volunteer Fire Department. He retired in 1981, enjoying more than 20 years at his home and cabin that he treasured.

He is preceded in death by his father and mother; three brothers, Ray, Jim and Bob; two sisters, Min and Hope; his beloved wife Dorothy; and two sons, Alvin "Danny" and infant son Leroy. 

He is survived by daughters, Peggy Driscoll and husband, Mike, Karla Armstrong and husband, Brad, both of Columbia Falls, and Lorrie Larson, of Phoenix, Ariz.; nine grandchildren, Mike Driscoll, Michelle Whitaker, Lisa DeWaters, Stephanie Henjum, Jon Reid, Gabriel and Sarah Armstrong, and Kate and Kalen Larson; nine great grandchildren; and many, many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 10, 2005, at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls, with Rev. David Jones officiating. Interment will follow at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be given to the Columbia Falls Fire Department or the Wildcat Endowment Fund.

Robert Volesky

Robert Joseph Volesky, 78, of Helena, died Feb. 2, 2005, from complications of multiple sclerosis at St. Peter's Hospital. His wife of 57 years, children and grandchildren surrounded him.

Robert was born Feb. 20, 1926, in New Hradec, N.D., to Joseph F. and Mary (Karsky) Volesky. He was the second of 12 children and was raised on a farm north of Dickinson, N.D. Robert attended Saints Peter and Paul Catholic School in New Hradec. He was drafted into the military in 1945 and served as a naval aviation mechanic until he was honorably discharged in 1946.

After he was discharged he married the love of his life, Clara Ann Buresh, on Oct. 6, 1947. Robert and Clara moved to the Buresh family farm northeast of Belfield, ND. They farmed and ranched there until they retired in 1981.

Robert was involved in many community and agricultural endeavors. He was a school board member for two terms, a lifetime member of the Catholic Workman as well as the Knights of Columbus. His pride and joy was his prize-winning registered Angus cattle. He won the pen-lot heifer class three years in a row. He was also very well known for his horsemanship. Robert and Clara also ran a dairy and small grains operation for 30 years.

After being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, they retired from the ranch and moved to Columbia Falls for 12 years. Robert enjoyed woodworking and built many beautiful wood projects. They moved to Billings in 1993 and then to Helena in 1998.

His parents precede him in death.

Robert is survived by his wife Clara and eight children, Marvin (Nancy), of Billings, Carol (Jeff) Butsch, of Albuquerque, N.M., Annette (Tom) Goicoechea, of Hailey, Idaho, Marian (Howard) Ficek, of Columbia Falls, Jeff (Ida), of Wyndmere, N.D., Kathy (Steve) Ilse, of Bismarck, N.D., Denice, of Helena, and Doug (Joannie), of Helena; 24 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren; seven brothers, Charles (Pat), Edwin (Irene), and Tony, all of Dickinson, N.D., Bill (Marcia), of Ft. Collins, Colo., Alfred (Cele), of Helena, Francis (Sue), of Warrensburg, Mo., and Joe (Linda) of Huron, S.D.; and four sisters, Ella Sadowsky, Marian Froehlich and Bridget (Tom) Glaser, all of Dickinson, N.D., and Dorothy (Herman) Hauck, of Billings.

Mass of Christian burial took place Feb. 5, 2005, at the SS Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in East Helena. Interment with military honors took place at the Montana State Veteran Cemetery at Fort Harrison.

Memorials in Robert's memory may be sent to SS. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Parish at P.O. Box 1110, East Helena MT 59635..

Paul Lawrence

Paul Lawrence, 78, died Feb. 2, 2005, at his childhood home on Conrad Drive in Kalispell, surrounded by his family.

He was born Dec. 5, 1926, in Mt. Vernon, S.D., to Jesse and Marie (Wagner) Lawrence. He moved to the Flathead Valley with his family in 1936. He attended Kalispell schools, graduating from Flathead High School in 1944.

After graduation he went into the V12 Naval Officer Training Program. He entered the service again during the Korean War, serving in the Brooke-Army Medical Center Band. After discharge from military service he resumed his position at the Kalispell Post Office, working there until his retirement.

Paul loved music. He played many instruments in his lifetime. His greatest love being the tuba, of which he was unequaled in our area. He was a charter member of the Flathead Valley Community Band, the BrassWerks, the Rocky Mountain Rhythm Kings, and the Big Horn Trio. He had performed with the Glacier Orchestra and Chorale, the Flathead ValleyAires, the Mendelssohn Club Men's Chorus of Missoula, various barbershop quartets, and the Trosdorf Maintaler Blaskappelle in Trosdorf, Germany.

He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother, George; and his grandparents, Tom and Panzy Wagner, and John and Edna Lawrence.

He is survived by his devoted wife of 43 years, Barbara Lawrence, of Kalispell; three daughters, Gayle Hoehn and husband, John, and children, Kirsten and Kevin, of Belgrade, Paulette Yee and husband, Gary, and their daughter, Emma, of Kalispell, and Susan Wiens and husband, Stuart, and children, Ryan, Kari and Travis, of Boulder, Colo.; one son, Neil Lawrence and wife, Sheila, and sons, Jason, Casey and Jonathon, of Boise, Idaho; his brother, Don Lawrence and wife, Barbara, of Columbia Falls; his sister, Shirley Cardew and husband, Cal, of Portland, Ore.; two nephews Jim Bachofner and wife, Josee, and sons, Eric and Philipe, and David Lawrence and daughter, Sandra; and nieces Tracy Jones and Rebecca Bekkedahl, and husband Randy.

Memorial services for Paul Lawrence were held Feb. 5, 2005, at Central Christian Church. Interment will be celebrated at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery later this summer.

The family suggests donations be made to the Masonic Lodge, P.O. Box 42, Kalispell MT 59901; Hospice Home Health Options, 175 Commons Loop, Suite 100, Kalispell MT 59901; the American Cancer Society; or a charity of your choice.

Walter Howell

Walter Lynn Howell died Jan. 19, 2005, in Garden Grove, Calif. He was born Jan. 29, 1921, to Elmer C. and Minnie M. (Johnston) Howell at the family home in the Deer Park area south of Columbia Falls.

He graduated from eighth grade at Deer Park School and attended Flathead County High School for a short time. In early 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the South Pacific during World War II.

He married Koma "K" A. LeClair Nov. 1, 1942, at Boulder City, Nev. They had three children, Geneva L. (stillborn) Gary M. and Francee J. They lived and worked in the Los Angeles, Calif., area.

Walter was an avid fisherman and enjoyed this pastime even more after retiring until health problems limited his activity.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife K; brothers Mern, Ross and Leonard; and sisters Shirley Howell and Jean Johns.

He is survived by his children, Gary, of Yorba Linda, Calif., and Francee Taylor, of Fullerton, Calif.; granddaughters Samantha and Amy; grandson Kristen; great granddaughter Kristen; great grandsons Levi, Addicus and Odin; sisters Idella Stalcup, Ruby Howard and Blanche Hoyt, all of Kalispell, Iva Mae Stryker, of Columbia Falls, and Jessie Wunderlich, of Valier; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins in Montana and various other states.

A gathering of friends and relatives was held at his home Jan. 23 to celebrate and remember his life.