Raymond Covill

Raymond W. Covill died at age 95 on Feb. 9, 2005, at Heritage Place Nursing Home in Kalispell after a struggle with Alzheimer's disease.

Ray was born on June 6, 1909, in Pittsburg, N.H., one of five sons of Maude and Grant Covill. Ray married Ruth Patenaude in 1929 and they had three sons, Daniel, Wade and William.

Ray was a logger, woods guide and poultryman among many occupations he held during the Depression and World War II. Later he worked at Royal Business Forms in Nashua, N.H., until he retired in 1972 and moved to Montana.

Ray was always known for his sense of humor and enthusiasm for living. He loved music and learned to play the piano to accompany his older brother Clyde, who played the fiddle. After retiring, Ray began playing the fiddle himself with the Montana Old-Time Fiddlers.

Ray and Ruth enjoyed working on their vegetable and flower garden on their property outside of Columbia Falls. They also loved the outdoors and camping, and Ray was an enthusiastic fly fisherman. For years, Ray was a member of a Christian group and has many dear friends among its members.

Ruth was in poor health for many years, and Ray cared for her devotedly. After her death in 1989, he divided his time between his home in Montana and the home of his son Wade, and he was able to make some much anticipated trips to visit his many relatives in New Hampshire.

Ray is survived by three sons, Daniel and wife Mardi, of San Diego, Wade and wife Carol, of Columbia Falls, and William, of Kalispell; five grandchildren, Laurie, Lee and Stuart and wife Alicia, of San Diego, David and wife Jeny, of Columbia Falls, and Marilyn and husband Kerry Haymaker, of Nashville, Tenn.; and eight great grandchildren.

Burial has taken place at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls. A memorial service will be scheduled at a future time when family and friends can gather to celebrate his life.

Margaret Hering

Margaret F. "Marge" (Lacock) Hering, 80, of Livingston, died at Evergreen Livingston Health and Rehabilitation Center on Feb. 10, 2005.

Marge was born May 11, 1924, in Hurdsfield, N.D., the daughter of Jesse L. and Blanche (Weckerly) Lacock. That same year, the family moved to Hinsdale, where Marge attended rural grade schools. She graduated from Hinsdale High School in 1942.

In 1943, she married Alden K. Hering, and they were later divorced. Then in 1964, she married Arnold Schuler, and they were also later divorced. In 1976, she married Hal Newell. He preceded her in death in 1980. In 1986, Marge married Albert Ziegeldorf and they were divorced in 1992.

Marge held many jobs, including working in school maintenance at the College of Great Falls, Libby and Hinsdale. For two years, she did motel work in Glacier National Park, cleaning for many people and baby-sitting for pre-school children. She also was a live-in caretaker for a time and did personal-care attendant work for West Mont in Livingston. For a time she managed Livingston Senior Citizens Center.

Marge's hobbies included fishing, camping, bowling, quilting, playing bingo, dancing, playing cards and gardening. She greatly enjoyed country western music.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Myrtle Lacock.

Survivors include four sons, Alvin Dallas (Aleta) Hering, of Livingston, Gene LeRoy "Roy" (Bernie) Hering, of Great Falls, Terry James (Alma) Hering, of Glasgow, and Anthony Carl "Tony" (Becky) Hering, in Oregon; four brothers, Jesse Lacock, of Saco, Sherman Lacock, of Hinsdale, and Forrest Lacock and Ardon Lacock, in Washington; 11 grandchildren; 12 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Cremation has taken place at Franzen-Davis Crematory. Graveside committal services and burial took place Feb. 14, 2005, in the Hill View Cemetery at Hinsdale.

Margery Winter

Margery Inez "Margie" Winter, 66, of Kalispell, passed away Feb. 5, 2005, from complications following cancer surgery, in Seattle.

She was born July 23, 1938, at home on the family farm in Sheyenne, N.D., to Knute and Gunhild (Rue) Strand.

After graduating from high school, she married and moved to Montana, living several years in Somers. They were later divorced.

In 1973, she married William "Bumps" Winter and moved to Kalispell, where they lived together until her passing.

Margie enjoyed adorning her Victorian home with cozy and cheerful decorations. Her passion was counted cross-stitching, and her home is full of her beautiful stitched pictures. She also enjoyed her flower garden, garage sales, playing Keno and dining out with her husband, and she was a great bargain shopper. She took pride in her appearance and enjoyed shopping for and wearing stylish clothes.

Margie was a strong woman who had bravely battled and won a previous bout with cancer. She knew how precious life was, and she lived every day to the fullest. She was generous and caring, and she brought so much joy to those who knew her. She will be missed by those whose lives she had touched. She will be always remembered for her strong spirit and she will be thought of often.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Marvin; and her sister, Elmyra Longnecker.

She is survived by her beloved husband, of almost 32 years, Bumps; four daughters, Deborah Robinson and husband, Herb, of Columbia Falls; Cindy Pilcher and husband, Lloyd, of Seattle, Lori Nelson and husband, Jim, of Spokane, and Tammy Bohland and husband, Darin, of Kalispell; one son, Terry Peterson, of Kalispell; nine grandchildren, Timothy, Jenny, Matthew, Nicole, Trist'n, Danny, Heather, Eric and Austin; her husband's children, Della Kienas, of Kalispell, Sandie Winter, of Phoenix, Ariz., and Robert Winter and wife, Debbie, of Colorado, with six grandchildren, William, Robbie, Travis, Jackie Jo, Jerry Lee, and Tyler; two brothers, Milton Strand and wife, Solveig, of Sheyenne, and Rodney Strand and wife, Sheila, of North Platte, Neb.; and one sister, Gwen Sheldon, of Coon Rapids, Minn.

Memorial services for Margery Inez Winter were held Feb. 11, 2005, at Johnson Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Ron Pierce officiating. A gathering after the service will be held at William "Bumps" Winter's home in Kalispell.

William Hoppe

William F. Hoppe, of Whitefish, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Feb. 9, 2005. He passed away as a result of congestive heart failure at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.

Bill was born in Havre Feb. 6, 1919. He was the oldest of six children born to Carl and Elizabeth Hoppe. He attended schools in Havre and worked in in his father's coal mine and on construction until he was inducted in the Army and served in the European conflict.

He married his wife Erma on March 4, 1942. Two weeks after their wedding, Bill was inducted in the Army. He took part in the invasion of Germany and received an honorable discharge as a staff sergeant in June 1945. He joined his family and they lived in Havre until they moved to Martin City in July 1946. They lived there while Bill worked at the local lumber mills. In October 1974, Bill and Erma moved to Whitefish.

He had always been an avid hunter and fisherman and was well known for his success in both. He loved nature and wildlife and got great joy out of feeding the ducks and geese in front of his home on the Whitefish River.

Bill was an active member of the Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod and had been a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church for the past 48 years. His Christian faith was of great comfort to him He worked at Superior Lumber Co. from 1960-1984 as the set-up man. Following his retirement, he delivered Meals on Wheels from 1984-98 and did this service with great pleasure.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his daughter Marcia Longacre; his granddaughter Marie; and his brothers Robert and Carl.

He is survived by his wife Erma; a daughter, Janet, and son-in-law Jim Cash, of Missoula; a son, Bill, and daughter-in-law Peggy, of Columbia Falls; son-in-law Darol Longacre ,of Frenchtown; granddaughter Gail Baker and husband, Chan; grandson Stephen Megaard and wife Cassie and great grandchildren, Tyler, Brittney, Kali, Alex, Austin and Megan; two brothers, Frank, of Havre, and Walter, of Spokane, Wash.; a sister, Helen Murphy, of Centerpoint, Texas; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held Feb. 12, 2005, at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Columbia Falls with Pastor Terry Forke officiating.

The family suggests memorials be made to the American Heart Association or Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.