Wilma Jean Casterline

Wilma Jean Casterline of Columbia Falls, died Saturday, Aug. 4, 2007, at the North Valley Hospital in Whitefish.

She was born Oct. 18, 1927 to Charles and Ellen Logan (Sundelius) in Kalispell, where she was raised and educated.

Wilma graduated from Kalispell High School in 1945. After attending telegraphy school, she worked as a telegrapher for the railroad in many Montana towns. On Dec. 5, 1948, she married Donald Warner Casterline. They moved to Los Angeles and lived there for two years. They then moved to Washington state and remained there for a few years before settling permanently in Columbia Falls, where they farmed. A daughter, Jean Ellen was born on Jan. 4, 1955 and a son, Lyle David, was born April 1, 1962.

She was a very active member of the United Methodist Church in Columbia Falls, where she sang in the choir. In addition, she was involved with the Church Women United, the Community Concert Board and the Badrock Election Board. She worked in the County Assessor's Office for a number of years. Wilma was on the Flathead Electric Cooperative Board for 26 years and received a plaque in 1997 for 25 years of service to the Montana Rural Electric Cooperative and the National Rural Electric Program.

Wilma was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Ellen Logan, and her brother, Dean Logan.

She is survived by her husband, Don Casterline of Columbia Falls; her daughter and son-in-law, Jean and Kevin Pulsifer; grandsons, Gregory and Eric Pulsifer of Ashland, Mass.; her son, Lyle Casterline of Las Vegas, Nev.; brother-in-law, Roger Casterline of Emerald Hills, Calif.; sister-in-law, Eleanor Logan of Lewiston, Idaho; nieces, Judy Kraft of Sebastopol, Calif., and Carla Vargas of Emerald City, Calif. She also had many beloved cousins and extended family members.

A visitation was at the Columbia Mortuary on Wednesday, Aug. 15.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, Aug. 16, at 11 a.m. at the Columbia Falls United Methodist Church. Reverend David Merkel will officiate. Burial follows at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls. A reception will follow the burial at the United Methodist Church. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.

The family suggests that memorials be made to the Columbia Falls United Methodist Church, 117 Second Street West, Columbia Falls, MT 59912 or World Vision, P.O. Box 78481, Tacoma, Wash. 98481-8481.

John Miles Kessinger

John Kessinger, 61, passed away Sunday, Aug. 12, 2007, at his home in Columbia Falls surrounded by family and friends. He had been struggling with COPD and asthma for months.

John was born July 26, 1946, in Eureka, to John and Edna Kessinger. He married Karen Kay Fortin Dec. 30, 1967.

John graduated from Whitefish High School in 1965. He then joined the Army and served a tour in Viet Nam. After his tour of duty, he worked for a short time at the Flathead Tunnel near Libby. He then went to work at the Anaconda Aluminum plant as a brick mason. He retired in 1993 after working there for 25 years.

He enjoyed many outdoor activities including hunting, fishing, boating, camping, and water skiing. John enjoyed traveling which included taking cruises in the Caribbean and trips to Mexico with family and friends. He liked woodworking which included building things for his family along with building two houses for himself and Karen. John also helped others build their houses or remodel them. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family and friends in the great outdoors.

He was preceded in death by his father, John Sr., his mother, Edna, and his brother, James.

He is survived by his wife, Karen; his sister, Rosalie and husband Stan of Stevensville; daughters Wendy Caldwell and her husband Steve of Columbia Falls, and Michelle Pullen and her husband Jim of Central Point, Ore. He had six grandchildren, Curtis, Seth, Jesse and Jamie Caldwell; Natali Kessinger and Zackary Becker, and his brothers-in-law, Gary Fortin and Larry Fortin and his wife Erna and their family. He is also survived by his very special friends Ron and Vickie Lamoreaux and family.

Memorial services are 10 a.m. Saturday at Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls. Family friend Jeff Lamoreaux will officiate.

We want to thank everyone who helped ease John's passing, your friendship meant the world to him.

Juanita Katherine "Billye" Beatty

Juanita Katherine "Billye" Beatty, 89, died Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007 at Riverside Senior Living in Whitefish.

Billye was born in San Francisco, Calif., on Oct. 31, 1917 to Joseph and Catherine (Murray) Sharer. When she was 4, her family moved to Shelton, Wash. She received her education in Shelton, graduating in 1935, and subsequently attended business school in Seattle.

She met Howard Beatty in 1942 while he was stationed at Ft. Lewis, Wash. They were married on April 17, 1943. She worked in Los Angeles during WW II. After the war she and Howard moved to Great Falls where their oldest son, Pat, was born. In 1948, the family moved to Whitefish where Kathy, Judy and Jay were born.

Billye went to work outside the home as a bookkeeper in Whitefish and Kalispell. In 1964, she began working for DePratu Ford and was there until she retired in 1977.

After she retired, Billye was introduced to weaving and it became her passion.

Howard and Billye spent their winters in Yuma, Ariz.when they both retired. After Howard's death in 1983, Billye continued her journeys until 1985 when she moved to Yuma permanently. In 2000, she moved to Columbia Falls to be near her daughter, Kathy.

Billye was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Olive; brother, Al; and her husband, Howard.

She is survived by her children, Patrick and Lillian Beatty of Albuquerque, N.M.; Kathleen and Carl Thomas of Columbia Falls; Judy and Ron Haraseth of South Daytona, Fla.; and Jay Beatty and Charles Ringer of San Francisco, Calif.; her five grandchildren, Sue, Ben, Matt, Amparo and Noelle; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Her family expresses its gratitude to the staff of Riverside Senior Living for the loving care Mom received while she lived there. They also are very appreciative of the Hospice community for their care and thoughtfulness.

A celebration of Billye's life was held on Tuesday, Aug. 14 at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in Columbia Falls with the Rev. Canon Bradley Wirth officiating. A reception followed at the church.

Memorials in Billye's name may be given to Home Options Hospice, 175 Commons Loop #100, Kalispell, MT 59901 or All Saints' Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 1923, Whitefish, MT 59937.

Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish is in charge of the arrangements.