William C. “Bill” Malone

passed away peacefully May 7, 2007 in Kalispell, Montana after a brief illness. He was 88.

Bill was born on March 24th, 1919 in Chicago, IL, to Gertrude (Taro) and Alphonse Malone. Growing up in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and Monclova, Mexico he later moved to Bristol, IN where he spent most of his life. He was a member of St. Mary’s of the Annunciation Parish in Bristol. Bill moved to Bigfork, MT in late 2006 to be closer to his children.

In 1951 he married his wife of 56 years, Elizabeth “Liz” Atkins. They lived on a small farm in Bristol for 56 years.

He is a graduate of McGill University in Montreal, Canada and a magna cum laude graduate of Notre Dame Law School in South Bend, IN. His professional career included work as a corporate attorney and a marketing and communications executive and consultant.

Bill had a lifelong love of dogs and horses which he passed on to his children. At their W.E. Farm, he was involved in the training and racing of standardbred horses for over 50 years. His passion for both family and animals was evident in some of his horse names; Mike Me Boy, Lil’ Mary Sunshine, Here Comes Lizzy and Three Dollar Bill.

He was known for his sharp mind and creative wit and put that gift to work as a writer and poet. His work was published in many magazines.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Lenore and brother John Robert.

Bill is survived by his wife Elizabeth of Bigfork, MT; son Michael and wife Sharon and beloved granddaughter McKenzie all of Portland, OR; daughter Mary Bryan and husband Steve of Bigfork, MT; niece Mary Lenore Malone of Austin, TX and his dear pal, yellow lab, “Kate”.

At Bill’s request, there are no services planned at this time. The family suggests that any memorial contributions be sent to the William C. Malone Memorial Scholarship for Poetry and Writing Fund at LaSalle High School, Attn: Denise Jones, 11999 S.E. Fuller Road, Milwaukie, OR 97222 or to Home Options Hospice, 175 Commons Loop, Suite 100, Kalispell, MT 59901.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Bill’s family. You are invited to go to johnsonmortuary.com to offer condolences and sign Bill’s guest book.

Kenneth Leroy Miller, age 78

passed away on Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at his residence in Dayton, Montana; after a long illness of COPD, heart failure and cancer. He was born on March 13, 1929 at Aredale, Iowa the son of George Harry and Martha (Timmer) Miller.

He joined the US Air Force and was stationed at Fairchild Air Base in Spokane, Washington. While in Spokane he met Elaine Harms. After a tour of duty in Guam and Japan, he returned to Spokane and he and Elaine were married on August 5, 1950.

Ken started his career as a desk salesman for North Robbins Plywood (which later merged with Georgia Pacific Corp.) Ken was an outside salesman for Georgia Pacific in the Washington Tri-Cities area, branch manager in Great Falls, MT and retired from Georgia Pacific after 25 years in Spokane, WA.

Upon retirement, he and Elaine moved to Kalispell, MT and oversaw the construction of their home on their lot on Flathead Lake, doing all of the interior work. He also enjoyed fishing and boating, ect.

In 1980, Ken purchased the Yary Sports Photography franchise for this area and later built his own business….Crown Sports Photography, selling it and retiring again and returning to the lake in 1998.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Holda Dolaney and Grace Miller and brothers, Wilbur, Archie and Harold Miller.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Elaine M. Miller of Dayton, Montana and a brother Clarence Miller of Lusby, Maryland.

Graveside services for Kenneth were held on Monday, May 14, 2007 at 2 p.m. at Conrad Memorial Cemetery with Pastor David Anson officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the United Veterans of the Flathead. There will be no visitation.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Kenneth’s family. You are invited to go to johnsonmortuary.com to offer condolences and sign Kenneth’s guest book.

Jean Marlene Saubert , age 65

The whole world lost a real trooper early Monday morning, May 14, 2007, when Jean Marlene Saubert , age 65, of Bigfork, Montana passed away in her sleep after a battle royal with breast cancer. Jean was born May 1, 1942 in Roseburg, Oregon to Jack and Lila Mae “Bobbie” (Jones) Saubert of Tiller.

Her father was a U.S. forester who moved frequently. Jean spent her elementary school days in Cascadia, Oregon, and then graduated as valedictorian from Lakeview High School in 1960.

Jean spent the next six years pursuing her dream of becoming an Olympic skier while also getting her BS degree from Oregon State University. She was selected to the US Ski Team in 1962 thru 1966, and won a Silver Medal in giant slalom and a Bronze Medal in slalom events at the 1964 Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. After competing in Chile, she took a teaching job in the newly opened Vail, Colorado elementary school, teaching Kindergarten through 8th grade. She then moved to Salt Lake City where she taught elementary school for seven years before getting her Master’s degree at Brigham Young University. She then taught at BYU for three years.

The rest of her professional adult life was spent positively influencing hundreds of young lives in elementary schools and LDS churches in Hillsboro, Oregon. She retired in May 2000 and spent some time in Australia enjoying the summer Olympics there. She moved back to Salt Lake to donate her time and energies to the Winter Olympics hosted there in 2002. She then moved to Bigfork, Montana, where she has overwhelmingly become entrenched in the community by volunteering at local elementary schools, participating fully at the local LDS church and enjoying the Eagle Bend golf course where she was president of the ladies golf association. Anyone who knew her loved her!

She is survived by her sister, Joan Cummings, and Terry Cummings who own the Mountain Trader and live in Bigfork, Montana and Rio Verde, Arizona. Terry and Joan express sincere appreciation to all her church family, golf buddies and neighbors for all the love and support during Jean’s challenges.

Funeral Services for Jean Marlene Saubert will be held Wednesday, May 16, 2007 at 4:00 PM at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Chapel(LDS) in Bigfork, Montana with interment in Pacific Sunset cemetery in Florence, Oregon, where her parents, grandparents and great-grandparents are buried. The family suggests you please consider donations to your local hospice or American Cancer Society.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Jean’s family. You are invited to go to johnsonmortuary.com to offer condolences and sign Jean’s guest book.