Jay Stephens

Jay Stephens, 80, passed away on Feb. 1, 2008, in Whitefish.

He was born May 7, 1927, in Wheeling, W.Va., to Floyd and Ethel (Henthorn) Stephens.

After attending school in Vienna, W.Va., Jay enlisted in the Army. He served as a sergeant for four years in Germany, then he returned to his parents' new home in Clyde Park just long enough to secure a job and enough time off to return to Vienna to pick up his bride-to-be, Betty Winans.

Following a brief wedding service on Sept.. 22, 1953, they were on the road to their new home in Eastern Montana.

After moving several times, Jay and Betty, along with their four children, settled in Missoula, where Jay worked for Share Corporation. They made their last move to the Flathead Valley in 1987.

Jay is survived by his wife Betty; son Russ; daughters Diana Craft and husband Larry, Rhonda Stephens, and Robin Stephens and husband Bill Nipps; granddaughters Mandy Townsley, of Missoula, and Amber Townsley and Emily and Sarah Dempsey, of the Flathead.

In lieu of services and flowers, the public is invited to join the "Coffee Clutch" group at the Pin and Cue in Whitefish, on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 9 a.m. to noon, to reminisce and honor a much beloved and sorely missed husband, father, opa/papa and friend.