Edna Newton

Edna Louise Newton, 70, passed away Monday, June 23, 2008, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

She was born Edna Louise Goldsmith on Sept. 16, 1937, in Garber, Okla., to Orville and Opal Goldsmith. Edna grew up in Billings, Okla., and graduated from high school in 1956. Edna then met Ronald Arlen Newton from Polson and they were married on Dec. 29 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Edna and Ron lived in Polson and Plains, and then moved to Columbia Falls in 1965.

Edna attended beautician school in Kalispell and worked as a beautician in Columbia Falls for many years, while also working as a devoted and loving homemaker, wife and mother, in addition to also serving as Ron's log trucking business bookkeeper.

Edna enjoyed family camping trips, square dancing, playing pinochle with friends, numerous artistic activities, gardening and family gatherings.

Edna was very giving of her time and volunteered in clubs and activities including: Home Options Hospice, Retired Seniors Volunteer Program Kitchen Band, the Flathead Valley Square and Round Dancers Clubs, and Montana Women in Timber.

Edna was preceded in death by her brother, James Goldsmith, in January 2008.

She is survived by her husband, Ron; sons, Ronald Eugene and Donald Alan; daughters-in-law, Tani and Bernadette; grandchildren, Lisel, Alan, Kristi, Katie and Hunter; great-grandson, Hayden; and brother, David Goldsmith of Oklahoma City.

Family and friends are invited to a memorial service Sunday, June 29 at 2 p.m. at the United Methodist Church, 117 Second St. W. in Columbia Falls. A reception will follow in the church parish hall.

Private interment will take place at Woodland Cemetery in Columbia Falls at a later time.

Robert Frauson

Robert N. Frauson, 84, of Columbia Falls passed away on June 20, 2008. At the time of his death he was living at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell, where he received loving care.

Bob was born in Mahwah, N.J., in 1924. At age 19 he joined the U.S. Army, 10th Mountain Division (86-A), and served in the mountains of Italy during World War II.

After graduating from Colorado State University in 1951 he taught junior high school industrial arts in Greeley, Colo. He began his National Park Service career at Devils Tower National Monument, then worked for more than 10 years as a Longs Peak climbing ranger in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. While there he met and married Ann Davis and together they had two daughters, Deb and Karen. In 1962 the family moved to St. Mary Ranger Station in Glacier National Park, where they lived for the next 20 years.

As a ranger, Bob was involved in emergency services and resource protection for the east side of Glacier National Park. He retired in 1982 as the Hudson Bay District Ranger for Glacier National Park. In retirement, Bob and Ann moved to the Flathead Valley where Bob became active with Glacier Nordic Ski Club. He also volunteered with the disabled ski program at Big Mountain. Bob's passions included his family, friends, skiing, hiking and silversmithing.

Bob is survived by Ann Frauson, his wife and life partner of 50 years; daughters Deb Frauson and Karen Frauson of Grand Teton National Park; brother Jack "Swede" Frauson (wife Joy) of Raleigh, N.C.; sister-in-law Barbara Frauson (son Bruce) of Conyngham, Penn.; cousins Ed Carroll and family of Ft. Collins, Colo., and Marie L'Heureux of Central Valley, N.Y., and her family; and brother-in-law Jack Davis (wife Bobbie) of Green Valley, Ariz., and their families. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Minnie Frauson, of Mahwah, N.J., and brother Bill Frauson of Conyngham, Penn.

A celebration of Bob's life will be held at the Lake McDonald Lodge Auditorium on July 19 from 1:30 to 4 p.m. All of his friends are invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to: Search and Rescue Fund, Glacier National Park, P.O. Box 128, West Glacier, MT 59936.

Oren Barnhart

Oren "OJB" Joseph Barnhart, 89, of Kalispell, passed into the arms of his Savior Jesus Christ with his wife and family at his side on Tuesday, June 24, 2008 after a brief stay at Brendan House in Kalispell.

He was born the fifth of 10 children to Roy and Ellen Barnhart on Jan. 14, 1919 in Fairview. Oren moved to this area in 1945 to assist in the construction of the Hungry Horse Dam and later moved to Columbia Falls to work at the Anaconda Aluminum plant.

Along with four of his brothers, Oren joined the Army in 1941 and served as a medic and truck driver during WWII. Following his discharge, he married Ella Hanson of Fairview in 1945 and later married Roberta Mitchell Zeier of Anaconda in 1981.

Oren is survived by his wife of 27 years, Roberta "Bobbie" Mitchell Zeier and five children: Verlaine Van Atta and husband, Clint, of Billings; Gayle Reeves and husband, Chuck, of Columbia Falls; Vicki Eggan and husband, Roger, of Jacksonville, FL; Kris Zeier of Kalispell; Scott Zeier and wife, Vickie, of Missoula; brother Glenn Barnhart and wife, Mary, of Portland, Ore.; sister Bessie Faries of Mena, Ariz.; sister-in-law Irene Barnhart, wife of Raymond Barnhart, of Columbia Falls; brother Leland Barnhart and wife, Ileta, of Portland; brother Neil Barnhart and wife, Jennie, of Griffin, Ga.; plus grandchildren Greg, Jeff and Jamie Van Atta; Angela Hopkins, Matt and Chet Hoerner and Chuck Reeves; Jason and Kristen Eggen; Hollie and Lindsey Zeier; 11 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Oren was preceded in death by his first wife, Ella, in 1977; his sister, Esther; and brothers Curtis, Irvin, Floyd and Raymond.

Oren and Bobbie lived in Columbia Falls until Oren's retirement in 1982, then spent several years RVing around the United States, and settled in Kalispell in 1992. They have been active members of Faith Free Lutheran Church and the VFW Post 5650 helping with many projects for the community.

Even though Oren's patriarchal duties have ended, his family holds him in the highest regard for his gentleness, honesty, dependability, inner strength and commitment to family. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend and a Christian model to the many people who knew and loved him.

A memorial service for Oren was held at Faith Free Lutheran Church at 405 Liberty St. in Kalispell on Friday, June 27 followed by a luncheon and a military inurnment at the Woodland Cemetery in Columbia Falls.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials for Oren be sent to Faith Free Lutheran Church for the building fund or the charity of choice.

Please visit Web site www.buffalohillfh.com to leave condolences. Buffalo Hills Funeral Home is caring for the family.

Joe Kelly Greene

Our friend, teacher, husband, and dad Joe "Joe Bear" Kelly Greene passed away on June 30, 2008.

Born September 2, 1972 in Billings, he grew up in Billings and McLeod. His family then moved to the little town of Outlook, where he graduated valedictorian in 1990. He then attended and graduated from Eastern Montana College in Billings where he met Nacona Prevost. He married his wife in Sidney on July 2, 1994. In the summer of 1995 they moved to Columbia Falls, where Joe completed his student teaching at Columbia Falls High School. He went on to become the seventh grade social studies teacher at Columbia Falls Junior High and began coaching everything from volleyball to basketball to football.

He loved coaching, teaching, watching his beloved Steelers, four wheeling, fishing, hunting (especially the trips to Sidney and Checkerboard), and most of all spending time with his wife and his two kids, Haley and Parker. He was a man who gave everything to anyone and his friends were his family.

He is survived by his wife Nacona Greene, daughter Haley, son Parker, parents John and Myrna Greene, brother Jamie Greene, mother- and father-in-law Ron and Gin Prevost, brother-in-law, Scott and Jen Prevost, nephews Tyler, Colton and Brody, sister-in-law Kortnee and Jason Johnson and many other family members and close friends.

Celebration of life will be held on Thursday July 3, 2008 at 10 a.m. at the Columbia Falls Junior High football field with a reception to follow in the cafetorium. It is requested that everyone be in casual summer attire. Pages will be available for memories and sentiments to be recorded for the family.

In lieu of flowers the family has requested donations be made to the memorial account set up for Haley and Parker Greene at the Parkside Federal Credit Union.

Columbia Mortuary is caring for the family.