Wesley Gregg

Wesley Johnson Gregg, 85, died of natural causes on May 23, 2009, at the Columbia Falls Veterans Home.

He was born May 10, 1924, in Whitefish to Selma Tubina (Johnson) and Wesley Irwin Gregg.

In 1943, after graduating from Whitefish High School, Wes enlisted in the Army Air Corp. He was shipped to England in 1944, where he flew 28 missions as a gunner on B17s. Wes remained in England after the war ended, flying photography missions documenting war damage. He returned to Whitefish in 1945.

Wes began working as a fireman for the Great Northern Railroad and later was promoted to engineer. He moved to Anchorage, Alaska, in the 1970s and worked as an engineer for the Alaska Railroad. Upon retirement, Wes returned to his hometown of Whitefish.

Wes was married to Enid Mae Biggar. After their divorce, Wes married Ellen Bruner. They later divorced.

Wes loved airplanes and spent much of his free time building and rebuilding planes. He saw much of Alaska from the cockpit of planes and had many adventures flying damaged planes back to Anchorage to be repaired.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Frank Gregg; sister Kathryn Matthews; and grandson Warren Phillips.

Survivors include daughters Myrtis Phillips and husband Robert, of Whitefish, Rev. Dawn Gregg, of Eugene, Ore, Dana McAlpin and husband Gary, of Lampe, Mo., and Joan Gregg, of Whitefish; sons Joseph Gregg, of Whitefish, and Warren Gregg and wife Julie, of Palmer, Alaska; stepchildren Dewey Bacon and wife Dorothy, of Whitefish, Diane Mundell, of Hungry Horse, Gwena Brophy and husband John, of Hot Springs, S.D., and Larry Bruner and wife Laura, of Kalispell; and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Wesley has been cremated and at his request no funeral took place. A memorial service will be held later this summer.

William Colvin

William Kenneth “Bill” Colvin, age 81, died, March 13, 2009, in Liberal, Kan.

Bill was the owner of High Plains Pizza. He opened the 18th Pizza Hut in the country in Liberal, Kan. The business continued to grow to its current status of 76 restaurants in five states, including Whitefish.

Bill and his family owned a home on Whitefish Lake.

He is survived by his wife Virginia Colvin; sons Kent, Mike, Greg and Tracy Colvin; 12 grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and sister Ann Minnich.

A memorial service will be held at the Rollins Community Building and Country Club in Rollins on Saturday, June 13, 2009, at 2 p.m. with fellowship with the family immediately following the service.