Andrew Johnson
Andrew “Andy” Gustaf Johnson, 91, of Whitefish, passed away peacefully May 4, 2009.
Andy was born Nov. 15, 1917, in Wain, Neb., to Andrew and Hulda Swanson Johnson. The family moved to Little Falls and then to Brainard, Minn., where Andy resided until 1939.
Andy had a very strong work ethic, something which started as a young child and continued throughout his entire life. The only thing stronger than his work ethic was his devotion to his family.
He quit school after the eighth grade so he could work odd jobs to help his family. He always regretted only having an eighth-grade education, but what he lacked in education he made up for in common sense and experience.
In 1934, when he was 17, Andy lied about his age so he could join the Civilian Conservation Corps. He stayed in the CCC until 1936, when he lost his hearing as a result of a broken eardrum. After that, he went to work on a farm in Indiana.
In 1939, Andy’s older brothers Aenard and Elmer moved to Whitefish. Andy followed shortly with the rest of the family and started farming and ranching on Whitefish Stage Road.
Not long after moving to Whitefish, Andy started dating his future bride, Lora Jean England. When she moved to Spokane to attend business school, Andy followed her. While in Spokane, he held many different jobs, including driving a cement truck and a city bus. Andy and Jean were married in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, on Sept. 12, 1942.
In 1945, they moved back to Whitefish, and Andy went to work in the woods. In 1947, he started working for Great Northern Railroad. He loved his job and remained there until he retired.
Andy was a very hardworking man who rarely took a vacation. When he wasn’t working, he enjoyed throwing horseshoes, dancing, playing cards, shooting pool, hunting and fishing. He loved traveling with his wife, seeing new things and meeting many new friends along the way.
Andy never saw a difference in people and genuinely cared about everyone. He would gladly give his last dollar to someone who needed it more than him. Andy was loved by all and will be missed by so many.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father; wife of 59 years Lora; brothers David, Aenard and Elmer; and sister Ann.
He is survived by his brother Arvid Johnson, of Kalispell; sisters Evelyn Hanson, of Indiana, and Ruby Dodge, of Rollins; children Dick Johnson and wife Diane, of Rathdrum, Idaho, Cheryl Frye and husband Bill, of Whitefish, Darryl Johnson and wife Cinna, of Honduras, Andrew Johnson and wife Lynn, of Kalispell, Ronald Johnson and wife Lori, of Whitefish, and Rhonda Johnson and her friend Carla Shanks, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; 13 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held May 11, 2009, at Austin Funeral Home, followed by graveside services at Glacier Memorial Gardens.
Kenneth Woodham
Ken Woodham, 57, of Tacoma, Wash., formerly of Whitefish, passed away April 27, 2009.
He was born and raised in Garden City, Mich., the son of Francis and Helen Woodham.
Ken graduated from Garden City West High School in 1969 and enlisted in the Air Force in April 1971. His first permanent assignment was at the Air Force Hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany, where he was stationed until 1975.
After obtaining his nursing degree from Florida State University, he became an officer in the Air Force Nurse Corps, where he remained until he retired in 1992.
Ken was very proud of his military service to his country. His Air Force career took him overseas as well as many parts of the U.S., including his beloved Alaska. By that time his family had grown by three beautiful children with his wife Debbie, and it was time to establish some permanent roots.
Whitefish then became the family home. Ken worked at North Valley Hospital as the infection control and quality assurance coordinator until 1999, when he moved to the Seattle/Tacoma area. While in Washington he was one of the most sought-after rotating trauma nurses at several hospitals in the Tacoma area, where he met his current wife Denise.
Ken will be missed greatly by many and remembered by all who had the chance to get to know this remarkable man.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis and Helen Woodham.
He is survived by his wife Denise Woodham, of Tacoma; children Seth Woodham, of Bozeman, Tyler Woodham, of Kalispell, and Katelin Woodham, of Kalispell; brothers Dale Woodham and wife Wendy, of Kenly, N.C., and Jim Woodham and wife Debbie, of Oneonta, N.Y.; sister Diane Mendoza and husband Lou, of Dearborn, Mich.; along with numerous other relatives and friends.
A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 16, 2009, at 2 p.m. at the Whitefish City Beach pavilion, with Pastor Huston Green officiating and full military honors.
Marie Lyyski
Marie Lyyski, 86, passed away April 24, 2009, at the Butte Convalescent Care Center in Butte.
She was born in Erie, Pa., on Feb. 5, 1923, to Daniel and Helen Burke.
A former Flathead Valley resident and nurse, Marie spent 50 years as a registered nurse.
Marie graduated with her registered nurse degree in Bridgeport, Conn., practicing nursing from the East Coast to California and many places in between. Working labor and deliveries and later geriatric care, she led a long life of caring for others.
Marie loved the valley, its people, and especially its babies. She will be missed.
She is survived by children Mary Ann Baker, of Roseville, Calif., Daniel Scholz, of Kalispell, Patricia Mills, of Kalispell, and Ray Ann Olson, of Whitefish; 12 grandchildren; and many more great grandchildren.
A private family service will be held at a later date.