Doris Schumm
Doris Ziegler Schumm, 72, died Nov. 28, 2009.
She was born in Indianapolis on May 10, 1937, and grew up there with her sister and three brothers. The family spent their summers at Walloon Lake in Michigan, where Doris spent most of her waking hours in the water, either swimming or navigating her Sunfish sailboat. Her enthusiasm was on proud display as a Lawrence High School cheerleader.
She attended Hanover College, continued on as a cheerleader, joined the Phi Mu sorority, and met and married Jerry Schumm. Upon his completion of law school, they relocated to Seattle for 17 years and had two children, Steve and Surrey.
This phase of Doris' adventure was dedicated to nurturing her kids and supporting their ambitions to the fullest. She did, however, find time to learn to play tennis, which became one of her lifelong passions.
In 1973, the family moved to Whitefish. Doris was a force in the burgeoning tennis scene in the valley, organizing and winning many a tournament. She was also a horse jumper, skier, waterskier, high school tennis coach, mountain biker, hiker, kayaker and rollerblader.
She was also a huge supporter of the community and donated much of her time and energy for causes dear to her heart, such as the Whitefish Community Foundation, North Valley Food Bank, the Whitefish Public Library and the Whitefish Theatre Company.
Later in her life, she became quite a world traveler, visiting every continent, often with her siblings and children. Such adventures included exploring the Galapagos Islands, trekking in Peru, floating the Nile and, two years ago, a dip into the icy waters of Antarctica.
Doris spent the past 10 winters on Maui, where she loved kayaking, swimming and snorkeling. When in Whitefish, she began most every morning at the Buffalo Caf with her Coffee Boys, making sure they tipped adequately and otherwise behaved themselves, not always successfully.
Doris' generosity of spirit and open heart touched all she came into contact with. She had a long, long list of close friends and family all over the world. Doris was always up for an adventure and the ultimate partner in fun. She will be missed dearly by us all but lives on in each adventure we embark upon, hand that we lend, and heartfelt laugh that we share.
A luau celebration to reminisce Doris' life will take place at the Stumptown Ice Den on June 26, 2010, from 4-7 p.m. open to any and all who knew and loved Doris.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Whitefish Community Foundation, the Whitefish Public Library, The Whitefish Theatre Company, or North Valley Food Bank.
Rayma Beller
Rayma J. Beller, 84, died June 15, 2010, in Kalispell.
She was born Sept. 24, 1925, in Rexberg, Idaho, and moved to Whitefish as a child with her parents, Harry and Anna Wagner.
Rayma was raised and educated in Whitefish, graduating from Whitefish High School in 1943.
She later married Jack Beller. They made their home in Whitefish where they raised their family. She enjoyed being a mother and liked to cook, can and garden. She continued to make her home in Whitefish until moving to Kalispell in 2006.
She was preceded in death by her husband and son Wayne.
Survivors include her daughter Terri Gimello and husband Michael, of Columbia Falls, and grandchildren Adam, Jason, Briana and Kyle.
Services took place at Whitefish Cemetery on June 19, 2010.
Shirley Leaphart
Shirley J. Leaphart, 87, passed away at her home in Windsor, Calif., surrounded by her family on June 8, 2010.
A native of Anaconda, Shirley grew up in northern Chile and was a veteran of World War II in the Navy Waves. After marrying Clark Leaphart and starting a family, they moved to Whitefish, where she enjoyed skiing on Big Mountain and raising her family.
She and Clark moved to Santa Rosa in 1977. Shirley worked at the Santa Rosa Bird Rescue Center for a number of years. Shortly after getting her first computer in 2003, Shirley wrote her memoirs about growing up in northern Chile in a copper mining camp. She was a volunteer at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital from 2000 to just before her passing.
She was preceded in death by her husband and her sister Margie Eastman
She is survived by her son Mark Leaphart and wife Laura, of Folsom, Calif.; daughter Sharon Besancon and husband Scott, of Idaho; grandchildren Kristi, Katie, Daniel, David, Tyler, Josh and Jeffrey; niece and nephew Kathy and Bobby Eastman; and numerous cousins and friends.
Donations in her memory may be made to the American Lung Association, 1155 Talbot Avenue, Santa Rosa CA 95404 or the Bird Rescue of Santa Rosa P.O. Box 475, Santa Rosa CA 95404.