Don Welch

Don Welch died May 10, 2010, in Las Vegas at the age of 77.

He was born Feb. 25, 1933, in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, but grew up in Whitefish, where he was an outstanding high school athlete and was inducted into the Whitefish High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.

Don graduated from the University of Montana-Missoula, where he continued to perfect his golfing skills and was later inducted into the Montana Golf Hall of Fame. In 2004, Don was awarded the PGA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Don was an avid supporter of the local Junior Golf programs; especially those that helped the children who might not otherwise have the opportunity to play the game he loved so much. In the span of a nearly 40-year career, Don was involved in coordinating, hosting or participating in most of the major golf tournaments in Las Vegas.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Peggy; sons Dan Welch and wife Kim, and Jamie Welch; daughter Miki Reid and husband Jeff; two grandchildren; sister Janice Gerzema and husband Larry, of Valparaiso, Ind.; brother Jim Welch and wife Anita, of Whitefish; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services took place at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, in Henderson, Nev., on May 17, 2010.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Don's memory to The Junior Golf Academy at Desert Willow, Attn: Pam Bowers, 263 Delfino Way, Henderson NV 89074.

Barbara Turner

Barbara Turner, 72, died April 19, 2010 ,at her home near Whitefish.

She was born Dec. 13, 1937, in Minneapolis to Alvin Luther and Julia Elizabeth (Spies' Turner.

Barbara spent her early life in Lahwille, Minn., attending school and some college. She followed her sister to Glacier National Park, working for the Glacier Park Hotel Co. in the East Glacier warehouse.

During the winters, she returned to Minneapolis to work as a switchboard operator at University of Minnesota Hospitals. Later, she obtained a job at the East Glacier Park office and subsequently transferred to the Whitefish Post Office until her retirement.

She loved to paint with water colors and attended classes at Flathead Valley Community College. She sang in the church choir and went yearly to attend the Ashland Shakespeare Festival with her sister.

She enjoyed the community concert and theater performances, often volunteering to usher. She was a cancer survival and participated in the Relay for Life. She also participated in a swimming exercise class, where she had many friends.

She is survived by her sister Mary Wilcox, of Roseburg, Ore.; brother Dan Turner and wife Judy, of Wapwallopen, Pa.; and nieces and nephews and their families.

A memorial service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Whitefish on Saturday, May 22, 2010, at 10:30 a.m. with lunch to follow.

The family suggests donations be given in Barbara's name to the Whitefish Branch of the Flathead County Library, ATTN Joey, 9 Spokane Ave., Whitefish MT 59937 or to the First Presbyterian Church, 301 Center Ave., Whitefish MT 59937.

Kristi Schellinger

Kristi Schellinger, a wonderful mother, sister, daughter and friend to all who knew her, passed away on May 11, 2010.

Kristi was born in Glasgow on March 4, 1955, to Cliff and Polly Schellinger. She graduated from Whitefish High School in 1973 and worked as a secretary and real estate agent until Huntington's disease made work too difficult.

Kristi will be remembered as a beautiful and compassionate woman with a magnetic child-like spirit. Her nieces and nephews fondly remember sleep-overs at "fun" aunt Kristi's, where teeth didn't have to be brushed and dessert was served for breakfast. Her strawberry-pretzel-whipped cream salad counted as a fruit group, and if you didn't want to take a bath, well that was fine, too.

And while she showered her nieces and nephews with love and attention, no one held a softer spot in her heart than her two sons, Dustin and Jesse. From the time they were born, she cared for them as if they were the most precious gift, and even when those roles reversed as her illness set in and they cared for her, nothing could put a smile on her face like they could.

Kristi is preceded in death by her mother and nephew Brett.

She is survived by her sons Dustin and Jesse, of Whitefish; father Cliff Schellinger and wife Vernell, of Eltopia, Wash.; sister Shelley Dolan and husband Pat, of Billings; brothers Al Schellinger and wife Sandy and Randy Schellinger and wife Kathy, all of Whitefish; two nieces; four nephews; many aunts, uncles and cousins; and dearest friend Donna Morris, who was by her side caring for her until the end.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Austin Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Donations can be made to the Huntington Disease Foundation, 3960 Broadway, Sixth Floor, New York NY 10032.