Kenneth Friske
Kenneth F. Friske passed away Sept. 15, 2010, in Columbia Falls.
He was born Dec. 23, 1921, in Polson, to Fred and Gunvor Friske, the eldest of eight children. Ken grew up in Columbia Falls and Troy, and graduated from Flathead County High School. He served in Italy and North Africa during World War II.
In March 1948, Ken met and married his wife Mary Ann. They moved to Alaska, where they built their lives, enjoying 51 years together. They enjoyed long drives and putting their boat in Harding Lake, taking cruises, and traveling extensively around the world.
Kenneth managed the Alaska Motor Inn, was vice president of transportation for Westours, played a major role in the construction of the Fairbanks Inn, owned a restaurant in Whitefish, and managed a motel in San Jose, Calif. He became a partner in the Pipeline Transportation Co., and worked in management during the pipeline years.
Two weeks after his retirement in 2000, he moved to Montana to be close to his remaining siblings and his brother-in-law Dick Gaertner. He remained at his residence until 2008, when he moved into the Montana State Veterans Home after a radical surgery trying to remove a benign acoustic neuroma tumor.
Ken was preceded in death by his wife; brothers James and Forrest; and sisters Joyce, Margie and Wilma.
He is survived by sisters Barbara Ott and husband Dick, of Kalispell, and June Barr and husband Dale, of Columbia Falls; grandson Mike Leonard, of Fairbanks; brother-in-law Dick Gaertner, of Whitefish; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A private interment will be held in Fairbanks in early summer of 2011.
Noreen Sorenson
Noreen Inez Sorenson, of Whitefish, passed away Sept. 20, 2010, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
She was born June 26, 1921, in Lidgerwood, N.D., to August and Margaret Grobe, one of four siblings. She attended school in Lidgerwood and graduated from cosmetology school.
Noreen began her career as a beautician in Parshall, N.D., where she met Arnold Sorenson. On Dec. 15, 1942, they were joined in marriage, which began a long lasting journey of 57 years until Arnold s death in 2000.
In 1943, they sold their ranch in Parshall and moved to Whitefish, where they purchased a farm. Together they developed the property and began their family. In addition to farming, they operated a dairy for more than 20 years.
Noreen was a full-time homemaker and proud to be a farmer's wife. She could often be found milking and feeding the cattle. She loved to fish and spent many hours fishing the Stillwater River.
She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church and was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish and Stillwater Lutheran Church in Kalispell. She truly was a woman of faith and enjoyed reading her Bible and listening to and playing gospel music.
She enjoyed artistic whistling and played the harmonica by ear, entertaining many at church functions, nursing homes and family gatherings. She filled many homes with her beautiful hand work and was able to crochet doilies without a pattern until shortly before her death.
Noreen was a loving, caring and devoted wife, mother and grandmother. Her kindness was extended to everyone she met. The family has fond memories of gatherings at Thanksgiving and Christmas, enjoying the lefse and lutefisk she prepared.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, brother and sister.
She is survived by her son Gregory Sorenson and wife Susan, of Columbia Falls; daughters Diane McEntire and husband Danny, of Whitefish, Sandra Balch and husband Mike, of Spokane, Janice Nicol and husband Kenneth, of Sparwood, B.C., Julie Walhus and husband Greg, of Whitefish, and Judy Coonrod and husband Dan, of Spokane; 12 grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; sister Betty Kackman and husband Mel, of South St. Paul, Minn.; brother Norm Grobe and wife Carol, of Veblen, S.D.; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services took place on Sept. 24, 2010, at Stillwater Lutheran Church, in Kalispell, with Pastor Tim Bartholomew officiating. Burial followed at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell.
Memorials may be given to Stillwater Lutheran Church.
Christine Kennedy
Christine Lydia Kennedy, 45, died suddenly Sept. 13, 2010, while living in Dunedin, Fla.
She was born in Mis-soula on Nov. 19, 1964. Christy attended schools in Bozeman, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and Wenatchee, Wash.
She lived many years in Wenatchee, where she married Chris Crimins and was blessed with her only child, Tiffany. Christine and Chris later divorced, at which time Christine and Tiffany moved to Kalispell and subsequently Whitefish.
Her life, too short, touched many lives and we have fond memories of her childhood and adolescence.
She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Herb and Lydia Kennedy; and her maternal grandparents, Dora and Lawrence (Brownie) Bronson.
Christy is survived by her daughter Tiffany Crimins, of Brewster, Wash.; father Curtis Kennedy, of Kalispell; stepmother Pamela Kennedy Carbonari, of Kalispell; mother Cherlyn Petersen, of Glendive; sisters Kathy Haas and Caryn Kennedy; brother Kevin Entze; her partner Vincent Bila; nephew Wesley; nieces Carissa, Melissa, Cherlyn and Aleisha; numerous aunts, uncles and other relatives and friends.
A memorial service took place at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home on Sept. 25, 2010.