Alvin E. Sloan
RONAN — Alvin E. Sloan, 88, passed away at St. Luke Hospital in Ronan on Sept. 19. He was born on March 31,1923, at the Sloan Ranch (Mud Creek) in Ronan to Alexander E. Sloan and Ruth Butterfield.
Alvin attended grade school in Ronan and St. Ignatius and high school in St. Ignatius and Albuquerque, N.M., graduating in 1942. He graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1950. He served in the Army Air Force during World War II and the New Mexico Air National Guard. Alvin was active in Veterans Affairs and served as a service officer and post commander for Pablo Post 68 American Legion. Upon his military release, he returned to Montana and married Maria Gress in 1945 in Missoula. They had 10 children together, two sons and eight daughters. He worked for the tribal and federal government for more than 30 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Gertrude (Babe) Presta, and a daughter, Patricia.
Alvin is survived by two sons, Clay Sloan (Ann) of Pablo and John Roy Sloan of Spokane, Wash.; eight daughters, Ly Traversie of Ronan, Sandy Castor of St.Ignatius, Lorma Sloan of Ronan, Liberty Plouffe (Vern) of Pablo, Victoria DeLack ( Dale) of Helena, Caroline DeRosia of Kalispell, and Crystal McLure of Spokane, Wash.; and 21 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Alvin was always an optimist and was a thoroughly happy man in his career, having been fortunate to hold interesting and enjoyable jobs in government service. He originally got interested in tribal political activity in 1948, the year New Mexico Indians were first allowed to vote.
Cremation has taken place and he requested a memorial service to be held at a later date. Condolences to the family can be sent to Shrider-Thompson Funeral Services in Ronan.
