Obituaries

RONAN — Sheila Schmitz Conner was born on May 24, 1953, to Phillip and Florence Schmitz and joined siblings Cherryl, Dee, Phil (Butch) and Barb. She attended schools at Villa Ursula in St. Ignatius and Ronan, graduating from Ronan High School in 1971. Sheila continued her education at Montana State University in Bozeman and Eastern in Billings, graduating from Eastern Montana University with a degree in special education. She loved working with children with learning challenges, since she had dyslexia. Mrs. Mercedes LeDesky helped her overcome her dyslexia in the first grade. Sheila spent the majority of her career in Ronan and Pablo Elementary Schools working with preschool, pre-firs...

POLSON — Robert “Bob” Charles Wilkinson, avid fisherman, lover of country music and classic cars, embarked on his eternal fishing trip the morning of Jan. 11, 2021, while surrounded by the love of his family. Robert was born on June 21, 1950, in Alameda, California, to parents Charles Wi...

BIGFORK —  Mary Elizabeth Peterson, age 85, passed away on Jan. 18, 2021, at Lake View Care Center in Bigfork. She was born in Bountiful, Utah, on May 25, 1935. Mary was the third of four children born to Robert W. and Halleen Nicol.   In 1950, Mary met and married the love of her life, Ha...

RONAN — Judy Joy Granley Thingelstad, age 74, passed away on Jan. 15, 2021, at Hidden Meadow Memory Care. She was born on Aug. 16, 1946, in Bagley, Minnesota, not far from her father’s hometown (O’Lander and Shirley Granley). She loved to play gently with her dolls and pretend to cook and i...

WELLTON, ARIZONA — Gregg McConnell, 64, a former Mission Valley resident, passed away in Wellton,  Arizona, on Jan. 12, 2021, following a brief battle with cancer.  Gregg was born in Ronan on Dec. 25, 1956, a Christmas present to Perry and Virginia McConnell. He was the youngest of eight c...

WHITEHALL —Dan was born at home in Polson on Aug. 10, 1943, and died on Dec. 28, 2020, from complications of COVID after fracturing his hip falling. When Dan was 11, the family moved to Twin Willows Ranch off Post Creek Hill. Dan and his sister Bonnie and brother Norman grew up on that ranch with mom, ...

POLSON — Isaac Swan was born wanting to fly. He was a natural athlete and artist. Whether filling a room with piano music, painting “S” turns on a ski hill or casting to rising trout while knee deep in a river, his effortlessness in acquiring new skills and achieving excellence was to the a...

RONAN — Paul George Metzger, age 97, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, at his residence. He has gone to join his wife, Anne. He was born on Jan. 13, 1923, in Hebron, North Dakota, the son of Jacob and Caroline (Klein) Metzger. He grew up in North Dakota with two brothers and one sister. He was ...

BIGFORK — Neil passed away on Dec. 28, 2020, in Bigfork. Born January 26, 1949, in Portland, Oregon, the only child of Dean and Dorothy Miskimins. He attended Central Catholic High School and the University of Portland. Neil met his wife, Christine Clifford, and they married in 1970 at St. John Fish...

POLSON — Kenneth John Chernikoff, 78, of Polson, passed quietly away in his home late on the night of Dec. 27, 2020, after spending a lovely day watching football with his wife and visiting with friends. Ken was born on Feb. 26, 1942, in Huntington Park, to parents Albert and Alice Chernikoff.   ...