Obituaries

POLSON — John Arthur Cotton, 80, of Polson, passed away peacefully on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, at his home with family by his side. He was born in February of 1943 in Illinois, to George and Maxine Cotton. He loved anything that had a motor … from snowmobiling with his buddies, touring roads on his motorcycle, pulling friends behind his boat and flying his plane. In his younger days, John had a passion for drag racing and shredding the slopes on his skis. He enjoyed curling up with Harley the giant cat and throwing the ball for Fred the chocolate lab.In the mid-1960s, he served his country in the U.S. Air Force as a jet engine mechanic. In the spring of 1985, he married Debora...

ST. IGNATIUS — William “Wild Bill” Whalen, 83, a long-time resident of St. Ignatius, passed away at St. Luke’s Hospital in Ronan on Feb. 26, 2023.  Bill was the second of seven children born to Charles E. Whalen and Helen E. (Duffy) Whalen on May 23, 1939, in Big Timber, Monta...

RONAN — Elton Ross Hoyt, passed away on Jan. 23, 2023, at St. Luke Hospital in Ronan. He was born on June 21, 1938, in Polson to Edward E. Hoyt and A. Blanche (Howell) Hoyt. Ross graduated from Polson High School in 1957. He was in the Montana National Guard for seven and a half years. He married Da...

ANCHORAGE, ALASKA — Gladys was born on April 8, 1931, in Polson,  to Lloyd and Magna Harris. She had a brother, Donald, who was four years her senior. Gladys grew up in Polson, graduated from high school in 1949, and attended and received her degree in Home Economics and Music from Montana State U...

CHARLO — At the “young” age of 95, our dear mother Eva Gladys Evans Bauer has joined our dad in the hereafter. Eva passed away on Feb. 9, 2023. She was born on Dec. 23,1927, in D’Aste, Montana. Joining the family of Jesse Rhodes Evans and Lila Belle Clem Evans, eventually having ten s...

POLSON — Mark Kevin Daniels was born in Dearborn, Michigan, on Oct. 14, 1958. He passed away at his home on Jan. 30, 2023, in Polson. He graduated from Forest Hills Central High School in 1976. Mark had a unique sense of humor and a kind heart.  As a young child living in Detroit, Mark showed r...

APPOLLO, PENNSYLVANIA — Longtime resident of Polson and Missoula, Jack Blaine Mercer, 77, died in Apollo, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 8, 2023, due to complications from Parkinson’s Disease. He was in the care of his beloved Roxy, with the help of the local Hospice.   Jack was born in Missoula, ...

POLSON — Kenneth Morris Newgard (Kenny/Snuse), son of Leonard and Solvay (Karlsgodt) Newgard, passed away in his home at the age of 82 on Feb. 9 from pancreatic cancer. He was under the care of his family and hospice. Ken was born on Sept. 23, 1940, in Polson. He was a third generation Newgard in Polso...

RONAN — “Jerry” Geraldine Cordier Powell, 84, of Ronan passed away peacefully in her home with her daughter holding her hand on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, ending her battle with cancer. She was born on Jan. 24, 1939, in St. Ignatius, to Charles Victor Cordier and Pearl Mary Rein Cordier. She wa...

POLSON — Dean August Sauter, age 65, passed away on Jan. 25, 2023. If you listened to local radio, you knew his voice. Dean August got you up in the morning on 750 KERR and stayed with you throughout the day on KIBG The Big 100. He was the program director for the Big 100, creating just the right mix o...