Obituaries

Have you ever wondered what the difference is between people who can draw well and those who don’t? What if I told you the difference lay with the way we observe the world around us? While studying at university, I was required to take a studio drawing class. What I learned in this class changed the way I saw the world forever.  First, how we perceive the world around us is crucial. Our brains are hardwired for efficiency and pattern recognition. Our eyes focus on outlines, shapes and edges; because of this, we can meet a person and recognize a face while not being able to recall details like eye color. The reason: our brains are forced to do this because we are incapable of f...

POLSON — Joshua “Josh” Joseph LaBau, 42, of Polson, passed away on Saturday, May 2, 2020, at his home. He was born on Oct. 12, 1977, to Val and Sally LaBau in Miller, South Dakota.  Throughout his upbringing Josh lived in Miller, South Dakota; Thousand Oaks, California; Seattle, Was...

POLSON — Gerald “Gary” D. Noland, age 71, passed away on Thursday, May 7, 2020. A happy, born in Montana man, who could design, build, repair anything; manage workers and complex projects; skillfully operate his beloved Bobcat; ride, pack and shoe horses; all while being a good husband, ...

POLSON — Clarice H. Onsager passed away peacefully on May 3, 2020, at the age of 90, at Polson Health and Rehabilitation in Polson, of natural causes. She was born on Nov. 27, 1929, in Northwood, North Dakota, to Adolph and Sophia (Erickson) Thingelstad. She grew up in the home her father built and ...

ST. IGNATIUS — Ilene Ann Smith passed away on Sunday, April 19, 2020, at her home in Polson, following a long battle with chronic lung disease. She was born on Jan.20, 1933. in Polson. She was the third child, with two older brothers.   Ilene graduated from high school in St. Ignatius. She marr...

YAKIMA, WASHINGTON — Kenneth Wayne Mikkelsen was born on Jan. 19, 1930, in Shelley, Idaho, to Ole Sophus and Eva Holm Mikkelsen. At the age of four the family moved to a farm in St. Ignatius. He attended St. Ignatius schools, graduating in 1948. Later he went to work at a sawmill in Lincoln. He passed ...

RONAN — John Welker, 59, passed away on April 20 at his residence in Ronan.     He was born in Polson to Jerry Welker and Ella Hintz. John met the love of his life, Julie Clover, in Lakeside, Montana. John and Julie got married Aug. 8, 1980. They were blessed with three wonderful chil...

RONAN — Raquel Rae Hunt passed away on Feb. 11, 2020, surrounded by her family, after a courageous fight with cancer, at the age of 64. She is a remarkable woman who will be missed dearly. Rae’s story began on June 17, 1955, when Nancy and Bill Grisamer welcomed their fourth child. Rae cherish...

MISSOULA — Betty was born on Feb. 6, 1936, in St. Ignatius, to Agnes and Fon Dixon. Mom attended elementary school in Arlee and St. Ignatius then attended high school at Hot Springs High School as Grandpa moved from one job location to another. Mom graduated from Hot Springs in 1954 then moved to Spoka...

POLSON — Wylie Kent Gafford  - “The Texan” - passed away quietly on Saturday, April 4, 2020, with his wife Faye at his side.   Kent was born in Brady, Texas, on March 10, 1935. While he loved Montana, Kent was always truly “The Texan.” He was a kind, caring, generou...