Obituaries

RONAN — Lewis LaVerne Conklin was born to Ernest and Bertha Conklin in Curtis, Nebraska, on January 26, 1936. He had five sisters: Leila, Arlene, Myrna, Elaine, Sharon; and two brothers: Leo and Bob. As a young child the family moved to LaPorte, Colorado. Lewis graduated from LaPorte High School in 1953. In 1956 he joined the Navy and served until 1960.  Upon returning from the Navy he met and married Jackie Fogland in 1961. Together they had five children: Dawn (Chris) Schultz, Jay (Janna) Conklin, Gene (Joell) Conklin, Dyan (Mark) Fiorentino, Lynn (Angela) Conklin. They had 12 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. In 1973 the family moved to Ronan. Lewis and Jackie d...

MISSOULA — Mitchell King Waylett, born Nov. 26, 1958, left to join his mother Nancy and sister Wendy in Heaven on Sunday, Jan. 19, 2020. He was 61 and passed of natural causes. Mitch is survived by his loving wife Joy, father Lillis Manshadow, brother Tyler, stepmother Leisa, stepbrother Chance, stepsi...

DIXON — Verona Lindquist Young, 84, passed away at St. Pat’s Hospital in Missoula, on Jan.2, 2020. Verona was born on Jan.10, 1937, in Pine Island, Minnesota, to Agnes and Edward Wobig. Verona married John Rex Young. She worked as a caregiver; cooking and caretaking for others as well as family. ...

RONAN — Evelyn Lorraine (Phyllis Ann) Lester passed peacefully at her home in Ronan on Dec. 25 2019, at the age of 83. Phyllis was born in May 1936 to Harry and Agnes Brown. She attended school in Ronan, Ursuline Catholic school in St. Ignatius and pursued a degree in child psychology at SKC. She ma...

FLORENCE — Sam R. Hayden, 85, of Florence, passed away after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease, on Monday, Dec. 23, 2019, at Kathy’s Place Assisted Living. He was born on March 7, 1934, in Stevensville, the son of the late Art and Jule Hayden.  Sam grew up and graduated from hi...

NIARADA — On Jan. 1, 2020, Leigh Gordon Herman of Niarada, passed away at 90 years of age, in Polson. Leigh was born to John Otho “Coke” Herman and Louise Ulrich Herman on Nov. 25, 1929, in Kalispell. He was born into a ranching family, being the only grandson of early pioneer Johnny Herman...

ELMO — William Dean Finley, aka Uncle Billy, went home to his creator on Dec. 29, 2019. He was born on July 7, 1963, in Tawas City, Michigan. William grew up in Fairfield, California. He became a mechanic for Firestone. He took his work very seriously so he could be the best he could. He relocated a...

POLSON — Jacqueline (Jackie) Conklin Brown went to be with her Lord and her daughter, Dawn, on Dec. 30, 2019. Have a wonderful eternal life with friends and family. Jackie was born on Jan. 20, 1942, to Jack and Margie Fogland in Grand Island, Nebraska. She grew up and went to school in Fort Collins,...

POLSON — Irene Edna Blush, age 93, peacefully passed away on Dec. 29, 2019, at St. Joseph’s Hospital. She was born on March 14, 1926, in Keystone, Montana, near Alberton, to Martin and Edna Schleip. Irene was the second youngest of 10 children.  She played on one of the first girls’...

RONAN — Laurence R. “Butch” Mikesell, 79, passed away in the afternoon on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019, at St. Patrick Hospital with family at his bedside.  Brothers Mortuary and Crematory are honored to care for the family. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.b...