Edwin Hanson

Longtime resident of Coram, Edwin "Ed" Robert Hanson passed away in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, of natural causes.

Services will be held at Canyon Community Church in Coram on Saturday, Nov. 27, 2004, at 1 p.m. with Pastor Tod Fox officiating.

Burial will follow at Glacier Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hospice or the Canyon Community Church. Columbia Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. A full obituary will appear in next week's paper.

Phyllis Hanson

Phyllis Bertelsen Hanson, 78, longtime resident of Kalispell, died in Washington on Nov. 17, 2004.

Phyllis was born in North Dakota on May 25, 1926, to Martin and Kathleen Bertelsen, one of seven children.

On March 26, 1946, Phyllis married Levi Bernard Hanson.

Phyllis is survived by her husband, Bernard, in Washington; two sons, Mark Hanson and Victor and Diana Hanson, all of Kalispell; two daughters, Carol Hanson, of Bothell, Wash., and Cheryl Ann and Charles Ferree, of Kalispell; five grandchildren, David Ferree, Molly Miller and Rochelle Hanson, all of Kalispell, William Martinson, of Redmond, Wash., and Shannon Gobbato,of Blaine, Wash.; a brother, Neil Bertelsen and wife, Phyllis "Pete," of Crystal Lake and Kalispell; a sister, Minrada Lemmons, of California; a sister-in-law, Shirley Bertelsen, of Columbia Falls; and several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are pending.

Muriel Rich

Muriel Sullivan Rich died Nov. 4, 2004, in San Diego, Calif.

She was born May 20, 1923, in Columbia Falls the daughter of Tim and Edna Sullivan, late of Columbia Falls. Muriel was raised on a dairy cattle and sheep farm in the Flathead Valley. She was a consistent 4-H champion winner with her livestock in Montana fairs.

Muriel received a teaching credential after graduating from Columbia Falls High School and taught at several remote Western Montana schools. At the age of 20, she taught grades one though eight and was the superintendent in Coram. During World War II, Muriel went to Spokane where she studied to be an Army nurse and also worked for the Army in a supply depot getting provisions to the front lines.

Muriel attended Montana State University in Bozeman, marrying another MSU student, Clarence E. Rich, of Sand Springs. "Clancy" went off to war as a Navy carrier fighter pilot, and together they shared a 32-year Naval career which spanned three wars and culminated with "Clancy" commanding the US National Range at El Centro, Calif.

Muriel remained very active in the Navy League, the Republican Party of California, the San Diego Gospel Riders of the Christian Motorcyclists' Association, and with the San Diego and El Centro First Assemblies of God in her latter years.

Muriel is survived by a sister, four cousins, five children and their families, including 15 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Memorial service took place Nov 20, 2004, at San Diego First Assembly of God.

Sidney Sletton

Sidney "Ray" Sletton, 57, passed away Nov. 10, 2004, at his Ferndale residence, located on the outskirts of Bigfork after suffering a massive heart attack.

Ray was born Nov. 2, 1947, in Butte, the only son and the youngest of four children born to Sidney Edwin and Joy L. (Tabler) Sletton. Ray was raised and educated in Anaconda.

On Jan. 25, 1965, at the age of 17, he entered into the Navy and served his country during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged on Nov. 7, 1968. Ray attended the University of Montana, always pursuing additional knowledge.

Ray was a very quiet, independent private person. Ray lived and worked in Boston, Mass., Anchorage, Alaska, Seattle, Wash., and throughout the Flathead Valley. He lived in the Bigfork area for the past two years. Ray worked as a maintenance engineer most of his life. He was always working with his hands; he recently rebuilt a 1929 Model T truck, basically from scratch. He also enjoyed swimming.

Ray is preceded in death by his father, Sid, who died Dec. 28, 1995.

Survivors include his mother, Joy,of Anaconda; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Sandra and Tom Chestnut, of Columbia Falls, Carol and Dick Miller, of Billings, Shirley and Bob Niles, of Whitefish; an uncle, Harold Sletton, and an aunt, Louise Sletton, both of Anaconda; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Celebration of Life service was conducted at the Anaconda Chapel of KT Riddle Funeral Homes on Nov. 22, 2004, with Pastor Chuck Lanes officiating and Pastor Darrell Newby participating. Inurnment followed in the veterans section of New Hill Cemetery, with Military honors presented by the Anaconda American Legion Post 21 Color Guard.

Memorial donations are requested to Anaconda Assembly of God or the Anaconda Pintler Hospice.