Phyllis Ann Wicklund

Phyllis Ann Wicklund, beloved mother, daughter and sister, joined her creator and loved ones gone before her, Monday Oct. 11, 2004 at home in Kalispell due to natural causes. Phyllis was born to Ellis and Maribelle (Briggs) Wicklund on Jan. 20, 1940 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

She moved to Kalispell with her family when she was seven and remained through graduation from Flathead County High School. She loved teaching and began her career as the very first Kindergarten teacher at Trinity Lutheran School in the early 1960s. Later she earned her Masters Degree in Developmental Psychology and then returned to Kalispell in the early 1980s to teach special education at Peterson Elementary and Flathead County High School. Phyllis was a devoted teacher, retiring in the mid 1990s. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church; her beliefs were comforting to her. Phyllis' friendships were long-lasting and of great importance. She will be remembered for her tremendous faith, delightful sense of humor and remarkable intelligence.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her father Ellis Wicklund, her step-father Thomas E. Brist, and her brother Harvey Wicklund. She is survived by her son William Goetter of Kalispell; her mother Maribelle Brist of Kalispell; her brother Roger Wicklund of Tacoma, Washington; her sisters, Joan Morse of Whitefish; Ellen Wicklund of Ronan; Jeanette Wicklund of Seattle, Washington and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorial services will be on Friday Oct. 15 at 2 p.m. in Trinity Lutheran Church. Urn burial will be at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery. The family suggests that any memorial contributions be made to the Arthritis Foundation-Montana Branch, 1643 Lewis Avenue Suite 3, Billings, MT 59902.

Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary and Crematory.

Robert Max Retz

Robert Max Retz, age 64, died at his home in Whitefish on Sept. 30 after a very courageous battle against pancreatic cancer. He was surrounded by his family and held in the arms of his beloved grandson, Kaleb Retz.

Bob was born March 4, 1940 in Lewistown, Mont. to Forrest V. and Irene (d'Autremont) Retz. He attended St. Leo's Grade and High School, graduating in 1958. He then attended Carroll College in Helena and the San Francisco School of Mortuary Science. After completing the program he joined his father in Lewistown in the family business, Creel Newton Retz Funeral Home, where he worked for ten years. He served in the Air National Guard for six years.

He married Jo Ellen Rutherford at St. Leo's Catholic Church on June 15, 1968. In 1970, the family moved to Great Falls where Bob was employed as a stock broker for Dain Bosworth, Inc. He was promoted to Branch Manager 1976, a position he held until 1991 when he was hired by D. A. Davidson as the director of retail branch operations. He held that position until 1996.

He and Joey then moved to Whitefish to manage the North Forty Resort, a business he built with his sons in 1993, and was still active at the time of his death.

Bob developed a passion for horses after moving to Whitefish. He loved every aspect of riding and caring for his Tennessee Walkers and Missouri Fox Trotters. He also enjoyed playing golf, skiing, and touring on his Harley Davidson motorcycle.

Bob is survived by his devoted wife of 36 years. Joey, and their three sons, Brendon (Misty), Erik, and Ryan (Angie), all of Whitefish; nephew Jeff Pipinich and niece Lori Pipinich, both of Phoenix, Ariz. He also leaves behind the grandchildren who brought so much love and joy into his life, Kaleb, Ellie, Reagan, and Jason. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Pat Pipinich.

Bob was loved, admired, and respected by his family and friends for his courage, strength, and integrity. He will be deeply missed.

Memorial Mass was held Oct. 4 at St. Richard's Catholic Church in Columbia Falls, with burial at a later date. A reception following the service was held in the Snowberry Center at the North Forty Resort.

Memorials may be made to Home Options Hospice, Camp Mak-A-Dream, or Human Therapy on Horseback. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home of Kalispell is in charge of arrangements.

Debbie Marie Hedman

Debbie Marie Hedman of Kalispell passed away Oct. 12, 2004, at Brendan House in Kalispell, Mont. surrounded by her loving family. Debbie was born May 9, 1959 in Whitefish, Montana the daughter of Gene and Marie Hedman.

Debbie attended Whitefish schools and graduated in 1977. She attended San Diego Court Reporting School and became a freelance court reporter working in Kalispell. She soon started her own business "Hedman reporting." In 1987 her business grew adding two new partners; "Hedman, Asa, and Gilman Reporting Inc."

Debbie became ill in the fall of 2001, after several months she was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. She stopped work to begin what became two years of cancer treatments including chemotherapy. her positive attitude extended her life from the six months that the doctors gave her to over 2 1/2 years. She was an inspiration to other cancer patients and a source of joy and strength for all those who knew her.

Debbie loved to travel and her favorite travel companion was her mother Marie. Together they traveled to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, Hawaii and the Caribbean. Debbie's hobbies included bowling, hiking in Glacier Park, golfing and playing pool with her dad and friends. She had so many friends that her family had to have a guest book for all of her hospital visitors. Debbie loved her family and friends with a strong passion. She loved life and lived it to the fullest.

She is survived by her mother Marie Hedman Of Kalispell and her father Gene Hedman and Lenore Jorgenson of Whitefish; brothers Doug and his wife Kathy of Graham, Washington; Dale and his wife Annette of San Jose, California; and half sister Gina of New York City, New York. She was also the adored Aunt to Jenna, Daniel and Paige of San Jose; and Jason, his wife Rachael and great niece Raylena of Fort Riley, Kansas; and cherished by her maternal grandparents David and Helen Morris of Whitefish. Debbie was loved and will be missed by many aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends. Her paternal grand parents, Vern and Edena Hedman, preceded her in death.

A memorial service and celebration of her life will be Saturday, October 16, at 2 p.m. at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. The Reverend Deborah Stemmed of the Methodist Church in Whitefish will officiate. A private family urn burial will take place at Glacier Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to the Whitefish United Methodist Church or a charity of your choice in Debbie's name.

Lois Winifred Ferrell

Lois Winifred Ferrell, age 79, died Wednesday October 13, 2004 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell, Montana. She was born August 24, 1925 in San Jose, California to Lester Winifred and Julia Barbara (Bofinger) Stewart.

Lois attended schools in California and graduated from Dunsmuit High School, and attended one year of college. She was an Assistant Buyer for I. Magnin in New York, and was a model for artist, also while living in New York, She married Raymond Albert Ferrell on December 8, 1945 in Sacramento, Calif. She was a devoted wife and mother of seven children. She volunteered much of her time to an Oncology Unit in Sacrament, approximately 6 1/2 years, the American Heart Association, and the Montana Health System. Lois was a crafter, AKA "crafty Lois". She also enjoyed reading books and listening to music.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ray in 1969 and an infant grandson, David Rudolph in 1972. She is survived by her seven children, which were all her favorites; Dee McCain of Carmichael, Calif., Corinne Spence of Folsom, Calif., Priscilla Ericksteen of Bella Coola, British Columbia, Patty Scheeler of Corvallis, Ore., Eileen Nelson of Whitefish, William Ferrell and Amy Mackey both of Kalispell; 14 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

The family suggests that donations be made to the American Heart Association, 510 First Avenue North #114, Great Falls, MT 59401. There will be no services. Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary and Crematory.