Linoln L. "Linc" France

Lincoln L. "Linc" France, 84, passed away Sunday, Aug. 21 at the North Valley Hospital in Whitefish.

He was born Jan. 30, 1921 in Grass Range to Fred and Stella France.

He was raised in the Lewistown and Bitterroot area. Linc finished his formal education in eighth grade to help support his family.

He was married to Ruth Davis Carlson on June 18, 1947 in Hamilton. They lived in Hamilton and in 1960 moved to Missoula. In 1965, they moved to Columbia Falls where Linc ran Linc's Automotive where Linc could fix anything. If he didn't have the tool, he could make one.

Linc loved to write letters to newspapers and congressmen to let them know what he was thinking. His marigolds have become a landmark in Columbia Falls. Linc also loved gardening and plowing snow on his old John Deere tractor.

He was a member of the Senior Citizens, a Columbia Falls City Councilman, R.S.V.P., Meals On Wheels and various other organizations.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife, Ruth; an infant daughter, Candice; his brothers, Merrit, Miles, and Milton France; and his sister, Wanda.

Linc is survived by his children, Larry (Jamie) France of Kalispell; Carol (Tom) Haid of Spokane, Wash.; Robert (Ann) Carlson of Mammoth Lakes, Calif.; Allan (Jan) Carlson of Elizabeth Lake, Calif.; and Pat (Leroy) Kindsvogel of Woodburn, Ore.; his brothers, Verdon, Aaron, Kenneth and Clinton France; a sister, Wilma Snell; 10 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Friday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m. at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.

The family has suggested that memorials be made to the North Valley Senior Citizens Center or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Ruth Keller

Ruth Keller, 88, passed away Saturday evening, Aug. 20, at the Colonial Manor in Whitefish.

She was born Oct. 2, 1916 in Hubbard, Minn.

Survivors include her children, Patsy Sanford, Carol Beckstrom and Lanny Bowers.

Visitation was Tuesday, Aug. 23 at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.

A funeral service was held Wednesday, Aug. 24 at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls. Burial followed at the Tobacco Valley Cemetery in Eureka.

Victor L. Darling

We are saddened to inform you of the passing of Victor L. Darling, a lifelong member of the community of Columbia Falls. Vic passed away peacefully at the Montana Veterans Home on Friday, Aug. 19. Vic was a community minded individual and spent much of his time giving back to the city and area. He served a number of years on the Columbia Falls City Council, he also served on the police commission, and on the Woodlawn Cemetery Board. He was one of the founding members of the North Valley Search and Rescue Association.

He was employed on his early years by the Great Northern Railway, before entering the service during the World War II, where he served in the Pacific front. Upon his return, he worked for F.H. Stoltze Land and Lumber Co. for a number of years. He finished out his working career at the aluminum plant during the years it was run by ARCO, retiring in 1985.

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Altabell; his brothers, Les Darling, Bud Darling and Floyd Darling.

Vic is survived and sadly missed by son, Larry Darling and family; son, Richard Darling and family; and by his brother, Pete Darling. He is also grandpa to several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A graveside service was held Tuesday, Aug. 23 at Woodlawn Cemetery with military graveside honors. Pastor Darrell Newby will officiate.

Arrangements are by Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.

Thomas G. Grato

Thomas Gene Grato, formerly of Kalispell and Columbia Falls, died after the car he was a passenger in missed a turn and rolled down an embankment near Palmer, Alaska on the morning of Aug. 4.

Thomas was born April 19, 1977 in Ellensburg, Wash. to Thomas and Rita Grato.

In October of 1997, Thomas married Olivia Horne in Mountlake Terrace, Wash.

Thomas was preceded in death by his father in 1985 and his mother 1996. He is survived by his wife, Olivia, of Washington; his adoptive parents, Doug and Barbara Williams of Montana; his grandmother, Louise Stone of Washington; one sister, Sunshine Grato of California; one brother, Dominic Grato and wife, Doris of Alaska; one adoptive sister, Shanda Reiter of Montana; four daughters, Malia, Reanna, Lutreece of Washington, and Alysse of Oregon; two stepdaughters, Mariah Sellers of Washington and Alexis Fischer of Oregon; one niece, Katie Grato; one nephew, Thomas Grato of Alaska; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Thomas was unemployed and had no life insurance. The family asks that in lieu of flowers or gifts donations be made to the Barbara Williams 001 Account for Thomas at the Whitefish Credit Union, PO 37, Whitefish, MT 59937-0037 in order to help cover the costs of Thomas's final arrangements.

A celebration of Thomas's life will be held in the Seattle/Everett, Wash. area. Details will be announced at a later date.

Final services for Thomas were handled by Valley Funeral Home and Crematory in Anchorage.

Larry G. Gaffaney

Larry G. Gaffaney 88, passed away at Heritage Place Nursing Home in Kalispell on July 9. He was born July 19, 1916 in Cut Bank to Clyde Gaffaney and Anne (Connolly) Gaffaney. He attended the Lake Five School, Kalispell schools and graduated from Columbia Falls High School in 1937.

Larry served in the Army Air Force during World War II from July 1943 to October 1945. Serving in Luzon and New Guinea.

Larry married Florence Nordgren July 15, 1933 in Kalispell. They resided at Half Moon Lake, Kalispell, Seattle, Cut Bank, Spokane and Coram. Larry enjoyed dancing, fishing and hunting, especially with his children and grandchildren. He loved to cut firewood and spend time at his cabin on Trail Creek in North Fork.

Larry worked at various jobs including, surveying, drill rigs in the oilfields, engineering and as a sawyer. In 1955 he returned to at Montana State University in Bozeman where he received a bachelor's degree in teaching. He later received his master's degree. He taught in Frenchtown, Spokane, Idaho, and at the Columbia Falls Junior. High. After retiring he and Florence spent winters in Arizona, where he prospected for gold and enjoyed square dancing.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Florence; and two sisters, Patricia Tough and Mary Hudson; and great-grandson, Aaron Pitman. He is survived by two daughters, Naomi Hoiland and husband, Duke of Trail Creek; and Maureen Pitman and husband Harry of Coram. Also, one son, Larry C. Gaffaney and wife Gayle of Deer Lodge. A sister Vivian Tilton of North Carolina, eight grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A special thank you to Sheila, staff and friends at Well-Life Assisted Living for caring and fun times you provided for Larry. Thanks also to the staff at Heritage Place.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, Aug. 27, at 3 p.m. at the Pitman home at 545 Seville Lane in Coram.

Cremation has taken place under the direction of Johnson Mortuary and Crematory.