Geraldine Close
Geraldine Close, 72, passed away Nov. 26 at Colonial Manor in Whitefish.
She was born Oct. 2, 1933 in Hardin to Charles and Cora Cunningham.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Tom.
She is survived by her sons, Biff Minnick, Charles Close of Columbia Falls, and Dwayne Close and his wife Kree of Columbia Falls; her daughter, Teri Clark and husband Robert of Enumclaw, Washington; and her grandchildren, John Paul, Derek and Stephen Close of Coram, Jared Peterson of Laramie, Wyo., Fawn and Cody Clark of Enumclaw, Wash., Christie Nicholson of Kalispell, Brian Trucke of Hinesville, Ga., Jason Minnick of Tacoma, Wash., Joshua Minnick of Los Angeles, Calif., Monte and Macey Close, Cordell and Cassie Standish, and Sean Cloninger.
No services are planned at this time.
Arrangements are with the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.
Carl Edward Rauthe
Carl Edward Rauthe, age 75, passed away on Nov. 28, at Kalispell regional Medical Center in Kalispell.
Carl was born on Jan. 15, 1930, in Somers, to Frank and Leone Lininger Rauthe.
He attended schools in the Flathead Valley. In April of 1948, Carl enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served as a Gunners Mate Third Class aboard the USS Leonard F. Mason. He received the Occupations Service Medal for serving during the Korean War, the Korean Service Medal and Ribbon, and the United Nations Medal. He was discharged from the Navy in March of 1952. He started driving truck when he was 14 years of age, he was mentored by Mark Meyers, who taught him how to run every piece of equipment that has to do with logging. Carl truly loved to get his hands dirty doing all the jobs related to logging, whether it was sawing, jamming, doing deck work, or driving truck, he could do it all and loved every minute of doing it. He drove just about every type of truck known to man at one time or the other.
He married Lillian Olson, who passed away in 1992. He met Darlene Jump and they dated and were married on Oct. 1, 1998. Seeing them together, you could really see the twinkle in their eyes. They enjoyed and did everything together as a pair. Carl was past President of the Log Hauler Association, was a member of the Eagles and the Moose Lodges. He loved golfing, hunting, taking drives in the country, looking for wildlife, and his family. Carl was a very special father and grandfather who truly loved being with his family.
He was preceded in death by his father, Frank John Henry Rauthe; his mother, Leone Aurand; step-dad, Oliver Aurand; son, Bruce Rauthe in 1975, sisters, Agnes Newell, Elsie Sundberg; brothers Frank and Hank Rauthe; step-brother Butch Aurand.
Carl is survived by his wife, Darlene Rauthe of Kalispell; children, Brad Rauthe and his wife Susan, Carla Clarke and her husband Mike, step-son Kevin Jump and his wife Carol, Kelly Jump, Kristi Personett and her husband Brian, Kim Burnside and her husband Glen; sister, Genevieve Meyers of Kalispell; grandchildren, Jason Rauthe and his wife Trina, Chad Rauthe and his wife Sandra, Wade Clarke, Michelle Clarke, and 12 step-grandchildren, 14 step-great-grandchildren.
Public visitation for Carl was held on Dec. 2 at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home Chapel.
Funeral services were held Dec. 3 at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church with Pastor Mark Cutler officiating. Burial followed at Glacier Memorial Gardens. The family suggests memorials to Human Therapy on Horseback, P.O. Box 1514, Whitefish, MT, 59937, or to Immanuel Lutheran Home, 185 Crestline Avenue, Kalispell, MT, 59901 Buffalo Hill Funeral Home caring for the family.
Jack M. Thompson, 71, Columbia Falls, passed away Saturday morning, Dec. 3, 2005, in Seattle.
He was born January 10, 1934 in Burleigh, Idaho.
Survivors include his son, Allen Thompson of Ventura, Calif. and his daughter, Julie Grange of Seattle, Wash.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, December 8, 2005 at 2:00 p.m. at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.
A complete obituary and story will appear in next week's paper, as the newspaper learned of his death shortly before presstime.