Ernest Branden

Ernest "Bud" Branden, 84, passed away Feb. 16, 2005, at North Valley Hospital in Whitefish.

Bud was born Dec. 29, 1920, in Whitetail. He moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, with his parents, Sig and Martha Branden, in 1924. He lived and attended school in Coeur d'Alene until he went into the Army in 1942.

He married Alma Bell in 1948. They lived in Idaho for awhile and then moved to Montana. He worked in the mill yard at Fortine and retired from Plum Creek. He loved to fish, hunt and spend many hours in the outdoors.

He will be missed by all his family and friends. He lived at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls for the last three years where he enjoyed playing Bingo and all other activities that were provided there.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Alma Branden.

Bud is survived by his son Harvey Branden and wife, Chris, of Kalispell; daughter Linda Iverson and husband, Tom, of Whitefish; sister Ines Pierson and husband, Don, of Seattle; six grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.

Memorial services were held Feb. 21, 2005, at the Columbia Falls Assembly of God, church with Rev. Darrell Newby officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Montana Veterans Home, P.O. Box 250, Columbia Falls MT 59912.

Florence Hilt

Florence "Pat" F. Hilt, 81, of Choteau and formerly of Fairfield, died Feb. 13. 2005, at the Teton Medical Center from natural causes.

Pat was born Sept. 12, 1923, in Great Falls, the daughter of Reuben and Frances (Woods) Dors. She was the only child in her family to graduate from high school.

She married Cyril L. Hilt on Nov. 3, 1945, in Great Falls, and he preceded her in death on Feb. 24, 2000. She was a homemaker and volunteered at the Fairfield Elementary School in the third-grade art class every Friday.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two sons, William and Robert Hilt; a brother, Art Dors; and a sister, Mary Brent.

She is survived by her sisters, Jean Itami, of Scottsdale, Ariz., and Vivian Dors Droke, of Kingsport, Ind.; and her cousins, Mary Godreau, Margaret Smith and Jim Noble.

Funeral mass was held Feb. 18, 2005, at St. John's Catholic Church in Fairfield and interment followed in the Sunset Hills Cemetery under the direction of Gorder Funeral Home of Choteau.

Memorials are suggested to the Drop In Senior Center in Fairfield.