Francis Anthony "Frank" Nickol, age 85,

passed away on Saturday, March 3, 2007 at the Marias Valley Care Center in Shelby, Montana. He was born on December 29, 1921 to George and Elizabeth (Thiese) Nickol on their family farm east of Ledger, Montana.

Frank received 8 years of formal education in the nearby Omhalt School and then continued to educate himself for the rest of his life. He was a very prolific reader, reading hundreds of thousands of pages of political history as well as dozens of other subjects, and yet managed to avoid even reading one page of any instruction book, ever. Frank read until his eye sight failed him and even attended some community college courses in his later years.

In 1939 at the age of 18, Frank purchased his first piece of farm ground. The seller asked Frank for one dollar and told him to make payments to him of "whatever and whenever you can make them". This farm grew to about 2000 acres. He also purchased a ranch north of Havre that he once said, "Luckily, right before the prices went up", that was later sold.

In the late fall of 1941, Frank was arrested by the F.B.I. and falsely accused of being a Nazi Sympathizer. It was an event that left him with a life long suspicion and distrust of government and politics. During the fall of 1953 he went to visit his cousin, Helen Frank and met Mary Margaret Wendt, who was teaching at the Mountain Brook School. They were married June 14, 1954 at St. Matthew's Catholic Church in Kalispell. They returned to the farm he bought in 1939. In 1960 the couple moved their growing family into a new home at the present farm site. Frank and Mary raised seven boys starting with George in 1955; Chris came along in 57, then Matthew in 58, Steve in 1960, Andy in 61, Simon in 64, Luke (who was still-born) in 68 and finally Sam in 1975. Frank worked with all his sons teaching them his mechanical genius as well as an amazing array of talent and ability to get the job done no matter what it may be. In 1984 he turned the farm over to his eldest son, George, and moved to an 80 acre place in the Flathead Valley, which had been given to them by Mary's father. In 1985 Frank helped his son, Steve, buy and rebuild a marina on Flathead Lake. He then helped run it for the next 10 years.

After being involved in an auto accident in 1994, Frank quit working as hard and helped out at the Flathead Food Bank and other charities.

While at an old tractor show, Frank was noticed by the world famous photographer, Joyce Tennyson, and she published his photo in her book, "Amazing Men" which came out in 2004. Willie Nelson and B.B. King were also listed in her book as world famous men. Frank was pretty proud to be the only farmer in the book, even though he wasn't world famous.

Last March, Frank moved to Somers to be closer to his sons and then in August he went to assisted living to be with his wife Mary. Health problems necessitated a move to the Marias Valley Care Center in Shelby where he passed away. Franks generous nature and amazing talents and sharp sense of humor along with many other good qualities will be greatly missed.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents a still born son and his siblings: Fred, Clair, Ed, Joe, Lee and Anna.

He is survived by his wife Mary Margaret Nickol of Kalispell, MT; and seven sons; George and wife Bonnie, Chris, Matt, Steve, Andy and wife Cindy, Simon and Sam; 5 grandchildren: Jamie, Casey, Sherwood, Victoria Kay "Tori", and Mary Frances.

Mass of Christian Burial for Frank Nickol will be held on Monday, March 12, 2007 at 12:10 pm at St. Matthew's Catholic Church with Father Vic Langhans as celebrant. Committal will follow at the Glacier Memorial Gardens, next to his son Luke. Rosary services will be Sunday night at 6:30pm in the Johnson Mortuary Chapel. The family suggests memorial gifts be given to the Charity of the donor's choice.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Frank's family.

Millicent Ann "Mill" Kautz

Millicent Ann Kautz, 91, died March 5, 2007 at Colonial Manor Nursing Home in Whitefish. She was born to John and Anna (Brutosky) Dolin on June 6, 1915 in Belt and graduated from high school there in 1933.

Mill was employed by the State of Montana in Helena and for many years by Home Oil in Black Eagle. On Nov. 9, 1947 she and William Kautz were married in Great Falls. They made their home in Lakewood, Colo., where she was a homemaker while their three children were small. Mill then worked for the Employment Service of Colorado as a punch card tabulator, retiring in 1978. Her interests were ballroom dancing, crocheting, watching all sports, traveling by RV, and visiting Alaska and Montana. Mill and Bill moved to Whitefish in October 2006 to be near family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, nine brothers and sisters, and a son Duane in February 2006. Survivors include her husband of 59 years, Bill, at Riverside Senior Living in Whitefish, a son Darrell Kautz of Morgantown, W. Va., her daughter D'Ann and husband Ron Wilhelm of Columbia Falls, grandchildren Alex Wilhelm of Columbia Falls and Bozeman and Ketti Wilhelm of Columbia Falls.

At her request there will be no funeral. Inurnment will be at Holy Shepard Lutheran Church in Lakewood, Colo., at a later date.

Dawn Rene Garfield-Blades

Dawn Rene Garfield-Blades passed away on March 10, 2007 after an 11-year battle with breast cancer.

Dawn was born on Feb. 1, 1960 at Ringling Brothers Hospital in Baraboo, Wis., which may account for her sense of humor. Her first five years were spent in Baraboo. She lived in Sparta, Wis., and Eau Claire, Wis. When she was 6 years old her family moved to Springfield, Mo., and the following year to Rolla, Mo., where she lived until graduating from high school in 1978. After high school she moved to West Glacier where her dad served with Glacier National Park.

In 1980, Dawn worked as an extra in the movie, "Heaven's Gate." After the movie was completed she moved to California. She took classes in make-up and special effects and worked for Berman Studios.

The next year, she returned to Montana and attended Montana State University where she received a degree in recreational therapy/gerontology. She later earned a master's degree in occupational therapy at the University of Puget Sound and has been a pediatric occupational therapist in the Flathead Valley for over 16 years. Her love was children with special needs. In the ‘90s she led a diagnostic team to acquire the skills necessary to provide state of the art autism evaluations, a service almost unheard of in rural communities such as the Flathead Valley. She was known across Montana for her expertise with special needs children.

In her personal life, Dawn was the happiest when she had a car load of laughing kids heading either to a movie, a party, or to the baseball fields. Dawn's favorite pastime was making her beautiful Hula Moon jewelry. She was also a rock hound and never met a rock she didn't love.

In 1987 Dawn and Kurt Blades were married. The two sons born of that marriage were the light and love of her life.

Dawn is survived by her husband, Dr. Kurt Blades of Whitefish and her sons, Kyler Gehrig, 14, and Logan Charles, 11. She is also survived by her parents, John (Jack) and Betty Ladd Garfield of Kalispell; her brother and sister-in-law, Les and Lori Grilley of Columbia Falls and their children, Heidi, Jesse and Jeremy; her uncle Bob Garfield of Winter Haven, Fla., and his children, Lisa, Kris, and Rob; her uncle Alan Garfield and aunt Mary of Bonita Springs, Fla.; and her aunt Ardath of Ashfield, Mass. and her children Alan and David. Dawn was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Florence Evelyn Harris Ladd and Eric Nicholas Ladd of Dodgeville, Wis.; and her paternal grandparents Charles and Fern Garfield of Sparta, Wis.

Dawn will be cremated and her ashes scattered in the ocean off Hawaii, a place she dearly loved.

Dawn lived by these words, as she professed often, "You need to do a good deed for someone every day. It may be an itty-bitty good deed, or a great big good deed, just be sure that before you go to bed at night, you have done it."

Dawn deeply loved and cared for so many children and friends. Her beautiful smile and grace touched all those who knew her. Her friends say she was an angel and they were blessed to know her.

In lieu of flowers and because of Dawn's dedication to children, a donation may be made for the nursery at the new North Valley Hospital or a college fund for Kyler and Logan. Donations may be sent to P.O. Box 2082, Whitefish, MT 59937.

A memorial service for Dawn was held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at the United Methodist Church in Whitefish.

Rochelle E. VanderHorst

Rochelle E. VanderHorst, 62, died Thursday, March 8, 2007 at her home in Kalispell after a long courageous battle with cancer.

She was born June 21, 1944 in Glendale, Calif., to Ronald E. and Kathryn H. Langley.

She moved to Pomona, Calif., at 3 years old, where she grew up and attended Westmont Elementary School, John Marshall Junior High, and on to Ganesha High School, where she graduated in 1962. It was also in 1962 that she married Donald VanderHorst. Together, they shared 35 years of marriage.

In 1963, they started their family. Chelle's most important role in her lifetime, one she so cherished until the end. Busy throughout the years, in the dairy business with her husband and raising three children. Always keeping the doors open for friends and family to enjoy her wonderful food and conversation. This she will always be remembered for.

Rochelle is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Randall and Lorna Langley of California; sister and brother-in-law, Renee and Charles Harvey of Colorado; her two sons, Kenneth VanderHorst of Columbia Falls and Daniel VanderHorst of Whitefish; daughter and son-in-law, Trina and Vaughn Penrod of Somers; five grandchildren, Kristy and Chaz VanderHorst of Hanford, California, Chelaine, Marti, and Camry Penrod of Somers; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Chelle is preceded in death by her husband, Donald VanderHorst in 1996.

A graveside service was held Monday, March 12, 2007, at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls.

The family has suggested that memorials be made to Wings, P.O. Box 7852, Kalispell, Montana 59901

Arrangements are with the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.