Cyrus Rishoff, 102

Cyrus Jerome "Cy" Rishoff, age 102, passed away peacefully in his sleep at the Lake View Care Center in Bigfork early Saturday morning (Feb. 16, 2008).

Cyrus was born May 17, 1905 in Gary, Minnesota. He was one of seven children born to Anton & Martha (Holm) Rishoff. He received his formal education in Minnesota, then came to Montana as a young man to work on his uncles' farm north of Lothair. While there Cy met the neighbor girl, Ovedia Olson, and they were married in Chester on October 6, 1928.

They lived in Shelby for many years where Cyrus worked for the Toole County road department. He enjoyed baseball, pheasant hunting, collecting copper & brass, and playing cards (especially pan & pinochle). He retired in 1970.

The Rishoffs moved to Bigfork in 1988 and tended to the cherry orchards on their property at Woods Bay. They were thankful for good health and lived independently into their 90's. In 2004 Cy transferred to the Bigfork care center, where he received excellent care from the entire staff. During his stay at the rest home he enjoyed playing bingo & pinochle, and he loved the many visits from his family members.

Cy was preceded in death by his parents, a son (Orville Rishoff), his brother (Marvin Rishoff), and his 5 sisters (Hazel Standiford, Lillian Berglind, Eva Edmister, Margaret Janewski, & Dorothy Thennis).

Survivors include his wife of 79 years, Ovedia Rishoff of Bigfork; his son, Jack Rishoff of Bigfork; his daughter, Betty Fjeld of Kalispell; 8 grandchildren, Susan (Jerry) LeBouef of Newport Beach, Ca., David (Robyn) Rishoff of Etiwanda, Ca., Laney (David) Paine of Newport Beach, Ca., Debbie (Jack) Sparks of Albany, Or., Kim Hickman of Neptune, NJ, Mick (Ruthie) Renna of Rudyard, Donna Benner of Kalispell, and Ed (Tari) Renna of Meridian, Id.; 13 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great-grandchildren; and many nephews & nieces.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Friday (Feb. 22nd) at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Shelby. Burial at the Shelby Mountainview Cemetery followed by a luncheon at the church. Arrangements by Rockman Funeral Chapel of Chester.

Claire Louise Wilson, 62

Claire Louise Wilson passed away at the age of 62 on February 10th after a courageous 13-year battle with brain tumors at the time of her death she was surrounded by her beloved family and pets at her ranch in Bigfork, Montana.

Claire was born June 5, 1945 in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and moved to Phoenix, Arizona with her family when she was two year old. She attended high school in Flagstaff, Arizona and graduated from Northern Arizona University in 1965. That same year, she married her high school sweetheart, Larry Wilson. Their sons Mark and Brain were born in 1968 and 1973. Claire and Larry raised their family in Arizona until moving to Whitefish, Montana in 1984. Since 1992 they have lived in Bigfork where Claire had a tremendous passion for raising cutting horses at her River Bend Ranch.

Claire was an Advisory Board member of the Montana Land Reliance. She loved Montana and had a special fondness for the Grizzly Bears. She so appreciated the Montana Land Reliance for their efforts in protecting the open spaces and key animal habitat. Claire was a devoted animal advocate, and with her donation to the Humane Society of Northwest Montana, she made possible the Charlotte Edkins Animal Adoption Center, named in honor of her mother, Charlotte Edkins. Claire was also a former board member of the Maricopa County Humane Society in Arizona and a devoted supporter of the Humane Society in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico where she lived in the winter. Her love for animals and her desire "to protect those who cannot protect themselves" is just one of her many legacies.

While it would be impossible for Claire to choose her "favorite" animal, for she loved them all, she had a particular soft spot for bears. She once hosted a sow Grizzly Bear and her two cubs at her home in Bigfork to keep them out of trouble until it was time for them to go back into the mountains to den. She adored nature and the outdoors. Claire loved sharing her favorite hiking trails in Glacier National Park with her family and friends and riding horses at her ranches. In the past few months, when she was no longer able to hike or ride, the view out of her window of the beautiful mountains, deer, eagles and occasional bear, sustained her.

Claire is survived by her husband, Larry, son, Mark Wilson and his partner, Brandi Guild as well as two grandchildren, Brooke and Casey Wilson of Bigfork; son, Brian Wilson and his partner, Charles Ramsey of Brooklyn, New York; sister Carolyn Bower and her husband Brad Bower of Boise, Idaho; niece and nephews, Caitlin, Scott and Nick and his wife Caitlin Revell; and father, Don Edkins and his wife, Connie. Claire also leaves behind her beloved dogs, Jennie, Sadie and Lucy. Claire was preceded in death by her mother, Charlotte Edkins.

Claire's strong, yet gentle nature and sparkling blue eyes will be missed by those who knew and loved her. Her family will miss her so deeply as will all the earth's creatures' great and small.

The Wilson family wishes to thank the kind people from the Kalispell Regional Medial Center for their dedication to keeping Claire comfortable during her final months. They also want to thank all of their friends who have so lovingly stood by them during this ordeal.

Everyone is welcome to help celebrate Claire's life at 10 a.m. February 27th at the River Bend Ranch in Bigfork. In Lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Capital Fund Campaign of the Humane Society of Northwest Montana, 3499 Highway 93 North, Kalispell, Montana 59901. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.