Charles Quimby

Charles Ray Quimby, 89, passed away at his home in Kalispell on Aug. 26, 2008, of natural causes with his friend, companion and wife, Geraldine, of 66 years at his side. He was born Aug. 11, 1919, to Charlie Jared Quimby and Ollie (Thomas) Quimby in a log cabin behind the East Glacier Inn in Glacier National Park.

His mother's mid-wife was a Blackfoot by the name of Mrs. Hyde. Ray always went by his middle name so as not to be confused with his dad's name, Charlie. He was an only child and his "family" was his dad, uncles and logging crews in the various horse logging camps and the mills around the Flathead Valley. Consequently, he grew up working the large draft horses of the time. He traveled the Valley with his favorite uncle, Steve "Stud Horse" Quimby, and his two infamous stud Percherons, "Nig" and Silver.

One of Ray's first "paying" jobs, as a young boy, was shaving the ice on Lake Five in the winter time for the Great Northern Railroad, using his uncle's two big horses. Ray went to grade school and one year of high school in Columbia Falls, but to make ends meet for him and his dad, he was forced to work full time and get his education in the real world. Ray married Geraldine Fothergill of Kila on Dec. 26, 1941. They tried their luck at logging, farming and ranching, but the lure of big machinery, like the big horses and big money, took him into construction.

He and his family traveled extensively throughout the western United States and Canada helping erect the steel transmission lines. He was sought after by the major construction companies for his expertise as a crane operator. In his 27 years of construction he had a perfect safety record. Because of that record, he had a work crew that followed him wherever he went. At one time he operated the largest wheeled crane on the west coast and thus, this career of construction allowed him to be a great provider for his family.

Ray's nurse, at the time of his passing, wrote in his log, "Ray went to the heavens. He now can walk with the Great Horses and Cowboys that range in the sky."

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Ollie Quimby. He is survived by his wife, Geraldine Quimby of Kalispell; two daughters, Rae Ann Quimby of Oregon City, Ore., and Connie Westerholm and husband Jay of Astoria, Ore.; one son, Alan Quimby of the Half Moon Ranch in central Montana; four grandsons, Shane, Jared, Gerritt and Jason; one granddaughter, Desiree; six great-grandsons and five great-granddaughters; one sister-in-law, Irene Loveless of Libby; and a nephew, Dennis Loveless of Helena.

A private family internment was held at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

Johnson — Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Ray's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Ray's guest book.

Helen Barta

Helen M. Barta, 65, former resident of Columbia Falls, died at the home of her stepson in Stevensville on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2008.

She was born on March 9, 1943, in Glasgow and was the daughter of Willard Austin and Delphy A. (Edd) Hasbrouck.

Helen graduated from Glasgow High School in May 1961. She married Maurice C. Morrison, Jr., on Dec. 2, 1961, and moved to Helena in 1965. They divorced in 1975. Helen married Bob Barta on Jan. 16, 1976, in Helena. The couple moved to Glendive in 1981 and then to Columbia Falls in 1986. Helen was active in the Columbia Falls Community Choir and Valley Voices Choir. She was an insurance underwriter at Hull & Company in Kalispell, where she retired in June 2008. At that time she moved to Billings to live with her daughter.

Her husband Bob preceded her in death on Oct. 19, 2002, in Columbia Falls.

Helen is survived by two children, Jean (Dennis) Randall, Billings, and Mike Morrison, Helena; three stepchildren, Richard (Dee) Barta, Stevensville, David (Vickie) Barta, Aurora, Colo. and Helen (Grady) Shaw, Fort Valley, Ga.; sister Myrna (Bill) Symonds, Newark, Del.; brothers, Wayne (Debbie) Hasbrouck, Great Falls, and Jim (Francie) Hasbrouck, Malta; two granddaughters, Kristina and Kimberly; and several step-grandchildren.

Memorial services will be conducted on Saturday, Sept. 6, at 11 a.m. at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Columbia Falls. Interment of her urn will be at 1 p.m. at Woodlawn Cemetery. A reception will follow church services.

Memorials are asked to Our Savior Lutheran Church, Columbia Falls.

The Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville is in charge of cremation arrangements.

Donald Haverfield

Donald Dale Haverfield, 84, of Columbia Falls, passed away Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center surrounded by family and friends.

Don was born May 25, 1924 in Lonesome Butte, Saskatchewan, Canada. He served in the U.S.M.C. during World War II and Korea.

Don is survived by his wife, Sue; former wife, Ann; sons Keith and Gary; and daughter, Arleea Backes.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, Sept. 8, 2008 at 1 p.m. at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls. Inurnment will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls with graveside Honors by the United Veterans of the Flathead.