Vance Allen

Vance Allen, 82, of Great Falls, a former Great Falls and Whitefish businessman, died of cancer Oct.15, 2009, at Peace Hospice in Great Falls.

Allen was born Oct. 22, 1926, to Bessie (Toole) and Cecil Allen in Fort Benton, where he was raised and educated. He graduated from Fort Benton High School in 1944, and served in the Navy during World War II.

Allen worked as a police officer in Whitefish, then owned and operated a gas station there. Later, he was employed by Beatrice Foods in Great Falls and Lewistown. He owned and operated an American International car dealership in Great Falls and was involved in insurance sales until retirement.

He was a faithful member of Redeemer Lutheran Church and enjoyed the Great Falls and Fort Benton Senior Centers. He participated in many Kogudus Ministry retreats and was a member of the Elks Club and the VFW.

Allen owned race horses and loved the sport. He was also an avid fisherman and golfer, and his hobbies included stamp and coin collecting.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Allen, in 1966; his parents; and his brother James Allen.

Survivors include daughters Starlene Strickland and husband Ernie, and Marlene Howard, all of Walla Walla, Wash., and Penny Cooper and husband Pat, of Great Falls; son Richard Allen and wife Donna, of Great Falls; grandchildren, Duane Allen and wife Cindy, Mark Howard, Chris Mann and partner Jason, and Alan Cooper; great grandchildren Shane, Tayler and Ecan Mann; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will take place at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Great Falls on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, at 11 a.m. Inurnment will take place in Highland Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to Kogudus Renewal Ministries at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, 1326 First Avenue North, Great Falls MT 59401 or Peace Hospice, 1501 26th Street South, Great Falls MT 59405.

Theodore Lund

Theodore F. (Ted) Lund, 92, a prominent longtime Whitefish resident, died at his home Oct. 14, 2009.

Ted was born at Eden Valley Township, Sherwood, N.D., on Aug. 20, 1917, to Theodore and Katherine (Bade) Lund, the youngest of nine children. He received his grade school education at Eden Valley school and was a 1934 graduate of Sherwood High School. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith.

Following high school graduation, Ted worked with his parents on their farm. In 1936, he became employed as a recreational leader in Sherwood under the Works Progress Administration, as well as supervising the National Youth Administration employees for three years.

In fall 1939, he enrolled in the Forestry Department of the North Dakota School of Horticulture. He was honored as outstanding graduate of his department in 1942. Following college graduation, he was employed in greenhouses in Elgin, Ill., before moving to San Bruno, Calif., where he worked for the E.W. McLellan Co., specializing in the raising of gardenias.

In January 1943, he was inducted in the Army, serving in the European Theater of Operations. He returned to the U.S. in April 1946, receiving an honorable discharge at the rank of Master Sergeant. He later served in the Army Reserve and was discharged at the rank of First Sergeant following 20 years of service, receiving the Army Commendation Medal for meritorious service.

Ted worked in Great Falls in 1946-47, where he met his future wife Connie. In Oct. 1947, Ted and his sister and brother-in-law established Whitefish Floral.

Ted and Constance (Connie) Lund were married in Great Falls on Nov. 9, 1951. They owned and operated Whitefish Floral for many years until retiring in 1978 and selling the business to Connie's brother and sister-in-law, Dick and Kay Lund.

Ted served in numerous community activities. He served as a director of the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce; a life member and past-commander of VFW Post 276; a 60-year member of American Legion Post 108; a life member of the Military Order of the Cooties; on committees of the Whitefish Credit Union for more than 30 years; and a member and trustee on the church council of Christ Lutheran Church.

Ted was an ardent Whitefish High School sports fan and was honored by the Bulldogs as "Fan of the Year." In January, he was inducted in Whitefish High School's Hall of Fame.

He was given a life membership in the Montana State Florists Association in recognition of many years of service as past president and chair of the state's FTD and Telefloral units. Ted and Connie chaired state florists conventions here in the Flathead Valley and were named Florists of the Year by the Northwest Florists Association, representing Montana as director of the association from 1975-78. He also chaired the florist information council for the American Society of Florists.

Ted particularly enjoyed his participation in the Whitefish Christmas Street Decoration committee. He was also active in the Whitefish Winter Carnival for many years and was the last active member of the original Penguin Group. He was named King ULLR IV, and he and Connie were awarded the High ULLR Award for their numerous contributions to the carnival.

The Whitefish Jaycees named him "Boss of the Year" in 1963, and the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce named him Outstanding Citizen in 1973 and Citizen of the Year in 2005. He served as a member and past chairman of the board of Mountain View Manor as board member of Flathead Crimestoppers. He also was a longtime member of the Whitefish Moose Lodge and Whitefish Kiwanis.

Preceding him in death was his wife of 48 years Connie; two brothers; and six sisters.

Surviving him are many nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law Gloria Austin and Kay Lund; and many, many friends.

Funeral services took place Oct. 19, 2009, at Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish. Rite of interment with military honors followed at Whitefish Cemetery.

Gregg Moore

Gregg Moore, loving husband, father, brother and grandfather, died Oct. 14, 2009, at Whitefish.

He was 58 years old and had been a resident of Whitefish for the past 28 years. He was the co-owner of Moore Countertops and Woodworking.

Gregg was born in Ft. Atkinson, Wis., to Del and Ardys Moore on March 20, 1951. He spent his earlier childhood years in Stevens Point, Wis., and later moved to southern California with his family. He grew up in the greater Los Angeles area, graduating from Reseda High School where he and his wife Gretchen met 43 years ago. They moved to Whitefish in 1981.

A very talented woodworker, Gregg was a certified kitchen designer. He enjoyed playing the guitar and wrote much of his own music, which he shared with family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Surviving him are his wife Gretchen, of Whitefish; children Shane Moore and Annalee Wagner, her husband Daniel and their son Asher, of Whitefish; brother Perry Moore and his wife Heather, of Whitefish.

Gregg will be greatly missed by his many, many close friends.

A celebration of Gregg's life was held at the Whitefish Lake Golf Club Restaurant on Oct. 21, 2009.