Gene Haverlandt

Gene Albert Haverlandt, 63, died peacefully on March 13, 2010, surrounded by family in his home in Wasilla, Alaska.

Gene was born Sept. 8, 1946, in Kalispell. He grew up near Eureka where he learned to fish, trap, hunt and work. He graduated from Lincoln County High School in 1963.

He married Linda Herron and from 1965 to 1975, they lived in and around Trego, Fortine, Deep Creek and Whitefish.

Gene worked as a logger, a laborer for Burlington Northern and construction worker at the Libby Dam. He moved to Alaska in 1975, ending up in Wasilla in 1983, where he resided near his daughters until his passing.

He worked construction in Alaska and as a contractor until 1986 when he began his most passionate job as a fabricator, designer and shop foreman, at Plaschem in Anchorage. He referred to himself as a jack of all trades and master of some.

Gene's hobbies included flying, fishing, camping, trapping, hunting, drawing, writing, cooking and making anything he could with fiberglass. He was passionate about storytelling and often shared stories about his youth and growing up near Eureka.

He was preceded in death by his wife, father, mother and brother Joe Haverlandt.

He is survived by children Daphne Gurley and husband Greg, of Chugiak, Darcy Schachle and husband Tim, of Wasilla, and Deanna Humphreys and husband Scott, of Wasilla; grandchildren Chelsea and Tyler Gurley, Timothy, Jaclyne and James Schachle, and Alyssa and Alex Humphreys, all of Alaska; brother Louis Haverlandt Jr., of Colorado; sister Ginger St. Onge and huband Ed, of Montana; nieces and nephews Jay, Kelly and Kathy St. Onge, Suzie, Charie and Diane McDonald, Tehila, Onawa and Neil Haverlandt, Beau Hanson, and Tangie, Treena and Tricia Dickinson.

Memorial services were held at the Valley Funeral Home Palmer Chapel, in Palmer, Alaska, March 20, 2010.

A celebration of life will take place at the Best Western Rocky Mountain Lodge, in Whitefish, on April 10, 2010, at 1 p.m.

Lillian Howke

Lillian Howke, 80, died March 22, 2010, in Whitefish. She was born in Belfast, Ireland, on July 9, 1929, to William Irwin and Martha (Turkington) Irwin.

Lil came to America as a young woman on a visit to Whitefish to see her sister Maudie Stidham. She remained in Whitefish with Bill and Roxie Cheevers as her sponsers and received her citizenship in 1956.

During her 62 years in Whitefish, she was a dedicated homemaker. She later worked at Lincoln Cleaners and for many years at Chalet City Pharmacy. She was a member of the Whitefish First Baptist Church, enjoying her friends and fellowship there. Lil enjoyed visiting with her many friends and had been a very loving and proud mother and grandmother.

Preceding her in death were sisters May Russell and Maudie Stidham and granddaughter Paige Howke.

Surviving her are her sons Mike Howke, of Whitefish, and Steve Howke and wife Brenda, of Helena; sister Chrissie McCracken, of Belfast, Ireland; grandchildren Tawnya Vidnovic, Michelle Howke, Emily Howke, Shelby Howke and Brady Howke; great granddaughter Sophie Vidnovic; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Services took place March 27, 2010, at the Austin Funeral Home with Pastor Gene Speer officiating. Interment services followed at Glacier Memorial Gardens.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Whitefish.

Helen Washington

Helen E. Washington, 92, died March 27, 2010, at North Valley Hospital.

She was born in Endicott, Wash., on April 16, 1917, the youngest of 10 children born to German immigrants Adam and Mary Benner. She was raised and educated in Endicott and following high school, attended Kinman Business School, in Spokane.

Helen moved to Missoula in July 1937, where she worked as a secretary for Pacific Finance Corporation and Consumer Credit Corporation. She also worked for the telephone company for seven years.

She married Thomas Washington on Dec. 24, 1941, in Missoula, where they raised their family. She remained in Missoula until moving to Whitefish in 2002, where she had resided at The Springs.

Always enjoying life to the fullest, Helen loved league bowling in earlier years and remained an avid TV fan of all sports in all seasons. She enjoyed the outdoors of Northwest Montana and had a particular fondness of Flathead Lake. She was a remarkable gardener and was known by many in Missoula for her beautiful flower gardens.

She was preceded in death by her husband.

Surviving her are daughters Julie Ann Jung, of Great Falls; and Linda Stolte, of Whitefish; grandchildren Richard Thomas, Kristin Hodges, Amanda Beaudry, Trever Stolte and Caleb Stolte; and 11 great grandchildren.

Private interment will be at Missoula Cemetery. Memorials may be made to a local chapter of the Humane Society.

Loren Kreck

Loren Kreck, 89, a retired Columbia Falls dentist, passionate defender of wilderness and lifelong outdoor adventurer, died March 26, 2010, of natural causes.

He was born Aug. 29, 1920, in Hollywood, Calif., to Edwin Kreck and Lydia Kreck. After graduating from the University of Southern California, Walt Disney Studios offered him a job as an artist, but he decided to work for Douglas Aircraft building airplanes.

In 1944, he joined the Marines and became a pilot. He flew Corsairs off the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Bennington in the war against Japan. He attended dental school after World War II. In 1950, he married Mary Rose Fea. They moved to Columbia Falls the next year.

Loren is best known for his passion for wilderness. He was perhaps one of the most ardent, dedicated and involved conservationists in Montana history and was instrumental in helping establish the Jewel Basin hiking area and the Great Bear Wilderness.

He continued to enjoy the outdoors, hiking, skiing and floating rivers throughout his life. He was also a sculptor, painter, a model race car maker and a wonderful storyteller.

Loren is survived by his sons David and Michael; his sister-in-law Bobby Kreck; and numerous nieces and nephews

Friends and family will meet to celebrate Loren's life and accomplishments at Birch Grove Community Hall on Saturday, April 17, starting at 2 p.m. A potluck dinner will begin about 4 p.m.

For more information, contact Elaine Snyder in the evenings at 756-6240 or Dave and Janet Downey at 257-4311.

Geraldine Emmert

Geraldine Geri Emmert, 77, of Raton, N.M., passed away March 17, 2010, after a courageous, hard-fought battle with cancer.

She was born June 3, 1932, in White Bear Lake, Minn., the first-born daughter of Frank Newbury and Mary Hare Newbury. In 1945, she moved from Wisconsin to Montana with her folks and six siblings, living in a tin shack built on the back of a 1 1/2 ton 1937 Chevy truck. They settled in the Olney area.

Geri was a spunky, young gal who in her childhood loved to box with her older brothers. While attending Whitefish High School, she worked as a live-in housekeeper and nanny for a well-respected doctor, going home only on the weekends.

After graduating, Geri went to work for Hendricksen Motors in Kalispell. It was then, on her daily carpool commute, that she got to know the love of her life, William Emmert. Bill and Geri were married on Sept. 7, 1952.

Geri had a real passion and appreciation for life, laughter and family. She had an exceptional knack for interior decorating and had great, largely unexplored, artistic potential. Geri particularly enjoyed travel and her long rides through the countryside with family and friends.

Perhaps her greatest gift was her deep sense of compassion for those who were suffering emotionally or from physical illness.

She would literally spend days upon days searching through her vast medical library to find some comfort and direction for those in need, at times even putting her own well-being at risk

She was preceded in death by her sister Barbara Quilling; nephew Robert Eyre; nephew Glen Speer; great-nephew, Erin Emmert; and grandson, Joseph Reid.

She is survived by her husband; children Kathy McFadden and husband Roger, of Columbia Falls, Tina Reid, of Raton, Scott Emmert and wife Monica, of Kalispell, and Terry Emmert and wife Katie, of Douglas, Wyo.; brothers and sisters Frank Newbury and wife Sally, of Whitefish, Gerald Newbury and wife Mary, of Whitefish, Carol Howe, of Livingston, Millie Gee, of Denver, and Helen Petsch and husband Randy, of La Mesa, Calif.; 17 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; and Don Emmert and wife Joyce and Evan Speer and wife Shirley, of Columbia Falls.

A memorial will be held at the First Baptist Church of Whitefish in Kalispell on Saturday, April 10, at 11 a.m.

Louis Brown

Louis E. Brown, Jr., 75, of Bigfork, lost his battle with cancer at Brendon House on March 28, 2010.

He was born March 28, 1935, in Parma, Idaho, to Louis and Velma Brown. He was raised and attended school in Rexford and graduated from Lincoln County High School in Eureka.

He served in the Navy from 1954 to 1957 and, following his honorable discharge, worked as an electrician in California.

Louis worked as a maintenance man at Ptarmigan Village for 17 years and later at Western Building Center. He loved the Montana outdoors and greatly enjoyed woodworking and spending time with his family who will miss him very much.

Preceding him in death were his parents; brothers Steve and Dan Brown; sister Nancy Thumma; sons Ken and John Brown; and daughter Jeanne Frank.

He is survived by his wife Nora Brown; children Rick Hamilton and wife Debra, and Dan Hamilton; sisters Susan Reed and husband Mike, and Patricia Stevens; brother Jim Brown and wife Peggy; grandchildren Jimmy and Chris Franks, Matthew and Kenny Brown, and Teah and Jim Hamilton; great grandchildren Katie, Jessica, Tommie, Dominique, Destinie, Landen and Jordan; and several nieces and nephews.

Services will take place at the First Baptist Church in Eureka on Saturday, April 3, 2010, at 1 p.m. with a luncheon to follow.