Obituaries

The Bigfork Eagle runs obituaries and death notices for people who have lived in the Bigfork area. To submit, e-mai editor@bigforkeagle.com or call 837-5131. Deadlines are every Monday at noon. 

Florence North

Florence North, 91, died New Year's Eve at St. Peter's Hospital in Helena.

She was born on May 13, 1918, near Arlington, Ohio, the second child of Roy and Ada Riegle. She graduated from Arlington High School, where she was a 4-year letterman in basketball. She was also the shortstop on the town girls' softball team.

Following graduation, she went into nurse training at Robinwood Hospital in Toledo, Ohio. She graduated as a registered nurse in 1940 and began working at the hospital in Findlay, Ohio. On Jan. 20, 1944, she married Fred North and they resided in Orlando, Fla.

She worked in the hospital there and Fred was stationed at the Kissimmee Army Airfield, where he served as a P-47 mechanic. Fred was transferred to San Antonio, Texas, and Florence worked in the hospital there.

Following the war, they moved to Bigfork, where she and Fred operating the North family farm, which now is the Lake Hills Addition, the Lake Hills Shopping Center and Peaceful Acres. In May 1948, they adopted their son, John, from Shodair Children's Hospital. Fred and Florence sold the farm in 1961, and Florence opened the North Star Gift Shop north of Bigfork.

Florence was active in the Bigfork Community Methodist Church, where she served as superintendent of the Sunday school. She also served with the Bigfork PTA and the Lakeview Rebekah Lodge. In 1966 she and Fred purchased a small farm south of Columbia Falls, which they operated for two years.

Upon John's graduation from Bigfork High School in 1966, Florence returned to nursing, working first in the Lutheran home in Kalispell and then as the director of nursing at the Bigfork Convalescent Center. In 1968 she and Fred returned to Bigfork, where they built a house on the former family farm, overlooking the farmhouse that Fred's father built in 1892, and on a lot on which Fred's grandfather, John North, was buried.

Florence retired in about 1978 because of a hernia that kept her from assisting residents. Fred died in 1998 and, in 2001, Florence moved to Helena, where she resided first at the Waterford and then at the Rocky Mountain Care Center.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother; her husband; a sister, Ruth; and nieces, Elaine and Diane.

She is survived by her sister, Marna Hartman of Arlington; nieces, Marlene Garber of Pinkerington, Ohio, and Karen Hartman of Delphos, Ohio; nephews, Dan Doll of Sidney, Ohio, and Bob and Bill Hartman, of Arlington; her son and daughter in-law, John and Dawn North of Helena; and her granddog Alder.

A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.

George M. Kahn Jr.

George "Sonny" Michael Kahn Jr., 76, died Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center of a massive stroke.

He was born Feb. 16, 1933, in Hinsdale, Montana. He was raised near Bigfork for a short time then moved to Kalispell. Sonny attended grade schools and graduated from Flathead High School in 1952. He attended schools for the fire department many years ago including arson training.

In 1954 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he served four years on the USS Hancock Aircraft Carrier. He flew patrol over the Bikini Islands during the hydrogen bomb test there in the mid-1950s. His home base was on the Island of Kwajalein.

Sonny and his crew mates flew through the horrendous mushroom clouds to collect air samples "radiation" for scientific study. His job description made him an aviation machinist ADR2. His schooling included An P Natechracen in Norman, Okla.; Ad A Natechracen, Class A School in Memphis, Tenn. While on the carrier, he was also trained in fire and rescue. He also trained for the NTC and AD2, Aviation Supply. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal and Sharpshooter. He was honorably discharged.

He married Carla Toycen in Kalispell on Feb. 9, 1958. They were married for 52 years. Sonny worked in the woods for Royal Logging and Plum Creek for 30 years. Sonny was a member of the Swan Lake Volunteer Fire Department, where he acted as chief for 45 years. He was the Citizen of the Year in 1984. He served on the Bigfork High School board of trustees in the 1970s.

Sonny kept the community's private roads plowed during the winter on his Ford tractor, sometimes until 1 or 2 a.m. He also provided wood for the clubhouse.

Sonny was a one-shot hunter. He loved to hunt and fish and was successful; even though he tried for 49 years to get a moose permit, he never got one.

Sonny was preceded in death by his parents; his stepdad; two nieces; grandparents; sister, Carol Schlegal and brother, Bob McMillan.

He is survived by his wife, Carla Rae Toycen Kahn of Swan Lake; daughter, Kelly and husband, Doug Grant of Coeur d' Alene, Idaho; grandchildren, Logan and Lorna Grant of Coeur d' Alene; sisters, Betty Farris of Kalispell and Dorothy McMillan of Tacoma, Wash.; his extended family of Fireman; and his great friends from his Navy days, Don Steele of Missoula and Jim Jensen of Bigfork.

He is also survived by nine nephews; three nieces; many great nieces and nephews; sister-in-law, Barbara Amestoy; brothers-in-laws, Red Farris and Bill Schlegal; special cousin, Dave Evenson; and family.

The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Swan Lake Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 5134, Swan Lake, MT. 59911. Friends are encouraged to visit www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolences for the family. Funeral services were held on Thursday, Feb. 4, in Kalispell. A celebration of Sonny's life will be held at a later date. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home caring for the family.