Obituaries

The Bigfork Eagle runs obituaries and death notices for people who have lived in the Bigfork area.

To submit, e-mail editor@bigforkeagle.com or call 837-5131. Deadlines are every Monday at noon.

Sonny J. Kless

On Sunday, June 27, 2010, Sonny J. Kless, 25, flew out of the lives of his friends and family and into the arms of the God he knew.

Sonny was born to Jeff Kless and Janelle Gentry on Aug. 13, 1984, in Whangarei, New Zealand. Sonny, true to his nature, always disputed this date and preferred the U.S. date of the 12th.

This would be one of the few times he would arrive early. This may also have been a thinly disguised excuse to reap a few extra presents.

Sonny spent his early years on board the sailboat, Dark Star, in the Pacific and then in Vancouver, B.C.

He then spent his time growing up in Colorado, California and Montana. He attended school first in Bigfork and then Kalispell, where he was also active in speech, drama, football and basketball.

Sonny was blessed with exceptional intelligence and quick wit. Typically, this comes with mixed blessings. As most parents of young adults know, teenagers can act out. Sonny was no exception.

With his typical intensity, and penchant for social economy, a one-hour crime spree brought Sonny an extended two-year stay in Wyoming. This became a blessing in disguise.

The desolate countryside and the Spartan living conditions gave Sonny the time to use his intelligence for introspection, and his life took a new direction.

Returning to Montana, Sonny attended the University of Montana in Missoula, graduating in May of this year with a double degree in environmental science and communications.

While at UM, Sonny developed a fund for sustainable education programs to borrow money from and then repay, thus giving sustainable environmental causes sustainable financing.

During this time, Sonny earned his private pilot's license, a dream he had since childhood.

Sonny's goal was to become a commercial pilot. Sonny searched for his path with unrivaled sincerity and curiosity, and in that pursuit accidental heartbreaks would sometimes come to those who loved him.

This may be the final heartbreak, but Sonny will continue on his path.

Sonny is survived by his mother, Janelle Gentry; father, Jeff Kless; brother, Dustin Haines of Eugene, Ore.; and sister, Sydney Kless, of Boulder, Colo. Survivors also include his grandmother, Anne Gentry of Whitefish; grandfather, J. Gentry of Rifle, Colo.; uncle, Kirk Gentry, and aunt, Michelle Gentry of Kalispell; aunt, Barbara Kless, and uncle, Jim Kless, of Palm Springs, Calif.

The family has requested that in lieu of flowers donations be sent to Lake County or Sanders County search and rescue; or the Student Pilots Scholarship Fund at Glacier Bank in Kalispell.

A gathering to remember Sonny was held at 2 p.m. July 3 at Best View Storage on Columbia Falls Stage Road.

Michael A. Hessian

Michael Arthur Hessian, 56, long-time resident of Bigfork, died there Tuesday, June 29.

He was born Oct. 6, 1953 in Minneapolis, Minn., the son of Maurice and Jeanette Hessian.

He graduated from Hopkins High School in Minneapolis in 1971, where he was a varsity hockey player. Michael first came to Montana from Minneapolis to ski on Big Mountain in 1976. Michael felt a strong connection to the Flathead Valley and returned that summer to work as a carpenter in Glacier National Park.

Michael settled in Bigfork in 1977 where he lived for the remainder of his life.

He was a skilled carpenter and worked in housing construction as a master craftsman and supervisor.

He married Blakely Brown in 1981. They divorced in 1990. They had a son, Hunter Bo, born Sept. 27, 1985.

During his life in the Valley, he owned Hessian Construction, Hessian Crane Service and was the co-owner of the Bread Board Bakery in the 1980s with Blakely.

Michael was an avid sports enthusiast and cherished the natural outdoor play ground that Montana provides. In 2000, Michael was in a serious construction accident that nearly crippled his body and hindered any further outdoor exploration. Through all that life dealt Michael, he was always capable of maintaining high spirits even in life's darkest moments and would want to be remembered by his gracious smile and generous laugh.

His parents preceded him in death.

He is survived by his son, Hunter Bo Hessian of Portland, Ore.; his former wife, Blakely Brown of Missoula; brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Karen Hessian of Excelsior, Minn.; brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Brenda Hessian of Hopkins, Minn.; sister and brother-in-law, Jeanne and Greg Jacobs of Sequim, Wash.; sister, Maureen Gluek of Roseville, Minn.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Michael's life will be held at the Garden Bar in downtown Bigfork on Sunday, July 11, beginning at 2 p.m.

William H. Barker

William H. "Bud" Barker, 75, died from complications of lung surgery, Tuesday, June 29, 2010, with his family at home in Woods Bay.

He was born to William H. "Harry" and Francis Barker on Feb. 16, 1935, in Butte, where he grew up on the baseball fields of Centerville and graduated from Butte High School.

He followed the foot steps of a favorite uncle, Bill Crandall, and joined the U. S. Navy. and was attached to the Fleet sonar in San Diego. His tour also included Adak, Ark.

He was honorably discharged after eight years including the time he spent in the Reserves. He was a very proud veteran of the U. S Navy.

Bud returned to Montana where met and married Marta Brantley, his wife of 49 years, in Great Falls at the United Methodist Church.

He graduated from Montana State University in 1965, just as his first of three sons was born.

He worked in sales all of his life, most recently with Building Humanity Foundation, a global humanitarian organization based in Arizona.

He also assisted in the development of Horizons Consulting, a business consulting firm.

Bud enjoyed his sons. One of the highlights of his life was time he spent following them as they raced for the Big Mountain Ski Team and when he followed the Great Falls Bison varsity football program as a member of the Great Falls Quarterback Club.

He was always up for an ole fashion sing-along around the campfire and he sang with the church choir and the Great Falls Symphony.

Bud was a long-time member of the Lions Club on the East Shore of Flathead Lake. He served as president of the Lions Club and as chairman for several years of the Cherry Blossom Festival.

He belonged to the Bigfork Masonic Lodge, the Great Falls York Rite and the Shrine Pipe Band. He also served as the Venerable Master (32nd degree KCCH) of the Great Falls Scottish Rite, and was a Worthy Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Bud was preceded in death by his son, Tom Barker, his parents, his in-laws and a nephew, Keith Albright.

He is survived by his wife, Marta; his sons, Sam Barker and Ben Barker, and Ben's wife Cathy, all of Woods Bay; his daughter-in-law, Julie Roberts, and granddaughter, Emily, both of Utah; his sisters, Bette Albright and her husband Herb, Barbara Parker and her husband Reno, Bonnie Sturgeon and her husband John and Norma Neyman and her husband Don; and a number of nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends. He had a special place in his heart for each of you.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 9, at the Community United Methodist Church in Bigfork.

Graveside committal and interment with military and Masonic honors will follow at Conrad Cemetery at 12:45 p.m.

H. Duke Sultzer

Memorial services for Duke Sultzer will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, July 16, at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church on Montana Highway 209 across from the Ferndale Fire Hall.