Obituaries

The Bigfork Eagle runs obituaries and death notices free of charge 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.

Charles L. Samuelson

Charles L. "Chuck" Samuelson, 79, died Thursday, July 15, 2010, after a five-year battle with lung cancer.

Chuck was born on June 6, 1931. in Maynard, Iowa, to Nicholas G. and Ardath (Conrad) Samuelson and was the youngest of four brothers.

He was raised on an Iowa farm into his high school years. He attended college in northeast Iowa. He worked and later managed a retail lumber yard. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952 until 1954 with 16 months in Korea. After military service he returned to a retail lumber business.

In 1952, Chuck married Elaine R. Matthias at Klinger Lutheran Church in Readlyn, Iowa. In 1957, Chuck, Elaine and daughter Suzanne moved to Columbia Falls, where Chuck was employed at the Plum Creek Mill. In 1958, he accepted a job with the U.S. Forest Service and moved to the Condon Ranger Station in the Swan Valley.

During the first year a second daughter Lori Jean was born. In 1964, Chuck and family transferred to the Bigfork Ranger Station serving first as fire dispatcher and later promoted to fire management officer and retired in 1985. This was followed by 20 years of carpentry and construction work and traveling by motorcycle with his wife Elaine and numerous motorcycling friends.

Chuck was faithful and devoted to family and whatever he did. He always strived to do his best whether it was work, volunteering or enjoyment.

Chuck enjoyed his family and grandchildren as well as hunting, ice fishing, canoeing, woodworking, carpentry and construction, forestry and gardening. He especially enjoyed motorcycle touring and camping around the western United States and east to the Mississippi River and Canadian provinces with motorcycle club friends.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Kalispell; Montanans for Multiple Use, Glacier Wings Motorcycle Club, Gold Wing Touring Association and was a member of the Dirt Bags, a large men's weekly Bible Study group in Bigfork.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Philip and Thomas Samuelson.

He is survived by his wife Elaine of Bigfork; two daughters, Suzanne Newgard and husband B.J. and their son Brandon, and Lori Jean Strodbeck and husband Mark and their daughter Leslie and husband Skyler McKinzie all of Kalispell; and a brother, James Samuelson and wife Leila of Yuma, Ariz.

Memorial services for Chuck were held on Saturday, July 24, at 11 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church with Pastor Mark Cutler officiating. The family suggests that any memorial contributions be sent to Trinity Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St. , Kalispell, MT 59901; or Montanans for Multiple Use, or Home Options Hospice, 430 Windward Way #100, Kalispell, MT 59901.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Chuck's family. Visit www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Chuck's guest book.

Geraldine A. Snyder

Geraldine Ann Feiden Snyder died at her former Lakeside home, surrounded by family on July 16, 2010, of natural causes.

Gerry was born on July 9, 1928, in Great Falls, the fourth child of Herman and Esther Feiden, former owners of Herman's Flowers.

Gerry attended Great Falls High School, skipping school to ride her horse.

She married K. Daniel Snyder in 1946. She took a bus to New York City to start her married life, while Dan worked for the New York Times.

They returned to Great Falls. Gerry and Dan moved to Missoula where Dan attended the University of Montana. Gerry worked for Heinrich Jewelers and Flowers. Upon Dan's graduation, they moved to Bozeman and started their family. They and two young sons moved back to Great Falls, where Dan started his first radio station, later to become KQDI. They continued their broadcasting career with the construction of KRTV.

Gerry and Dan had three children, David, Randy and Jacque. Gerry assisted Dan, but her first love was her home and family, insisting on family and recreation time camping and time with her parents on Flathead Lake.

Gerry and Dan divorced and Gerry returned to broadcasting, working for KKGF in Great Falls, eventually serving as sales manager. She sent her children to college and, in 1975, moved to her own lakeshore home on Flathead Lake, continuing in sales for KOFI radio. She loved selling advertising, writing ad copy and became good friends with her customers throughout the Flathead Valley.

She was an avid gardener, swam in the lake daily and loved cooking for family gatherings. Early-morning water skis or sails on Flathead Lake were a favorite.

She retired and moved to Missoula in 1995. She became a Griz fan and was widely known as "Gramma Griz," with e-mail addresses to match. She attended many home and away football games. Her family remained her first priority, now tracking grandchildren from infancy through college graduation.

Gerry was a lifelong Methodist, starting at the First Methodist in Great Falls, continuing with the Somers United Methodist and finishing with the First United Methodist in Missoula. She attended Bible studies under the Rev. Hugh Herbert and donated many hours to the church's gardens and flowers.

She moved to Village Senior Residence in 2007, where she made many, many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Herman and Esther; her brothers, Jim and John (Jack) Feiden; her sisters, Connie Byers and Vivian Wraalstad; and her niece, Debbie Feiden Grasseschi.

She is survived by her children, David Snyder and Gloria Wong of Los Angeles (Melissa, Mackynze), Randy and Linda Snyder of Bigfork (Tristan, Arielle and Aftan), and Jacque and Loring Walawander of Missoula (Luke).

Memorials can be made to the First United Methodist Church.

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, July 30, at the First United Methodist Church in Missoula.