Sheri Benson

Sheri Dee Benson, 62, died May 19, 2010, at her home in Whitefish.

She was born in Livingston on May 3, 1948, and was raised and educated in Livingston. While in the eighth grade, she met Benny Benson. They married on Sept. 12, 1970.

Following high school, she attended Dahl's Beauty School in Great Falls. Sheri poured her life into being a mother with the birth of her children Tara and Jeffrey and being a good and loyal friend to all she knew.

The family later moved to Whitefish in 1987, where Sheri continued to pour her life into her family and be a mother and caretaker to many others as well, including her four-pound poodle, Harry, who never left her side. Sheri is remembered for many vibrant and unique things, among them being a lifelong Elvis fan.

Sheri was preceded in death by twin sons in infancy and her father-in-law Robert Benson.

Surviving her are her former husband Benny, of Whitefish; children Tara Benson, of Kalispell, and Jeff Benson and fianc Stacey Douglass, of Vancouver, Wash.; sister Sue Martello and husband Jerry, of Livingston; mother-in-law Donna Benson, of Livingston; and brothers-in-law Bobbie Benson, of Whitefish, and Jeff Benson, of Billings.

A gathering in her name was held on May 23, 2010, at the Great Northern Bar in Whitefish.

The family suggests memorials may be made to a local chapter of the Humane Society.

Lillian Stege

Lillian Louise Stege, 85, went peacefully to her heavenly home on May 14, 2010.

She was born Aug. 5, 1924, in St. Charles, Ill., to Clara and Earl Cook. Her mother passed away when Lillian was nine, and she and her brother lived with their grandparents in Elburn, Ill., until she married Nils Martin Haggstrom, from Varmland, Sweden, in 1947.

They had one daughter, Clara. Lillian cared for her grandparents until their death, then she and her family moved to New Port Riche, Fla., and later back to Batavia, Ill.

After divorce, she married Harold Stege, and they lived in Superior, Wis. After his death, she moved to Montana in 1995, to be near her family.

Lillian spent many happy years, always busy with crafts to give to friends and loved ones. She loved taking her gladiolas and baked goods to friends. She loved her white cats and family get-togethers. She loved people and had many dear and kind friends. The past year she spent in the loving care of Immanuel Lutheran Home.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father; grandmother and grandfather, May and Frank Cook; both husbands; brother Ken Cook; and several aunts and uncles.

She is survived by her daughter Clara Nelso and husband Johnn, of Whitefish; grandchildren Jan Trainer and Todd and Taylor Nasland, of Kalispell, and Joshua and Amber Nelson, of Amarillo, Texas; great grandchildren Heather Trainer, of Billings, Jaimie and Jessica Trainer, of Kalispell, and Ethan and Madison Nelson, of Amarillo; and three nieces and a nephew.

A family graveside service will be held at Glacier Memorial Gardens with Pastor Ron Meyers of the Kalispell Church of the Nazarene officiating.

Denise Hamilton

Denise May (Feaser) Hamilton, 55, passed away peacefully at home on May 22, 2010, after a short battle with cancer.

She was born Aug. 5, 1954, in Maryland to John and Dolores Feaser. In 1979, daughter Christina Marie was born. She was a devoted mom and sometimes worked two or three jobs to make ends meet.

After moving to Troy in 1996, Denise worked as a receptionist and then BTC Grocery Store and Panhandle State Bank in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. In 1999, Denise met the man who would keep her on her toes, Jordan Kittleson.

Denise's grandson Jonathan Hamilton was born in November 2000. Denise and Jordan moved to Columbia Falls in 2003 to be closer to Christina and Jonathan. Denise worked at the new Super 1 Foods store in Columbia Falls and was the only original cashier left from the store's opening at the time of her cancer diagnosis.

Denise was preceded in death by her parents and "adopted brother" Randy Wilfong.

She is survived by daughter Christina Hamilton-Smith and her husband Christopher Smith Jr., grandson Jonathan Hamilton and husband Jordan Kittleson, all of Columbia Falls; brother Craig Feaser and wife Debbie, of Westminster, Md.; "adopted sisters' Helen Dickson, of Elko, Nev., and Terri Cozad, of Whitefish; nieces Stephanie Brown and Valerie Feaser, of Westminster, and Cheri Irving and Tina Rittenhouse, of Arizona; extended family Kristine Kittleson, Dawn, Tori, Breanna and Sean Opland, of Troy, and Karla Kittleson, of Washington.

Services took place May 24, 2010, at the family home in Columbia Falls.

Memorials may be made to the Jonathan Hamilton college fund savings account at Park Side Federal Credit Union.

Larry Kickbusch

Larry August Kickbusch, 60, headed for the barn and greener pastures to be with our Lord and Savior on May 18, 2010, at LSU Medical Center in Shreveport, La.

Larry was born Oct. 11, 1949, in Havre to Roy and Lucille Kickbusch. He spent his childhood years in Coram and completed schooling through his second year of college. He later married Jeanne Amos and they had a daughter, Augusta, in 1975.

He was employed by Anaconda Aluminum Co., Burlington Northern and Plum Creek. Throughout his years, Larry loved his pack trips at Spotted Bear with Russ Baeth, logging, fishing, hunting, camping and stock car racing.

He was a lot like his father, Roy, when it came to tinkering with fixable stuff. He was always in touch with family and friends. Larry will be remembered for being very generous and having never asked for anything in return. He had a silly sense of humor and a ruff and gruff look, but had a heart of gold.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father; sister Jola; and numerous other relatives and furry friends.

He is survived by daughters Augusta Kickbusch, of Coram, and Jeanne Kickbusch, of Coram; sister Judy Halsey and husband Jeff, of Whitefish; brother Doug Kickbusch, of Great Falls; sister Pauline Kickbusch and partner Leland, of Columbia Falls; nephew Phillip Kickbusch, wife Tammy and family, of Coram; nephew Nathan Dorlarque and wife Shaylyn, of Salt Lake City; neice Sheila Miller, husband Colby and family, of Columbia Falls; neice Shelley Wick and partner Brad Kuzmic, of Coram; neice Brittney Holden and husband Eric, of Kalispell; neice Irene Garvin and husband Steve and family, of Bigfork; neice Kela Bergren, uncle Willard Kickbusch and family, uncle Martin Kardell and cousin Greg Kardell and family, all of Havre; aunt Wilma Berg and uncle Chuck Tadewalt, both of Great Falls; aunt Jean Kato and family, of California; friends Karen Tolar, Vernon Tolbert, Noah Peppers, Skip and Marie Hanson, Steve and Dee Brown, Russ Walters, Dave Nedved, Ed Mundell, and numerous others. He also leaves behind his special four-legged friend, Jake.

A celebration of Larry s life and a potluck will take place at Hungry Horse Reservoir at a future date.

Clara Graves

Clara Lucille (Burk) Graves, 87, of Eureka, passed away May 18, 2010.

Clara was born to Gilbert and Lena Jane Talbot Burk on April 19, 1923, in Kalispell. She grew up during the Great Depression and attended school during her early years in Olney and started working at an early age.

She met Frank Graves while cooking at a logging camp and they married in 1940. To their union was born a son, Jack, and two daughters, Carol and Jan.

Clara enjoyed working in the family Christmas tree business for many years, bookkeeping for Graves Logging, and as camp cook at the logging operation on Drop Creek.

Clara was a great cook. People still comment on the many good things she made, including her maple bars and cinnamon rolls. She loved the outdoors and was a successful hunter many times, including shooting an elk with a .22.

She could be found any season on the lake, out on her pontoon boat in the summer or out on the ice in the winter. Her family and friends looked forward to the fish she caught and later smoked. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren have many happy memories of times spent with their grandmother fishing, hunting, playing at the lake, and learning to make pies, holiday cookies and candies.

Clara was an avid card player and she enjoyed nothing more than beating her adult grandchildren in a spirited game of Shanghai. Her last year was spent at Mountain View Manor where she was treated with much love and respect. Her family will be forever grateful.

Clara was preceded in death by her husband Frank, in 1987; brothers Albert Burk, James Burk, Ted Burk, Louis Burk, Bill Burk and Bobby Burk; and special friend Bill Murray.

She is survived by her son Jack Graves and wife Gail, of Polson; daughters Carol Workman and husband Jack, of Eureka, and Jan Corneliuson and husband Roy, of Eureka; brother GI Burk, of Olney; sisters Mona Hanson and husband Harvey, of Whitefish, and Betty Overby, of Libby; brother-in-law Bernie Enger, of Libby; sisters-in-law Karen Burk, of Helena, Norma Burk, of Olney, and Vera Burk, of Whitefish; grandchildren Ken Workman, of Kalispell, Val Taylor, of Salt Lake City, AnnMarie Newell, of Eureka, Michelle Bohn, of Eureka, RaeCille Chambers, of Stevensville, Frank Graves, of Colorado Springs, Colo., Amy Greene, of Eureka, Joel Graves, of Eureka, and Marcie Motichka, of Polson; and 20 great grandchildren.

Services were held on May 21, 2010, at the First Baptist Church in Eureka.

The family suggests donations be made to the Mountain View Manor.