For the Record
June 2010

James R. Noel
POLSON — James “Jim” R. Noel, 68, the youngest of fourteen children born to Laura (Glover) and William H. Noel passed away in Polson on Wednesday, June 30th. Jim was born in St. Ignatius on Dec. 20, 1941 and had been suffering from poor health for several years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Wilbur (Bud); sisters Leota (Dottie) Joy both of Polson and Dorothy (Bob) Watson of Hobson as well as several brothers and sisters who died in infancy.

Jim was raised in Polson and as a youth was a permanent fixture at the Polson City Dock with his fishing pole. He loved to fish and was well known by Polson residents as he made his way to his favorite fishing spot.

Jim was a 1960 graduate of Polson High School. In 1961 he joined the US Navy where he served on the USS Buchanan, a guided missile cruiser. He was stationed at Okinawa and received an honorable discharge as a Specialist SK-3 on January 9, 1965.

After serving 36 years and a day at Plum Creek, Jim retired at age 60 in September of 2001.

Jim is survived by his brother Gerald "Jerry" and Mae Noel of Polson, sisters Marjorie “Marge” Jones, Barbara Ross both of Polson and sister Patsy “Pat” and Larry Anderson of Ronan as well as many nieces and nephews.

Graveside services were held July 8 at the Lakeview Cemetery in Polson where military honors were presented.

Foster Funeral Home & Crematory is assisting the family with services.

Winston Morigeau Brown
ARLEE — Winston Morigeau Brown, 32, passed away in Arlee, in an auto accident on Friday, June 11, 2010.

Winston was born on Jan. 9, 1978 in Provo, Utah, to Arlene Gardipe-Brown and Preston Brown. Winston was raised in Utah, Montana and Arizona.

Winston attended Chinle High School, Dine College, Haskell Indian Nations University, and his favorite place, Salish Kootenai College. His interests were archery, photography and environmental science.

He worked at Salish Kootenai College as a student intern conducting research on the Jocko River. Previously he worked for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in the Natural Resources Department as an air quality technician.

Winston loved fishing, hunting, camping, four-wheeling and horseback riding. He loved being in the Jocko Mountains and in Lamoose Canyon. He was a very accomplished archer and photographer. He loved spending time with his family and friends.

Winston was preceded in death by his brother Victor Brown; maternal grandfather Raymond E. Gardipe, Sr.; paternal grandfather, Navajo Code Talker John Brown, Jr.; aunt Ruth McCombs; and cousins Rosalie Charlo, Joseph McCombs, Kimo Brown and Johnny Brown.

Winston was survived by his parents Arlene Gardipe-Brown and Preston Brown of Tsaile, Ariz.; brother Brian Brown (Leslie) of Flagstaff Ariz.; sisters, Collette Brown-Harvey (Carlyle) of Farmington, N.M., and Candice Brown (Kenneth) of Ronan; nieces, Breanne and Natalie Harvey, Andrea Gonzalez and Jacelyn Charlo; nephews, Keith and Adam Brown, Adrian Reyez, and Payton Mays; maternal grandmother Alice Gardipe of Arlee; and paternal grandmother Loncie Brown of Crystal, N.M.; numerous aunties, uncles, and cousins in Montana, Arizona and New Mexico.

Funeral services were held in the Arlee Community Center; interment followed in the Jocko Catholic Cemetery.

Mildred “Millie” Francis Thompson
ST. IGNATIUS — Mildred “Millie” Francis Thompson passed away on June 24, 2010. She and her husband Glen moved to Yuma, Arizona in early 2006 to live with family. She was living with her daughter Cathy at the time of her death.

Millie was born on January 13, 1927 in Miles City to Charles Dudley and Oca “Doris” Dudley Trachsel. She was raised on a homestead ranch in Sonnet until moving with her mother, sister, and step father Arnold Trachsel to Ronan. She graduated from Ronan High School and worked at the local bank. On April 6, 1947, she married Glen (Prune) Thompson of St. Ignatius.

They made their home in Kalispell for over 50 years. Millie was a great homemaker and her family says made the best pie around and had the most beautiful canning from their wonderful gardens. She was always available and happy to volunteer at their daughters’ school events, church and hospital. Her grandchildren were the light of her life.

Millie is survived by her daughters Cathy (Jim) Gardner of Yuma, Arizona and Sharon (Jay) Brouillette of Idaho Falls, Idaho; granddaughters Sara Gardner, Jacy (Matt) Rothschiller, and Carrie (Mark) McCulloch; grandsons Eric Gardner and Zachary (Misty) Brouillette; great-grandchildren Zachary and Ania Rothschiller and Faith and Isabel McCulloch; and she is also survived by her only sister Maxine Stallcop of Indio, California.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Glen “Prune” Albert Thompson on February 13, 2008 and by her mother, Oca “Doris” Dudley Trachsel; her father Charles Dudley; and her stepfather, Arnold Trachsel.

Millie will be greatly missed by her family but she has left a heart of love, good memories, and a promise of our eternal life ahead.

A memorial service is planned for September 18 at 11 a.m. at the Pleasant View Cemetery in St. Ignatius.