For the Record
November 2010

Peter Renteria
HOT SPRINGS — Peter John Daniel Frost Renteria, stillborn son of Dimas Renteria and Lucille Frost of Hot Springs, passed away on November 27, 2010 at Clark Fork Valley Hospital in Plains.

His godfather Pete Renteria, numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins, precedes Peter in death.

Besides his parents, survivors include his godfather Daniel Smith of Hot Springs; uncle Justin Berg of Hot Springs; aunt Lauria Feilier; and numerous cousins and other family members.

Services will remain private and messages of condolence may be sent to the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com. Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson, is assisting the family.

Steven Tracy Jamison
POLSON — Steven Tracy Jamison, 45, of Polson and formerly of Oregon passed away on Friday, November 26, 2010 at his home.

Steven was born on March 12, 1965 in Portland, OR and was a landscaper.

Survivors include his wife, Kimberly Jamison; daughter Alyssa; mother Nancy Dawes; sister Tina Jamison Lund; and brother David Jamison.

Burial took place on Wednesday, December 1, 2010 at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson.

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com. Grogan Funeral Home, Polson, assisted the family.

Pearl Roullier Ashley
PABLO — Pearl Roullier Ashley, 83, of Pablo passed away on Friday, November 19, 2010 at home surrounded by her loving family.

Pearl was born on November 14, 1927 in St. Ignatius. a daughter of the late Henry and Jane Bourdon Roullier. She attended local schools and later went on to meet the man of her life, August Ashley, when she was a very shy sixteen year-old. Five years later on September 13, 1946, the two were married. From this union, three daughters were born, Linda, Pat, and Jeanie.

Pearl was a quiet, gentle, loving, generous, and humble lady who always put her family first as family was very important to her. She was close to God and would always tell those seeking her advice, pray and God will take care of it. Having a strong will for life, Pearl never complained and was the strength and the rock for her family.

She was a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and loved attending pow-wows, rodeos, camping with all her family, picking huckleberries, cutting Christmas trees, or simply just being in the mountains sitting somewhere by a creek.

Besides her parents, Pearl is preceded in death by her husband, August, who passed away November 17, 1985. Also preceding her in death are three sisters, Julia Munzanreder, Vi Matt, and June Ashley; three brothers, Henry, Albert, and Frank Roullier; grandson, Jamie; granddaughter, Melanie Gunhammer; and great-granddaughter, Whitney.

Those left with cherished memories include her three daughters Linda Ashley of Pablo, Pat Ashley of Pablo, and Jeanie (Wayne) McCauley of Polson; six grandchildren, Robert McCauley, Debbie McCauley, Mike McCauley, Teresa Nelson, Tina Ashley, and Christie Ashley; fifteen great-grandchildren; and nine great great-grandchildren, six of those being fifth generation.

Visitation for Pearl’s family and friends was held on Monday, November 22 at the Grogan Funeral Home. Funeral services followed on Tuesday with Rev. John Payne officiating. Interment took place at Lakeview Cemetery, Polson.

Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online by visiting www.groganfuneralhome.com. The staff of Grogan Funeral Home, Polson, considers it a privilege to care for Mrs. Ashley’s family.

Betty Jean Olson
RONAN — Beloved wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother Betty Jean Olson died on Monday, Nov. 8, 2010, of complications from cancer. Betty was 81 and a resident of Ronan.

Betty was an elder of the Blackfeet Tribe, born in Browning on Feb. 6, 1929, to Del and Salina Wilson. She was the fifth of six brothers and sisters, Evie White (Bob), Ernie Mutch, Pearl Matt (Emil), Delbert Wilson (Rose) and Lee Wilson (Frieda).

She attended elementary and high school in Browning, and college in Havre, where she majored in secretarial sciences. It was here that she met and married her husband of 61 years, Norman Olson. The couple lived in Browning, where Betty stayed home to raise their seven children. Betty worked in local businesses after the family moved to Ronan in 1965. In 1971, they bought a dairy farm in Charlo, where Betty began raising goats and sheep. Betty was a skilled knitter, spinner and crotcheter, and was a member of the Lake County Spinner’s Guild. She made beautiful sweaters, mittens, and hats that kept her husband, children and grandchildren gratefully warm during the winters. After selling their dairy in 1995, the couple continued to raise a small herd of sheep that Betty continued to perfect until she died.

Betty was the matriarch of the family, and was a comforting presence in all of her family’s lives. She leaves behind her husband, Norman; and their seven children, Ernie Olson of Babb, Carol Olson of Ronan, Celena Carroll (Jim) of Conrad, Janey Bjorgen (Jim), of Orting, Wash., Penny Olson of Dillon, Dan Olson of Ronan, and Steve Olson of Ronan. She is also survived by her 13 grandchildren, Amber McCardle, Lucretia Olson, Elise Pilskalns, Tessa Coleman, Elizabeth Sivils, Tony Tanner, Timothy Carroll, Harley Olson, James Olson, Paul Carroll, Kelsey Carroll, Sam Carroll and Javan Carroll; her six great-grandchildren, Dalton Olson, Debbie McCardle, Jasmine Glidden and Angelo, Saint and Anna Pilskalns; brother Lee Wilson; and sister Pearl Matt.

Betty was preceded in death by her brothers Ernie Mutch and Delbert Wilson; her sister Evie White; her grandson Richard Glidden; and her great-grandson Ethan McCardle.

We will all miss the strong, caring personality of Betty, our wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. We are heartbroken at her death but happy that she will be with Jesus now. She will hold a place in our hearts for the rest of our lives.

Juanita Joan (Bisson) Marquardt
PABLO — Juanita Joan (Bisson) Marquardt, 79, passed away at her home in Pablo on November 19, 2010.

A member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe, she was born in St. Ignatius on October 15, 1931 to Camille and Mary (Dixon) Bisson. One of thirteen children, Juanita was educated at the Urselines School in St. Ignatius. Following her graduation she married Donald Collins, however, as with many things in life things did not work out and they later divorced. She married Donald Marquardt and they made their home in the Pablo area. A dedicated homemaker, mother and wife she worked whatever odd job might be needed and in the potato fields in the Pablo area.

She was preceded in death by Donald Marquardt; children Ted Marquardt, Donald Collins II and Cindy Collins; as well as her brothers and sisters.

She is survived by her daughters Jennifer (Richard) Evans of Troy, Debra Mercurio of Dayton and Kim Johnson of Pablo; sister Mary Bisson; nine grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.

A visitation was held at the Foster Funeral Home on Tuesday; Mass was held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Polson on Wednesday, November 24 and burial followed in the Beauvais Decker Cemetery in Polson.

George "Ray" Cowan Jr.
RONAN — George "Ray" Cowan Jr., 81, a longtime resident of Ronan, passed away peacefully on Friday, Nov. 5, 2010, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born on May 26, 1929, in St. Ignatius to Alice Clairmont Cowan and George Cowan.

He was married to Joan Johns for 56 years, and had three children, Daniel (Pam) Cowan, David (Cindy) Cowan, and Jeanine (Dave) Moore, all of Las Vegas; grandchildren Cicily (Kevin) Kelley, Katrina (Paul) Shultz, Jennifer Moore, Deanna Cowan, Austin Cowan, Timothy Moore, and Brandon Moore; great-grandchildren, Anna Kelley, Paige Shultz and Kaeden Shultz. He is also survived by three sisters, Vivian Frazier of Palo Alto, California; Lois Abbate of Mexico and Marion McCoy of Pablo; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father; sister Wanda Strong; and brothers, Howard Barnaby, Gene Cowan and Tommy Cowan.

George attended elementary school in Pablo and then high school in Ronan. He joined the Air Force and was stationed overseas during the Korean War. He returned to Ronan for a short period, then moved to Chicago to attend electronics school. He returned to the Flathead Valley after several years, working in the construction trade. He left the valley for Southern California, working with General Dynamics as an electronics technician, then to Las Vegas with Bergen Brunswig working as a Customer Marketing Consultant. He returned to Ronan in 1980, working for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes as the Personnel/JTPA Director for 14 years before retiring.

George is a lifelong member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai tribes.

George was an avid bowler for many years. He enjoyed watching pro football and the University of Montana Grizzlies. He had a great love for the Flathead Valley. He split his time enjoying the summers at a cabin on Lake Flathead and winter in Las Vegas with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Rosary services will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12, at the Immaculate Conception Church in Polson, with Mass of Christian burial celebrated at 10 a.m., Saturday, Nov. 13, also at the church. A luncheon will follow services on Saturday. Graveside services will be held later in the day at the Ronan Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in the name of George Cowan to the Boys and Girls Club of Ronan.

Amanda R. “Weezy” Jones-Charlo
ARLEE — Amanda R. “Weezy” Jones-Charlo, 27, joined the ancestors on Monday, Nov. 29, 2010 from injuries sustained in an aut accident near Valley Creek.

Born in Ada, Oklahoma to Gary Riley and Vanessa Jones, she was raised on the Flathead Reservation and educated in Polson and at Two Eagle. A mother of five, she had taken time to start her family while working various jobs and at Express Workout in Ronan; Kwatuqnuk in Polson and Pigasus in Arlee and was getting ready to go back to school. Amanda loved nothing more than caring for her children and husband.

She is survived by the love of her life, her husband Wesley Charlo; her parents Gary Riley of Oklahoma and Vanessa Jones of St. Ignatius; her children Trestin, Rayona, Sienna, lil’ Wesley and Xavier; her siblings Adam Tenas, Autumn Tenas and Josephine Jones; her grandparents Rita Jones of St. Ignatius and Kenneth Jones of Kamiah, Idaho as well as a large family of aunties, uncles and cousins from the Gobert, Jones and Ashley families.

Mass was held on December 3 at the Arlee Community Center.