Mildred Pahnish Decker
1922 - 2011
Mildred Pahnish Decker passed on Feb. 4, at St. Luke’s Hospital in Meridian, Idaho. Mildred was from a pioneer family in the Grasshopper Valley near the Dillon area. She was residing at Grace Assisted Living in Meridian,near her daughter.
Mildred was born in Dillon on Aug. 1, 1922, to Otto Pahnish and Fannie (Knoll) Pahnish, and was the second in a family of four children. She attended Bannack Grade School and graduated from Beaverhead County High School.
Mildred was married to Albert N. Decker May 15, 1943, at St. Anthony’s Parish in Missoula. She and Albert were ranch and livestock people residing in the Horse Prairie Valley in Beaverhead County. They were instrumental in organizing the Horse Prairie Wrangler’s 4-H Club at Grant.
She worked extensively with the Beaverhead County Extension Service and 4-H children‘s livestock and home economics programs. Through their affiliation with Montana State University, they hosted exchange students from Ghana and South America. Mildred was active with the Beaverhead County Cowbelle’s beef program to promote interest in the beef industry.
Upon her husband’s death in 1981, Mildred moved to Nampa, Idaho, where she worked as a volunteer with the Mercy Medical Center Cameo Suite mammogram center. Mildred was a Certified Master Gardener with the Canyon and Ada County Extension Service outsource program, providing guidance for home gardeners in the area. She worked with the Heart Association fund drive for Canyon County.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Albert N. Decker; her son, Dale Walter Decker; her sisters, Clara (Harry S.) Tash and Esther (Dave) Hughes; and brother and sister-in-law, Floyd and Dee Pahnish.
She is survived by her daughter, Janet (Skippy) Webb; her granddaughter, Jamie Beth Webb and husband, Tim Scott, and great-grandson Carter Scott.
Arrangements are through Summers Funeral Home in Meridian, Idaho. Internment will be in Mountain View Cemetery in Dillon. A spring internment date pending.
Offerings may be made to St. Luke’s in Meridian, Idaho, or hospice organizations in your area.
Marion Miller Smith
1934 - 2011
Marion Miller Smith, 76, of Dillon, went to be with the Lord on Feb. 12. There is a visitation scheduled from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., with funeral services at 2 p.m., on Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Dillon Baptist Church, 539 Thomsen Avenue.
She asked that memorial contributions be made to the Dillon Baptist Church or the YMCA.
Before her passing, she wrote her life story. Following are her words to share with you.
I, Marion Miller Smith, was born in Denver, Colorado on Sept. 11, 1934. We came to Dillon when I was a baby, and then we moved back to Denver, and then to Fremont, Neb. We moved back to Dillon when I was in the third grade, and have lived here ever since.
I graduated from high school in 1953. Then my dad and brother, Bob, built the Sacajawea Motel, and I worked there making beds and cleaning bathrooms for six years.
Now I’d like to pull back the curtain to that day when Jack and I were married. It was the day after Christmas in 1960. On Oct. 21, 1961, God loaned us a darling little girl, and we named her Deborah Louise. She was a dear little girl and had such a kind heart.
Three years later on a day in October a baby boy was born, Craig Russell. Time went by and Craig’s body grew as it should, but his mind did not function correctly, and soon we knew that it never would be right.
Just before we found out that Craig would always remain a child, his dad received a very serious brain injury. We weren’t saved at this time, and the trials of life seemed to be more than I could bear, and I remember telling God that I hated Him.
God loved us though, and He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance, 2 Peter:3-9.
In 1972 Jack, Debbie and I received Jesus Christ as our Savior. Little did we know that five years later, when Debbie was 15 years old, that God would say “Come on home, Debbie”. That was the darkest time of my life. I tried to figure out why God had taken our precious daughter.
Then one day I was reading in a little Daily Bread book, and there was something in it that really spoke to me. It was something like this, don’t try to figure out what God is thinking. Let God be God. Isaiah 55:8-9
Maybe we all need to pull back the curtain of memory now and then, and let God show us where we might be if it wasn’t for Him.
Montgomery W. Parker
1940 - 2011
Monty Parker of Dillon went home to be with Jesus on Friday, Feb. 11, after being at home surrounded by his loving wife and daughter.
Monty was born Dec. 2, 1940, in tulsa, Okla. He and his wife Barbara moved to Dillon in 1987. He enjoyed many years with a career in trucking where he met several good friends.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Parker, Dillon; daughter, Susan Parker Robbins, Santa Margarita, Calif.; and five grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his son, Dr. Robert M. Parker, and his mother, Naomi Parker.
Interment has already taken place. At Monty’s request there will be no services.
Grant S. Pederson
1986 - 2011
Grant Steven Pederson passed away in Kalispell on Jan. 22.
He was born on May 15, 1986, in Killeen, Texas, to Steven and Joanie Pederson. The family moved to Dillon in 1988. He attended Mary Innes School and Parkview Elementary, then he was home schooled.
Grant’s first job was working for Susie Brown at the animal shelter in Dillon. Grant received his G.E.D. in 2009, and went on to Wyotech Automotive where he studied automotive repair and chaise fabrication. He graduated in March 2010.
Grant enjoyed bowling, skiing, four-wheeling and computer games. Grant was happiest when working on his truck or helping others with their vehicles.
Grant was preceded in death by his grandfather, Earl Pederson, and great-grandfather, Paul Kostenick.
Grant is survived by his parents, Steve and Joanie Pederson, Stevensville; a sister, Racheal McCoy (Kevin), Bozeman; grandparents, Connie and Carolyn Eckert, Stevensville; grandmother, Gwen West (Ken), Glyndon, Minn; great-grandmother, Edna Kostenick, Missoula; as well as several aunts, uncles and cousins.
A memorial is planned for later this summer.
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