Wednesday, July 11, 2012

07-11-12 Obituaries


David (Dave) Gene Elford

1928-2012

David Elford, 83 of Twin Bridges and Columbus, Montana died June 30, 2012 at the Stillwater Hospital in Columbus.    Funeral Services will be 10a.m. Saturday at the K&L Mortuary of Twin Bridges.  Burial will follow in the Twin Bridges Cemetery with Military Honors.
David (Dave) Gene Elford was born November 3, 1928 in Twin Bridges, Montana to Ed and Irene Elford.
He grew up and worked as a ranch hand near Twin Bridges, with his horse ‘Pat’.  It was the death of his older brother Leslie, in service to our country during WWII that led Dave to join the Army as soon as he was of age.
He began working for the SP&S Railroad in 1949 at Wishram, WA where he met and married Wanda Harp and started their family, sons David (Greg) and Montie.  The railroad later transferred them to Vancouver, WA where they had their daughter Debbie.  The family then moved to a ranch near La Center, WA, to raise their children in the country. Dave continued to work for the railroad, and various side jobs, using weekends to travel to, and participate in, multiple rodeo events to help to provide for his family.
“Cowboy” Dave was a National Rodeo Association (NRA) & Northwestern Rodeo Association (NWRA) all around champion for many years, winning numerous saddles, buckles and trophies, most noted for Bull Riding, Bareback, & Saddle Bronc events.  He stated he owed his ability to compete successfully against men half his age to his boyhood on a Montana cattle ranch.  Dave didn’t step away from the rodeo arena until the age of 50.  
In the mid-1970s Dave was called upon by the La Center High School Principal, Clay Fox, to teach and mentor the students in their participation for the La Center Rodeo Days.  Later he was honored with ‘Dave Elford Day’ by the Clark County Rodeo Association.
Upon his retirement, he returned to Montana and the “cowboy” life he loved.  He enjoyed working at the cow camp.  He and his wife Carron, moved to their ranch outside of Columbus, Mont. where they bought, bred and sold Registered Quarter Horses for 15 years.
Dave Elford passed away on June 30, 2012 in Columbus, Mont.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed Elford and Irene Robinson, step mother Ethelyn Elford, sister Pauline, brothers Leslie, Eddie and Buddy, and nephew Brooks.
He is survived by his wife Carron, sister Mardi; children David (Sandra), Montie (Sonja) and Debbie (Jerry), stepchildren Tammy and Lynn; 8 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
Services were held Saturday July 7, 2012 at K & L Mortuary with graveside military services at the Twin Bridges Cemetery.
Donations in honor of Dave may be made to ‘Disabled Veterans of America’ or ‘Cowboys in Crisis’.



RosaLee Brown Hansen

1918-2012


Our beautiful and beloved mother and Grammy, RosaLee Brown Hansen, 94, slipped quietly through the veil on Sunday, July 8, 2012, at Rosetta Assisted Living in Burley, Idaho.
RosaLee Brown Hansen was born June 5, 1918, in McHessor, Montana, to Jesse Jerome Brown and Anna Kenison Brown.  Her early years were spent in Armstead, where she attended a one-room school.  Her vivacious personality made her popular with her fellow students.  Her early loves included horses and playing the violin.  She graduated from Beaverhead County High School in Dillon, Montana, at age 16.  She then attended Montana State Normal College (now the University of Montana Western) in Dillon and participated in school government and extra-curricular clubs.  She graduated with high honors and a B.A.  She went on to obtain an M.A. at University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.  Throughout her life, she had a great thirst for learning and a devotion to excellence in all she did.
She began her teaching career at age 19 in Conrad, Montana.  She also taught art in Billings, Idaho Falls, Idaho, and arts and crafts at Burley High School for 17 years.  She also attended the Art Students League in New York City and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.  Over the years, she attended many classes and workshops as well as teaching extension classes in art for Idaho State University.
During World War II, she became a recreation specialist in arts and crafts for the American Red Cross.  She served two years at Camp Bowie, Texas, at Bruns General Hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico (where she worked with many soldiers who had contracted tuberculosis during their imprisonment as P.O.W.s),  and what is now Lackland Field in San Antonio, Texas.  She loved her Red Cross work and developed many lasting friendships.  After the war, she spent a short time in Kansas City, Missouri as a commercial artist, but soon decided to return to her first love, teaching.  She was offered a position at O. E. Bell Junior High School in Idaho Falls, Idaho, where she had many outstanding students and experiences.
She was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on March 5, 1949.  She married Duane Allen Hansen on June 1, 1949  in Ammon, Idaho, and their marriage was solemnized Dec. 22, 1950, in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple.
They moved to Burley, Idaho, in 1958 and have resided there since.  Following their retirement, Duane and RosaLee enjoyed traveling the world, visiting their children and grandchildren and working in various church callings.  Duane preceded her in death on Sept. 29, 2007.
She is survived by her two daughters, Rae H. (Mike) Waite of Hazelton, Idaho, and Christine H. (Paul) Jones of Spanish Fork, Utah.  She has seven grandchildren, Christopher (Julie) Jones of Spanish Fork, Utah, Brett (Nikki) Waite of Gilbert, Arizona, Melissa Waite of Provo, Utah, Andrew (Leah) Jones of Orem, Utah, Kelli Waite of Provo, Utah, and Jennifer and Alix Jones of Spanish Fork, Utah; and two great-grandchildren, Michael and Caleb Waite of Gilbert, Arizona.  She has one surviving sister, Ruth Ann Brown Patton of Klamath Falls, Oregon.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; and one sister, Emma June Brown Craven.
Our family would like to extend our thanks to all the kind care givers who have served RosaLee over the past few years.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 14, at the Burley LDS 3rd and 7th Ward Church, 2200 Oakley Ave., with Bishop David A. Hansen officiating.  Burial will follow at 3 p.m. at the Ammon Cemetery near Idaho Falls.
Friends may call from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, July 13, at the Rasmussen Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley, and from 10 until 10:45 a.m. Saturday at the church.
Friends and family are invited to come and celebrate the life of a most remarkable lady.



Robert M. “Bob” Hewitt


Robert M. Hewitt (Bob) passed away June 15, 2012. Cremation has taken place. As requested, no services are planned. Memorial contributions may be made to the Dillon Public Library.



Margaret A. Kersey

1916-2012


Margaret A. Kersey, 96, of Dillon, MT passed away at Tobacco Root Mountain Care Center in Sheridan on July 7, 2012 surrounded by her family.  She was born on November 8, 1916 to Andrew and Margaret (Huff) Blach in Minot, North Dakota.
She loved to fish and bake, her grandson remembers his favorite Nana’s banana bread.  She enjoyed going for drives and taking in the beautiful scenery.
Margaret is preceded in death by her daughter; Roberta Alcorn.  She is survived by her daughter: Sharon Lewis of Dillon, grandson; Chuck Lewis of Hamilton, granddaughter; Cindy Pape of Grant and grandson; Thomas McLure of Butte.  Private family services were held and burial is in Mountain View Cemetery.



Kelsey Jean Dimick

1988-2012


Kelsey Jean Dimick, age 23 went home to be with the Lord , at 6:41 a.m. Friday June 29, 2012 at Saint Patrick’s hospital in Missoula following a brief, sudden illness.  Born October 20, 1988 in Montpelier, Idaho, she graduated in 2008 from Orofino High School.
Survivors include her fiancĂ© Andrew Higgins and their son Troy Higgins of Dillon, mother Lori Crawford, of Dillon, father Jim Dimick, step-mother Nancy Dimick of Orofino Id., father and mother-in-law Cliff Reid, and Melody Serrano of Dillon. Six brothers Jeremy  Dimick, West Union W.V., Jared Dimick, Big Piney, Wyo., Aaron Thompson, Dillon, Luke Dimick , Dillon,  James West, Lewiston Id., and Rick West, Orofino Id.  Grandparents Don and Jean Roedel of Dillon, and Orville and Helen Dimick of Bancroft Id., and 12 nieces and nephews along with numerous family and friends who mourn her loss.
Kelsey was preceeded in death by her twin sister Nicole Dimick.
Services were held July 6 in Dillon.