Obituaries for April 10, 2008

Carolyn L. McGinnis, 71, Orofino

   On April 1, 2008, our beloved Carolyn Lorraine McGinnis joined her loved ones in Heaven.

   Carolyn was born Feb. 5, 1937 in Rapid City, SD to Joe and Cora McDonald. As a young girl Carolyn moved around a lot with her parents. She attended high school in St. Regis, MT.

   Carolyn enjoyed playing cards, bowling, and dancing when she was younger, and continued enjoying those things through life.

   Later in life Carolyn married her first husband, Frank Casey. During their marriage they were fortunate to have their first and only daughter, Debbi Kreiser, who was born Dec. 20, 1954. Their marriage later ended in divorce.

   Carolyn later married her second husband of 18 years, Walt Perkins. This marriage also ended in divorce. In 1975 she married her third husband, Bert McGinnis. They enjoyed 33 wonderful years of marriage.

   Carolyn is survived by her only daughter, Debbi Kreiser and her two wonderful grandchildren, Leslie Bell and Mathew Hasenoehrl. Leslie and Mathew blessed her with four great grandsons, Ryan Warren, Dakota Bell, and Zeke and Carter Hasenoehrl, all of Orofino.

   She is also survived by two brothers, Pat McDonald and wife Nola of St. Regis, MT and Joe McDonald and wife Shirley of Missoula, MT; and a sister, Jeanie Refflin of Missoula; and several nieces and nephews.

   Carolyn was preceded in death by her dearly beloved husband, Bert, and both of her parents.

   Carolyn enjoyed spending time with her family more than anything else. She loved playing Bunco with the local “Bunco ladies.” She also enjoyed going to the casinos with her daughter Debbi, granddaughter Leslie, and close family friends Sandy Weller and Diane Eckerman. She enjoyed spending time reading and doing crafts.

   Carolyn was a wonderful woman who was loved and respected by all. She will be deeply missed by everyone. Carolyn, you will be in our hearts and memories forever. We love you very much.

   Services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 12 at Pine Hills Funeral Chapel in Orofino. A potluck dinner will be held after the service in the room below the Pizza Factory on Michigan Avenue.

   Pine Hills Funeral Chapel & Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Billie Eugene Irby, 72, Orofino

   Billie Eugene Irby of Orofino died Friday, April 4, 2008, six months after being diagnosed with cancer. He was 72.

   Billie was born to Preston L. (P.L.) and Alice Eliza (Conn) Irby Feb. 24, 1936 on the family ranch in Cambridge. He was the youngest child of a family of five brothers and two sisters. He spent his younger years on the family ranch near Cambridge until moving in the late 1940’s to the North Fork of the Clearwater River, now known as the Elliot Ranch. Billie attended grade school at the Dent Country School House with his brother Bob, and high school at Orofino where he enjoyed participating on the boxing team.

   Before completion of high school he moved to Casper, WY. On returning to Idaho he chose the shortest route on the map which led him from Missoula, MT to Weippe, over the Lolo Motorway, nearly running out of gas in the process.

   Prior to Grangemont Road being constructed a land swap moved the family from the Elliot Ranch area to the Whiskey Creek Ranch where he resided until his death.

   Billie married Sharon Bell of Ahsahka. They had three sons, Samuel born in 1961, Rusty born in 1962 and Anthony born in 1965. That marriage ended in divorce.

   Billie later married Donna (Dickson) to whom a daughter Corie was born in 1971. That marriage ended in divorce.

   In 1982 Billie married Sally (Frost) who survives him in Orofino. They most enjoyed spending time outdoors, especially fishing.

   Billie was a woodsman. He worked in the Ahsahka Mill and logging for various people. He was drafted into the Army spending most of his two year tour of duty in Hawaii. Billie answered Uncle Sam’s call and joined the local National Guard during the Berlin Crisis call up spending a year in Ft. Lewis, WA. Just prior to his departure his first born arrived, hence the name Samuel.

   In 1971 he worked for various logging contractors in the Dworshak Dam clearing. Billie quit work to move to Clarkston so that he and Sally could care for his father until his father’s death in 1987. After that he went to work for the Forest Service where he found his true calling working at the Weitas Guard Station where he enjoyed the wildlife, even the mountain lions that stalked him. He left his beloved Weitas to care for his wife which he did up until a month before his death.

   He is survived by his wife Sally of Orofino, two brothers Don (Boise) and Harold (Nez Perce), three sons, Samuel (Velena) of Orofino, Rusty (Dawn) of Coeur d’Alene and Anthony (Danielle) of Lewiston, one daughter, Corie Samson (Marcus) of Orofino, one stepdaughter, Tammie Robertson-Bolz (Frosty) of Peck and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins and lots of friends.

   Billie was preceded in death by his parents, also four brothers, James, Eldon, George, and Robert and two sisters, Ethel and Dorothy, two stepdaughters Scherrie Olson-Hamm and Karryon Hall.

   Dad was courageous to the end. He had accepted the Lord into his life a few months prior to his death and was ready to go home.

   A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2 p.m. at the Orofino Tabernacle Church with a potluck dinner at the church directly after the service.

Lucille Montgomery, 88, Kooskia

   Lucille Montgomery, 88, of Kooskia, passed away Saturday, April 5, 2008 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston due to complications of pneumonia.

   Lucille was born August 26, 1919 in Fairfield, MT to Jack and Ethel McLean. While she was still a small child the family moved near Grangeville to work the family farm. Lucille went to elementary and high school in Grangeville.

   She married Robert Montgomery on May 31, 1936 and they made their home at Kooskia. Their family soon started to grow when their son Bobby arrived. The job market would occasionally take them from Kooskia but they always returned to their Kooskia home. Their daughters were born at such times, Saundra was born in Clarkston, WA and Sharon in southern Idaho.

   Lucille loved being outside and was an excellent gardener and grew beautiful flowers. Weekends would find the family camping up the Lochsa, fishing and hiking. She also loved sports and kept track of Clearwater Valley Sports, University of Idaho, Washington State University, and Lewis Clark Baseball.

   She was preceded in death by both her parents; her husband Robert; her son Bobby; a brother Wallace; two granddaughters, Darla Wilson and Teresa McPherson; and a great grandson Cody Johnson.

   She is survived by two daughters, Saundra (Melvin) McPherson of Weippe and Sharon (Jerry) Meador of Lewiston; two grandsons; two granddaughters; eight great grandchildren; and two great-great grandchildren.

   A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 12 at Kooskia Community Center. Reverend Luann Howard will officiate. A covered dish dinner will follow at the Kooskia Community Center. Trenary Funeral Home of Kooskia is assisting the family.