Ellen Merle Schend, 86

Ellen Merle Schend, 86, passed away Saturday, July 16, 2005, at Benefis hospital in Great Falls of natural causes. A viewing for family and friends will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home in Havre. Her funeral mass will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the St. Jude Catholic Church in Havre. Burial will be afterward at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the graveside services.

Memorials in Merle's honor may be made to the St. Jude Catholic Church or to a memorial of one's choice. Arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home in Havre.

Merle was born March 15, 1919, in Kalispell to Emil and Mamie (Pearson) Krantz. She was raised and educated in the Kalispell area and attended Boorman country school. Her mother died at a very young age and Merle helped to raise her brother.

She met Jack H. Bullman and the couple married in 1939. They had two children. He passed away in 1942.

Merle then moved with her two children and her father to Bremerton, Wash., to work in the Naval ship yards during World War II. In 1946, after the war, they moved to Fresno, Mont.

She then met Charles Schend, and the couple married in April 1947. She worked on the family farm with Charles until they retired and sold the farm in 1960 and moved to Whitefish. The couple managed a Town Pump Service Station from 1970 to 1980 in Whitefish. Charles passed away in 1981 in Helena.

Merle then moved back to Kremlin to be close to her friends and family.

Merle was a very kind person who never spoke ill of anyone or interfered in people's business. She was a member of a pinochle card club and enjoyed her friends at the Gildford Senior Center. She liked to shop, watch TV and game shows, especially "Jeopardy!" She enjoyed playing cards and visiting with her best friends. She was a very intellectual person and took it as a challenge to complete even the most difficult crossword puzzles.

Her parents; one sister, Marie Krantz, in 1933; her first husband, Jack Bullman, in 1942; her son, Fred Bullman, in 1980; and her second husband, Charles Schend, in 1981, preceded her in death.

Merle is survived by her two children, daughter, Jackie Donoven, of Havre, and son, Terry, and wife, Cindy, Schend of Kalispell; one brother, Alvin Krantz of Kalispell; 10 grandchildren; four stepgrandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; eight stepgreat-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.Joseph E. 'Joe' Longpre, 86

Joseph E. "Joe" Longpre, 86, passed away unexpectedly July 14, 2005, after a short illness.

"He was courageous, caring and loving in life to his last muster call, when God called him to new work that could not wait."

He will be sorely missed and indelibly loved and remembered in our hearts and minds.

Joe was born May 14, 1919, in Missoula, the fourth child of eight born to Anthony Edward deLongpre and Theresa (Novotny) deLongpre.

He began his education at Elrod Grade School and graduated from Flathead County High School in 1938.

In the grip of the Great Depression, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCCs) at the Glacier National Park Apgar Camp.

The CCCs were responsible for many improvements to our beloved park.

He was proud of his service, saying that it is where his love of the outdoors was nurtured and he learned skills that lasted his lifetime -- not to mention there was no finer food for the times.

Joe left the CCCs and signed up for the U.S. Army on July 8, 1941, at the start of World War II. He volunteered for the then-new 10th Mountain Division, was put into the 87th Regiment Mountain Infantry and served as staff sergeant in the Aleutian Islands in the North Pacific, and the Apennine Mountains and Po River Valley in Italy.

In Italy, he meritoriously led his mortar section to clear the way for the final battle in Northern Italy.

Joe earned many commendations, among them the coveted Bronze Star for exceptional bravery and two Purple Hearts for wounds that occurred in battle. In the award of the Bronze Star, it was cited Joe had rejoined his outfit just two days before the major battle, after recovering from a stay in the hospital for a wound in action.

His bravery and aggressiveness in the application of his 60mm mortar section during the battle, where he was wounded a second time, protected attacking riflemen and drove off the enemy, assuring a victory.

Joe was well-liked by his men, who knew he would guide them well and stand with them at all costs (no man under his command was ever lost in battle).

After the end of World War II in 1945, Joe returned to civilian life in Kalispell.

He bought a surplus Army 6X6 truck and started hauling lumber and building supplies.

It was this truck that served as "honeymoon limo" when he met and married his beloved wife of 59 years, Evelyn Irene Voorhies. They were married in Billings in 1946 on a hauling trip and honeymooned in the Army truck.

He always said that was the best trip that old truck ever made.

With a growing family, Joe quit the trucking business in 1948 to work several jobs including pipe fitter, printer and lumber sales and delivery at the Bremerton, Wash., Shipyard, O'Neil Printers, O'Neil Lumber and Kalispell Lumber.

In 1951, when the Hungry Horse Dam began construction, Joe went to work hauling workers, materials and managing the tool shop at the dam.

At the completion, he returned to Kalispell in 1955 to build a house at Fourth Street and Eighth Avenue and work for the city Water Department.

In 1975, he became the superintendent of the Water Department, and many will recognize him as the one who saved them from a life of failing water lines and low pressure. He remained in that position until his retirement in 1982, when he devoted his all to his family and home.

He was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Sherrill; parents; and sisters, Marjorie (infant), Dorothy Winters, Irene Loveday, Frances Sheppard, Amber Mero and Elva Walters.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Evelyn; his four sons, Merrill J. Smith and wife, Judie, of Spokane, Daniel S. Longpre and wife, Vicki, of Chillicothe, Ohio, Anthony R. deLongpre and wife, Leslie, of Bethel Park, Pa., and Clinton E. deLongpre of Klamath Falls, Ore.; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; and his sister, Almeda King, and husband, Jack, of Kalispell.

During his wonderful life, Joe was an avid outdoorsman and skilled carpenter, electrician and a host of other trades.

He loved camping, hunting, hiking, cutting firewood and anything to get him and his family close to nature.

He built the major part of three homes and four campers and a host of fine woodworking projects.

His skills, bravery, optimism and forge-ahead spirit touched upon the lives of his extended family and friends. "We rest assured he is not far away, in God's hands and we will be together again someday."

Funeral services for Joe will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 21, at the Johnson Mortuary Chapel, with Pastor Steve Snipstead officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 20, at Johnson Mortuary Chapel. Interment will be afterward at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Joe's family.