Shawn Henrik Pettersen, 25
Shawn Henrik Pettersen, 25, was 'called back home by God' on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2006, in Kalispell. He was born July 16, 1981, in Sheridan, Mont., the son of Richard 'Rich' Henry and Judy Ann (Clark) Pettersen.
As an intensely bright shooting star lights up the night sky, Shawn lit up our lives and the lives of hundreds of people around us. He has left us with an indelible memory of having experienced something very wonderful. The world is a better place for his having been here and he will be profoundly missed.
'Your children are not your children; they are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself. They come through you but do not belong to you. You may give them your love, but not your thoughts, and you may house their bodies, but not their souls. And so we reluctantly return Shawn to our Lord who was gracious enough to loan him to us, and who has taken Shawn home to relieve him of his pain and suffering.'
He is survived by his parents, Rich and Judy Pettersen, of Kalispell; brother, Kirt Pettersen, of Kalispell, who is currently working in Juneau, Alaska; grandmother, Helen Pettersen, of Lewiston, N.Y.; uncles, Ron Pettersen and wife Alice, also of Lewiston, Rodney Clark of Dillon, and Gary Clark of Belgrade; as well as many other family members and friends.
Memorial services for Shawn Pettersen will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 2, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Chapel on Whitefish Stage Road in Kalispell. There will be no public visitation at the request of Shawn's family.
The family suggests that any memorial contributions be sent to Flathead High School Theater Department, in care of Shawn Pettersen, 644 Fourth Avenue West, Kalispell, MT 59901.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Shawn's family.
Florence Ruth Seager Wenholz, 96
Florence Ruth Seager Wenholz, 96, of Missoula, passed away at Village Health Care Center on Sept. 27, 2006.
Florence was born on Sept. 4, 1910, to Arthur and Clara (Hagerman) Seager, and grew up on a homestead north of Forsyth. Her mother died at a young age, leaving four children to be raised by her parents, who had homesteaded that place. She attended Orinoco grade school and Forsyth High School. In Forsyth, she boarded in a home where she was a nanny for Carol Thurston, who went on to play in a few Hollywood movies.
The day Florence graduated, May 18, 1928, she married Clinton L. Wenholz, who lived near their family homestead. They were married in the Methodist church in Miles City. They continued to live and farm on the Wenholz place, where Marvin was born, and then moved to Seattle where Richard was born. Later, moving back to Montana, to live in the same area, Robert and Ruth were born.
Life was a challenge for a farmer's wife, but Florence faced all sorts of difficulty with grit, determination and confidence. She was a loving and wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and dear friend to many people.
She loved the homemaker role and shared her many talents of cook, seamstress, and friend to many through Orinoco Homemakers Club. She won many ribbons and prizes at the Rosebud County Fair. Florence also brought 4-H clubs to her area when they were just in formative stages. She was a great 4-H leader and mentor to many in the Perky Porcupine 4-H Club.
Her walk with God began at an early age and she spent much of her life teaching Sunday school, Bible school and studies, singing, serving on church boards, etc. She was part of the backbone of the merger of the Methodist and Presbyterian churches in Forsyth and was a leader, in many ways in the federated church, as long as she lived there. Florence served in all capacities for the "Ladies Aid,' later to become the federated women. Who knows how many times she was president of that or superintendent of Sunday school?
Many athletic and graduation banquets, under her direction, flourished at the church and the high school faculty knew they could count on Florence for just about anything.
Upon the sale of their farm, in the late '50s, she and Clinton moved to Forsyth and she became active in the Federation of Women's Clubs of America. She remained active in that, serving as local and district president through subsequent moves to Lolo and Kalispell.
After Clinton's death she moved to Cottonwood, Ariz., where she continued to be active in the Methodist Church, Women's Society and the Federation of Women's Clubs.
In this entire time, she raised their four children, and was a big part of the lives of her grandchildren and volunteering wherever needed.
Florence was deeply loved by all her offspring and people were blessed to call her 'friend.' She will be missed by all of us. She was a Godly woman who lived her faith. 'Peace to her memory.'
Florence was preceded in death by her husband, Clinton; two sons, Marvin and Richard; sisters, Alice Wenholz and Edith Seager; and brother, Ernest.
She is survived by her son, Robert, and Rosalie; daughter, Ruth, and Robert West; and daughter-in-law, Marian Wenholz. Florence is also survived by 11 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and 18 great-great-grandchildren.
Inurnment will take place at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 1, at Livingston-Malletta and Geraghty Funeral Home, 224 W. Spruce St., Missoula.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Women, P.O. Box 2999, Missoula, MT 59806.