Alton F. lngraham, 95

Alton F. lngraham, 95, of Ronan, died Friday, Jan. 5, 2007, at the St. Luke Extended Care Facility of natural causes. Alton was born in Salina, Okla., on Oct. 9, 1911, to Irwin and Ora B. Ingraham. The family moved to the Flathead Valley in fall 1917, spending Thanksgiving camped on Post Creek.

As a young man, he worked as a farm worker, a logger, a store clerk, an iron worker on Hungry Horse Dam and as an agriculturist for Associated Pea Co. and for The American Crystal Sugar Co. His work took him to Idaho, Wyoming, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Washington and New York.

He married his childhood sweetheart, Grace Simonis, in December 1932; they had four children.

They retired in 1975 and returned to their lovely home on Flathead Lake, where they enjoyed entertaining their family and many friends. Their grandkids basically lived at their place in the summers. They enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, pinochle, bridge, dancing and visiting with friends and family.

Alton never saw a little kid he didn't like or who didn't like him.

He was a lifelong member of the Masons.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Delph, Ronald, Harlie and Ray; sister, Vena Bower; sons, Gale and Bill; daughter, Phyllis Johnson; grandson, Dennis Bill Ingraham; great-grandson, Ethan Richards; and son-in-law, Maynard Johnson.

He is survived by his wife, Grace; son, Dennis; daughters-in-law, Geraldine, Anna and Lorene; six grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren; and sister, Valda Bachman.

The family would like to thank all the doctors and nursing staff at St. Luke Hospital and Nursing Home; they were all so good to him. "Blessings on each one."

Friends may pay their respects from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Shrider-Thompson Funeral and Cremation Services chapel in Ronan. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12, at The Ronan Alliance Church. Interment will be afterward at Calvary Cemetery in Ronan.

This paid obituary is being run again at the request of the family.