Floy 'Idella' Stalcup, 97
Floy "Idella" Stalcup, 97, passed away Monday, Sept. 8, 2008, at Heritage Place in Kalispell. She was born July 2, 1911, the second of 11 children to Elmer and Minnie (Johnston) Howell at home (now Elk Park Road).
Both sets of grandparents were early settlers in the Flathead Valley - the Reuben Johnstons in the 1880s from the Gallatin Valley, and the Henry Howells from Illinois in the 1890s.
Her only schooling was eight years at the same school, as it was for both of her parents, at Deer Park School.
In 1928, she married Clifford McBroom, and they lived on the family ranch at Big Arm. They had their first three daughters there, Carol, Myrna and Floy. In 1940 they sold out their share and bought a stud mill. That lasted for one year in Whitefish and one in Columbia Falls, where Sandra was born.
By then, World War II had started, and the manpower shortage was affecting their business, so they sold the mill and moved to Polson late in 1942. Son Buzz was born there in 1943. They divorced in 1944.
She married Bud Ridnour in 1947 and divorced him in 1953. Her third husband was George Stalcup, with whom she had her second son, Corey. They later divorced and she remained single the rest of her life.
She became an excellent seamstress early in life and was still busy sewing for many people when she was hit by a drunken driver as she crossed the street in Polson in 1982. She survived grievous injuries, but her life was changed forever at the age of 71. Eventually she managed to get around with a walker and live alone in senior housing. Then in 1987, she broke her hip and had to go to into a nursing home, where she spent the remainder of her life.
The family would like to say a special thanks to the staff at Heritage Place.
She was preceded in death by her parents; all four of her brothers, Mern, Ross, Leonard and Walter Howell; and two sisters, Shirley Howell and Jean Howell Johns; two grandchildren, Norma Lininger Carter in 2000, and Gary Howard in 2002; a stepgrandson, Dean Baker, in 1991; a granddaughter and a great-granddaughter in infancy; and all three former husbands.
She is survived by four daughters, Carol Poil of Newton, Kan., Mryna Teskey of Kalispell, Floy Baker and husband, Roger, of Whitefish, and Sandra White of Salt Lake City; two sons, Clayton "Buzz" McBroom and wife, Sharon, of Canon, Colo., and Corey Stalcup and wife, Valerie, of Washington; four sisters, Ruby Howard and Blanche Hoyt, both of Kalispell, Iva Mae Stryker of Columbia Falls, and Jessie Wunderlich of Valier; 14 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren, 11 great-great-grandchildren, and many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Graveside services for Idella will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, at Fairview Cemetery on Middle Road east of Kalispell. There is no visitation.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Idella's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Idella's guest book.