Paul Harland Sampson, 77
Paul Harland Sampson, 77, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2009, at his residence in Kalispell. He was born Nov. 25, 1931, in Polson, to Rasmus and Sylvia (Braaten) Sampson.
His early childhood was spent in the Polson area and then the family moved to Seattle. While he was still in his teens, Paul moved back to Kalispell. While working at Safeway, Paul met and married the love of his life, Juanita Louise Landon, in Kalispell on Nov. 27, 1949. To this union five children were born.
Paul had a tremendous work ethic, which consisted of working at Equity Supply, construction on the Hungry Horse and McNary dams, working on irrigation canals, and the Hanford Project in Washington state. His love of big boats and commercial fishing led him to own his own charter and tuna boats in Westport, Wash. He spent seven years in Texas, where he and his wife went to school at Mercy Ships. After school was over, they provided housing for missionaries.
Upon returning to Montana, he worked on the missile bases in Eastern Montana, the Aluminum Plant in Columbia Falls, and he started his own logging business. About this same time an idea was born to build the Meadow Lake Golf Course in Columbia Falls. He worked on this project with the help of his wife and entire family. He was one of the original owners and later sold his interest in the project to Burt Poloson, a very good friend.
His love of building made it possible to design and build a home from bottom to top with the help of his good friends, Don Ottosen and Fred Browning, overlooking Flathead Lake.
To relax, he liked to strum his guitar to country gospel music and attend services at the Bigfork Chapel. Paul had the ultimate knowledge that "to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord."
Paul was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Kenny, Bobby and Lloyd; his grandparents; and numerous aunts and uncles.
Paul is survived by his wife, Juanita Sampson, of Kalispell; two sons, Rocky Sampson and wife, DeAnn, and Gerald Sampson and wife, Deanna, all of Kalispell; three daughters, Debra Reeves and husband, Cecil, of Salem, Ore., Terri Cothrn and husband, Bob, of Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, and Carri Pringle and husband, Rob, of Frederick, Md.; 19 grandchildren, Ken, Rich, Micah, Kimberly, Marcie, Toni, Geri, Shawna, J.C., Arette, Amy, Talia, Sheri, Brian, Scott, Niki, Kyle, Amber and Tessa; 10 great-grandchildren, Arielle, Megan, Cameran, Kenisha, Kailey, Alivia, Bailey, Caden, Brooklyn and Spencer; two brothers, Sam and Ray; and two sisters, Ann and Lillian.
No services are planned at this time. There will be a small gathering of family and friends this summer at Flathead Lake.
The family suggest donations be made to Home Options Hospice, 175 Commons Loop, Suite 100, Kalispell, MT; or the Bigfork Chapel, 290 Highway 83, Bigfork, MT 59911.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Paul's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Paul's guest book.