Bradley Kent Stodden, 63

Bradley Kent Stodden, 63, passed away suddenly at his home in Whitefish on Tuesday, June 15, 2010, due to complications from emphysema. He was born in Bellefonte, Pa., on May 25, 1947, to Alda and Kenneth Stodden, and spent his first two and a half years in nearby Centre Hall while his father attended graduate school at Penn State. After graduation, the young family lived in Whitefish for 18 months while Ken helped survey the new Hungry Horse dam site, then moved to Pittsburgh where he got a job doing metallurgical research for U.S. Steel. When Ken developed health problems in September 1953, the family moved back to Montana and stayed alternately with his parents in Butte, and with Alda s folks, Robert and Jennie McFadden, in Whitefish. When Alda went back to work with the Great Northern later that year, Jennie took care of Brad and his little sister Jan. Brad attended school consistently in Whitefish from age 7 through high school, graduating salutatorian of his class. He excelled at music and academics, and won the prestigious Great Northern Railway four-year college scholarship. He studied philosophy and English at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn., where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree. While in college, he played guitar and studied briefly with Leo Kottke. He joined the psychedelic rock band, The Paisleys, performing in the Twin Cities in the late 60s and on their album, The Cosmic Mind at Play. He retained a passionate interest in music and philosophy throughout his life, and expressed himself artistically through painting and music. He never married. Brad was preceded in death by his father, Ken (1955); his stepfather, Jack Zerr (1981); and his mother, Alda Zerr (2009). He is survived by uncle, Robert W. McFadden, of Whitefish; sister, Janis Olson, of Hebron, N. D.; brother, Jeff Zerr, of Boulder, Colo.; nephews, Jeremy Olson of Belgrade, and Glen Olson of Bethesda, Md.; dear friend, Renie Malik, of Whitefish; and one great-niece and four great-nephews. Cremation occurred at Austin Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 13, at Whitefish Methodist Church. Memorial gifts in Brad s name may be made to North Valley Food Bank, or Whitefish Housing Authority.