Stevi Class of ’81 reunion
The Stevensville High School Class of 1981 will hold its 30th class reunion this year on August 5-7, the same weekend as the 99th Annual Creamery Picnic. Planning is underway for all classmates to have a great time, whether you graduated with the class in May of 1981 or not. Help is needed in finding classmates and if you know of one who hasn’t been contacted or need additional information, contact Dawn Lujan at [email protected] or call Brian Potton at 369-1128.
Call for artists
The First Friday Art Walk series will begin on May 6 and run through October on the First Friday of every month in downtown Stevensville. Participating Stevensville businesses will host the artists and accommodate them with space to display their work and actively be performing their particular art talent so that visitors can observe the art in motion.
If you are an artist and interested in this opportunity, contact the Stevensville Main Street Association at 777-3773 to be paired with a host business. The opportunity is for the First Friday event that runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m. and months available are from May to October.
If you are an artist and would like an opportunity to display your work, sell your work and demonstrate your talent, contact the Stevensville Main Street Association at 777-3773.
Stevensville Foundation grants available
The Stevensville Community Foundation spring grant cycle is underway with a strict deadline of Friday, May 13, 2011. Grants are awarded only to organizations that benefit programs or projects which make the greater Stevensville Community a better place in which to live. Excluded are religious or political organizations. Cycles are annually held in both spring and fall. Thus far, almost $200,000 has been awarded by the Stevensville Community Foundation to many worthy endeavors. Information maybe obtained by picking up an application at the Bitterroot Star office, Rocky Mountain Bank or Farmers State Bank. For more information, or to submit an application, write to P.O. Box 413, Stevensville MT 59870, or call 239-5726.
Obituaries
Death Notices
Erma Bell Madalon
Stevensville – Erma Bell Madalon, 97, passed away Thursday, April 28, 2011 at her home in Stevensville of natural causes. At her request, no services are planned. Condolences may be left for the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.
Billy Joyce Howell
1929-2011
Aberdeen, MS – Billy Joyce Pennington Howell, 82, died Thursday, April 28, 2011 at the North MS Medical Center in Tupelo, Mississippi. She was born April 10, 1929 to William Arthur Pennington and Beulah Cleavy Cox Pennington in Gattman, MS. She was a life long resident of Monroe County. She was a nurse and also worked as a marketing agent for Holiday Inn in McAllen, TX and Mexico. She graduated from Charity Hospital School of Nursing in New Orleans, LA. She was a member of First Methodist Church of Aberdeen. She was a daughter of DAR and a member of Aberdeen Country Club.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Wilber Theo Howell; her son William Bruce Howell; her brother, William Arthur Pennington, and one grandson, Jared Shorter.
Survivors include her daughter, Cheri Lynne Howell of Richmond, MS, her son Michael Howell and wife Victoria of Stevensville, MT, eight grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Monday, May 2, 2011 at First Methodist Church of Aberdeen with Rev. Truman Thompson officiating.
Arrangements were by Tisdale-Lann Memorial Funeral Home, Aberdeen.
Marvin F. Bell
1916-2011
Marvin F. Bell, 94, of Hamilton, entered into rest April 17, five hours after the birth of his 11th great-grandchild. He was surrounded by his wife of 69 years and many family members.
He was born in Belgrade on October 21, 1916 to Sam & Bessie Bell. Marvin went through the Bozeman school system and later graduated college from Montana State with a degree in animal industry and range management. After graduation, he went to work for the Farm Security Administration in Polson, where he met Agnes Carey. Marvin & Agnes were married on June 8, 1942 in Great Falls. Later that same year, he headed off to World War II for three years as a Sergeant in the United States Air Force 321st Transport Squadron.
Returning stateside, Marvin resumed work with the Farm Security (Home) Administration, first in Hamilton and then in Bozeman. In 1957 he started working for Citizens State Bank in Hamilton, where he stayed until 1967. At that time, Marvin & Agnes started Western Montana Real Estate, which they operated together until retiring in 1993.
A school field trip to the Sleeping Child area of Hamilton during college fueled his passion to return and later spend the next 57 years of his life making a lasting and memorable place in the community. Marvin, through his work at the bank and real estate office, helped countless people secure funding and land to help put together ranches throughout Western Montana and Northern Idaho. He raised Hereford cattle and Arabian horses on his own ranch.
Marvin was instrumental in planning and assisting in establishing many back country reservoirs; establishing the Darby Stockgrowers, and putting together the first producer direct trainload of cattle from Hamilton to Omaha, NE. There were not many horse activities that did not occur without him being involved. He helped the Countess Bessenyey with the endurance rides she sponsored, and he was influential in bringing the local chapter of the Backcountry Horsemen to the Bitterroot. A member of the Ravalli County Sheriff’s Posse, Montana Farm Bureau, Bitterroot Stockgrowers, Montana Cattlemen’s, Elks Lodge, Hamilton Chamber of Commerce, Alpha Lamda Chi, Phi Beta Kappa, and a longtime beef barn superintendent for the Ravalli County Fair, Marvin was an incredibly active member of the community he loved.
Survivors include his wife, Agnes; son Ron (Tanzy) Bell of Henderson, NV; daughter Pat (Jim) Rouse of Chattaroy, WA; seven grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and many, many friends.
A memorial service will be held July 16 in Hamilton. The family suggests memorial contributions be made in Marvin’s name to the Bitterroot Land Trust.