Clifford Persons, 89, passed into the infinite deep powder side with comfort of a well-lived outdoor life and his faith in Jesus Christ. He was surrounded by family & compassionately cared for in his final days by the wonderful, loving, professional staff of Logan Health-Whitefish.
    He was the first of seven born to Katy (Timberman) Persons and Orville Persons, both raised in Musselshell country. Cliff was born in the  Kalispell General Hospital and transported in an old pickup through a March snowstorm to the Whitefish clinic where Katy and Clifford waited to make the newborn’s first winter outdoor journey to their rural home outside of Whitefish. Orville, a dairyman for the Hori Ranch, retrieved the most reliable rural winter transport - a team of horses hitched to a wagon. He set a bed of hay, surrounded by a few large “Silver Cup Dairy” cans filled with hot water and the warm love of  Clifford’s mother, Katy, snugged tight together under a tarp for the first snowy hour trip home.
    His formative years were spent on the Williams and Pauly (later the Williams and Tavenner) Ranch in  Deer Lodge where both Orville and Katy moved to in 1939 and began ranch work in 1940.
    Clifford was an avid mushroom and huckleberry picker and pie maker extraordinaire. He loved life with friends spanning a wide spectrum of ages. The outdoor life is a life lived well. Clifford lived life fully as a Korean War draftee, smoke jumper, ski patroller, ski instructor, wooden-ski telemarking tourer, backcountry hike-skier, Big Mtn. groomer, wilderness river kayaker, “Father of Kayaking in Flathead Valley,” happy hiker & trekker, avid fisher & hunter of wild meat, fine carpenter and cabinet-maker, founding partner of KR&P and Whitefish Builders, motocross and trials rider, and most importantly, a loving son, father and husband of Boneta [Bonnie Lovell, dec.] Persons and later Carol [JoAnn Olson-Moe, dec.] Persons, both who preceded Cliff into the everlasting love.
    He is survived by a grand range of friends and six siblings, Clyde (Pheobe, dec.), Keith (Kay, dec.), Nadine (Tim Nelson), Susan (Doc Sutton), Maxine (Miles Sheets), and Jerry (Debbie), three sons, Christian (Nancy), Neil (Jessica High), and Steve (Jen Grace and grandson, Roán). A ski merging marriage extended family to JoAnn’s three children, Tera (Joe Keister and grandchildren [Christine] Rose (Andrew Jiang and great-grandson, Desmond) and Evan Moe), Mike Moe, and Tommy Moe (Megan Gerety and grandchildren Taylor & Taryn).
    A celebration of Clifford’s well-lived outdoor life and pies made from Cliff’s last huckleberries will be shared at the Whitefish Lake Golf Club from 12-3pm, Saturday, the 7th of March: Clifford’s favorite ski month and the month of his first outdoor snow-storm journey home as a newborn.
Whitefish Lake Restaurant
1200 Highway 93 North
Whitefish, MT 59937.
Please consider legacy donations in Clifford’s honor to help preserve and tell the history & outdoor adventures of local skiers:
The Ski Heritage Center
705 Wisconsin Avenue
Whitefish, MT 59937
406-885-2730
[email protected]

    Heidie Gersitz, a  resident of Drummond, passed away tragically on Oct. 23, 2025, leaving a profound impact on her family and community. She was born on Aug. 8, 1970, in Deer Lodge to Bonnie and Jan Bunton.
    Growing up with her brother Andy in Deer Lodge, Heidie experienced family dynamics that shaped her nature. Her grandparents ranch was very special to her. Heidie’s parents divorced, but she ended up with an added bonus to her life: Her stepfather Jack Woods was the man who became a significant father figure that she deeply loved and respected. Their blended family of six with two step sisters created a tapestry of relationships that defined her early years. Though Jack and Bonnie divorced,  Heidie carried a lifelong relationship with her extended family.
    In 1990, Heidie married Karl at her family ranch, beginning an union that would span 35 years. Together they welcomed three children: Sammantha in 1996, Kodi in 2005, and Tommy in 2007, creating a family she deeply wanted with Karl. The delight of their life came in a grandson , Aleck born in 2016.
    A lifelong learner, Heidie pursued education through numerous college courses and served honorably in the Navy Reserve for three years. Her passions included camping, sewing, reading, hunting and enjoying long road trips with Karl.
    Surviving family members include her husband Karl, children Tommy, Sammy, Kodi;grandson Aleck, brother Andy (Margeret) Bunton, step sister Sherilee, in- laws Debi McClain, Suzi (Don) Marshall, Rex Tomsheck, stepdad Jack Woods, Uncle John Woods, cousin Steve (Kim) Singleton, stepfather Shane and numerous extended family members. She was preceded in death by her parents Bonnie and Jan, grandparents Ada and Gaile Singleton, her step sister Shontal Woods, sister in law Khandi Tomsheck, brother in law Mark Moody, mother in law Maureen Walter and brother in law George W. McClain.
    Cremation has taken place and a gathering with ash spreading will be at a place special to Heidie has been planned for early summer. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the Veterans Pantry of Montana.