We are shocked and saddened to report that our kind, generous and loving wife, mom, grandma, friend and spitfire, Robyn Dombrowski, 70, has died on June 11 at Anaconda Community Hospital. She fought cholangiocarcinoma for several months with courage, determination, vulnerability, grace and most importantly, hope. She most unwillingly left behind her husband Wayne Dombrowski; daughters, Heather Lopp; Erin Slack; Brianna Turley; Amanda Williams; and Vickie White, as well as countless friends and family members.
Robyn was born to Gordon and Inez Burnett, June 29, 1952, in Detroit Lakes, Minn. She was described as a happy baby and grew up a pleasant child, never without a puppy, kitten, horse or occasionally, squirrel. Her family moved to Montana in the late 1960s, and Robyn graduated from Polson High School. She then attended Concordia College.
After College she married Robert Clayton and had two daughters Heather and Erin, both born in Polson. The family moved to the high country of Arizona for a few years before moving back to the Flathead Valley, in Kalispell. After both daughters had graduated from Flathead High School and Heather had married, Robert, Robyn and Erin enjoyed life in the open spaces of Roundup. They then finally settled squarely between Anaconda and Deer Lodge. On Aug. 8, 2009, Robyn and Wayne married and joined their lives of love, affection, service and stability.
Throughout her life, Robyn expressed a desire to know if a true god existed. Disappointed with the hypocrisy she witnessed in many faiths, she began studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses and became convinced of what she learned as truth. That belief set a precedent for how she framed the rest of her life. Sharing her hope of a beautiful future and assisting others to utilize tools to affect positive change in their lives, regardless of their beliefs, became a mainstay of her life’s course. Robyn spent over 30 years of her life serving as a full-time minister in that endeavor.
Robyn in all her embodiments was someone with whom we have laughed, cried, joked, teased, sympathized with, cringed at, admired, respected and ultimately, loved.
How does one sum up the existence of such a cherished human in so few sentences? How do we describe the impact of one specific person on the lives of so many others? Maybe we begin with ice cream parties, cheap shoes, farting ring tones, turkey roasting instructions, gift giving, adoration and adoption of other’s children, letter writing mornings, biking the Hiawatha trail, garage sales, barbecue buying, iPad deal sleuthing, lunches at Panera, surprise tractor purchases, unvarnished commentaries, savage loyalty and divine-like love.
Our Robyn lived with a resolution. A resolution embodied by the words of the Psalmist, “I will never abandon my loyal love for him nor be untrue to my promise.” She lived and died with a hope. A sure hope. A hope expressed by the inspired words of the Bible’s prophet, Isaiah, “Awake and shout joyfully you residents in the dust! And the earth will let those powerless in death come to life.” Isaiah 26:19
A memorial service for Robyn Dombrowski was held June 24.
Please visit the longfellowfinneganriddle.com to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Robyn. ​

David Paul Meier, 96, passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 15 in Deer Lodge. He was born March 16th, 1927 in Winona, Minn. where he grew up surrounded by a loving family.
Dave took military training at the Great Lakes Naval Center after he reached his 18th birthday, during his senior year of high school. His three brothers had already signed up to serve. After training he joined his crew on the USS Langley to fight during WWII in the Mediterranean Arena.
When WWII ended, Dave traveled to Montana to pursue a career as an agent with the Northern Pacific and eventually the Burlington Northern Railroad. He worked around the state including Twin Bridges, Garrison and Deer Lodge throughout his 40-year career. He was fondly known as Depot Dave!
On Aug. 1, 1959, Dave married Nora Ryan. Together they had three daughters: Shelly, Mary and Patty. Nora and Dave were married for 63 wonderful years, and she supported him throughout his career.
Dave was always active in the community and willing to lend a helping hand to friends and strangers. Dave belonged to the Deer Lodge Immaculate Conception Catholic Church where he could often be found volunteering to help for special occasions or events. His faith was a strong part of his life. He belonged to the Knights of Columbus for over 25 years, was an American Legion member, Boy Scout Leader and Veterans Honor Guard member participating in over 100 military funerals. Depot Dave was one of the few people in Montana who could still do Morse Code and enjoyed sharing it with others through demonstrations with the Montana Morse Telegrapher’s Association. Giving back to his community and his military service to his country were important to Dave.
As a father and grandfather to all “girls,” he made sure they knew how to fish, camp, hunt and work around tools. Dave worked hard for his family and enjoyed the great outdoors that Montana provided with an unparalleled zest for life until the very end. He was well known for his ability to tell many stories about hunting elk in the Rubies, fishing with his granddaughters, his garden and being on his daughter’s boat in Alaska with family (He always caught the biggest fish!).
His optimism in life and compassion for family, friends and strangers touched those around him. We will never know how many people were impacted by his willingness to help others over the years. Dave’s secret to a long life was staying active, along with spending time with family and many wonderful friends throughout his life. The world was a better place with Dave in it, and he will be greatly missed by all.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Ethel and Paul Meier; his sisters, Jean Gervais and Patricia Meier; brothers, Stanley, Charles and Gerald Meier; and daughter, Patricia (Patty) Traverso.
He is survived by his wife, Nora Meier; daughters, Richelle (Shelly) Deering, Mary Perkins; and grandchildren, Kathryn (Katy) Germann, Zoey and Alyah Perkins.
Dave’s funeral service was held June 22 at the Immaculate Conception Church in Deer Lodge. Memorials can be directed to Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, www.themmrf.org; or Immaculate Conception Church: 605 Clark St, Deer Lodge, MT 59722.

​Born free in a wild place with a strong heart, the son of a West Virginia coal miner, Pat E. Nichols and Kansas farm girl, Margerette D. Pettit, in Summers, Kan., at the beginning of the Great Depression, Jan. 20, 1931.
They soon migrated to Montana when he was less than 2 years old. Being a miner, his dad took up gold mining but left the family destitute when coming home from Ennis where he played guitar and sang at a bar. Pat’s brother rolled the car at the bottom of the Madison Hill where the Barter Ranch turn off was and the gold mine he last worked, killing them both. Donald was 6; his brother, Ted Nichols, was 4; and his older sister, Betty, was 10.
His mother had to work to make ends meet, leaving him alone to a beautiful wilderness there all around Norris, between the Tobacco Root Mountains and the Madison River to instill awe and a deep connection to the wild.
Stationed at Guam during his service in the Navy at the beginning of the Korean War, his love and connection with the natural world deepened, where he got to explore the beauty and grandeur of the ocean waters.
After discharging from the service, he went back to West Virginia where he met Berdina King, married and started his family. They brought Barbara Nichols into this world there. After a few years, he brought his family back to Montana where he hoped to live a simple life surrounded by wilderness.
On their way they discovered Jackson Hole, Wyo., where he would become a machinist, and bring Dan Nichols into this world. He found land in northern Montana, but after copper was discovered under his land, he went looking for better wilderness, but his wife left him and that would change him forever.
From then on, he would try to find a way to be free, living off the land in the mountains of Montana. This would come to a tragic end in 1984, when he and his son tried to kidnap a young woman to live in the mountains, killing her would-be rescuer. In court he had the courage to take responsibility for his actions. From then on, he would be known as “The Mountain Man.”
Don would spend the next 33 years in prison where he eventually would become the gardener for the prison for over 20 years. He dedicated his time to making the prison a more beautiful place and was much appreciated for his abundant flower gardens.
In spite of all the tragedy in his life, he always nurtured the beauty and sanity of the natural world. He always believed our salvation as a nation lie in going back to more simple ways of living close to the land where family comes first, and we can develop that intimate connection with the earth.
He is survived by his half-brother; his son and daughter; grandkids; great-grandkids; and nieces and nephews.

​Funeral service for David Paul Meier, 96, is set for 11 a.m., Thursday, June 22, at Immaculate Conception Church, 605 Clark St., in Deer Lodge.

Daniel (Dan) Lee Ward, 70, a Coast Guard Veteran and longtime resident of Deer Lodge and Elliston, passed away May 25, surrounded by family. Dan was well known by many in the area.
He was born Dec. 26, 1952, to Elayne (LaRouge) Ward and Ray Ward. He attended Elliston Public School in Elliston and Powell County High School in Deer Lodge.
Dan had many stories to share about shearing sheep, which he’d learned from his father and uncles, and taught his granddaughter Naudia and son Shawn.
He also had many stories to share about his childhood, such as feeding his family bunnies late at night. He was an avid outdoorsman. He loved hunting, fishing, working outside, and just enjoying the scenery and feeding the wild birds.
Dan is preceded in death by his companion, Carmen Corrigan; sister, Maxine Skaggs; and parents, Ray and Elayne.
Dan is survived by his daughter, Cheryl Wirth; sons, Chad Wilson, Shawn Ward and Eric Campbell; his brothers, Bob Ward and Tom Ward; as well as his grandchildren; great grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
At his request, cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m., July 9, at the Corner Bar in Deer Lodge. If you have memories you’d like to share, please write them down and bring them on July 9 so they can be shared with his family.