Obituaries

Ruth Enger MacCalman
Ruth Enger MacCalman died at age 93 on April 24, 2014.
Ruth was born to Webster Evans and Hilda Jacobson Evans on April 6, 1921.  She was raised on the Evans ranch 10 miles South of Deer Lodge at Racetrack, and lived her whole life in the Deer Lodge Valley.
Ruth attended elementary school at a one room school house at Racetrack.  She graduated from Powell County High School in Deer Lodge in 1939 and then from Kinman Business College in Spokane.  She returned to Deer Lodge in 1941 where she was employed as a bookkeeper for the hardware store of Duvall Wallace.
Ruth married Alf Enger, also a Deer Lodge native, in 1943.  After his untimely death in 1962 she married Malcolm MacCalman, also of Deer Lodge, in 1972.  Malcolm predeceased Ruth in 2007. 
Ruth was an active member of the community, and was employed for many years as an accountant for the Montana State Prison. She was active in several bridge and social clubs and the Eastern Star, where she was installed as Worthy Grand Matron in 1980. Ruth was a great conversationalist and always took an interest in her many friends. 
She was a wonderful cook and never happier than when she was making a meal for her precious family. Her passion was always her family and she had two sons and a daughter.   David, Gary and Diane were born five years apart beginning in 1945.  She is survived by all three of her children with both David (Goldie) and Gary (Julie) residing in Seattle and Diane in Missoula.  There are six grandchildren; Kyle Enger, Ashley Allen, Garth Enger, Grant Enger, Alyson Enger, and Keegan Art; and six great-grandchildren, Jack, Ryan, Hannah and Nolan Enger and Davis and Mason Allen. Ruth is also survived by a sister Julia Goldie living in Seattle and a brother George Evans living in Missoula.  Stepchildren include Sara MacCalman Halsell and Patrick Halsell, the late Jamie MacCalman and Carolyn Eastman.  Grandchildren include: Colin and Marion Halsell and Emily and Michelle MacCalman. 
To celebrate Ruth’s life, there will be a Memorial which will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Deer Lodge, at 4 p.m. on July 29, 2014.  There will be a reception and light supper following.
Ruth Enger MacCalman will be interned at Hillcrest Cemetery.
Memorials can be made to:
Rialto Theatre, P.O. Box 874, Deer Lodge, 59722.

Audrey Nissen
Audrey Nissen, 94, of Great Falls, died peacefully at Azalea Place on Thursday, April 24, 2014.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Deer Lodge. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Schnider Funeral Home.
Gladys Audrey Nissen was born on February 9, 1920 in Aberdeen, S. D. to Thomas Arthur and Stella Stewart Jones. She graduated from Central High School and Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Education. She taught elementary school in rural South Dakota before moving to Harlowton in 1943 where her father found work with the Milwaukee Railroad.
She was teaching in Harlo when she met Ted “Thead” Nissen. They were married on January 20, 1946. From this union a daughter Susan Kay and son, Glenn Edward was born.
During her life in Harlo, she was a board member of the Harlowton City Library as well as substitute Librarian, Girl Scout Leader, a member of Eastern Star, and Harlowton Federated Church. She taught several years at the Shawmut Elementary School. In 1964, Ted was promoted by the Milwaukee Railroad and they moved to Deer Lodge where she was an elementary teacher until her retirement in 1980.
Audrey was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Deer Lodge, where she served as an elder. She was an avid bridge player well into her 90s, as well as being skilled with jigsaw puzzles and crossword puzzles. She studied genealogy with her daughter, Susan, keeping the family history well preserved.
Her time on earth cannot pass without saying that she was a very special Aunt. She was like a second mother to us all. Everyone has fond memories of repairing books at the Harlo library, camping in “Sammy” the trailer, Dean’s seven layer birthday pie, the best ever Thanksgiving holiday dinners, and college getaways in Deer Lodge.
Audrey is survived by her son-in-law, John Lerdal of Des Moines, Iowa; nieces and nephews Janis (Don) Williams of Red Lodge, Nancy (Orren) Reppe of Great Falls, David (Candace) Lewis of Clinton; Dean Lewis of Seaside, Ore., Kathy Schlimgen of Great Falls, Tom (Beth) Lewis of Spokane, Wash.,  and Jason (Bev) Lewis of East Missoula; sister-in-law Jean Nissen of Harlowton; the Nissen nieces and nephews; and many great and great-great-nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; infant son Glenn; and daughter Susan who died in 2010, a month after giving her mother a 90th birthday party; and two sisters Doris Key and Margery Lewis.
The family would like to thank Dr. Stacy Kingsland, Sandy, April, Art, and the staff at the Azalea Place.
Memorials may be made to the Harlowton Public Library, Harlowton, MT  59036; Deer Lodge Presbyterian Church, Deer Lodge, MT  59722; or a charity of one’s choice.

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Claire Hansen Wilson Wellington
Claire Hansen Wilson Wellington April 3, 1927-April 29,2014
Born to Orinda and Walter Hansen in Missoula. She attended Gold Creek and Deer Lodge schools. She graduated from Powell County High School in 1945. 
She found much enjoyment writing letters to our service people abroad during WWII.
David and Claire were married in Deer Lodge in 1947 where they raised their four boys. She enjoyed watching David play baseball and they bowled. She loved chaperoning high school football and wrestling activities. Claire worked many jobs but KDRG Radio advertising stories were some of her fondest. She enjoyed square dancing with her Uncle Yens in Missoula where she met Harry Wellington. They were married in 1977.
Preceded in death by Orinda and Walter Hansen, husband David, son Edward (Ted) and husband Harry. She is survived by three sons:
Richard (Dick) and Sandy Wilson, Anaconda.
Steve and Doris Wilson Moses Lake, Wash.
Don & Deb Wilson Troy.
Eleven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Services were held on Friday May 2 at 2 p.m. in Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Moses Lake.Wash. She will be laid to rest in Deer Lodge.