All Obituaries

Arthur “Art” T.  Purdy, 91, passed away at the Cabinet Peaks Medical Center on November 24, 2020. Art was born in Eureka, Montana on June 1, 1929 to Lynn and Jessie Purdy. Art grew up on the family farm with his two brothers and two sisters and attended school in Eureka where he participated in numerous sports including football, basketball and track. Art also began flying single engine planes when he was 14 years old. He was once called into the principal's office and...

Don H. Westfall, 85, passed away on Sunday, November 22, 2020 at Libby Care Center of a broken heart.  He was born on August 7, 1935 in Culbertson, Montana to Ralph Einer and Lorraine Louise Bjorge.  His mother married Frank N. Westfall and he adopted Don on June 8, 1953. Don served in the US Air Force from 1955 until being honorably discharged in 1958.  He worked for the U.S. Forest Service and later owned and operated Helen’s Tap Room.  Don then worked for the...

Virginia M. Kinkade, 98, died on Wednesday, November 18, 2020 at Libby Care Center. Visitation will be from 1-5 p.m., Sunday, November 22, 2020 at Schnackenberg Funeral Home in Libby. Services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 23, 2020 at Schnackenberg Funeral Home.  Condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.

Gertrude Elvera “Trudy” Skrable, 100, a beloved resident of the Trego-Eureka area since 1966, left this world to join her husband Bud on November 15, 2020 from Mountain View Manor nursing home where she had been a resident for almost seven years.    Trudy was born in San Francisco, California, to David and Sif Ratto.  Her only sibling, Dave Jr., died in 2014.  She grew up in South San Francisco, AKA “South City.”  A bright, independent and...

Melvin W. (Mel) Bloom, 80 years old, died on Sunday, November 15, 2020 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center he was born in Bozeman, MT to Claude and Lottie (Murray) Bloom. The family moved to Libby when Mel was 7 years old. He graduated from Libby High School in 1958. Mel lived in Libby until his passing, he married Nancy K. (Riley) Bloom in 1961. Mel was a graduate gun smith, his passion of working on cars carried over to working at Valley Motor/Carquest for 23 years and was a lifetime...

Cathryne A. Burrell, 82, passed away Nov. 14, 2020 in her home in Libby, surrounded by her loving family. Cathryne was born Aug. 28, 1938, in Lake Andes, SD, to Ralph and Kate Brooks. She graduated from Lake Andes High School in 1957, and went on to Southern State Teachers College in Springfield, S.D., graduating in 1959 with a teaching certificate.  Cathryne married Harold Burrell in Lake Andes, S.D., in 1959. They divorced in 1986. Cathryne’s teaching career took her to Helena...

Patricia Ruth Rowberry, 91, fell asleep in death Nov. 14, 2020 at the Libby Care Center. She was born February 5, 1929 to George Dewey Clark and Daisy Melba Clark in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She was the second oldest of 5 siblings.   On December 15th of 1944, she married her high school sweetheart, Monte H. Rowberry in Idaho Falls. They resided in Soda Springs, Idaho for many years. Pat was known in Soda Springs, for her amazing pies and provided them to the local restaurants. In 1970 the...

Donna Benda, 76, a retired teacher in the Libby School system, died November 11, 2020 at Cabinet Peaks Medical Center in Libby. Born November 16, 1943 at Pocatello, Idaho to Louis Koeppen and Leota Lierman Koeppen, she was raised and educated in Coeur d'Alene and Spokane, graduating from Lewis & Clark High School in Spokane. She attended North Idaho College and then the University of Idaho, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. She married Bruce Benda in 1965. They came...

Sharon Kay Chumley (Reed) Sharon (63) went to await her heavenly Father on November 11th, 2020. She was born on February 1st, 1957 in Walla Walla, Washington to Ruby and Cecil Reed. Sharon will be remembered lovingly by her husband of 34 years, Eddy Chumley and by her five children, Mercedes Watson, Nicole Watson, Brittany Chumley, Joshua Chumley, Jeremiah Chumley, her brother Donald Reed and her best friend of 51 years Joelle Hawkins. She also leaves behind her 10 grandchildren, many others...

Doris J. Lundin, 84, died on Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at Cabinet Peaks Medical Center in Libby. Services will be held at a later date and will be announced.  Arrangements are by Schnackenberg Funeral Home in Libby.  Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.