Heartland Financial USA, Inc. has announced that it signed a definitive agreement to acquire Rocky Mountain Bancorporation, the holding company for Rocky Mountain Bank, a financial institution providing retail and commercial banking services from eight locations throughout Montana, including Stevensville. The total purchase price upon completion and regulatory approvals will be approximately $34.5 million, and will consist of 50 percent cash and 50 percent Heartland common stock. The transaction is expected to close during the second quarter of 2004. Rocky Mountain Bancorporation had assets of $370 million at December 31, 2003 and revenues of $2.3 million in the latest twelve month period ended December 31, 2003.

"This transaction represents Heartland's initial expansion into the Rocky Mountain region of the United States, and we are very fortunate that Rocky Mountain Bank will serve as a beachhead in this important region as we fill out our geographic footprint," said Lynn B. Fuller, Heartland chairman, president and CEO. "In addition to a solid earnings base, Rocky Mountain Bank provides an excellent footprint with eight locations in a demographically emerging state. We will also acquire a talented team of management and staff with an intimate knowledge of the communities they serve. This dedication to customer relationship building at the community level is deeply ingrained in Heartland's culture, and this commitment at Rocky Mountain Bank was an important factor in our decision. We also expect the transaction to be accretive to our cash earnings in 2004."

Don Fraley, chairman and CEO of Rocky Mountain Bancorporation, added, "Heartland's decentralized operating model means that this transaction will be largely transparent to Rocky Mountain Bank customers. What will change is an enhanced ability to serve our customers with access to larger, more sophisticated resources and a wider array of products and services. We look forward to sharing our growth and future successes as an important member of the Heartland family."

Under the terms of the agreement, Rocky Mountain Bank will retain its name and charter. Fraley will continue to serve as its chairman, and Danny T. Skarda, who is presently president and chief operating officer, will serve as president and chief executive officer. The transaction is subject to approval of the Federal Reserve and Rocky Mountain Bancorporation shareholders. D.A. Davidson has served as financial advisor to Rocky Mountain Bancorporation.

Heartland is a $2.0 billion financial services company with seven banks in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, New Mexico and Arizona. Heartland's shares are traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol HTLF.

Rocky Mountain Bancorporation is a privately-owned holding company that owns Rocky Mountain Bank, a bank with branches in eight Montana communities. With over $370 million in assets and $290 million in deposits, Rocky Mountain Bank is the eighth largest Montana-based financial institution. Rocky Mountain Bank has offices in Bigfork, Billings, Bozeman, Broadus, Plains, Plentywood, Stevensville and Whitehall.

Stevi High improving through the AP program

By Leslie Bardsley

Students across the country and in our very own communities are earning college credit in high school classrooms. Advanced Placement (AP) is a program offered by College Board, the makers of the SAT, in which high school students can take tests in order to receive college credit in certain areas. These classes are created by the participating schools and focus largely on preparing the students for a particular subject. Stevensville currently has the most AP classes in the Bitterroot Valley with five, including Calculus, English Language, Environmental Science, Spanish and Studio Art. Plans are being made to add U.S. History and English Literature and possibly others to next year's curriculum.

The AP program is beneficial to both students and to the school. Passing an AP test can earn students anywhere from three to 18 college credits, depending on the college's entrance policies. The cost to the student for each test is only $82, a small sum in comparison with the cost of taking that class in a college setting. The Stevensville administration generously pays half of the cost for the students, in order to encourage student participation. The AP program is important to the school because studies have shown that the introduction of such classes advances curriculums down to the sixth grade level, which improves the quality of education for all students, not just the few taking the tests.

Jim Notaro, Stevensville High School's principal, Peggy Mullin, the director of the Extended Studies program, and several teachers recently attended a conference in California to be trained in the Advanced Placement program. They are excited to incorporate what they have learned into the Stevensville school system.

Info and referral service available

Need help locating assistance with food, housing, daycare, support groups or other human services? Call First Call For Help‹Ravalli County.

First Call For Help‹Ravalli County is a telephone information and referral service with a comprehensive listing of community resources for persons of all ages. Trained staff can analyze your unique problems and provide information or refer you to the social services designed to meet your needs.

Call 3634500 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12 noon Monday through Friday.

First Call For Help‹Ravalli County is a service of the Human Resource Council.

Montana National Guard 1-163rd on 'Mobilization Alert'

Governor Judy Martz and Major General John E. Prendergast announced last week that they have received an alert order from the National Guard Bureau stating that the possibility exists that all or parts of the 1-163rd Infantry Battalion, headquartered in Belgrade, with subordinate units in Anaconda, Billings, Great Falls, Hamilton, Lewistown, Livingston and Missoula, may be called to active federal service.

"I have the deepest respect for our soldiers in the Montana National Guard and we will do everything possible to support them and their families in any way we can in the event of a mobilization notice," Governor Martz said. "These men and women are among the finest individuals I know and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families."

Martz and Prendergast emphasized that the notice received is a "mobilization alert" and that it is not a deployment order. All members of the 1-163rd have been notified of the "mobilization alert."

"If mobilized, the soldiers of the 1-163rd would join the approximately 350 Montana National Guard Soldiers and Airmen serving currently in Montana, the United States and around the world," General Prendergast said. "This notification allows the Montana National Guard to begin preparing the unit, its soldiers and their families in case this unit is mobilized."

1-163rd was alerted, mobilized, and served in Bosnia in 2001 as a part of Stabilization Force 11. Under the current alert units and soldiers could be ordered to active duty for not more than one year. Under federal statute the Secretary of the Army may direct for up to two years.

"The Montana National Guard continues to train and perform our duties as we normally would and are prepared for any mission that we are directed to perform. This alert could potentially signal the largest single mobilization of National Guard forces in Montana since World War II," said General Prendergast.

Funds available for rural economic investment

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that it is making $325 million in loans and grants available to rural communities to strengthen distance learning and telemedicine programs that serve rural America. "Bringing specialized health care and expanded educational programs to rural areas will save lives and improve the quality of health care for residents who live in more sparsely populated areas of the country," said Acting Under Secretary for Rural Development Gilbert Gonzalez.

Telemedicine technology makes it possible for doctors to examine and direct the treatment of patients without being physically present. The distance learning program finances equipment to expand educational resources to students and educational institutions in isolated rural areas. Since the beginning of the Bush Administration, over $100 million has been invested in local distance learning and telemedicine programs, allowing 1,384 rural educational facilities to expand their access to modern telecommunications technology, and 658 health care institutions to develop technologies needed to enhance local medical care.

Applications for $15 million in grants must be submitted by April 30, 2004 and will be scored and awarded on a competitive basis. Applications for the grant/loan combinations and loans can be submitted throughout the fiscal year and will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional information on the USDA Rural Development distance learning and telemedicine program for 2004 is available at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents. As a venture capital entity, Rural Development provides equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

Local mayors attend Montana Mayors' Academy at MSU

Darby Mayor Rick Scheele, Hamilton Mayor Joe Petrusaitis, and Stevensville Mayor Bill Meisner were three of the 35 mayors from all over Montana who attended the first Montana Mayors' Academy at Montana State University on Feb. 25 through Feb. 27. The academy was conducted by the Local Government Center in partnership with the Montana Municipal Insurance Authority (MMIA) and was funded by a grant from the Public Entity Risk Institute.

The mayors participated in 16 hours of instruction in the areas of the roles and responsibilities of mayors, Montana's open meetings law, human resource management, budgeting and making land-use decisions.

The next segment of the academy will be conducted May 6-7 in conjunction with the annual Municipal Institute in Billings.

For more information, contact Jane Jelinski at the Local Government Center at 994-7756.

Local fire protection money available

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) has announced that applications for the 2004 VFA/RFA Grant Program are now being accepted. Applications for matching funds through the federally funded, Title IV, Volunteer Fire Assistance (VFA) program (U.S. Forest Service) and the Rural Fire Assistance (RFA) program (U.S. Department of Interior agencies - Bureau of Land Management, Fish & Wildlife Service and Bureau of Indian Affairs) are due April 26, 2004. The cost share money is being made available to defray up to ninety-percent of the cost of improving local fire protection.

According to Michael Wiederhold, Rural Fire Program Coordinator with DNRC's Forestry Division, single applications representing countywide fire organizations are required. Eligible applicants to be included are: fire departments, rural fire districts, fire service areas, volunteer fire companies or other fire service organizations in communities with populations of 10,000 or less. The maximum grant amount for a single applicant is $20,000. The single applications for a group of communities, i.e., countywide fire councils, countywide fire departments, etc., may have a total population of over 10,000.

The funding for the year 2004 VFA and RFA program is anticipated to be approximately $600,000.00 and applications can be submitted for projects such as department or district organization and planning; fire prevention; fire training and fire equipment.

In 2003, this grant program received 74 applications requesting $2.2 million dollars in funding. Seventy-four grants were awarded, totaling the $1.2 million received from the Forest Service and other interior agencies. Construction or improvement of fire stations for housing fire equipment, normal operational expenses and maintenance do not qualify for VFA/RFA funds. Details are available by contacting your local DNRC office at 542-4206.

February snowfall below average

Overall, February did not add significant snowfall to mountain snowpack levels. This was reflected in the fact that percent of average snowpack in most basins across Montana on March 1 was less than that on February 1. The change in percent of average snowpack was not due to snowmelt but from lack of snowfall during the month. USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) SNOTEL sites reported that February precipitation west of the Continental Divide was well below average and east of the Divide was below average.

By March 1 there are normally about four to six weeks remaining in the annual snowfall season. State-wide, mountain snow water content was 94 percent of average and 118 percent of last year. West of the Continental Divide, snowpack was 93 percent of average and 126 percent of last year and east of the Continental Divide, snowpack was 93 percent of average and 111 percent of last year. The Bitterroot River drainage was 93 percent of average and 107 percent of last year.

April through July streamflows across Montana are forecast to average 77 to 91 percent of normal. West of the Continental Divide, streamflows are forecast to average 89 to 100 percent of normal and east of the Continental Divide, streamflows are forecast to average 76 to 91 percent of normal.

Streams are expected to have higher flows than last year, but are expected to remain near to below average. Even though streamflows are expected to be better than last year, shortages are still likely to occur in late summer, depending upon spring and summer rain.

MSGA demands immediate action following wolf attacks

Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA) has called for immediate action to provide ranchers and cattle owners across Montana means to protect their livestock from wolf predation, following recent livestock killings by wolves near Harrison.

"Wolf control has long been an important issue to MSGA," said John Swanz, president of MSGA. "However, with these repeated attacks, it is clear we need to step up the process and allow ranchers to do their job—raise livestock."

In addition to immediate depopulation of the responsible wolves, MSGA is calling for removal of the gray wolf from the Endangered Species list, an action that would give livestock owners more direct protection of their animals.

"Montana and Idaho have far exceeded their required wolf population numbers under the Endangered Species Act," said Swanz. "These animals are plentiful to the point where they are damaging our industry, and we need to work together to regain control of this balance."

A recent proposed change to the wolf management provisions, as administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, would provide for more flexible means to provide livestock protection from wolves. However, it is only in the proposal stages, and includes a 60-day comment period before any rule changes will occur. According to Swanz, MSGA strongly supports the changes in the management plan, but two months from now will be too late for ranchers who are facing recurring livestock losses.

"March is calving time for most ranchers, and it's a critical time of the year," said Swanz. "Cattle producers can't afford to lose calves to predators, much less continue to wake up in the morning and see the results of a wolf attack."

Ranchers and MSGA members Bob and Jenny Sitz of Harrison say things have gone too far, after the Friday morning discovery of a neighboring family dog killed by wolves, following a week of livestock killings in the Madison Valley.

"These wolves are coming into people's yards, marking territory where their kids play in the snow," said Jenny Sitz. "They are just way too close to people's houses.

In the face of great controversy over wolf populations and control, MSGA is adamant that ranchers in the state are not looking for an "open season on wolves," said Swanz. He says even currently, when control actions are needed and utilized, they are not easily found.

"There won't be public hunting of wolves, but there will be the ability to shoot with just cause, and this past week has clearly demonstrated there is a need for this."

The Montana Stockgrowers Association, a non-profit organization representing nearly 2,500 members, strives to serve, protect and advance the economic, political, environmental and cultural interests of cattle producers, the largest sector of Montana’s number one industry, agriculture.

Resource Advisory Committee seeking members

About two years ago, Ravalli County and the Bitterroot National Forest established a Resource Advisory Committee (RAC). Resource Advisory Committees were authorized under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Act) Public Law 106-393. The intent of the Act is to form a diverse group of people that would review and recommend proposed natural resource base projects that would benefit National Forest administered lands.

Each Resource Advisory Committee consists of 15 members which represent industry, environmental groups, elected officials and local people. The Ravalli County RAC has actively reviewed and recommended funding for 14 projects in the last two years ranging from noxious weed treatment to construction of a toilet at a popular trailhead.

The Ravalli County RAC is now looking for two replacement members. Replacement members participate in all functions of the committee except for voting. They will take the place of one of the regular members in their group who must permanently leave the committee. The replacement members must represent one or more of the interests in the following categories:

Category B:
- nationally recognized environmental organizations;
- regionally or locally recognized environmental organizations;
- dispersed recreation activities;
- archaeological and historical interests;
- nationally or regionally recognized wild horse or burro groups;

Category C:
- state-elected office holders or their designees;
- county or local elected office holders;
- American Indian tribal representatives from tribes within or adjacent to RAC areas;
- school officials or teachers;
- citizens representing the affected public at large.

Once a selection is made through Ravalli County and the Bitterroot Forest, the recommendation is sent to the Secretary of Agriculture for her approval.

The geographic boundaries of the RACs are aligned with Ravalli County. Each RAC is assigned a Designated Federal Official to serve as the point of contact. The Designated Federal Official is Jeanne Higgins, District Ranger, Stevensville Ranger District.

The members of RAC should represent the diversity of local communities of interest and place. To ensure that the recommendations of the committee have taken into account the needs of the diverse groups served by the department, membership shall include, to the extent practical, individuals with demonstrated ability to represent minorities, women and persons with disabilities.

There are some conditions associated with serving on a Resource Advisory Committee, such as:
- Members must reside within the state in which the committee has jurisdiction.
- To the extent practicable, members should provide local representation.
- Members serve a three-year term.
- Member do not receive compensation; however, travel and per diem expenses may be covered.

If you are interested in being nominated for RAC membership, contact the Stevensville Ranger District, 88 Main St., Stevensville MT 59870; 777-5461; or Ravalli County Administration Building, 215 S. 4th, Hamilton MT 59840 for an application packet.

Completed applications must be postmarked by April 1, 2004, and mailed to Stevensville Ranger District, 88 Main Street, Stevensville MT 59870. For more information contact Jeanne Higgins, 777-5461.

Help available for finding child care

Finding a child care provider who meets your needs can be time-consuming and stressful. Child Care Resources can help. CCR maintains a database of useful information on all licensed child care providers. For more information, contact CCR at 728-6446 or conduct your own internet search at www.childcareresources.org.

Child care financial assistance available

Are your child care bills leaving you broke? Child Care Resources can help. Working families that meet income guidelines may be eligible for child care scholarships. For a family of four the maximum monthly household income is $2,263. There is no waiting list. To see if your family is eligible, call Child Care Resources in Missoula County at 728-6446. Families in Ravalli County should call 363-4599.

Lone Rock students explore Panama's rainforests

Lone Rock students are able to explore Panama's rainforests from thousands of miles away through a unique learning program.

For the past four school years, Lone Rock School has participated in the JASON Project. The JASON Project is the nation's leading provider of experienced-based science and math curriculum and professional learning for grades 4-9. The JASON Project brings over 1.7 million students and over 33,000 teacher on a learning adventure to an exotic research location. Using a variety of multimedia tools, online activities, and hands-on experiments, JASON students model the work of real researchers in the field.

This year at Lone Rock two teachers in grades 6 though 8 have investigated the formation of the Isthmus of Panama and how that has, in turn, shaped the area's unique biology and ecology. Students are also exploring the region's incredible human history and culture, including the native peoples of Panama and the development of the Panama Canal as one of the world's crossroads for trade, gold, people, plants and animals.

"We decided to do JASON because it works," said Lori Ann Muchmore, 7th grade teacher at Lone Rock School. "We've used JASON for four years, and it's rewarding as an educator to see students enjoy learning and to see a real difference in student outcome."

The Montana JASON Project is a program of the Burns Telecom Center at Montana State University which supports local schools such as Lone Rock by providing the curriculum, professional development, year-round support and value-added activities.

For more information on the JASON Project in Montana, call (406) 994-5992.

Obituaries

Donald A. Albright
1938-2004

Donald A. Albright, son of Albert and Ruth Albright, was born September 7, 1938. He died on Wednesday, February 25, 2004. He was 65.

Don grew up in Missoula, where he was an excellent student and athlete. As a junior at Missoula County High School, he was the state champion in golf. Don later graduated ninth out of 309 students. From there, he was accepted to Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts on a Navy ROTC scholarship, where he earned a BA in economics. Continuing his academic excellence at Harvard, Don made the Dean's List in all eight semesters while graduating in the top 25% of his class in 1960.

Upon graduation, Don was commissioned as an officer in the Marines and served four years at Treasure Island Naval Station. It was here that he met and married Jo Bowen in 1963. Don and Jo were married 41 years. Don then moved into the Reserve until 1966 where he reached the rank of captain.

After leaving the service Don entered into a long career in finance. He worked for Wells Fargo from 1963 to 1981 and served as the vice-president and manager of the Chico, CA branch. Don later was the president and CEO of North State National Bank from 198 to 1986 as the bank grew from a startup bank to a $52 million institution. He was lecturer at CSU, Chico in the Department of Finance from 1987 to 1992 where he taught personal and business finance. In 1994 he moved back to Montana to be near his mother and became vice president and a loan officer for Rocky Mountain Bank in Stevensville.

In 2001 Don and Jo moved to Orland, CA to be near their grandchildren. Don was now suffering badly from emphysema and asthma, yet he insisted on driving his grandsons Matthew and Jordan Silva to school every morning, and then babysitting his granddaughter Isabella and newborn grandson Ian in the afternoon. He also enjoyed watching the boys play Little League and soccer and watching them advance through Boy Scouts. In his non-grandchild centered time, Don loved to sit in the sun and read the books he got from the Orland Public Library. He was also an avid 49ers and Montana Grizzlies fan.

He is survived by wife Jo Albright, daughter Lori Silva and her husband Brett, his grandchildren Matthew, Jordan, Isabella and Ian, all of Orland, CA; mother Ruth Ulrigg of Missoula and in-laws Jean and Jerry West and their children Jenny, Joel and Julie who all live on the East Coast.

Don was an extraordinary man who wanted to live an ordinary life. His new occupation is playing with his son, Michael, who Don had not seen since 1973 when Mike was killed by a speeding car. They have some catching up to do.

Funeral services were at the Orland Methodist-Presbyterian Federated Church on Saturday, February 28. Contributions may be made to a trust fund for Don's grandchildren through F.D. Sweet & Son, 825 A. Street, Orland CA 95963.

Joyce Meckler
1936-2004

Joyce Nona Marlene Meckler, 67, of Stevensville died Saturday, March 6, 2004 following a long battle with cancer.

She was born on June 4, 1936, in Butte and was the daughter of Robert and Irene Henderson.

On June 20, 1954, she married Richard Meckler in Missoula. The couple lived in a small trailer in Ovando and worked at a sawmill owned by her parents.

In 1962 they moved to the Bitterroot Valley. They worked at a dairy farm and she later did waitress work in the valley, which she became a professional at.

Joyce loved riding horses, camping and being in the outdoors. She was a giving, sharing person and always was there to give help to anyone who needed it.

She was preceded in death by her son, Robin, her parents Irene and Robert and a brother Wallace Henderson.

Joyce is survived by her daughter Tami of Helena, and sons, Shannon of Missoula, Trent of Stevensville and Dick of Hamilton and nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 10 at 2 p.m. at the Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville, with Pastor Stephen Valentine officiating. A reception will follow services.

Celeste Engel
1924-2004

Celeste Engel, 80, passed away on January 25, 2004 at Daly Memorial Hospital in Hamilton. She and her late husband Albert Engel did their summer geologic field work in the northwest Adirondack Mountains of New York state for eight years. They taught at Cal Tech in Pasadena, CA and at Scripps Institute of Oceanography in La Jolla, CA for several years. They wanted to find a summer place in the west to unwind after nine months of teaching and research each year. They loved to look at rock formations, fossils and land forms. Celeste's husband Albert traveled around the world from Egypt to Nepal on field trips.

In 1964 they explored different parts of Montana looking for that special place. They both fell in love with the Bitter Root and purchased Jim and Maggie Kenely's farm on Big Creek north of Victor. They also had a part-time home at Borego Springs, CA. The Engels loved the pine woods on their Victor farm, the Bitter Root flowers growing on their land, the peace and quiet, finding wild mushrooms, and even the rocks they liked to study.

Albert passed away in March 1995.

Celeste published books and many articles and wrote lots of informative letters to local newspaper editors. Her most well-known book was "Rocks in My Head."

Celeste dearly loved her dogs which always rode in her car with her.

She is survived by two sons and their wives, Bob in Vermont and Tom in California.

Celeste will always be missed by her many Bitter Root friends and neighbors.

Harry Lloyd Miller
1909-2004

Harry Lloyd Miller, 94, of Polson, passed away on Saturday, March 6, 2004 at St. Joseph Hospital in Polson from natural causes.

He was born November 9, 1909 to Don L. and Julia Wood Miller, at Perry, Kansas, and moved to the Miller family ranch in 1913, Burnt Fork Ranch, near Stevensville. Harry attended and graduated from Stevensville High School, and at age 16 he received a two-year scholarship to the University of Montana, earning a B.S. in Chemistry.

He rode his 1926 Harley Davidson motorcycle East to seek his fortune. In Washington DC, Lloyd gained employment in the Department of Agriculture as a laboratory assistant. The U.S. Air Force at Pensacola, Florida was beginning a student cadet flight training program and he was one of the original flying cadets. Returning to civilian life, he was employed by Western Electric Company in Washington DC, as an electrical engineer. After 35 years, in 1972 he retired as a Senior Staff electrical engineer. Lloyd was also affiliated with Bell Telephone Laboratories as a designing engineer and has several electronic patents to his credit. He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.

Lloyd and his artist wife Josephine arrived in Polson from Maryland on July 4, 1981. Several years ago at the age of 90 he acquired his first computer and became knowledgeable in today's computer technology. He was a soft spoken person with a subtle sense of humor.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Earl L. Miller, brothers Lewis, Junius and John. He is survived by his wife Josephine (Jo) Miller and several nephews.

Cremation has taken place and no services are planned. Private inurnment of his cremains will be held at Maplewood Cemetery, Stevensville. Cremation and arrangements under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson.

George M. Brown
1920-2004

George M. Brown passed away peacefully Monday March 1, 2004 at a hospital in California.

George and Lois retired to the Bitterroot in 1976 where they spent glorious summers at their Corvallis cabin. His love for his wife was matched by his love of the out of doors and his passion for fly fishing. They spent many a day together floating the Bitterroot and fishing the mountain streams.

George was born in Santa Clara, California on March 7, 1920. He grew up on the family pear ranch which was started by his grandfather in 1868. After a college career in horticulture at UC Davis he served as captain in the US Army Air Corp during World War II, flying fighters in the South Pacific, earning the Air Medal and Purple Heart. While in the service on July 1, 1944 he married his high school sweetheart, Lois Jean Silver.

He was a leader in the agriculture industry and the community where he served as President of the Jefferson Union School District Board of Trustees and the Santa Clara Cold Storage and Freezer Company. George was active in Rotary, both in Montana, California and the international scholarship program as well as the Santa Clara Masonic Lodge.

Always active in youth activities such as AFS student exchange, he was founder and president of the Jefferson Youth Center Board and worked for many years to raise funds to build the Jefferson Youth Center. His love and dedication to the Boy Scouts he passed on to his son and grandson.

And George loved to have fun, hitting the ski slopes with his family as often as possible. That zest passed down to his daughter with laughter abounding at Lost Trail.

George and Lois had a magic between them. And to his friends, most of all he'll be remembered for his infectious giggle.

He is survived by the love of his life for 59 years, Lois; Susi, forever the "farmers daughter"; his namesake George Miller Brown III and his wife Patricia and their son Andrew. An American Field Service exchange student, Katrien Vandendreissche, is his "Belgian daughter." He is also survived by his brother, Walter Brown, and his sister, Shirley Fischer and many nieces and nephews.

In memory, donations may be made to the Bitter Root Valley Historical Society, Trout Unlimited or Bitterroot Humane Society.