John Argo

John David Argo, 75, of Plains, died surrounded by his family on Feb. 22, 2005, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

He was born on March 2, 1929, at Wolf Point, to Alice and John Applegren.

The family moved to Camas Prairie, where his mother later married Cecil Argo.

John attended school at Camas Prairie and Hot Springs.

He married Delores Gollehon on Dec. 29, 1954, and they started their family of six daughters at Hot Springs, later moving to Plains.

John had a lifelong passion for the outdoors, whether he was working or playing.

His working years were spent as a logger, heavy equipment operator and mechanic.

John's creative ability to see beauty in the most unlikely places, even tree roots, was a gift to all those whose lives were enriched through his love of nature. When John saw wild flowers, he would stop to make a perfect bouquet to share with someone, needing only a smile in return.

He had an incredible sense of humor and started every day with the goal of finding a way to bring humor into it just to see someone smile.

It was said that he had "Johnny Carson humor with Paul Newman eyes."

John was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Delores and his sister Mary.

He is survived by six daughters, Alice Dew and her husband John, Mountain Home, Idaho; Polly Icenoggle and her husband Bruce, Plains; Barbara Soucy and her husband Phil, Libby; Bonnie Haun and her husband Dean, Plains; Susan Kasch and her husband Jeff, Lake Stevens, Wash., and Carol Brown and her husband David, Tacoma, Wash.

He is also survived by 16 grandchildren, Tammy and her husband Mark; Debbie and her husband Kent; Sam, Melissa and her husband Justin; Jessi, Allison, Deri and her husband Nick, Radd and his wife Melinda, Mike and his wife Cara, Mark and his fiancee Jenny, Matt and his fiancee Jenn, Johnny, Jennifer, Jeffrey, Jamie, Jason, Bobby and Kyle; three great-grandchildren, Jason, Melanie and Maddison; brothers Arthur and Paul and his wife Joni, sisters Erma Patton and her husband Duane and Susan Boston and her husband John; aunt Ellen Peterson, a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Lois and Dick Garrett, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is also survived by his best friend and confidant, Betty Meyer, who saw him through good times and was at his bedside throughout his battle with cancer.

The family would appreciate memorials to the Guardian Angel Fund, 2835 Fort Missoula Road, Suite 301, Missoula MT 58904 or the Clark Fork Valley Hospital Hospice, Box 768, Plains MT 59859.

Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 25, at the First Lutheran Church in Plains.

Burial followed at Plains Cemetery.

Arrangements were under the care of the Bunch-Toews Funeral Chapels.