Edward L. Kubitza, 90

Edward Louis Kubitza, 90, of White Bird, died December 8, 2007 at home of natural causes.

Ed was born April 20, 1917, to Frank and Susan Wieshala-Kubitza at their homestead in Coburg, Montana. He grew up in Coburg where his father worked for the Great Northern Railroad. He attended school in Coburg through the eighth grade. He then attended High School in Glasgow, Montana, graduating in 1935. He returned to Coburg where he and his brother, Sam, took over the farm from his parents. They farmed over 1200 acres and made deals with the Indians across the Milk River Valley to make ends meet. He then began raising potatoes and alfalfa and was soon farming over 12000 acres, mostly alfalfa.

He married Mary Ellen McCracken on August 14, 1946, at Turner, Montana. They farmed and ranched in Savoy-Coburg area, east of Harlem, Montana. They left Montana and relocated to Grangeville, Idaho in 1969 where they owned and operated a Coast to Coast hardware store. They got their two youngest through High School, then sold the store and spent their time traveling the country in their motor home. They later retired and spent half of the year at their home in Nampa, Idaho and the other half in Mesa, Arizona.

Ed lost his wife Mary Ellen to cancer in January 1998. He remained in Nampa until 2002 when he married a 30 year acquaintance, Mardell Blankenship of White Bird. He moved to White Bird where he has resided with Mardell until his passing.

As a young man Ed experienced the hardships of the “Great Depression” which made him appreciate what he had and installed an untouchable work ethic. He was most resourceful, not believing in wastefulness, but always willing to help others. Ed had a very good reputation every where he went and made many friends throughout the years from the Indians of the Assiniboine Reservation to business partners and acquaintances made later in life. He was very kind, a true gentleman, loving and devoted husband, father, son, uncle, and friend. If he gave you his word and a handshake, it was gold. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Survivors include his wife, Mardell of White Bird; four children, Jim of Lacey, WA, Rodd of Ketchikan, AK, Judy Turgeon of Surprise, AZ, Twila Kelly and Mark Routen, both of Nampa, ID; one nephew who was like a son, John of North Brighton, RI; three grandchildren, Dick and Nikki Kubitza of Redmond, OR, Shawn Kubitza of Ketchikan, AK, and Kelly Turgeon-Orbe of Clearlake, WA; three great-grandchildren, Dain Turgeon-Orbe, Nicholas Orbe, and Izabella Grace Kubitza.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Susan; four brothers, John, Robert, Thomas, and Samuel; two sisters, Mary and Dorothy, and his loving wife of 52 years, Mary Ellen.

Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, December 12, 2007, at 3:00 p.m., at Pleasant View Baptist Church in White Bird. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Blackmer Funeral Home in Grangeville.

Send condolences to the family at Blackmerfuneralhome.com.