The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1948-09-09
Sudden Death
Takes H0nOred
Citizen Mon.

Death came Unexpectedly Mon
day afternoon to NJ R. Karnes as
he was attending the afternoon SEES
sion of the Libby Fair and Cele-
bration at the Ball Park Mr.. Kar-
mes, who had apparently been in
his usual good health attended the
Sunday sessions of the Fair, and was
sitting in the grandstand when he
RS became i'll. Leaving the grounds he
4 was asked at the gate if he would
+ like to be driven home, but replied
that he was suffering from a touch
of Indigestion and would drive him
self He got in the car and drove
to the intersection of Second Street
and California, making the required
stop. Starting the car again he
collapsed DR.. Seifert was i'm
mediately called and stated that
death had resulted from a heart
attack.
Marshal Ralph Karnes was born
April 8, 1879 in Venango County,
Pa, and passed away Monday, Sep
TENDER 6, 1913 at Libby, Montana,
aged SO years, four months and %
days. He came to Wyoming from
Pennsylvania when a youth of IL,
being accompanied by his younger
brother, Clare. He worked for
number of years in Wyoming as
COW puncher, and has frequently
related being a member of the party
which brought the first flag pole
to the famous Custer Battle field.
Later NJ R. went to Washington |
and the Northwest, and it was at |
Fairfield. Wash, that he met Miss !
Minnie E. Roberts. The two were /
united in marriage at Billings,
Montana on Mr.. Karnes' 18th birth I
day, April g. 1907 Six children,
five sons and one daughter were
born to this union, all of whom sur
vive their father
For a short time after his mar
riage Mr. Karnes was in partner
ship with Harry Truesdale, now of
Bobtail Creek. The men were en-
gagged in the painting business and
during this time, painted all the
houses at the Shoshone dam above
Cody, Wyo. After the dissolving
of this partnership, M. r. went in
to the grocery business, operating
stores at Sheridan, Ulm, Dietz and
Usage, Wyoming He moved to
Roundup, Mont. in 1919, continuing
in the grocery business there and
September 81, 1921 Mr. Karnes
and w. A. Brown, now of Council
Bluffs, Ia, purchased the Variety !,
Grocery from F. E. Williams and !.
A. L. Morris. They sold this bust =
ness to Claude and Clarence Viii y
liams in 1923. Since that time y
NJ. R. has been with the Kootenai Il
Co, serving as manager ~ ~
If the grocery department -
He has been active in civic af =,
airs during all the years he has g.
ived in Libby. A member of St. 80
.ukes Episcopal Church of this q
'lace, he has served many years as .
1t was back in 1907 at =;
Sheridan, Wyo that he joined the M
Odd Fellows Lodge. He has been ~
ctive in the Libby Chapter IO.OF. ~ D'
ince 1922, going through all the ~
hairs. For about 20 years he has ~
erved the local chapter as its treas "a
rer He was also member of the h.
at the time of his ~
cath, and until the rationing of -
asoline during the war which made bv
impossible to attend, had been a ~.
lember of the Kalispell Canton. II
He is survived by his wife; one De-
rother, c. c. Karnes, Bakersfield, Ia
alif.; one sister, Mrs. Mary Nc Fe
Nickelville, Pa; his five M.
ms, Richard NJ, Elmer City, Wash, A.
larence E. of the home, Frank H. me-
I'd Harry w. both of Portland, IL ,'
re-, and Kenneth c. of Hamilton, IN
ass; and one daughter, Mrs. Ell An
er Switzer, Jr. of Libby in addi- Oc
On to 10 grandchildren. NJ
Mr.. and Mrs Karnes, besides Ne
airing their own six children are To
vingly known as MON & Dad" by ~
ores of men and women who have D
ent many delightful evenings in n
e hospitable home of Mr.. and Mrs =
arnes, whose doors have always Be
en- open to the youth of the com
unity and their friends. A man r
nose days have been busy, Mr. -,
lrnes has found time to make Ch'
any friends among all groups and con
es in the community, all of whom zee
tie in mourning his untimely pass gah
: and in extending sympathy to Inr'
= bereaVed family of a good hus- OoI
nd and father, good friend, a 5ilu
I'd businessman, and a good citi- gay
Funeral services will be held to- 70
rrow FRIDAY, September 10) at dlso
0 p. m. from the Gompf Funeral son
APPEL with Mr. KarneS' former q
;tor, the Rev. George Masuda of IIoI
lings, officiating. Interment will war
.e place in the Libby cemetery NEE
III the Odd Fellows in charge of ne
Ivyacida corxyinac the