GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE Monday, March 14, 2005

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Paul P. Ashton

HARLEM - World War II Army Air Corps veteran Paul P. Ashton, 86, of Harlem, a retired farmer and Harlem businessman, died of natural causes Friday at his home following a short illness.

Rosary is 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Harlem. Funeral Mass is 11 a.m. Thursday at the church, with burial with military honors in Harlem Cemetery. Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook is handling arrangements.

Paul is survived by his daughters Sondra Ashton of Poulsbo, Wash., and Judy Ashton of Billings; stepchildren Thomas (Deanna) Warwick of Missoula, William (Beth) Warwick of McMinnville, Ore., Joseph (Georgia) Warwick of Redondo, Calif., Ann Azure of Harlem, Barbara Kay (Curtis) Baird of Sitka, Alaska, Mary Jean Schultz and Patricia (Donald) Ford, all of Great Falls, Jacqueline (Steve) Black of Butte, Jeanine (David) Nichols of Bremerton, Wash., and Annette (Tom) Ragsdale of Harlem; a daughter-in-law, Joyce Streber of Lewistown; sisters Mary Bierly of Elizabeth, Ind., and Virginia Bell of New Albany, Ind.; a brother, Ralph Ashton of Louisville, Ky.; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Cecile Ashton; brothers Jim, Virgil and Tom Ashton; a stepson John Streber, Jr.; grandsons Joseph Paul Rattey and Patrick Warwick; a granddaughter Shae Baird and son-in-law, Gordon Azure.

Paul died March 11, 2005, at his residence surrounded by loving family. He was born Dec. 29, 1918, in Laconia, Ind., to Harry and Lula (Dannacher) Ashton. He graduated from Laconia High School in 1937.

In 1939, he moved to Montana and worked on the Jess Conrad wheat farm south of Chinook. He later returned to Indiana and married Evelyn Jean Larmer. From this union daughters Judy and Sondra were born. During WWII, Paul served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. In 1956, Paul returned to Montana to farm in the Milk River Valley with his brother, Jim Ashton. He married Cecile Streber in 1965, and they were together until her death in September of 2004.

He retired from farming in 1975 and soon opened Harlem Tire and Service. Paul served as a respected member of the community, active in Lions Club, VFW, St. Thomas Catholic Church, Businessmen's Club and Seed Show. One of his proudest accomplishments was helping to build the Airmen's Memorial.

Paul will be missed for his spring tulip display and gardening skills.

Memorials may be sent to the Bear Paw Hospice's in Havre or Saint Thomas Catholic Church.

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HAVRE DAILY NEWS Monday, March 14, 2005

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PAUL ASHTON

HARLEM - Paul Pershing Ashton, 86, died after a short illness on Friday, March 11, 2005, at his residence surrounded by loving family.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in Saint Thomas Catholic Church with burial following in the Harlem Cemetery with military honors. Rosary will

be recited at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in St. Thomas Catholic Church.

Paul was born on Dec. 29, 1918, in Laconia, Ind., to Harry and Lula (Dannacher) Ashton. He graduated from Laconia High School in 1937. In 1939, he moved to Montana and worked on the Jess Conrad wheat farm south of Chinook.

Paul later returned to Indiana and married Evelyn Jean Larmer. They had two daughters. During World War II, Paul served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. In 1956, Paul returned to Montana to farm in the Milk River Valley with brother Jim Ashton.

Paul married Cecile Streber in 1965 and they were together until her death in September 2004. He retired from farming in 1975 and soon opened Harlem Tire and Service. Paul served as a respected member of the community in Lions Club, VFW, St. Thomas Catholic Church, Businessmen's Club and Seed Show. One of his proudest accomplishments was helping to build the Airmen's Memorial. Paul will be missed for his spring tulip display and gardening skills.

Paul was preceded in death by his wife, Cecile Ashton; brothers, Jim, Virgil and Tom Ashton; stepson, John Streber, Jr.; grandsons, Joseph Paul Rattey and Patrick Warwick; granddaughter, Shae Baird; and son-in-law, Gordon Azure.

Survivors include his daughters, Sondra Ashton of Poulsbo, Wash., and Judy Ashton of Billings; stepchildren, Thomas (Deanna) Warwick of Missoula, William (Beth) Warwick of McMinnville, Ore., Joseph (Georgia) Warwick of Redondo, Calif., Ann Azure of Harlem, Barbara Kay (Curtis) Baird of Sitka, Alaska, Mary Jean Schultz and Patricia (Donald) Ford, all of Great Falls, Jacqueline (Steve) Black of Butte, Jeanine (David) Nichols of Bremerton, Wash., and Annette (Tom) Ragsdale of Harlem; daughter-in-law, Joyce Streber of Lewistown; sisters, Mary Bierly of Elizabeth, Ind., and Virginia Bell of New Albany, Ind.; brother, Ralph Ashton of Louisville, Ky.; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be sent to the Bear Paw Hospice's in Havre or Saint Thomas Catholic Church.

Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.

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THE BLAINE CO. JOURNAL NEWS-OPINION Wednesday, March 16, 2005

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Paul Ashton

Paul Pershing Ashton. 86, after a short illness, passed away on March 11, 2005 at his residence in Harlem, surrounded by

his loving family. Rosary will be recited on Wednesday, March 16. at 7:30 in the St. Thomas Catholic Church in Harlem. His funeral mass will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 17, also in St. Thomas Catholic Church. Burial with Military Honors will follow in the Harlem Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the Bear Paw Hospice in Havre or to St. Thomas Catholic Church.

Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.

Paul was born on December 29. 1918 in Laconia, Indiana to Harry and Lula (Dannacher) Ashton. He graduated from Laconia High School in 1937, and in 1939 he moved to Montana and worked on the less Conrad wheat farm south of Chinook.

He returned to Indiana and married Evelyn Jean Larmer. Two daughters were born to this union, Judy and Sondra. During World War II Paul served in the U.S. Army Air Corps.

In 1956 he returned to Montana to farm in the Milk River Valley with his brother Jim Ashton. In 1965 Paul married Cecile Streber, and they were together until her death in September of 2004. Paul retired from farming in 1975, and soon after opened

the Harlem Tire and Service business.

A respected member of the Harlem community. Paul was active in the Lions Club, the VFW, St. Thomas Catholic Church. the Businessmen's Club. and the Montana Seed Show. One of his proudest accomplishments was helping to build the Airmen's Memorial. He will be missed for his spring tulip display and gardening skills.

Survivors include his daughters, Sondra Ashton of Poulsbo. WA and Judy Ashton of Billings: stepchildren Thomas (Deanna) Warwick of Missoula. William (Beth) Warwick of McMinnville. OR. Joseph (Georgia) Warwick of Redondo, CA. Ann Azure of Harlem. Barbara Kay (Curtis) Baird of Sitka. AK. Mary Jane Schultz and Patricia (Donald) Ford all of Great Falls, Jacqueline (Steve) Black of Butte, Jeanine (David) Nichols of Bremerton, WA, and Annette (Tom) Ragsdale of Harlem; daughter-in-law Joyce Streber of Lewistown; sisters, Mary Bierly of Elizabeth. IN and Virginia Bell of New Albany, IN; brother Ralph Ashton of Louisville, KY; plus many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Cecile; brothers Jim, Virgil and Tom Ashton; stepson John Streber, Jr.; grandsons Joseph Paul Rattey and Patrick Warwick; granddaughter Shae Baird; and son-in-law Gordon Azure.

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