Flathead County MTGenWeb

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A CEMETERY RESURRECTED

THE HISTORY OF BETHEL CEMETERY

SOMERS, FLATHEAD COUNTY, MONTANA

By Michael T. Morton

The two acre cemetery on North Somers Road that was to become known as Bethel had humble beginnings. It was originally called Brocken Cemetery prior to 1900 because George Brocken was an influential land owner in the surrounding area. The property was originally part of Peter St. Peter's homestead and was passed to Archie St. Peter on May 28, 1887. The property then passed to Charles Stine. On May 12, 1894 the then 1/2 acre church property was deeded to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Selish County.

On May 5, 1900 Charles gave the land to Fred and Hannah Stine. On February 2, 1901 the Stines deeded the remaining 1 1/2 acres to the trustees of the Bethel Methodist Episcopal Church of Flathead County for cemetery purposes. Bethel Cemetery itself did not become of record until the plat of the lots was surveyed, dedicated and recorded on January 6, 1908. The first person of record interred there was Agnes Mosler on July 25, 1895. She had homesteaded by Patten in the Brocken area on December 12, 1888.

In 1895 John O'Brien of the O'Brien Lumber Company donated a bunkhouse which was moved to the Bethel property. This little one room building was painted and remodeled and set on a foundation facing the road. The church was officially dedicated on March 8, 1908. For many years the church stood in the open country and was a familiar landmark in the community.

The church building was ultimately demolished in 1945 when a new church building was constructed in the town of Somers proper. That church was closed and the building and town property sold in 1985. The Somers Grange Hall members took over maintenance of the cemetery as a community service until they disbanded. The cemetery itself reverted back to Yellowstone Conference in Billings, Montana, the headquarters for the Montana Methodists.

The headquarters received no records regarding the cemetery or its interments. There had not been a sale of a lot since the 1940s. One of the Somers Grange members had a map of people who purchased lots there, but not who was buried where. The Flathead Genealogical Society had published a list of who was buried there, but not where. Local historian Betty Burton had gone through Flathead County death records and also compiled a list of who was buried there, but not where.

Using those resources and countless others, a master list was created and is online at Flathead County MTGenWeb Project. There is still a list of unknown parties said to be buried there--attached is said list. Anyone having information regarding these parties, please contact the non-profit cemetery association. In July of 1999 the Methodist Council deeded the cemetery property to the Bethel Cemetery Association which is of record with the Secretary of State of Montana. Their mission statement is to preserve, repair and improve the cemetery grounds. They have already begun to mark some of the older grave sites, plant flowers and shrubs, and doing on-going historial research. They hope to sell a few of the remaining 20 lots in order to purchase much needed supplies. Any and all inquiries, donations or information can be sent to:

Bethel Cemetery Association

PO Box 3

Somers, MT 59932

PURCHASERS OF LOTS AT BETHEL, UNKNOWN IF OCCUPIED

1. Block or Black, circa 1900-1920, Lot 14

2. Alfred/Allred Larson, circa 1900-1920, Lot 26

(There was an Alfred Larson working at the Somers mill per 1904 Polk City Directory.)

3. Thayer, circa 1900-1910, Lot 45

(There was George C. Thayer working at the Somers mill per 1906 Polk City Directory.)

Homestead Sec 35 T28N R26W

4. John Ward Wathers/Walters, 1900-1920, Lot 41

5. Initials of J. R., circa 1900-1920, Lot 57

6. Frank Upp or any Upp, circa 1900-1920, Lot 58

(There was a Frank Upp working at the Somers mill and later moved to Proctor per 1906-1913 Polk City

Directories.)

7. Adam Plotts (possibly James Plotts who was born 8 Feb 1931), no DR, Lot 88

8. Ivar Federson/Fallefron, circa 1920-1940, Lot R/113

BURIED AT BETHEL CEMETERY, UNKNOWN LOT

1. Stillborn son of Leo Beller, 2 Aug 1935, DR 9117

2. James Charlton, born 6 Nov 1866, died 15 Jan 1927, DR 7209

3. Margaret McCullum, stillborn 24 Dec 1931, DR 8328, Father: Doug/Dugald McCallum

4. Emily Rose Panerio, stillborn 15 Aug 1931, no DR

5. Chester Nelson, born 1898, died 17 Nov 1905, son of N. P. Nelson, no DR (per DI)

6. Stillborn baby Basye, Aug 1906, daughter of John and Lilly (per family member Ms. Berne)

DEATH RECORDS SHOW THESE PEOPLE DIED IN THE SOMERS AREA 1895 TO 1925

1. Mary Shorthall, died 11 Sep 1903, DR 555, Undertaker: W. P. Sherman

2. Catherine Southland, died 2 Feb 1905, DR 670

3. Walter Esty, died 4 Feb 1898, DR ??

4. E. Jacobson, 6 Dec 1903, DR 473

5. Charles Edward Black/Block, died 11 Apr 1911, Undertaker: J. W. Waggoner

6. John Kalleher, died 11 Mar 1898, DR 70

7. Grace Livingston, died 15 Nov 1903, DR 481

8. Catherine Manning, 18 May 1904, DR 578

9. Oley Larson, died 17 Jul 1905

10. Mary Alice McVey, died 29 Jun 1915, buried 2 Jul 1915, Undertaker: Waggoner

11. Clay Tennon/Lennon, died 15 May 1916, buried 18 May 1916, DR 1635, Father: George, Mother: Georgia

Powell, age: 4 years 3 weeks 10 days

12. J. D. Wagner, died 18 Oct 1906, DR 983, Undertaker: Sherman & Sons

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