Old Missoula

Impressive Military Funeral For A. Jette

Entire Frenchtown Valley Turns Out.

Practically the entire Frenchtown valley turned out yesterday to attend the military funeral of Alcide Jette, a member of the 316^th trench mortar battery, who died over-seas and whose body was brought to this city last week. The body was escorted from the ranch home to the church at Frenchtown by members of the American legion, from the valley and Missoula.

At the door of the church at Frenchtown the cortage was met by Rev. Father J. G. Tongas, wearing the overseas uniform he wore so many months in France. He escorted the body to the chancel where it reposed beneath the folds of a large American flag which had shielded and honored it during the entire trip.

Requiem high mass was said by Rev. Father Legris of Frenchtown, and the funeral address was given by Rev. Father Tongas, who urged his hearers to remember that Alcide Jette gave his young life that they might continue to live happily in the land of liberty.

Mlle. Martha Bourirer, who was to have become the bride of Alcide Jette shortly after the signing of the armistice, entered the church escorted by one of the members of the family. They had been engaged for more than a year. Jette on his deathbed exacted a promise from his father, Ulderic Jette, that he would care for the girl, and she was adopted by him shortly after her arrival in Missoula the first of February. Surrounded by relatives and friends of the deceased she witnessed the closing scenes of a tragedy which brought great sorrow into her life. An orphan, Mlle. Bourirer met Alcide Jette when he was billeted at the home of her aunt in a French village. The sympathy of the entire valley was extended to her in her bereavement.

The funeral services at the grave were impressive. A squad of ex-service men from the American legion fired three volleys over the body of their comrade as it was lowered into the grave. Taps were sounded and the funeral cortege wended its way back to the peaceful little village in the Frenchtown valley near where Alcide Jette spent his childhood days.

The funeral was in charge of Morin & Forkenbrock. The pall bearers were Wells Cahoon, John Murphy, E. J. Seguin, Alex Gangner, Harvey Roberts, Alex Jette, Felix Paul and Henry Lavoie, all of whom had seen over-seas service.

The above article appeared in The Daily Missoulian on October 10, 1920.

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