Menominee Herald-Leader - page one,
3 May 1919.
(note: Marinette was part of Oconto County at the time that Mr. Montpas moved
from Canada and ties between county families were strong at the the time of his death)
SUDDEN DEATH
THIS MORNING
OF THOS. MONTPAS
Well Known Grand Avenue Barber
Stricken This Morning at 8 O'Clock and Dies Instantly From Heart Failure.
DIES WHILE SHOPPING
Arising this morning in perfect health and in the best of spirits, Thomas Montpas, Grand avenue, city, dropped dead in the grocery store of Thomas Roberts early this morning about 8 o'clock. Heart failure was the cause of his death, physicians state.
Mr. Montpas was up at his usual early hour this morning, and worked about his barber shop on Grand avenue, in the Lemay block, and about 8 o'clock went over to the Robert's grocery store to make some purchases. Shortly after entering the store he was stricken, dropped to the floor, and died almost instantly.
Came Here In 1879.
He was 61 years old, and had been subject to weak spells for some time past. In 1879 he came to Menominee from St. Johns, Quebec, Canada where he was born in 1857 and lived here for several years, later moving to Powers, Mich. While in Powers his first wife, formerly Miss Audrienne Bercier of Canada died, and he returned to Menominee, where he has since resided.
In 1896 he married his second wife, Mrs. John La Page a sister of the Rev. Father Therrien, formerly of Marinette, but now of Green Bay, who survives him together with two sons Henry, of Alberta, Canada, and Frank of Chicago, and two daughters, Mrs. Edward Guyon and Mrs. Thomas Shallow both of Green Bay and two step children, John La Page, and Mrs. W. E. Shallow of Little Rock, Ark. His mother, Mrs. Julia Montpas, four brothers, John and Samuel, both of Powers. Beside, Uclide of Quebec, Can., and J. M. Montpas of this city, and three sisters; Mrs. J. LeBeouf, Powers, Mrs. J. Payne, Portland, Ore., and Mrs. John Archibald, Pekin, Ill., also survive.
Funeral Arrangements Pending
Funeral arrangements have not yet been completed, pending word from the relatives who are expected in this' city to attend the funeral.
To show that Mr. Montpas was in his usual cheerful spirits this morning was evidenced when Elmer 0. Longfellow, advertising manager of WIlson-Henes company announced that he passed Montpas shop about 7:50 o'clock enroute to the store, and Mr. Montpas gayly waved to him, and shouted his daily rejoinder, as was his custom each morning. Shortly after Mr. Longfellow arrived at the store he heard of Mr. Montpas' death, and was quite shocked in view of the fact that he had spoken to him just a few minutes before.
This is his second wife Helen Therrien born on September 26, 1860 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and died on May 23, 1940 in Menominee County, Michigan. This is her obit..
The Iron Mountain News, Iron Mountain, MI
May 23, 1940
Mrs. Helen Therien Montpas .
Mrs. Helen Montpas, aged 79, of Iron Mountain, died yesterday in Oconto, Wis, where she spent the last five months. Mrs. Montpas, born September 26, 1860, in Montreal, Canada, resided in Commonwealth, Wis. from 1879 to 1885. She came to Iron Mountain nine years ago, after living in several places, to make her home with her sister, Mrs. William White.
Mrs. Montpas is survived by a brother, the Rev. Fr. J. A. Therien of Coleman, Wis; two sisters, Mrs. Louis Lafave of Menasha, Wis., and Mrs. White; a daughter, Mrs. Josephine Shallow, of Detroit; two step-daughters, Mrs. Edward Gayan
and Mrs. Thomas Shallow, of Green Bay; 12 grandchildren, and 21 great grandchildren.
The funeral will be held at 9 o’clock Saturday morning at St. Peter’s Catholic church in Oconto. Burial will be in the Oconto cemetery.
