Superior Cemetery gets upgrades

The land for the Superior Cemetery up Flat Creek was donated by A.P. Johnson, who is considered the "father" of Superior by many residents. He also donated the land for the original Superior School and County Courthouse, both on River Street. Plus, he had a store at the corner of Mullan and River Street where Nutz and Bolts are now. His ranch was just over the hill east of Superior, which is the Brockway property today.

The first recorded burial in the cemetery was that of George Else in 1895, a miner who was killed at the Iron Mountain mine. The Quartz Cemetery has burials listed in 1889. Since that time, there have been almost 1,600 interments in the Superior and Quartz cemeteries with both having a veteran's section that are homes to five Civil War veterans. Twenty-year caretaker  Paul Wilkinson has been keeping the grounds in excellent shape, making sure it is pleasant for the visitor and at the time of need.

This spring saw considerable upgrades to the grounds. NorthWestern Energy, Nordberg Electric and Alan Brockway Construction were able to put power to the two equipment buildings at the Superior property giving Wilkinson lights and needed outlets power equipment.  

The Cemetery Board purchased 20 engraved granite markers from Garden City Monument in Missoula to replace badly deteriorated wooden crosses for some of the older graves. It is hoped to finish having more markers made later this year for both the Quartz and Superior Cemeteries.  

Another project is to remove and replace the retaining wall on the west side of the northern section of the Superior Cemetery, possibly this fall. Superior Cemetery District generated $16,887 in revenue from property taxes in FY 2023/2024. Cemetery plots are $75.00 each and can be purchased through Kay Strombo, secretary. Other board members are Lloyd Villett, president, Gilbert Wilson and Ron Anderson.

The St. Regis Cemetery charges $100 per plot, explained Tina Dockter. “We have several plots open. They are on the southside so they are facing St. Regis. The north side is full.” 

She said that the only requirement is that headstones are flat at ground level. When a plot is purchased, it belongs to the buyer who can use it, gift it to someone, donate it or sell it back to the cemetery or someone else. 

“We just need to know to keep our books straight,” she said. Besides Dockter, Robert Managhan and Donna Simons make up their board of directors. 

Jim Hermes is the groundskeeper, “and he does a fantastic job!” Dockter beamed.

The town of Alberton is aware of a private family cemetery near the Thompson Ranch, but there isn’t a public one in the area. Ellen Matz, COL USAF (retired) is the muscle behind the DeBorgia Cemetery. 

“Plots are free and only available for residents of our cemetery district which is from my road west (Henderson Exit 22/Camels Hump Road) to the Idaho border. Plots should be reserved since space will ultimately run out,” she shared. “There are 39 known veterans’ graves. The oldest known is a baby buried in 1905 from a long-standing family of which few remain and who live in Spokane now. Many of our residents were born in the mid-1800s.” 

Besides Matz, their board of directors are Stephanie Todd, Carola Jackson, and Sue Cleveland. Ricky Weaver is the groundskeeper, and the cemetery receives about $4,000 in tax revenue annually and $200 in donations.

For family members of veterans, there is a $250 death benefit from the county to be used for burial expenses. The clerk and recorder will need the deceased’s honorable discharge DD-214 and a copy of the death certificate, but most funeral homes will do the paperwork for families. However, it doesn’t hurt for veterans to record their DD-214 now to avoid having the family search for it.