BUVEN]S' ffiUIDE

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Les Kjos, founder and president of Western Building Centers, Kalispell, Mt., died of a heart attack April27,1988, in Kalispell. He was 70.

Born in Frazer, Mt., he opened the first Western Building Center in 1946 in Kalispell, eventually expanding the chain to five locations.

Mr. Kjos is survived by his widow, Arlene, a son, two daughters, and eight grandchildren.

James G. Barron. assistant manager of Hammond Lumber Co., Bellflower, Ca., died of a suspected heart attack May 13, 1988, in Santa Ana, Ca. He was 60.

Born in lthaca, N.Y., he served in the Navy during WWII on the battleship New Jersey, and was later graduated from the Rochester Business Institute. He worked for six vears as manager of the accounting office at Cornell University.

In 1959. he moved to California and joined Frank Curran Lumber Co., San Juan Capistrano, Ca. He moved to Hammond in 1975.

Mr. Barron is survived by his widow, Katherine, a daughter, three sons, and two grandchildren.

News Briefs

(Continued from page I8)

Housing starts sunk to the lowest level in six years in the first quarter, dropping l60/o housing permits are projected to fall 130/o to 1.33 million this year by F.W. Dodge shipments of manufoctured homes are expected to drop for the 6th year...

Majestic Tool Corp. has opened a Vernon, Ca., warehouse . Lorenz Housewares Co.. Newbury Park, Ca., has been acquired by Empire Brushes Inc., Greenville. N.C. ... Williams Holdings, Inc., a subsidiary of I4tilliams Holdings Plc., has acquired Kwal-Howells Inc. from Standard Brands Point Co., Torrance,Ca....

U.S.-size lumber has been OK'd for all types of timber frame wall construction in West Germany...

Sluggish retail sales growth including building materials, hardware and garden supply dealers is forecast for most U.S. metro areas this year by Meretrends McCulloch Corp. will relocate its Los Angeles, Ca., Hq. to Tucson, Az., when a mfg. facility there is completed.