We’re saddened this week by the death of Judy Wise, who along with her husband Doug operated Sykes’ Grocery & Market in Kalispell for decades, turning it into a local landmark and gathering spot. Doug passed away in January.

With both of them gone now, it’s a big loss for the Flathead Valley, but we trust that their legacy of hard work and goodwill will be carried on as Sykes’ continues with new ownership and upgraded facilities.

For decades Doug and Judy put on free Thanksgiving dinners in thanks for the community’s support. New Sykes’ owner Ray Thompson has already begun carrying on that annual tradition. He’s also vowed to preserve Sykes’ as a humble, welcoming place. Nothing would have made the Wises happier.

GLACIER NATIONAL Park has lost a priceless person with the recent retirement of Jack Potter after a career spanning 41 years in the park.

Potter, who was the park’s chief of science and resource management, is rightly credited for his influence on decisions that have and will continue to benefit Glacier for years to come. He is considered by many to have been the conscience of Glacier, a fierce advocate for protecting park resources. Hopefully someone will rise to fill that role.

But fortunately for Glacier, Potter plans to retire in the Flathead; he will still be around, and so will his dedication to the park.

IN ONE MORE transition, we also note the end of another era as the United States prepares to retire its space shuttle fleet.

The space shuttle Endeavor was launched Monday on its next-to-last mission. One more trip up, and the ride will be over.

But what a long, beautiful ride it has been. The 30-year-old shuttle program has brought pride to all Americans, as well as a few tears. No one will ever forget the deaths of 14 astronauts aboard the Challenger and Columbia shuttles when they were lost in 1986 and 2003. But ultimately, the shuttle program has been a monumental achievement for mankind — a burst of glory above the horizon of our everyday endeavors.

Budget concerns and changing priorities may prevent NASA from launching another manned flight for quite some time, but we hope that the United States does not surrender its commitment to space exploration. Watching a rocket launch into the atmosphere from Cape Canaveral is truly an awe-inspiring moment and a challenge to all of us to do better, to do more, to strive for that which is beyond our grasp.