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Mark Allen Schaff
Mark Allen Schaff, 35, of Billings, died Sunday, April 18, 1999. He was born June 3, 1963, in Billings, a son of Barney and Alice Meyers Schaff. Mark received his education in Stevenson, Wash., and returned to Billings in 1971 to work for his brother in the concrete business, later moving to Everett, Wash.
Mark married
Michele Smith in 1993 in Everett, returning to Billings in 1998. He enjoyed working with his hands, fishing, and hunting.
Survivors include his wife, Michele; four children, Angela, Kyle, Nicole, and Mark Jr.; sister, Linda (John) Winegarden of Phoenix, Ariz.; three brothers, Barney F. Schaff, Richard L. (Shirley) Schaff and Daniel M. Schaff, all of Billings; and several nephews and nieces, Michael, Jason, Kevin, Kurt, Chrisann, Julie, and Jessica. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Viewing is 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday. Funeral Mass is 2 p.m. Thursday at St. Bernard's Catholic Church. Cremation will follow the service. Arrangements were made by Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
Donald D. Schlenker
MEETEETSE, Wyo. - Lifetime resident, Donald D. Schlenker, age 68, passed away at home on his ranch on Monday, April 19, 1999.
Donald D. Schlenker was born on May 15, 1930, at the family ranch located on the Greybull River, the son of William Buford and Nina Elizabeth Fehyl Schlenker. Don was the youngest of five children.
Don received his elementary education at the Fenton School and attended high school at Greybull.
He met his lifetime sweetheart, Gay Black of Meeteetse, at the Labor Day Rodeo, and they later married
on July 14, 1952, in Billings. To this union were born six children.
Don spent his life running the family ranch. He cleared many acres of new ground to help build and enlarge the ranch for his family. Don raised cattle and sheep. He enjoyed many pack trips to the mountains where the sheep were summer-pastured.
Some of Don's favorite stories include fishing and hunting trips, and moving cattle to McCullough Peaks. Pastimes were arrowhead hunting, playing the accordion and the harmonica.
Don served on various boards, but his favorite one was the Greybull Valley Irrigation District Board from 1962 to 1979. During this time the Lower Sunshine Lake was built.
He was a member of the Basin Eagles Aerie #3086.
Don is survived by his wife, Gay Schlenker; his sons, Bill Schlenker and wife, Jennie of Meeteetse, Neil Schlenker and wife, Tammy of Meeteetse; and his daughter, June Sell and husband, Alan of Burlington; his grandchildren, Richard Schlenker, Mary Schlenker, David Schlenker, Stoni Sell, and Darbi Schlenker; his sisters, Freida Whitish of Florida and Virginia Dooley of Burlington.
Don was preceded in death by his three daughters, Carol Schlenker, Debbie Schlenker, and Sherry Schlenker; a brother, Buford Schlenker; a sister, Sara Coble; and his parents.
Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, April 22, 1999, at 11 a.m. at the St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Meeteetse. The Rev. Patterson Keller will be officiating at the service. Burial will follow at the Meeteetse cemetery.
Visitations will be held at the Atwood Family Chapel in Basin on Wednesday, April 21, 1999, from 1-5 p.m., and half-hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday, April 22, 1999.
A Memorial Fund has been set up at the First Interstate Bank at 601 Greybull Ave., Greybull, Wyo., with the proceeds to go to the Burlington and Meeteetse Fire Departments Medical Response Units.
Atwood Family Funeral Directors Inc. are in charge of arrangements.
Teckla Rosa (Then) Shipp
Teckla Rosa (Then) Shipp, 81 of Billings, passed away Tuesday morning, April 20, 1999, at the Evergreen Billings Health and Rehabilitation Center. The daughter of Matt and Britta (Kullas) Then, she was born in Eileen, Wis., Dec. 7, 1917.
Teckla or Tek as she was affectionately known, grew up in Wisconsin and graduated from Ondossagon High School in 1937. In 1943, she moved to Denver, where she worked for Sherman Drug. On Nov. 25, 1950, she married
Leo Otto Shipp in Billings. Their son, William Owen Shipp, was born April 2, 1953, in Denver. Tek and her son Bill moved to Billings by train in 1956.
In 1957, Tek began working for Odegaards Drugs, later Ernst Home Center in Billings. She retired from Ernst in 1982. She was a longtime member of American Lutheran Church, where she taught Sunday school. Among her many hobbies, she enjoyed spending time outdoors, gardening and lawn work, sewing, and crossword puzzles.
Survivors include her son Bill Shipp of Billings; her nephew Gary Bradley (Ann) and their sons, Justin and Spencer of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and her niece, Judy Versace (Bob) and their children, Daniele and Andy of Mabank, Texas. Tek was preceded in death by her six brothers and sisters.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Friday, April 23, at American Lutheran Church. Memorials may be directed to the Evergreen Billings Health and Rehabilitation Center, 1341 Rosebud Lane, Billings, MT 59101, or to American Lutheran Church, 5 Lewis Ave., Billings, MT 59101. Michelotti, Sawyers and Nordquist has charge of arrangements.
Paul John Farlan
HELENA - On April 27, 1999, Paul John Farlan of Helena "went back to where he came from before he was born."
Paul was born on May 2, 1941, in Helena, to Paul John and Emma (Schwarzhans) Farlan. He attended school in Helena, Billings and Great Falls.
During his career with Mountain Bell/US West from 1958 to 1990, Paul progressed from draftsman to facility construction manager. He traveled extensively throughout Montana and Idaho, enjoying many new construction and remodeling projects, making many friendships during those years. Following retirement from US West, he was employed by Gordon-Prill-Drapes as a project manager from 1991 until his death, involving projects in Montana and California.
Paul loved life and lived it to the fullest enjoying his family, friends and work. He enjoyed hiking, boating, fishing, hunting, woodworking, construction, rebuilding vehicles and making sausage.
Paul is survived and will be greatly missed by his wife of 25 years, Celia Farlan of Helena; his daughter, Kimberly Rowan of Hastings, Minn.; daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Bruce Holton, and granddaughters, Jessica and Elizabeth of East Helena; his brother, Jim Farlan of Thompson Falls, and his children, Heather Anderson of Missoula and Micah Farlan of Thompson Falls; his sister, Judith Webb and her husband, Richard, and their son, Richard of Woodinville, Wash.; his sister, Mary Murphy, and her husband, Jerry and their children, Austin and Amelia of Gardiner; his sister, Tess Moore and her husband, Tom of Bozeman.
Paul was previously married
and is survived by Bonnie (Bouley) Farlan of Billings, and Sandra (Bruce) Perry of Helena.
Paul is also survived by the families of Fred and Kay Schwarzhans of Seattle; Maggie and Andy Johnston of Helena; Carrie and Jack Rauser of Helena; Ella and Fred Wong of Helena; Evelyn and Leon Sanford of Nevada City, Calif.; and his many good friends of Helena and throughout Montana, with whom he shared his zest for life.
Paul was preceded in death by his parents and two uncles, Louis Schwarzhans and Fred Wong of Helena.
Memorials may be made to the Cancer Center at St. Peter's Hospital and to Hospice of St. Peter's.
Cremation has taken place. A casual gathering of family and friends to share memories and stories will be held on Paul's birthday, Sunday, May 2, at Yacht Basin Marina at Canyon Ferry Lake from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Frieda Fried
BAKER - Frieda Fried, age 92, of Baker, died Sunday, April 25, 1999, at the Fallon Medical Complex in Baker of natural causes.
She was born April 7, 1907, at Eureka, S.D., the daughter of Fredrick and Louise Heiser Allerdings. She grew up south of Plevna and attended the Ehret School through the third grade. She continued helping her family on the farm. On June 1, 1941, Frieda was married
to Alvin Fried at the Frieden's Evangelical Church south of Heil. After working on his dad's farm a few years, they moved to their farm southwest of Baker.
Frieda enjoyed mending, baking breads and kuchen. She loved and enjoyed her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Frieda was a member of the Emmanuel Evangelical Church of Plevna. She accepted Christ as Savior at a young age.
Survivors include: twins, Don Fried and his wife, Sharan of Baker, Donna Krikorian and her husband, Eric of Virginia Beach, Va.; a son-in-law, Charles Huber of Mott, N.D.; a brother, Maurice Allerdings and his wife, Helen of Plevna; three sisters: Lydia Kramlick of Billings, Annie Rath of Baker and Emelia Rath of Plevna; six grandchildren: Londa Stanley, Twyla and Chad Krikorian, Ryan and Gregg Huber and Terry Fried; two great-grandchildren: Scotty and Alena Stanley. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Alvin; twin daughters: Della Huber and Dianne; twin sons; a brother, George Allerdings and a sister, Alvina Kramlick.
A Prayer Service will be held 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, 1999, in the Chapel of Stevenson's Funeral Home in Baker. A Funeral Service will be held 11 a.m. Thursday, April 29, 1999, in the Emmanuel Evangelical Church in Plevna. Stevenson Funeral Home of Baker is in charge of the arrangements.
Alvin Kappel
LAUREL - Alvin Kappel, 54, of Laurel, passed away Sunday evening, April 25, 1999, at St. Vincent Hospital, Billings, in the arms of his loving family. He was born June 7, 1944, at Billings, to Joseph and Eva Kappel.
He married
Bette Van Dewerker, June 8, 1968, in Laurel. The light of his life, his daughter, Megan, was born March 2, 1980.
He worked for Great Western Sugar and Western Sugar for 36 years. He was so well-liked by his co-workers that he was visited daily at the hospital in his 10 weeks battle with cancer.
Alvin is survived by his wife, Bette, and daughter, Megan Kappel of Laurel; his mother, Eva; and three brothers, Leroy (Norma) Kappel, Marvin (Kay) Kappel and George (Gloria) Kappel.
Also surviving are his extended family of Van Dewerkers: Margaret, his mother-in-law; Ted (Phyllis), Verle (Laurie), Keith (Bonnie), Rick (Helen), Fran Spoon, Harold (Bella), Ed (Marlene), Sharon Stein and Edna Matz.
Alvin will always be remembered for his devotion to and love of his wife and daughter. He was an avid sports fan and spent many hours on the golf course with his daughter, Megan. He will be deeply missed by his family and coworkers.
Memorial services will be held 2 p.m. Friday, April 30, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Laurel. Interment will be in the Laurel cemetery.
Smith Funeral Chapel-Laurel was in charge of cremation and services.
Patricia Ann Larick
BOZEMAN - Patricia Ann Larick, 49, passed away Sunday, April 25, 1999. She was born July 22, 1949, in Gladewater, Texas, to Jesse Milton and Helen Louise (Cavender) Friesen. She married
John A. Larick in Las Vegas, Nev., in 1967.
Pat was the secretary for the Big Sky Region of the Inter-Collegiate Rodeo Association. Her husband, John, is the rodeo coach at Montana State University. Over the years, they opened their home to numerous students involved in the rodeo association, providing a home away from home for them. The family has received calls from many of those former students, expressing the impact that Pat made on their lives.
Pat also operated a business out of her home, "Pals Out West, " which specialized in country/western crafts, clothing, and jewelry. She also enjoyed raising flowers and cooking for her family.
Pat is survived by her husband, John of Bozeman; son, Daniel A. Larick, Manhattan; daughter, Marci A. Adney, Turlock, Calif.; son, Jesse A. Larick, Modesto, Calif.; grandchildren, Shelby and Cheyenne Adney; her parents of Reno, Nev.; sisters, Lois Ogden, Sparks, Nev., and Nancy Becerril, Corvallis, Ore.; brother, Charles Friesen, Bryan, Texas; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Pat's life will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 29, 1999, at the Evangelical Free Church. Interment will take place in Kilgore, Idaho. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the "Pat Larick Memorial Rodeo Scholarship Fund" c/o First Security Bank of Bozeman, P.O. Box 910, Bozeman, MT 59771.
Eleanore Margarethe Lee
SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. - Eleanore Margarethe Lee passed away quietly without pain at Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center on Thursday, April 8, 1999, after a long incapacitating illness.
Eleanore enjoyed a very interesting career and life, first working with Madam Helena Rubinstein in New York City, then working with her husband in his water treatment business, testing private water supplies and making recommendations for correcting problems. After marriage she became an avid sportswoman, excelling in golf as club champion, an avid and excellent hunter of deer, antelope, grouse, pheasants, ducks, and geese. She enjoyed getting her limits of trout and walleyes in Montana, Minnesota and Canada. She knitted dozens at sweaters of her own design for family and friends, specializing in golf and ski sweaters.
She was born in Milwaukee, Wis., on March 15, 1918. Her parents, von Herman Adolf and Margaret Rutzen, preceded her in death along with brother, Eugene Rutzen.
She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Lloyd P. Lee, Sevierville; foster daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and Tom Whitmer, Billings; granddaughters, 1st Lt. Christine Whitmer (U. S. Army) and Eileen Whitmer (college) in Billings; sisters, Bernice Rutzen and Gerald-ine Mallick of Milwaukee; brother, Robert Rutzen, Milwaukee; 26 nieces and nephews and at least 45 grandnieces and nephews; and special friends, Murray and Betty Scott, Gatlinburg.
She and Lloyd P. Lee were married
at Lutheran Church in Aberdeen, S.D., by the Rev. F. J. Graeber, Lutheran Pastor, on June 30, 1947. They made their first home in Fargo, N.D., then Billings for many years, then Oakland, N.J.; Dallas, Texas; retiring to Gatlinburg in 1983; then to Markhill Village in 1991.
Memorial services will be held for Eleanore at Markhill Village, Sevierville, at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 17, with the Rev. Lewis Miller officiating. Area friends are invited. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Fund c/o Markhill Village, 700 Markhill Drive, Sevierville, Tenn. 37862.
Frank A. Lekse
Frank A. Lekse, 68, passed away suddenly at his home on April 13, 1999. He was born on Dec. 26, 1930, to Anton and Adolphina Lekse in Star Mine (Roundup). He was raised and educated in Roundup and graduated in 1949. During his high school years Frank was a class officer, cabinet representative, Boys State representative, a member of the basketball and football teams, and also worked on the Panther Parade (the school newspaper).
Following graduation he served with the KGD 8048th Army unit in the Korean war. During his military service, Frank received numerous medals including the Army Occupation medal (Japan), the Korean Service medal, and the United Nations Service medal.
In 1955, Frank married
Marlene E. LaMotte in Billings. They shared 44 wonderful years of marriage together. Frank truly enjoyed creating fun things for his grandchildren and his pets. Many pleasurable hours were spent making pet furniture, cat trees and toys for his grandchildren. Bowling also brought him many hours of pleasure with his family and friends. Frank will always be remembered as a gentle giant with a heart of gold.
In 1956 he went to work with Logan and Don Dubeau in a small meat market and grocery store in Billings. In 1965 this partnership developed into the Meat Discounter/Pioneer Products. This company then merged with Midland Empire packing in 1967 creating Midland Foods Inc. The plant closed several years later.
After the plant's closure, Frank spent his remaining years in retirement enjoying his bowling leagues, yard work, family and pets.
The survivors include his beloved wife, Marlene of Billings; two daughters, Joey D. Lekse of Meerhaut, Belgium, and Lisa M. Eldridge (Ed) of Billings; one son, Guy L. Lekse (Karen) of Billings; three brothers, Tony (Margaret) and Richard (Sandy) of Roundup, and Don (Ruth Ann) of Terry; three sisters, Thelma Hanley of Roundup, Louise Eide and Anna Cross of Billings; three grandchildren, Josie Lekse, Cindy Lekse and Alex Lekse-LaMotte; his mother-in-law, Marie LaMotte of Billings; and many other family members and friends too numerous to mention. He was preceded in death by his father and mother.
The services will be Saturday, April 17, at 2 p.m. at the Pilgrim Congregational Church at 409 S. 36th, Billings, with interment to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Smith Downtown Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be sent to the Pilgrim Congregational Church.
Betty Lea Taylor Benzel
Betty Lea Taylor Benzel, 74, of Billings, passed away peacefully Tuesday evening, June 22, 1999, in the Evergreen Nursing Home.
She was born Oct. 5, 1924, in Sheridan, Wyo., the youngest child of Lewis and Dora Kimble Taylor. She spent her younger years on the family homestead near Decker, later moving to Hardin to complete her education.
Betty married
Carl Benzel on Oct. 24, 1942, in Hardin and the couple farmed in the area for many years. They moved to Fishtail to operate a cafe and returned to Hardin in 1955. They moved to Roberts in 1960 and to Ranchester, Wyo., in 1964. The couple moved to the Shepherd area in 1968. She worked at the Gibson's store in the Heights and later for Super America on Broadwater and the Super America Store on Sixth and 27th, retiring in 1984 to travel. Following the death of her husband, Carl in 1986, she moved to Casa Village.
She enjoyed playing cards and playing bingo on Thursday nights. She also enjoyed working part-time at McDonald's on Central. She spent her last few years in nursing home care.
Survivors include her children, Kay (Les) Papke, Rick (Susan Carlson) Benzel, Mickie (Laurie) Benzel and Cindy Benzel, all of the Billings area; her grandchildren, Teresa (Ky) Focht, Kathy (Colin) Hanley, Nicole, Kristin, Jamie and Jennifer Benzel, Mandy and David Klein; her great-grandchildren, Lindsey, Aubrey and Connor Hanley, Katelyn and Dexter Focht; and one brother, Marvin Taylor of Hardin.
Graveside Funeral Services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday in the Hardin Fairview cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the Funeral arrangements.
Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Big Sky Hospice, P.O. Box 35033, Billings, MT 59107.
