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Harold C. Miller
FROMBERG - Harold C. Miller, age 85, of Fromberg, passed away peacefully at his home on New Year's Eve. He was born in Fromberg, a son of Charles and Ruth Miller.
A veteran of World War II, he retired from Burlington Northern Railroad and took great pride in his yard and garden.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Katherine; a son, Harold and his wife, Peggy of Billings; another son, Don and his wife, Carol of Laurel; four grandchildren, Nancy, Barbara, Susan and David, and two great-grandchildren, Alexandra and Brandon; two sisters, Verna Vincent and Veva Lee Spencer, and a brother, Lester.
Cremation has taken place. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan.4, 1999, at the Rockvale cemetery.
Bill and Jan Pierce
Bill and Jan's life journey together started on a seventh grade hayride. They both grew up in Billings and graduated from Billings Senior in 1967. They both graduated from EMC. They were married
Aug. 22, 1970, in Billings.
Jan taught school in Billings for several years. Bill worked in the family business, managing Pierce Mobile Homes and RVs.
Their lives were devoted to their three daughters, Kristin (Thad) Larson, Katie and Rebecca Pierce, and grandson, Beau Larson, all of Billings.
"Good parents give their children roots and wings. Roots to know where home is and wings to fly away and exercise what has been taught them."
They were the best parents in the world.
In addition to their family, Bill and Jan loved their friends, dogs, traveling and life in general. Bill enjoyed the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing. Bill is best remembered for his wonderful sense of humor. Jan enjoyed shopping, reading, aerobics and cross-stitching. Jan is best remembered for making her home a home filled with love.
Bill was a member of the Billings Rotary Club, past president of Billings Aquatic Club, and past president of Montana Mobile Home Dealers Association. Jan was a past member of Junior Women's Club.
Surviving Bill is his mother, Dorothy Pierce, and brother, Ron (Linda) Pierce, and sons, Russell and Jake of Billings; and his sister, Sandra (Charlie) Robinson and children, Chuck and Cynthia of Houston, Texas, and Melissa (Marshall) Branch of Port Angeles, Wash.
Surviving Jan is her mother, Florence Richardson, and her sister, Claudia (Jack) Bayne and children, Melissa Bayne and Mark (Kara) Bayne.
Memorial service will be 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 4, at the First United Methodist Church, Broadway and Fourth Avenue North. A reception will follow at the Billings Elks Club.
Memorials may be made to Billings Senior High Scholarship, c/o Billings Public Education Foundation, 415 N. 30th, Billings, MT 59101; Billings Boys & Girls Club, or Gateway House.
Smith's Downtown Chapel in charge of arrangements.
Carol Helgeson Thomas
Born in Jamestown, N.D., Carol Helgeson Thomas was the daughter of Elmer Millard and Alice Caroline Sundberg Helgeson. She attended Jamestown schools and Jamestown College. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in English from North Dakota State University at Fargo where she was a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Scholastic Honorary and Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority. Following graduation, she was a high school teacher and principal at Litchville, N.D.
After receiving an appointment to the United States Foreign Service, she was assigned to the American Embassy in Paris, where she worked for two years after the liberation of Paris during World War II. Upon returning to the United States, she accepted a teaching fellowship in English at Washington State University in Pullman, where she received a Master of Arts Degree in English. Subsequently, she became a member of the English Department Faculty at Western Carolina College at Cullowhee, N.C.
In 1949, she married
Oscar O. Thomas, who had been a teaching fellow in Animal Science at Washington State University. They lived in Stillwater, Okla., until he received his Ph.D. degree in 1951. Thereafter, they moved to Bozeman, where he joined the Montana State University Animal Science Department faculty and served as a professor until his death April 15, 1983.
Their three children were born in Bozeman. Their son Sidney Runyan Thomas is a United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Their daughter Susan Carol Thomas is a Presbyterian minister and hospital chaplain for Deaconess Billings Clinic. Their daughter Karin Thomas Shovic is President of ChoralWeb Publishing Company, Inc., an Internet-based music publishing company.
During the 1950s and early 1960s when creative writing promotional contests were popular, Mrs. Thomas won numerous national and regional competitions, winning prizes which included a 1960 Ford Station Wagon, a matching children's car, and one of the first color television sets in Montana. After her children were grown, she did substitute teaching in the Bozeman schools for 12 years. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Devoted to learning, she attended 20 Elderhostel weeks in eight states. She especially enjoyed a trip to Norway with her daughters, visiting the land of her great-great-grandparents and meeting many relatives. She was a voracious reader and prolific correspondent.
Survivors include: Sidney Runyan Thomas and his wife, Martha Sheehy and their sons, Oscar John and Skeffington Runyan Thomas of Billings; Susan Carol Thomas and her husband, Curt Kochner and their daughters, Kara, Rebecca and Kristin Caroline Kochner of Billings; Karin Thomas Shovic and her husband, John Shovic of Moscow, Idaho; brother, Millard and wife, Beverly Helgeson of Spicer, Minn.; brother, Gordon and wife, Ruth Helgeson of Oneida, Wis.; sister, Beverly and husband, Sam Sherer of Medina, Wash.
Mrs. Thomas died after a brief illness in Billings Deaconess Hospital on Dec. 30, 1998. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Jan. 3, at 3 p.m. in Bozeman at the First Presbyterian Church. Memorials may be made to Friends of KEMC/KBMC, 1500 N. 30th St., Billings, MT 59101. She will be dearly missed.
Carol Jean Walter
CUSTER - Carol Jean Walter, 58, of Custer died unexpectedly at her home Wednesday, Dec. 30, 1998.
She was born Feb. 2, 1940, in Columbus, a daughter of Jack and Lucille Marsh Fitchner. She grew up and attended schools in Rapelje, where she graduated from high school. She later attended Montana State University in Bozeman. Following her education, she worked for the Shell Oil Company.
Carol married
Delbert Walter on Sept. 22, 1961, in Billings and the couple made their home on the family farm near Custer. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother, who loved to sew, read and search for antiques.
She was a member of the Custer Congregational Church, Friendly Circle and the Fort Custer Golf Club.
Survivors include her husband, Delbert of Custer; one son, Kim (Jody) Walter and their two sons, Chad and Corey of Worden; three daughters, Cindy (Keith) Bjorgum of Billings, Sheri (Kevin) Kirschenmann and their three children, Brandee, Brent and Bryce of Custer, and Teri (Mark) Smith of Helena; her parents, Jack and Lucille Fitchner of Bozeman; three brothers, Glen Fitchner of Billings, Doug Fitchner of Columbus and Lyle Fitchner of Forsyth; two sisters, Mary Larsen of Bozeman and Nancy Dunton of Australia; a special grandson, Jesse Spidahl; as well as several nieces and nephews.
Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the N.I.L.E. Scholarship fund, the Arthritis Foundation of the Custer EMT's, Box 49, Custer, MT.
"Mom we love you and miss you, we know you are looking down on us in peace and pain free. God has a beautiful new angel and so do we. We love you."
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Monday in the Custer High School Gymnasium. Interment will follow in the Custer cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Martha Hochhalter
HARDIN - Martha Hochhalter, 75, of Hardin, passed away unexpectedly at her home, Tuesday morning, Dec. 29, 1998.
She was born Sept. 20, 1923, in Burnstead, N.D., a daughter of Theobold and Rosena Schmidt Kirschenmann. She spent her early years in North Dakota and in 1934 moved with her parents to a farm near Crow Agency, later moving to the Dunmore area. She received her education in Hardin.
Martha married
Henry Hochhalter on May 17, 1942, in Hardin and the couple made their home in Hardin. In 1965, the couple purchased the Western Motel which Martha co-managed with her husband. She retired in 1980, but was still acting as Vice President of Hochhalter Inc.
She was a member of Hardin, Alpha Rebekah Lodge. She loved to bowl and was a member of the Western Motel bowling team for many years. She loved to play her piano and organ and make miniature furniture for her doll house.
Martha was preceded in death by four brothers, Christ, Pete, Emil and Daniel; one sister, Caroline; and a daughter-in-law, Gloria.
Survivors include her husband, Henry; her children, Allen and his wife, Marie, Gary, Rodney, Ken and his wife, Harmony, and Cherlyn and her husband, Clayton Greer, all of Hardin; two brothers, John Kirschenmann of Hardin and Albert Kirschenmann of Billings; one sister, Madlin Wilson of Kalispell; her grandchildren: Gina, Dana, Leah, Zena, Andrea, Megan, Kara, Damon, Drew, Sunshine, Cameron, Nathan, Chandra and Nyles; her great-grandchildren, Zane, Darien, Caden, Lexia and Gavin; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow in the Fairview cemetery. Bullis Mortuary has been entrusted with arrangements.
Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Alpha Rebekah Lodge No. 96, Hardin, MT 59034.
Dr. Carol K. Ruf
CLINTON - Dr. Carol K. Ruf departed this life on Dec. 29, 1998, after a courageous battle with cancer.
She was born March 24, 1953, in Dickinson, N.D., the daughter of Russel and Doris Ruf. Carol lived life to its fullest. With a giggle and a smile, she blessed the lives of all she encountered. Carol was an example in dignity, tenacity, and courage to us all.
Pursuing her love of learning and meeting new challenges, Carol obtained her Doctorate of Education from Montana State University in Bozeman.
Dr. Ruf is survived by her mother, Doris Ruf of Manhattan; brother and sister-in-law, Ross and Kyle of Reno, Nev.; brothers, Casey of Manhattan, Ted of Bozeman; sisters, Sharol of Baltimore, Md., Dawn of Helena, and Lynn of Miles City. She is survived by her niece, Laney; nephew, Tanner of Reno; and her angel on earth, Aves Rockwell of Missoula.
Carol was preceded in death by her father, Russel.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Camp Mak-A-Dream, 3700 S. Russell, Missoula, MT, or to a charity of one's choice.
A memorial service to celebrate Carol's life will be held Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999, at 11 a.m. at the Manhattan Presbyterian Church. A second memorial will be held on Friday, Jan. 8, 1999, at 3 p.m. at the Clinton Elementary School, Clinton.
Howard Ahtone
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Services for Howard Clouse Ahtone, 45, of Oklahoma City, were held Thursday at the Rainy Mountain Kiowa Indians Baptist Church in Mountain View.
A prayer service was held Wednesday at the Rainy Mountain Kiowa Indian Baptist Church.
Ahtone was born Dec. 23, 1953, in Anadarko to Evelyn (Tahome) Ahtone and Jacob Ahtone and died Saturday at his home in Oklahoma city after a lengthy illness.
He spent his prep years in Montana. He was a graduate of Billings West High School and later attended Bacone College in Muskogee, the University of Oklahoma in Norman and Northeastern State University in Tahlequah. He was a graduate of the Draughn Business School with a degree in electronic engineering technology.
He worked as a landscape gardener in Tahlequah and as a clerk at Wal-Mart in Anadarko. He also worked as an electronic engineer technologist for Seagate in Oklahoma City for 10 years.
Survivors include his wife, Delia Joyce of the home; three sons, Sammy Ahtone and Raney Maxwell Ahtone, both of the home, and Jacob Daniel Ahtone of Eufaula; one stepson, Randy Reyes of Oklahoma City; his father of Anadarko; one brother, Hardy Ahtone of Mountain View; and three sisters, Sharon Harjo of Oklahoma City, Deborah Ahtone of Mountain View, and Levon French of Billings.
Burial was in the Rainy Mountain cemetery in Mountain View under the direction of Hackney-Gish Funeral Home of Mountain View.
Carol Helgeson Thomas
Born in Jamestown, N.D., Carol Helgeson Thomas was the daughter of Elmer Millard and Alice Caroline Sundberg Helgeson. She attended Jamestown schools and Jamestown College. She received a bachelor of science degree in English from North Dakota State University at Fargo where she was a member of Phi Kappa Phi scholastic honorary and Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority. Following graduation, she was a high school teacher and principal at Litchville, N.D.
After receiving an appointment to the United States Foreign Service, she was assigned to the American Embassy in Paris, where she worked for two years after the liberation of Paris during World War II. Upon returning to the United States, she accepted a teaching fellowship in English at Washington State University in Pullman, where she received a master of arts degree in English. Subsequently, she became a member of the English Department faculty at Western Carolina College at Cullowhee, N.C.
In 1949, she married
Oscar O. Thomas, who had been a teaching fellow in animal science at Washington State University. They lived in Stillwater, Okla., until he received his Ph.D. degree in 1951. Thereafter, they moved to Bozeman where he joined the Montana State University Animal Science Department faculty and served as a professor until his death April 15, 1983.
Their three children were born in Bozeman. Their son Sidney Runyan Thomas is a United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Their daughter Susan Carol Thomas is a Presbyterian minister and hospital chaplain for Deaconess Billings Clinic. Their daughter Karin Thomas Shovic is President of ChoralWeb Publishing Company Inc., an Internet-based music publishing company.
During the 1950s and early 1960s when creative writing promotional contests were popular, Mrs. Thomas won numerous national and regional competitions, winning prizes which included a 1960 Ford Station Wagon, a matching children's car, and one of the first color television sets in Montana. After her children were grown, she did substitute teaching in the Bozeman schools for 12 years.
She was a member of the Presbyterian Church. Devoted to learning, she attended 20 Elderhostel weeks in eight states. She especially enjoyed a trip to Norway with her daughters, visiting the land of her great-great-grandparents and meeting many relatives. She was a voracious reader and prolific correspondent.
Survivors include: Sidney Runyan Thomas and his wife, Martha Sheehy and their sons, Oscar John and Skeffington Runyan Thomas of Billings; Susan Carol Thomas and her husband, Curt Kochner and their daughters, Kara, Rebecca and Kristin Caroline Kochner of Billings; Karin Thomas Shovic and her husband, John Shovic of Moscow, Idaho; brother, Millard and wife, Beverly Helgeson of Spicer, Minn.; brother, Gordon and wife, Ruth Helgeson of Oneida, Wis.; sister, Beverly and husband, Sam Sherer of Medina, Wash.
Mrs. Thomas died after a brief illness in Billings Deaconess Hospital on Dec. 30, 1998. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Jan. 3, at 3 p.m. in Bozeman at the First Presbyterian Church. Memorials may be made to Friends of KEMC/KBMC, 1500 N. 30th St., Billings, MT 59101. She will be dearly missed.
Margaret Broadus
HARDIN - In Ireland, Margaret Broadus would have been called a "shanachie" - the one who passes on the history of the community in stories. A long-time resident of Rosebud and Big Horn Counties, Margaret died on Dec. 31 in Hardin at the age of 91.
Margaret published her stories in 1987 at the age of 80 in her book, "Through the Rosebuds - Tales of Rosebud Creek, Montana." The book presents a colorful and often humorous montage of characters and real-life situations which took place among the shale-covered hills that surround the Rosebud Valley in southeastern Montana.
Margaret was born on Oct. 29, 1907, the daughter of Alice Lynch from County Cavan, Ireland, and Henry Bailey from St. Joseph, Mo., who homesteaded near what is now known as Lame Deer. Margaret traveled twice to Ireland, retracing her family history and visiting the site of her mother's birthplace near Ballyjamesduff.
Margaret graduated from Hardin High School in 1926 and attended business college in Sheridan and Billings. She worked at the Rosebud County Courthouse and in 1929 she married
Bill Broadus whose family settled along the Powder River. Together they built and operated the Broadus Ranch on Rosebud Creek and raised three children. Bill died in 1966.
Margaret was active in the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Lame Deer and in later years she volunteered and worked at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Hardin. She was a member of Catholic Daughters and continued her church work until August.
Preceding her in death besides her husband, Bill, were her parents, Alice and Henry Bailey, her brother, Jack, and her sister, Minnie Egan.
Surviving are her children and their spouses: Betty and Dick Imer, Hardin; Hugh and Evelyn Broadus, who operate the Broadus Ranch; and Ellen and Fred Caruso, Denver. Also surviving are her seven grandchildren and their spouses: Sheri and Harry Koyama, Hardin; Patti and Steve Ballock, Billings; Mark and Donna Imer, Chicago: Alice and Tate Nation, Shepherd; Jarrod and Donna Broadus, Rosebud Creek; Andrea Caruso and Patricio Cuji, Banos, Ecuador; and Tanya Caruso and Karl Borski, Gunnison, Colo.: and 12 great-grandchildren: Andy and Kate Koyama; Molly and Meghan Ballock; Christina and Jake Imer; Paden and Ben Nation; Jamie, Blayne and Taylor Broadus, Sharara Caruso Cuji.
Also surviving are her brother and sister-in-law, James and Mary Bailey, Billings; her brother-in-law, Duane Broadus, Leavenworth, Wash.; her sister-in-law, Monta Lou Groshell, Laurel; and many nieces and nephews and special friends, Linda Landrey, Tanner Bell and Father Fabian Fehring.
Rosary will be recited Friday evening, Jan. 1, 1999, at the St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Colstrip. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 2, 1999, at the same church. Interment will follow at the Lee cemetery and a reception will be held at the church in Colstrip. Memorials may be made in lieu of flowers to the Range Rider's Museum, Route 1 Box 2003, Miles City, MT 59301. Beals Mortuary of Forsyth are in charge of the arrangements.
Axel Glenn Peterson
Axel Glenn Peterson, 82, of Billings, died Monday afternoon at his home following an illness with cancer.
Mr. Peterson was born August 11, 1916, at Red Lodge, the son of Axel and LeAnna Vincent Peterson. He was raised and attended schools in Nye. Glenn worked at the Mouat Mine for a short time before moving to the Los Angeles area where he worked for Lockheed Aircraft.
Glenn married
Mabel Lawrenz on Sept. 14, 1940, at Columbus. Glenn served in the Army during World War II. He moved to Billings in 1955 when he started his employment with F.L. Flynn & Company. He retired in 1979.
Music always found a place in his life, as well as woodworking.
Mr. Peterson was a member of the Montana District 4 Fiddlers Association, the Happy Fiddlers and the Masonic Lodge.
Survivors include his wife Mabel; two daughters, Deanna Peterson of Billings and Glennine and her husband Robert Schoen of Hardin and his son Donald of Billings. He is also survived by his grandson Mark Schoen, his granddaughter and her husband, Michelle and Kevin Nelson and a great granddaughter, Sydney Nelson.. He is also survived by two sisters, Hazel Whited of Laurel and Betty Jean Habernal of Lake Livingston, Texas; one brother Wayne Peterson of Fresno, Calif. He is also survived by several cousins, nieces, and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers Melvin and Murl Peterson.
Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, at the Smith West Funeral Chapel, 304 34th Avenue West with Revs. Don Gordineer of the First American Lutheran Church of Hardin and Ashley Difronzo, Chaplain of the Big Sky Hospice. Graveside services will be held 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, at the Nye cemetery.
Should friends desire memorials may be made to the Montana District 4 Fiddlers at 3938 Sandpiper Lane, Billings, MT 59102; Big Sky Hospice, P0 Box 35033, Billings, MT or to the charity of one's choice.
Smith Funeral Chapels of Billings entrusted with the final arrangements.
