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Albert S. Lefor
Albert S. Lefor, 79, of Billings, died Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, at Deaconess Hospital.
The son of Frank and Anna Lefor, Albert was born Jan. 11, 1920, at Lefor, N.D. He graduated high school in Dickinson, N.D., and from college at Mankato, Minn. During WWII, Albert served as a staff sergeant with the 8th Army in the South Pacific. He married
Marie Hensel in Lefor, June 18, 1947.
Albert was manager of Farmers Union Oil Co., in Gladstone, N.D. In 1954 he moved to Billings where he was bookkeeper for Spommer Construction and for Mason Lumber before going to work for Pacific Hide and Fur as assistant manager.
He was a member of St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral, the Elks, American Legion, Moose Lodge, and Amvets Club. He enjoyed dancing, working crossword puzzles, and watching sports and television.
Survivors include his wife, Marie and son, Gary of Billings; a brother, Arnie of Minneapolis, Minn.; and two sisters, Appolonia Peyerl and Elizabeth Sokol, both of Portland, Ore.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Elaine Lefor.
Vigil services will be 7 p.m. Friday at Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist. Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral with Rite of Committal at Holy Cross cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Arlene M. Kelley
SHERIDAN, Wyo. - Arlene M. Kelley, 87, longtime Sheridan resident, died Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1999, at St. John's Lutheran Nursing Home.
She is survived by two sons, Roy Kelley of Bozeman and Frank Kelley of Billings. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dar.
Cremation has taken place. No services are planned.
Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist has charge of arrangements.
William 'Bill' Martisak
BALLANTINE - Dad's home for the past one-and-a-half years has been Valley Health Care Center. We would like to thank our many friends at Valley and Dr. Malloy for their loving care and kindness for our family.
On Tuesday, Jan. 19, 1999, Dad slipped into a coma and peacefully left us around 1:45 p.m.
I know there are many of you out there who remember running out to meet the Farmers Union Oil Co., bulk delivery truck as you knew "Good Old Bill, " as Dad used to call himself, would have a stick of gum to give you. As one person remembered, if you were little you only got half a stick.
Dad's first love was always farming, especially sugar beets. Dad was one of the best at cultivating sugar beets and really enjoyed working on our small family farm.
Dad was the last of his immediate family, preceded in death by his Mom and Dad, two sisters and three brothers. The son of John and Anna Martisak, he was born June 22, 1909, in Billings. He married
Frances Ewen in Billings, Feb. 3, 1937.
Dad was a Deacon in the Ballantine United Church of Christ.
Grandpa, Grandma, and Grandson David spent many happy weekends camping out in the white van. Grandson David now enjoys fly fishing and thanks his Grandpa for teaching him the love for fishing.
Dad enjoyed dancing, and playing cards, especially pinochle.
Survivors include his wife, Frances, and daughter, Jo Ann Krum and her husband, James of Ballantine, and a grandson, David Krum, his wife, Karen and their son, Steven of Michigan.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Friday at the Ballantine First Congregational United Church of Christ with interment in Pleasantview cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Ballantine First Congregational United Church of Christ or the charity of one's choice.
Michelotti Sawyers & Nordquist has charge of arrangements.
Beatrice R. Jones
WALDPORT, Ore. - Beatrice R. Jones, age 80, formerly of Bloomington, Ind., passed away Jan. 21, 1999, at Good Samaritan Nursing Home.
Beatrice was born March 7, 1918, in Watertown, Wis., to Herman C. and Edith (Sauer) Borchard. A homemaker, she was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Bloomington and the American Legion Auxiliary. She was a former resident of Meadowood Retirement Community in Bloomington.
Survivors include her husband, Edward W. "Ted" Jones of Bedford, Ind.; daughters, Sandra Kay Smalley of Eugene and Judith Ann Altholz of Tallahassee, Fla.; son, Raymond W. Smalley of New Fairfield, Conn.; and two grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Dr. Raymond E. Smalley, in 1986. They were former residents of Billings.
Visitation will be from 1 until 2 p.m. Monday at Allen Funeral Home in Bloomington. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. Joe Emerson officiating with interment in the Valhalla Memory Gardens.
Memorial contributions can be made to the charity of one's choice.
LeeRoy Marlin Emmerson
LeeRoy Marlin Emmerson was born on Aug. 13, 1932, in Roseburg, Ore. He and his parents, Marlin and Bernice, moved frequently, settling in Rose Lodge in 1939 where they stayed until 1946. LeeRoy completed high school in three years, graduating from Columbia Academy in 1950.
On Oct. 26, 1952, LeeRoy married
Gwen Benjamin. They spent the first years of their marriage in Oregon and had two children, Vickie Rae and Gary Kent. In 1957 LeeRoy and family moved to Montana, first settling in White Sulphur Springs. The family moved to Billings in 1960 and have resided there since. A third child, Kevin Kirk, was born in 1970.
LeeRoy finished his college years at Eastern Montana College and began working as a lab tech at both the Billings Clinic and St. Vincent's Hospital before operating a small private laboratory for the surgical clinic at the Doctor's Building. After a number of years at this position he returned to work at the St. Vincent's Hospital laboratory where he retired in 1995.
LeeRoy dedicated many years to mission service in Mexico and Belize. He died unexpectedly from the complications of a previous medical condition, Sunday, Jan. 17, in Guadalajara, Mexico.
He is survived by his wife, Gwen; three children, Vickie Sage, Femley, Nev.; Gary Emmerson, Billings, and Kevin Emmerson, Simi Valley, Calif.; and two grandchildren, Lezli and Andre Sage.
Memorials may be sent to: Mission Projects, P.O. Box 1090, Gentry, AR 72734.
Funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, 1999, at Smith West Chapel, 304 34th St. W. with interment to follow at the Rockvale cemetery. The casket is closed.
Chester E. Raup
HARDIN - Chester Eben Raup, 87, of Hardin passed away Wednesday, Jan. 20, 1999, in the Big Horn County Memorial Hospital.
He was born March 1, 1911, in Muncy, Pa., the third child of Mary Young and Charles Raup. He attended schools in Muncy and graduated from high school in 1928. As a youth, he was intrigued by the dime Western novels and read every one he could get his hands on. As a result, he was drawn to the West as a young man and cowboyed in Texas, Colorado and Wyoming. He also worked on the construction of Hoover Dam and the Beartooth Highway. He later completed a diesel electric mechanic course at the Adcox Trade School in Portland, Ore. He settled in Hardin in 1932.
Chet met Edith Randall and the couple was married
in Fort Benton on Dec. 12, 1939, and they made their home in Hardin. That same year, he began an excavation business, which later evolved into the first ready mix concrete company in Big Horn County in 1954. Prior to that he had worked at Campbell Farming Corporation and the Holly Sugar Corporation. He sold the Chet Raup Ready Mix in 1972 and ran a fleet of school buses in his semi-retirement.
On Jan. 15, 1988, he suffered an accident with the explosion of a split rim wheel, which greatly altered his life. He sustained multiple injuries, including one which eventually cost him a leg.
Chet served in the U.S. Army from Jan. 20, 1945, until receiving his Honorable Discharge on Oct. 29, 1946, with the 743rd anti-aircraft artillery battalion in Manila, acting as a sergeant-major.
He was a member of First Congregational Church and co-chair of the Church building committee, a member of St. John's Lodge No. 92 AF & AM, past high priest of the Royal Arch Masons, chapter No. 37, life member of the Al Bedoo Shrine Temple, where he was a part of the Brass Band for three years and a member of the famous Oriental Band since 1962, life member of the Big Horn Shrine Club; charter member of the Hardin Elks, life member and past commander of the Hardin, VFW Post No. 7481. He derived a great deal of pleasure from these associations over the years.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Starrett; and a sister, Violet Coup.
Survivors include his wife, Edith; a son, Charles and his wife, Deirdre; granddaughter, Sunni Skye; and great-grandson, Bryce Christopher, all of Hardin; a daughter, Barbara and her husband, Dusty Rhoades of Billings; step-grandchildren, Carmen, Laura, Kimberly and Amanda Richardson of Bozeman, Brenda Lungu of Phoenix, Ariz., and Kevin Rhoades of Albuquerque, N.M. He is also survived by nephews in Pennsylvania and California and his special nieces, Linda Gow, Jere and her husband, Carl Hale of California, and Sara and her husband, Mike Dunlap of Helena.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Monday in the Bullis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Bill Tibbs officiating. Interment with Masonic and military rites will follow in the Fairview cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Al Bedoo Shrine Crippled Children Transportation Fund, P.O. Box 20673, Billings, MT 59101 or the Big Horn County Historical Museum, Hardin, MT 59034.
Lyle H. Cusson
On Jan. 26, 1999, Lyle H. Cusson, grandfather, father, brother and friend passed onto greener pastures at his daughter's home.
He was born Nov. 18, 1933, in Mandan, N.D., and raised in the Killdeer N.D., area. In 1951, he enlisted in the Navy and served 22 years, including campaigns in Korea and Vietnam. He began as seaman 3rd class and ultimately achieved the rank of lieutenant. He received many military decorations. In 1955, he married
Edna Mae Houghton also of Killdeer and they had four children. They were divorced in 1969.
After retirement from the Navy, he moved to Billings to be near his family. In 1979, he moved to the Broadview area where he lived until his death.
His loves included visiting his many friends in the Broadview area, sitting on his stool in the local watering holes, hunting, fishing, garage-saling and reading.
He was known for his many generosities and contributions to community affairs. He was always willing to help anyone in need. He will be missed by everyone whose lives he touched.
He is preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Irene Cusson and his youngest daughter Sandee Cusson.
His survivors include his sisters Melody Siedel of Killdeer and Imogene Smith of Dunn Center; brother Aimee Cusson of Shepherd; aunts, Tootie Haugen of Killdeer and June Clark of Minnesota; his ex-wife EdnaMae Duncan and "husband-in-law" Jim Duncan of Billings; son and daughter in law Lyle and Cheri Cusson and grandsons Lyle III and William of Butte; daughter and son-in-law, Terry and Joe Hankinson and grandson Tanner Vinecke of Shepherd; daughter, Carol Cusson and grandson Guy Mitchell of Billings, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Cremation has taken place, memorial services will be held Friday, Jan. 29th, Broadview, in the Evangelical United Bretheren Church 2:00 pm. Memorials should be sent to the Broadview Community Center. Arrangements by Cremation or Funeral Gallery of Billings.
Marie Heim Curry
EKALAKA - Marie Heim Curry, 84, of Ekalaka, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 1999, in Ekalaka.
She was born on March 12, 1914, on a farm near Hebron, N.D., the daughter of Gustave and Christina Rosin Martel Heim. She attended grade school in North Dakota near Antelope and moved to Billings for the eighth grade. She graduated from high school in Billings and attended the Normal School in Billings and became a teacher.
She moved to Ekalaka in 1939 to teach school at the D4 country school near Ridgeway. She married
Joie Curry on Jan. 2, 1941. They were proud parents of nine children born to their union. Marie continued to teach country school throughout the Ekalaka area in the Belltower and Mill Iron communities until her retirement in 1976. Joe and Marie ran a sheep ranch in the Belltower community during their married
life.
Marie's goal was always to get her teaching degree. Each summer she would return to summer school and finally in 1970 she received a degree from Eastern Montana College in Billings in elementary education. She was very proud of this accomplishment. Marie loved school as a child and loved teaching as an adult.
Her husband, Joie passed away in 1984 and she moved to Missoula to be near her young grandchildren. She began working as a teacher's aid with the Foster Grandparents Program. She later moved to Billings to live with her sister, Maggie. She continued to work with Foster Grandparents as an aid in first grade at the Central Heights Elementary School. Failing health forced her second retirement in January of 1998. She moved back to Ekalaka where she lived out her final months.
Marie's love of children and teaching were very important to her. Her goal was to make a positive impact on each child's life. Encouraging young people to reach their full potential in life was always a lifelong goal of hers.
She is survived by five daughters: Mrs. Joe (Carole) Carey, Mrs. Bill (Candy) Loehding and Mrs. Les (Colleen) Parks, all of Ekalaka, Mrs. Joe (April) Potter and Mrs. Nels (Dunie) Solander, both of Missoula; four sons: Jim Curry of Billings, Wayne (Gerrie) Curry and Jerome "Bo-Bo" (Lenell) Curry, both of Missoula, and Erwin (Wendy) Curry of Bismarck, N.D.; four sisters: Magdalena Brannon of Billings, Mrs. Don (Emma) Fyfe of Churchpoint, Nova Scotia, Freda Earl and Mrs. Harry (Elsie) Loveland, both of Youngstown, Ohio; 19 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
A Prayer Service will be held on Friday, Jan. 29, 1999, at 7:30 p.m. in the Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka. A Funeral Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, 1999, in the St. Elizabeth's Lutheran Church in Ekalaka. Burial will be in the family lot of the I.O.O.F. cemetery in Ekalaka. Stevenson Funeral Home of Ekalaka is in charge of the arrangements.
Gordon Strangeowl
BIRNEY - Gordon Strangeowl died Tuesday, Feb. 9, 1999, at the Northern Cheyenne Health Center in Lame Deer. Gordon, 52, was born in Birney on July 4, 1946; he was the son of David and Grace Redneck Strangeowl. Gordon's Cheyenne name was Mighty Wolf. He was baptized as a Baptist with the Birney Baptist Mission in August 1998.
He attended Busby High School and graduated in May 1966. He began his service in the United States Army in 1969. Gordon was assigned as a gunner with the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment in Vietnam. Gordon acquired the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal W/60 Device, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Expert Rifle, and two Overseas Bars. After displaying honest and faithful service, he received an honorable discharge on Oct. 1, 1973.
Gordon studied as an automotive master mechanic at the A & I Trade School in Los Angeles and graduated in 1967. He also studied fine arts for two years at Ames College in Greeley, Colo. He worked as a master mechanic and performed as a general contractor in drywall in Colorado, California, and Oregon. He enjoyed art, especially painting and silver smithing.
We love you and will miss you very much. We will not forget how you extended your love for us through your humbleness, honesty, and humor.
Survivors include four sons, Alvin (Ariane) Strangeowl of Lame Deer, Gabriel (Lori) Strangeowl of Horton, Kan., William Strangeowl and Gordon Strangeowl Jr. of Fort Collins, Colo.; one daughter, Evangeline Strangeowl of Fort Collins; three granddaughters, Shiree, Talisa, and Angel (Alvin) Strangeowl; six sisters, Ann (Dayton) Raben of Berthoud, Colo., Sylvia (Don) Garcia of Polson, Eva (James) Lee of Newcastle, Wyo., Florence (Michael) Runningwolf of Birney, Rachel (George) Magpie of Lame Deer, Charlotte (Thomas) Rockroads of Busby, and Ruthie (Don) Shoulderblade of Lame Deer; two brothers, Alfred (Jeanie) Strangeowl of Busby and David Strangeowl of Bismarck, N.D.
Wake services will be held 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, at the Strangeowl family home. Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 15, at the community hall, and interment to follow at the Birney cemetery.
