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Winnie Price
June 28, 1918 - March 4, 1999
Born June 28, 1918, in Billings, the daughter of Sam and Winnie Jansma, who came from Holland, homesteading in the Billings area in 1914. She grew up and attended schools in Billings. She worked for Nikki's Ice Cream Shop, the Corn Cannery, and her folks' dairy farm. She also raised American Saddler Horses.
She married
Wilfred J. Price, June 30, 1946, who preceded her in death September 1988. She enjoyed making wedding cakes early in her life, playing her guitar with her cousins, and playing the drums. She also enjoyed rodeos, loved animals, and liked to watch Clare's Horse Shows. Along with having many special pets, she also enjoyed gardening. We will all miss the pink petunias around her home. Despite losing the use of her right arm and hand, Wynn became a very accomplished bowler and typist. Greeting cards were her specialty and many people experienced the joy and delight in receiving them. As an attendee of the West Side Baptist Church, her love of the Lord and reading the Bible were first and foremost in her life. She desired that her friends and family would know the Lord in the same way as she did. She was preceded in death by her brother, Bill Jansma. She and her husband adopted three children (two girls and a boy) and was a devoted mother and grandmother to all of them. Survivors include two daughters: Judy (Don) Vegge and their children, Crystal and Justin; Danni (Jim) Waite and their children, Alishea, Preston and Kelly; one son: Barry Price and children, Jeremy, Brianna, Shannon, and a great-granddaughter; sisters-in-law: Kathern Jansma and Alvina Jansma; and two brothers: Augie and Ted (Elsie) Jansma, all from Billings.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 6, 1999, at the West Side Baptist Church, 32nd Street West and Monad. Should friends desire, memorial contributions should be made to the charity of your choice, West Side Baptist Church or Back to the Bible, P.O. Box 82808, Lincoln, Neb. 68501.
Dorothy W. Benjamin
Dorothy W. Benjamin, 93, died March 3, 1999, at the Western Manor Health Care Center.
Dorothy was born Jan. 18, 1906, in Gann Valley, S.D., to Ashley and Katie Wellman. She was raised on the family cattle ranch, later moving to Onida, S.D., where she graduated from high school in 1925. Her family then moved to California in 1926.
She married
Russell E. Benjamin in 1927 and during their life lived in California, Oregon and Idaho.
While in Idaho, Dorothy fulfilled a lifetime dream of becoming a nurse. After working at the Caldwell Memorial Hospital for a period of time, she and her husband purchased a nursing home. Later she managed a nursing home in College Place, Wash., and during a time in the 1960s she lived in Billings and worked as a nurse at St. Vincent Hospital
Dorothy moved back to California in the late 1960s and owned and operated two different Guest Homes with her sister. She retired in 1984 and moved to Billings to be near her daughter and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She enjoyed her retirement years, traveling to many places including Alaska, Alabama, Hawaii and Israel.
Dorothy was a very spiritual person who had such a tender heart and great love for her family. Each person in her life had their special place in her heart. She will be truly missed by all who knew and loved her. She was such a special Mother and Grandmother.
Dorothy was preceded in death by all of her sisters and brother, and a very special son-in-law, LeeRoy Emmerson.
Dorothy is survived by her children, Gwen Emmerson of Billings, Don Benjamin and wife, Patti of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Larry Benjamin and wife, Dorothy of Jemison, Ala.; her grandchildren, Vickie Sage, Karen Mahlen, Gary Emmerson, Cheri Greiff, David Benjamin, Dan Benjamin, Ron Benjamin, Doug Benjamin, and Kevin Emmerson. She also is survived by nine great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 6, at Smith West Chapel with interment in the Rockvale cemetery.
Travis Look
POWELL, Wyo. - Travis Look, 90, a retired attorney, died Wednesday, March 3, 1999, in the Powell Hospital after a brief illness.
He was born in Jamestown, N.Y., on Dec. 2, 1908, the son of Warren B. Look and Agnes Thornborrow Look. After graduating from Jamestown High School in 1926 and from Harvard University in 1930 with honors, he worked for a year in the oil fields of Wyoming, where his parents had moved in 1928. In 1934 he graduated from Harvard Law School and began his law practice in Jamestown.
In the mid-1950s he spent several years working with his father in the oil business in Casper, Wyo. After returning to Jamestown, he continued his law practice until he retired in 1977 and moved to Powell. He was a member of the New York State and Wyoming Bar Associations.
In his younger years he was active in the Boy Scouts and had an extensive hobby in photography. He also raised Gordon Setter dogs and enjoyed bird hunting as well as skeet and trap shooting. In recent years he especially enjoyed being at his summer home at Nye, Mont. Throughout his life he had a great interest in Civil War and English history.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret K. Look; a nephew, Warren Look of Reston, Va.; a niece, Linda Montoya of North Port, Fla.; two stepchildren, Peter Bentley of Jamestown and Anna B. Dawson of Greenhurst, N.Y.; three step-grandchildren and four step-great-grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, March 6, at the Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home in Powell with the Rev. Wesley J. Clare of St. John's Episcopal Church of Powell officiating. Later memorial services will be held at Nye and at Jamestown at the convenience of the family
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Powell Library for the purchase of large print books, or the Nye Community Church, Nye Fire Department or Nye School, at Nye, Mont. 59061.
Steve Racki
ROUNDUP - Steve Racki, 85 years old, passed away Saturday morning, Feb. 27, 1999, at Roundup Memorial Hospital.
Steve Racki was born on Feb. 13, 1914, on the family homestead located north of Roundup at the foot of the Little Snowy Mountains. His parents were Joseph and Augustina Racki. Steve was the youngest of six children. On Dec. 31, 1937, Steve married
Catherine Piccolo. They have four children, Marie Corn of Henderson, Nev., Judy Reighard of Sunburst, Steve Racki of Bigfork, and John Racki of Roundup. They also have 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Steve was preceded in death by his brothers, Tony and Joe Racki; sister, Jenny Lind; and two of his grandchildren, Ronna Marie Reighard and Gabriel Allen Racki.
Steve was a coal miner starting as a young boy of 7 tending horses and mules for the area mines. During his career he worked in several mines, and with brothers, Tony and Joe, owned and operated the Northern Coal Company Mine. Steve Racki was a devoted union man and a distinguished member of the United Mine Workers of America for 68 years.
Time in the mountains hunting and fishing were some of Steve's favorite pastimes. Over the many years he instilled his love for the Montana outdoors into his children and grandchildren. Steve was one of the true green thumbs of the world and enjoyed gardening and raising animals at his home west of Roundup. One of the early pioneers of the Roundup area, Steve Racki will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.
Memorial services will be held on March 8, 1999, at 11 a.m. at Wier Funeral Chapel with interment in New Miners cemetery. Memorials in Steve's honor may be made to Roundup Memorial Hospital and Nursing Home or charity of your choice.
Grace Evelyn Casper
MILES CITY - Grace Evelyn Casper, 91, longtime Montana resident, passed away Tuesday, March 2, 1999, in Miles City.
She was born March 19, 1907, in Green Bay, Wis., the daughter of Edgar and Ana Sargent Haughawout. The family moved to Montana in 1909, where she was raised and completed her education.
Grace taught school at the Maxwell Butte School south of Miles City and later at the Lincoln School near Crow Rock. She married
Albert J. Culverson in 1928 in Glendive. The couple lived in Seattle, Miles City, Fort Peck and Glendive, returning to Miles City in 1941 and were later divorced.
From 1943-48, Grace worked for the Milwaukee Railroad on the West Coast as a telegrapher. In 1948, she married
James Casper in Chehalis, Wash. After several years, she returned to Miles City to help care for her parents. She later had an alteration shop located in the rear of the C.R. Anthony Store for over 20 years.
She was a member of the Daughters of American Revolution, Episcopal Church and the Christian Women's Club.
Grace was preceded in death by one son, John Culverson, six brothers and three sisters.
Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Roberta Jean (Leslie) Pullen of Portland, Ore.; one son, Kenneth (Nola) Culverson of Alameda, Calif.; one daughter-in-law, Myra Culverson of Brainerd, Minn.; one sister-in-law, Joyce Haughawout of Miles City; 10 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place in the Bullis-Graves Eastern Montana Crematory. Memorial Funeral Services will be held 1 p.m. Saturday in the Bullis-Graves Memorial Chapel. Private interment of the Ashes will follow at a later date. Bullis-Graves Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the D.A.R. or St. Labre Mission and may be left at the Funeral Home.
Margarete Rodemann Schnaidt Simpfenderfer
Age 87. Born Feb. 29, 1912, in Welge, Ill. Died Feb. 28, 1999. The eldest child of German immigrants, she spent her youth in Illinois and Indiana. She attended high school and college at Wartburg Academy in Clinton, Iowa, where she met Rev. Gustave (Vic) Schnaidt.
After their marriage in 1938, they served Lutheran parishes in Tripp, S.D., and Regent and Bismarck, N.D. They moved to Billings in 1959, where Rev. Schnaidt was pastor at Peace Lutheran Church, then chaplain at St. John's Lutheran Home.
A teacher, Margarete taught in small country schools until her eldest child was born. She resumed her teaching career in Billings and spent many years working with developmentally disabled children, initially at a private school and later within the Billings public school system.
Margarete and Vic had five children before his death in 1971. In 1979 she married
Rev. William Simpfenderfer, who preceded her in death in 1993. Margarete was devoted to her church and to numerous church-affiliated charities.
She is survived by her five children: Carol Hill of Cullowhee, N.C., Elaine Schnaidt of San Leandro, Calif., Joanne Rokosky of Seattle, Wash., Kathleen Schnaidt of Dorchester, Mass., and Richard Schnaidt of Beatrice, Neb.; four grandchildren: Mark Thuesen, Stephanie Hill Simione, Deborah Hill, and Juliana Rokosky; and two siblings, Carl Rodemann and Martha Sines.
The funeral will be held Friday, 10:30 a.m., at Atonement Lutheran Church, Wicks Lane, followed by burial at Mount View cemetery. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to Atonement Lutheran Church (407 Wicks Lane, Billings, 59105), St. John's Lutheran Home (3940 Rimrock Road, Billings, MT 59102), Martin Luther Home (804 S. 12th St., P.O. Box 607, Beatrice, Neb.), or Gateway House (c/o 909 Wyoming, Billings, MT 59102).
"Into thy hand I commit my spirit, thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God."
"I will rejoice and be glad for thy steadfast love."
Psalm 31: 5 & 7.
Glen D. 'Mac' Metcalf
Glen D. "Mac" Metcalf, 85, passed away at his home on Wednesday afternoon, March 3, 1999.
Glen was born in Casselton, N.D., on Jan. 24, 1914, the son of Erva and Ethel (Tasker) Metcalf. He attended school in North Dakota and graduated from Beach High School. Following his graduation, he helped on the family farm in the Trotters area and on Nov. 30, 1941, Glen married
Alice L. Sperry in Las Vegas, Nev.
In 1942 Mr. Metcalf was inducted into the U.S. Army. Even as a young man, Glen's mechanical skills were appreciated and he was stationed at Los Alamos, N.M., where the military was beginning work with nuclear weapons.
After his discharge from the military, Glen and Alice moved to Lewistown where he began a career in auto mechanics with Cooley Chevrolet. In 1963 the Metcalfs moved to Billings where he was employed by Frontier Chevrolet until his retirement.
Glen found great pleasure in the out-of-doors, whether it be tending to the landscaping of his yard and garden, or fishing the streams and lakes of the Big Sky country. He was an active member of the Al Bedoo Shrine and a 40-year member of the Elk Lodge.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 6, at the Smith West Chapel, 304 34th St. W. Cremation has taken place. Memorials are suggested to the Al Bedoo Shrine, the Montana Rescue Mission, or the charity of one's choice. Smith West Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Chester B. Fiscus
Chester B. Fiscus passed away Wednesday morning, March 3, 1999, at Deaconess Hospital in Billings. Mr. Fiscus had lived for 90 years.
Chester was born in Prescott, Iowa, on March 23, 1908, one of two sons born to Thomas E. and Sylvia E. (Mills) Fiscus. Following his education he farmed until May of 1942 when he was inducted into the U.S. Army and served in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater during WWII. In 1949 Chester moved to Billings where he farmed until his retirement.
Mr. Fiscus has no known survivors and was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Ray.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, March 9, at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Smith Downtown Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Thomas James Big Lake
'Biishe'aakaape'
Buffalo On Crest Of Hill
PRYOR - Thomas James Big Lake, 66, of Pryor, left this world on April 1, 1999, of natural causes while at Deaconess Hospital in Billings.
"Tommy, " as he was known by all, was the third oldest of 13 children born to James and Edith White Clay Big Lake, a child of the Greasy Mouth Clan and a member of the Bad War Deed Clan, in Crow Agency on May 18, 1932.
Growing up in Black Lodge and Crow Agency, he attended school in Crow Agency during his elementary years, and attended Busby High School, now known as Northern Cheyenne, up until his junior year. While in school, he actively participated in sports, notably basketball.
Tommy entered the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict in Oct. 14, 1952, serving his country honorably and receiving his honorable discharge on Oct. 16, 1954, from the Army. Upon his return from the military, he married
Clara Smart Enemy on Dec. 2, 1954, in Crow Agency. From this marriage were born three sons, Thomas Jr., Frederick and John, and two daughters, Ezmeralda Fayette and Tammy. Added to this family of seven and growing up in the family home was daughter, Sharon Rides Horse.
Tommy was a member of the Catholic church, which he respected very much. He was an active participant in the Sacred Tobacco Society since he was adopted by Owen and Emma Coffee Smells. As he participated actively with his wife, Clara, the sacred lodge erecting right for the Tobacco Society was acquired for him. Tommy was a firm believer of the Crow and Indian traditions of religion and participated at every opportunity, the Native American Church and Sun Dance to fulfill his commitments.
Biishe'aakaape was a strong advocate of formal education and was instrumental in the formation of Plenty Coups High School. An avid fan of sports, he followed and supported the basketball teams religiously, and even more when his sons played ball. A fruit of this loyalty to Plenty Coups basketball teams was to see his son John be a member of a Class C State Champion team.
Tommy's courageousness and readiness to challenge was evidenced by his participation in rodeos as a saddle bronc rider for several years. In addition, Tommy also owned and trained thoroughbred race horses, making it to the winner's circle many times with horses such as Fleet Cheek, My Buddy Scott, Table Mountain, to name a few.
Even though ailing in health the last few month, Tommy actively supported "Blaine, " a grandson that grew up in his home as a son, in his basketball games all the way to the State Class C Tournament in Great Falls this past March.
Tommy affected the lives of many people, having friends and adopted relatives from many places. For the person he was, he was called brother by people that were non-Crow. In addition, extended family sisters, as his very own are Jennifer Birdinground Flatlip and Lois White Hip. Two he also called brother were Vincent and Kenneth Spint. He had deep respect for their wives, Lauren and Diana.
He had another set of parents, the late Joseph and Gladys Ten Bear. From this relationship he has a brother, Tyrone Ten Bear, and sister, Mary Three Irons.
Tommy was preceded in death by son, Thomas Jr. and daughter, Fayette; his mother and father, James and Edith; and one sister, Marcella.
As family members grow in the Sacred Tobacco Society, persons adopted by his natural parents are Clarence Three Irons, Marlene Falls Down, Daisy Iron and Randy Three Irons.
His own adopted Tobacco Society children are Julie Ann Smells, Robert Snell, Roberta Spotted Horse, Diane Medicine Crow Reynolds and Veronica Big Day.
Surviving Tommy is his wife of 44 years, Clara; sons, Blaine, John and Frederick and daughters, Tammy (Chris) and Sharon; sibling brothers, Arlen Stewart, Morris Big Lake Sr., Delbert (Judith), Archie (Davene) and Vernon, and sisters, Ramona (Ira) Lefthand, Jeanean (Ralph) Turnsplenty, Myra Lefthand, Clarice (Spencer) Denny, Loretta Three Irons, Dorothy Hair, Cudahy, Calif., and Lorraine of Broadus.
Funeral services are set for 10 a.m. Mass at St. Dennis Catholic Church, Crow Agency on Monday, April 5, 1999, with burial and military honors at Custer Battlefield. Rosary will be recited at 4 p.m. in the Bullis Funeral Chapel by Father Joe. Bullis Mortuary has been entrusted with arrangements.
