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Nicki D. Wretlind
Nicki D. Wretlind, 52 of Billings, passed away Friday evening, August 13, 1999, at St. Vincent's Hospital as a result of cancer. The daughter of Clayton and Marion (Hamilton) Wretlind, she was born in Grand Forks, N. D., July 24, 1947.
Nicki received her bachelor of science degree from the University of North Dakota. She traveled throughout Europe with her parents for six years and by herself as a special service manager for the U.S. Army for three years. At the time of her death, she was regional director of the Child Support Enforcement Division for the State of Montana. She was a member of the Billings Yellowstone Kiwanis Club. Nicki was preceded in death by her mother, Marion, on June 28, 1986.
Survivors include her father, Clayton L. Wretlind of Billings; her extended family, Charl and Denny Scheffelman of Billings and Curt and Monica Borer of Las Vegas; and many, many friends.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 17, at Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist, 1001 Alderson Ave. Memorials may be directed to Zoo Montana, P.O. Box 80905, Billings, MT 59108.
Robert G. Engellant
HARDIN - Robert G. Engellant, 69, of Hardin, passed away Thursday evening Aug. 12, 1999, in the Big Horn County Memorial Hospital.
He was born April 12, 1930, in Fort Benton, a son of George and Beulah Alm Engellant. He grew up and attended schools in Great Falls, graduating from Great Falls High School in 1950. He enlisted in the U.S. Army, served during the Korean Conflict and received his Honorable Discharge. Following his discharge, he attended the College of Great Falls, receiving a bachelor of science degree in education. He taught schools throughout Montana from 1956-1984.
Robert married
Marie "Jo" O'Laughlin on May 21, 1955, in Great Falls and the couple made their home in Hardin. Robert later worked for the National Park Service at Glacier Park, Custer Battlefield and Fort Smith.
He was a member of the Catholic Church. He enjoyed a cowboy's life and particularly enjoyed horses.
Robert was preceded in death by a son, Joey.
Survivors include his wife, Marie "Jo" of Hardin; three sons, Jess (DeAnn) of Billings, Tim (Ramey) of Hardin and Dave (Tammy) of Washington; one daughter, Sherri (Jason) Kanon of Washington; nine grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Monday in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Interment with military honors 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 Big Horn County Memorial Hospital, Hardin, Mont. 59034.
Fred Fritz Jr.
RAPELJE - Fred Fritz Jr. died at home on Aug. 12, 1999. He was born on Aug. 13, 1906, in Friedental, Russia, to German parents Frederick and Elisabeth Fritz. The family immigrated to the U.S. when he was sixth months old. As a child he lived with his family in Kansas, Texas and Colorado. The family settled in Montana before he was in primary school. He completed his education at Mount Ellis Academy in Bozeman in 1935. He married
Mary Saylor March 8, 1940, they moved to the ranch northwest of Rapelje in 1945, where they lived and worked. Mrs. Fritz died in May, 1996. He and a son, Tim Fritz, continued to live on the ranch. He also leaves another son, Lyman Fritz of Camden, N.Y., and a daughter, Betty Duncan of College Place, Wash., and seven grandchildren. One sister, Rachel Gibson, continues to live in Yountville, Calif. He also leaves behind several nieces and nephews and many friends. He had been an active member of the Billings Seventh-day Adventist Church since his teen years, and for many years served as an Elder, Sabbath School teacher and a youth leader.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 17, at Smith West Chapel, 304 34th St. W., Billings. Visitation will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 15, at Smith West Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to Amazing Facts or Voice of Prophecy.
Eugenie 'Jean' Jerat
Eugenie "Jean" Jerat, age 81, of Billings, died Thursday, Aug. 12, 1999, at Deaconess Medical Center.
She was born July 11, 1918, at Schiraz, Poland. At the start of World War II she and her family moved to Germany. In 1939, she married
Edward Jerat in Germany.
In March of 1952 they moved to the United States and settled in Billings. Eugenie was a good businesswoman with the management of their rental properties. She enjoyed her garden and flowers and knitting. She loved her daughter and grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband, Edward; daughter, Helen (Ken) Brandt; grandchildren, Daryn Slovak and Kristi Bach and great-granddaughter, Kassy Breshears, all of Billings; and a sister, Wanda Jerat of Germany.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 17, at Smith's West Chapel, 304 34th St. W. Interment will be in Mountview cemetery. Visitation will start 12 Noon Sunday at Smith's West Chapel.
Joan Keldsen
WESTBY - Joan Keldsen, 63, of Westby, died Wednesday, Aug. 11, 1999, at Methodist Hospital in Rochester, Minn., of complications after undergoing surgery.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 16, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church with interment in Scandia cemetery, southwest of Westby. Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood is in charge.
Rebecca Lee Brownlee
GREAT FALLS - Rebecca Lee Brownlee, 46, formerly of Lewistown, died Tuesday, Aug. 10, 1999, in the Little Belt Mountains during a camping trip.
Cremation has taken place and memorial services will be held at a later date. The Cloyd Funeral Home of Lewistown was in charge.
Francis M. DeBeaufort
LEWISTOWN - Francis M. DeBeaufort, 85, died Wednesday, Aug. 11, 1999, at the Montana Mental Health Nursing Care Center.
Cremation has taken place and private graveside services will be held at the Hillcrest cemetery in Deer Lodge. The Cloyd Funeral Home is in charge.
Hertha Emett Jones
HELENA - Hertha Emett Jones, 78, former Park County resident (formerly of Clyde Park), died Thursday morning, Aug. 12, 1999, at St. Peter's Hospital in Helena. Graveside committal services and burial will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, at Park View Gardens cemetery, south of Livingston. Arrangements are under the direction of Franzen-Davis Funeral Home in Livingston.
Hertha was born Nov. 24, 1920, in Enterprise, Utah, the daughter of Don and Rhoda Emett. She spent her early life and attended schools there until 1929, when she moved with her family to Vaughn where her father ranched. Hertha attended school there for two years before moving to Manchester, and then to Hardy. She continued her schooling at Cascade, eight miles north of Hardy, until the family moved again to a home on the Sun River near Great Falls. Here she attended Westside Junior High School. In 1939 she graduated from Great Falls High School.
On July 22, 1939, she married
Glenn L. Jones in Livingston. The couple resided in Bozeman, where Glenn was employed by Bon Ton Bakery. They later lived in Missoula, Whitehall and Livingston before moving to the Shields Valley. In November of 1948 they purchased a general merchandise store in Clyde Park from Sam Working. Hertha and her husband, along with their four sons, operated Glenn's Shields Valley Shopping Center for 40 years, retiring and selling the business in 1988. Glenn died April 6, 1991. She moved to Helena six years ago to be near her family.
Hertha was a lifelong member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Survivors include four sons and their wives, Ron and Angie Jones of Laurel, Dennis and Carol Jones of Polson, Roger and Anne Jones of Dayton, Ohio, and Steve and Pam Jones of Helena; five grandchildren, Kevin Jones and his wife, Cassie of Missoula, Kimberly Rate and her husband, Chris of Great Falls, and Chris Jones, Aaron Jones and Jamie Jones, all of Helena; seven grandchildren, Micah and Levi Rate of Great Falls and Hailey, Paige, Libbie, Becca and Emily Jones, all of Missoula; a sister, Frances B. McLure of Salt Lake City, Utah; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Frank Kucera
SHERIDAN, Wyo. - Frank Kucera, 86, died Monday, Aug. 9, 1999, at Sheridan Manor.
Cremation has taken place and memorial services will be held at a later date. Kane Funeral Home was in charge.
Corrie E. Lovercheck
POWELL, Wyo. - Corrie Edward Lovercheck, 89, died Wednesday, Aug. 11, 1999, at the Powell Nursing Home.
Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, at First United Methodist Church with interment of cremated remains in the Crown Hill cemetery. Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home is in charge.
Natalie Miller
ARLINGTON, Va. - Long-time Spokane, Wash., and eastern Montana resident Natalie Miller passed away on Aug. 5 at the Powhatan Nursing Home, Arlington. Natalie was born in 1908 of Volga Deutsche parents and lived an early agrarian life in eastern Montana, mostly near Laurel. Natalie graduated from Park City HS in 1929 and established her own hair dressing shop in Laurel. She married
Clement Miller, a Montana attorney, in 1930 and they lived together in Laurel until 1941, when Clem joined the Navy. They were separated while Clem served in the south Pacific, and were reunited in 1945.
After the war, they settled in Spokane, first at Garden Springs and then from 1949 on the north side at 407 E. Hoffman. Natalie was an active member of the Holy Cross Lutheran Church, and later of the Beacon Chapel. She lived in this house until Clem's passing in 1996. Her last years were spent at the Sunrise Retirement Community in Arlington.
Natalie is survived by her sister, Sylvia, living in Walnut Creek, Calif., and her son, Steve, and granddaughter, Rebecca, both of Arlington.
She started life as the child of hard-scrabble immigrants living in a log cabin on the Yellow Stone River. She hoed sugar beets in the fields of Montana from the age of 5. Being one of the oldest, she lovingly assumed the role of second mother in a brood that eventually totaled seven siblings. In her life she came a long way from the cabin. She graduated from high school, started her own business, and kept it going through the Depression and WW II. For over 60 years she was a loving wife and mother, who unhesitatingly put family needs before her own and provided a nurturing environment for all.
It was her time to go, but her presence will always be in our hearts.
George Neibauer
George Neibauer, 86, of Billings, died peacefully at home while working in his yard on Aug. 10, 1999.
He was born Dec. 15, 1912, in Laurel, to Henry and Sussanna M. (Grotwhol) Neibauer.
George married
Margrette M. Meredith on June 3, 1942. They farmed and lived 10 miles west of Billings until 1972 when they sold the farm and moved to Billings.
It was said that George kept his fields like a garden, well tended and near weedless.
Survivors include his wife, Margrette; daughter, Anita Hill and her husband, Jack of Whitefish; daughter, Norma Bonnike and her husband, Tom of Petaluma, Calif.; grandchildren, Brandi Kessler of Germany, Tony Ammirata and Sam Hill of Denver, Colo., Justin Kruidenier of Phoenix, Ariz.; and three great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his brother, Bill, and sisters, Alice, Ruth, Rose and Marie.
Cremation has taken place and George requested there be no services.
Jewel Sorensen
SIDNEY - Jewel Sorensen, 83, died Wednesday, Aug. 11, 1999, at her home.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 16, at the Pella Lutheran Church with interment in the Sidney cemetery. Fulkerson Funeral Home is in charge.
Deeward R. Thompson
LOVELL, Wyo. - Deeward R. Thompson, 86, died Monday, Aug. 9, 1999, at New Horizons Care Center.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 13, in the Lovell L.D.S. Stake Center with interment in the Lovell cemetery. Haskell Funeral Home is in charge.
Linda Rose (Hoffman) Warner
SEVERN, Md. - Linda Rose (Hoffman) Warner, a resident of Severn in Anne Arundel County, since 1985, died Aug. 5 of acute cardiac arrhythmia. Mrs. Warner was born in Billings, Mont., and spent her childhood in Melstone, Mont. She later moved with her family to Billings and then to Yuma, Ariz. Mrs. Warner graduated from Yuma High School and the University of Arizona with a degree in primary education. Survivors include her husband, Lt. Col. (Ret) Ronald A. Warner, whom she married
in 1956; a son, Trevor C. Warner of Odenton; her mother, Venda Hoffman of Billings; and a brother, Philip M. Hoffman, also of Billings. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 16, at the Community Church of Melstone. Burial will be at the Melstone cemetery.
Genevieve (Gen) Lucille Martin
NAPA, Calif. - Genevieve (Gen) Lucille Martin, 87, of Napa, passed away June 26, 1999, at Queen of the Valley Hospital with her family by her side.
She was born in Weeping Water, Neb., on Dec. 20, 1911, the daughter of John Edward and Anna Marie Johnson. After finishing school, she left Weeping Water and was employed in Omaha, Neb., but resided in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where she met her future husband. She was united in marriage to Harold W. Martin on Feb. 6, 1934, in Rock Port, Mo.
They lived in Council Bluffs until 1949 when they transferred to Billings. There Genevieve modeled hats for a few years, then worked for 28 years as office cashier for Coles Department Store, from which she retired in 1983.
She was a longtime member of the Montana American Legion Auxiliary, including their drill team, which as state winners (in 1956) performed in the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif. She was a past president of the Billings Newcomers' Club, and worked as a volunteer for Billings Community Concert Association for many years.
Other activities included singing with the Mothers Singers Chorus; bowling on a women's league; sewing; crocheting afghans, caps and sweaters; and creating handmade crafts.
In 1991, Genevieve moved to Napa to be near her daughter and family. Each summer thereafter, she enjoyed receiving awards for entering her crochet work and handmade fashions and crafts in the Napa Town and Country Fair. She loved all kinds of music and enjoyed playing cards and spending time with her family. She will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Survivors include her daughter, Shirley Sandbak and husband, Dale, 3232 MacBeth Street, Napa, Calif. 94558; her granddaughter, Holly Zaccone and husband, Dana of Napa; her grandson, Young Sandbak and wife, Brenda of Napa; four sisters: Anne Specht and husband, Dick of Santa Ana; Emma Bates of Avoca, Neb.; Gladyce Miller of Austin, Texas; and Jeanne Patterson of Weeping Water. She was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Harold, in 1990; her brother, Walter; and her sister, Judy.
Memorial services were held at 3 p.m. on Monday, July 12, at the First United Methodist Church, 625 Randolph St. in Napa, with Rev. Virginia Pearson officiating. Final resting place will be with her husband at Walnut Creek cemetery in Council Bluffs.
Memorials may be directed to Myelofibrosis Research, MPD Research Center, 115 E. 72nd St., New York City, N.Y. 10021.
Viola Florence Cowee
Viola Florence Cowee was born Aug. 14, 1919, in Akron, Iowa. She passed away Aug. 4, 1999, in Billings at the age of 79 years.
She was born the daughter of Emery and Rose (Beckman) Beeler. She moved with her family to Wibaux and was raised and educated there.
Viola loved spending time with her seven children and 22 grandchildren. She enjoyed her cats, especially "Peanuts" and "Momma Cat." She also looked forward to her visits with her dearest sister, Shirley. She liked to watch old movies and spend time with her friends.
Survivors include her daughters, Clara Unruh (Lanny) of Billings, Betty Stevens of Bakersfield, Calif., and Linda Dschaak of Glendive; sons, Larry Cowee (Patsy) of Billings, Gary Cowee (Carla) of Wibaux, and Donald Cowee (Kristi) of Tehachapi, Calif.; her sister, Shirley Schell of Terry; and 22 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Viola was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Mernie Cowee; her son, Bob Beeler; and her brother, Elmer Beeler.
Services were held Saturday, Aug. 7, 1999, in Wibaux.
Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home was entrusted with arrangements.
Martin Henry Gerdes
OREGON CITY, Ore. - Martin Henry Gerdes, 92, died Thursday, Aug. 5, 1999, in Oregon City. Memorial services were Aug. 10 at Gilman Park ACF. Send condolences to Hilda Gerdes, 2205 Gilman Dr., Oregon City, Ore. 97045. Cremation has taken place.
