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Ernest R. 'Ernie' Ricci
LIVINGSTON - Ernest R. "Ernie" Ricci, 75, died Thursday, Aug. 5, 1999, at Livingston Memorial Hospital.
Visitation will be 1-5 p.m. Monday, Aug. 9, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10, at Franzen-Davis Funeral Home. Vigil will be at 6 p.m. Tuesday and Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11, both at St. Mary's Catholic Church with graveside committal and interment in the Calvary cemetery.
Jake Ruff Jr.
Jake Ruff Jr., age 87, of Billings, passed away Friday evening at Eagle Cliff Manor. Jake was born Dec. 1, 1911, in Diddle, Russia, a son of Jake and Mary Ruff Sr. At one year of age he came with his parents on a ship from Russia. Jake attended eight years at Shiloh School, after which he worked for a period in the beet fields before going to work at the Great Western Sugar Factory, where he served as a yard foreman until his retirement in 1975. In 1938 he married
Frances Elizabeth Bell and she preceded him death in 1967. He married
Bertha Bolton in 1971 and she passed away in 1977.
Jake enjoyed camping, fishing, playing cards and gardening.
He is survived by a daughter, Shirley Jean Cooper of Missoula; a son, Daniel William Ruff of Las Vegas; son-in-law, Sonny (Martin) Cooper and daughter-in-law, Sharon Ruff; sisters: Catherine Weisgarber, Clara Reiter, Freda Sauer and brother, John Ruff; 10 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren, also several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10, at Pilgrim Congregational Church. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens Gardens.
Harry R. Chitwood
SIDNEY - Harry R. Chitwood, 65, died Friday, Aug. 6, 1999, at the Sidney Extended Care Facility.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11, at the Fulkerson Memorial Chapel with interment in the Richland Memorial Park.
Allen E. Distad
HELENA - Allen E. Distad, 66, of Helena, passed away Friday, Aug. 6, 1999, at Deaconess Hospital in Billings.
Allen was born Oct. 23, 1933, in Lewistown. The son of Gilbert O. and Edith G. Distad, he grew up in Roy, graduating from Roy High School. Al married
Sonja H. Anderson on Aug. 27, 1960 and had four children. He left the Lewistown area in 1965 and moved to Helena.
Al was a mechanic and worked for Chrysler, later opening his own shop, Al's Auto Repair.
Allen enjoyed hunting, four-wheeling, he loved Montana and country music.
He is preceded in death by his father, and his brother, Gene Distad.
Allen is survived by his son, Alan A. Distad; three daughters, Brenda Doherty and Sandra Hartman of Billings and Patty Arnold of Yakima, Wash.; his mother, Edith Distad of Lewistown; two brothers, Richard Distad of Salt Lake City and Ted Distad of Arizona; seven grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A graveside memorial will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Lewistown on Wednesday, Aug. 11, at 11 a.m. Arrangements by Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
Elenora Losinski
OLIVE - Elenora Losinski, 80, died Saturday, Aug. 7, 1999, at the Holy Rosary Health Center Extended Care in Miles City.
Vigil services will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11, in the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 12, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church with interment in the family lot of the Calvary cemetery.
Bruce Allen Peterson
LAS VEGAS - Bruce Allen Peterson, 42, of Las Vegas, died peacefully Wednesday, Aug. 4, 1999.
October 26, 1957, Mr. And Mrs. Warren M. Peterson, were blessed with the birth of their son, Bruce Allen Peterson, in Billings, Mont. Though diagnosed with diabetes in junior high, Bruce continued to flourish in life and graduated from West High School in 1975. Bruce then spent two years studying at Rocky Mountain College before moving on and exploring the working world. He found great joy with working in real-estate with his father, as well as being a sales manager for a wholesale glass company. Bruce's greatest love, however, was found when playing music or being with animals. He was a very talented musician who played the trumpet, the piano, and the drums, becoming an award-winning musician who was selected twice to the McDonald's All-American Band as the first chair trumpet. Bruce had a great affinity for his dogs, Nyak and Sasha.
Bruce was preceded in death by his mother and father; brother, Mark Peterson; and his grandparents. He is survived by brother, Greg (Kathy) of Malta, Mont.; daughter, Melissa of Las Vegas; and daughter, Angela, of Phoenix, Ariz.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Though Bruce struggled with the complications of diabetes for most of his life, he always showed love towards others, put a great emphasis on his family, and trusted in faith and hope for all days to come. Bruce will be missed by all those who had the pleasure to know him.
Memorial services will be at Dahl Funeral Chapel in Billings, 10 Yellowstone Ave., Wednesday 3 p.m., Aug. 11, 1999. Interment will follow immediately at Mountview cemetery. Memorials may be made to The American Diabetes Association.
Ellen Queen
COLUMBUS - Ellen Queen, 63, died Friday, Aug. 6, 1999, at Stillwater Community Hospital.
Memorial services will be at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 8, at the home of David Grimland and Kathleen Ralph, 53 E. Ridge Road, Bear Paw Subdivision, Columbus. Smith Funeral Chapel-Columbus was in charge of cremation.
Jake Ruff Jr.
Jake Ruff Jr., age 87, of Billings passed away Friday evening at the Eagle Cliff Manor. Jake was born Dec. 1, 1911, in Diddle, Russia, a son of Jake and Mary Ruff Sr. At one year of age he came with his parents on the ship from Russia to Billings. Jake attended eight years at Shiloh School, after which he worked for a period in the beet fields before going to work at the Great Western Sugar Factory, where served as a yard foreman until his retirement in 1975. In 1938 he married
Frances Elizabeth Bell and she preceded him death in 1967. He married
Bertha Bolton in 1971 and she passed away in 1977.
Jake enjoyed camping, fishing, playing cards and gardening.
He is survived by a daughter, Shirley Jean Cooper of Missoula; a son, Daniel William Ruff of Las Vegas; son-in-law, Sonny (Martin) Cooper and daughter-in-law, Sharon Ruff; sisters: Catherine Weisgarber, Clara Reiter, Freda Sauer and brother, John Ruff; 10 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren, also several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10, at Pilgrim Congregational Church. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens Gardens.
Larry R. 'Dirty' Smith
ROUNDUP - Larry R. "Dirty" Smith, 46, died Thursday, Aug.5, 1999.
Graveside memorial services will be at 10.a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10, at the Roundup City cemetery. Wier Funeral home is in charge.
LaDonna Mae Weller
LaDonna Mae Weller, 67, of Billings, died peacefully at Deaconess Medical Center Friday, Aug. 6, 1999.
Roy and Muriel Freter were blessed with the birth of their baby girl, LaDonna Mae Freter, Feb. 22, 1932, in Balaton, Minn. When LaDonna was 16 she and her family moved to Billings, eventually graduating from Billings Senior High School in 1950. She then chose to study at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn., before uniting in marriage with her husband, Ed Weller, June 6, 1953.
As Ed and LaDonna built their family with their two daughters and son, Nancy, Carol and David, LaDonna's love for children and her family grew immensely. Not only did LaDonna work unceasingly at being a wonderful mother, but she worked for thirty years with her husband at the Baumgartner-Weller studio, and as a lunchroom and playground aide at Central Heights and Arrowhead schools. She also was a Girl-Scout leader, a member of the Soroptimist's, and a devoted servant of God as a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church. Anyone who knew LaDonna would describe her without hesitation as a servant of others and a true lover of her children and grandchildren. LaDonna will be missed by all who had the pleasure to know her.
LaDonna was preceded in death by her loving parents, Roy Freter and Muriel Donaldson Freter; son-in-law, Charles Pfluge; and grandson, Kyle Pfluge. She is survived by daughter, Nancy (Jim) McCall; daughter, Carol Pfluge; son, David (Leisa) Weller; grandchildren, Greg (Erin), Brad, and Carolee McCall, Matthew and Caitlin Pfluge, and Sarah and Megan Weller, all of Billings; and brother, Don Freter of Missoula.
Memorial services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church (537 Grand Ave. Billings, MT 59102) 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11, 1999. Cremation has taken place and committal will follow at St. Pius cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be made to Big Sky Hospice, 3021 Sixth Ave. N. Billings, MT 59101; Trinity Lutheran Church; or St. Pius cemetery Fund, 717 18th St. W. Billings, MT 59102.
Michael 'Mickey' Thomas Pablo
NIARADA - Michael "Mickey" Thomas Pablo, 51, tribal chairman for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe, passed away from cardio-respiratory arrest at his ranch near Niarada on Thursday, Aug. 5, 1999.
He was born on Jan. 8, 1948, in St. Ignatius, to Thomas E. and Lillian Pablo. Mickey attended schools in Polson and Hot Springs and graduated from Hot Springs High School. He joined the U.S. Army and served until he was medically discharged in 1968. He came back to Niarada and ranched with his family. Mickey continued to ranch and log for many years.
He married
Marci Denny on Nov. 15, 1975, at the ranch.
Mickey's ancestry represents a historic era of the Flathead Indian Reservation. He was related to Chief Big Knife of the Kootenai Tribe and Chief Michel of the Pend Oreille Tribe. His great-great-grandfather, Michel Pablo, revolutionized ranching practices that essentially saved the American bison from extinction. In the late 1800s, Mickey's great-great-grandfather combined conservation ethics with ranching which marked the return of the buffalo in North America. Mickey carried on the family tradition of ranching.
Mickey's career in tribal politics began in January of 1983 when he was elected to the Tribal Council as the Hot Springs District Representative. In 1987, Mickey became the chairman of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council. He followed in the footsteps of his father, Thomas E. Pablo, who served 13 years on the Tribal Council with five years as the distinguished tribal chairman.
Mickey served on the Montana-Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council as chairman from 1993 to present, the Joint Tribal/BIA/DOI Advisory Task Force on Reorganization of the BIA, National Indian Policy Centers Board of Directors at George Washington University, 1991-present; Flathead Basin Commission, the Columbia Basin Fish Wildlife Authority, Intertribal Agricultural Council, National Negotiation Task Force on Indian Gaming, CSKT Water Rights Negotiation Team, Core Policy Team to Redesign Indian Health Service 1993-present. He was invited to serve on the Presidential Task Force on the Nation's Economy during the Reagan administration, Montana coordinator for the Clinton/Gore Campaign in 1992 and Eastern Sanders County Conservation District Supervisor in 1981.
He received numerous local, tribal and national awards and merits for his constant pursuits and involvements. Mickey helped influence positive changes for Indians throughout the nation. Yet, he knew there was still much more to do with limited resources. His greatest frustration was that he could not help everyone. He knew that direct involvement in the local, state and national political process produced results. In his own words, "If you aren't involved, then forget it."
Mickey loved his family and the people he served.
He is preceded in death by his father.
He is survived by his wife, Marci of Niarada; sons: Lawrence Pablo of Hot Springs, Bob Paro and wife, Kris of Hot Springs, Bill Paro of Phoenix; grandchildren: Trevor and Brittany; mother, Lillian Pablo of Ronan; sisters: Marcia and husband, Jim Cross of Ronan, Marlene and husband, Michael Ross of Vancouver, Canada; and a brother, Dr. Dan and wife, Dr. Tisa Pablo of Procter, Okla.; numerous nieces, nephews and extended family.
Traditional wake services will be start at 3 p.m. Saturday (today), Aug. 7, 1999, at the Elmo Hall. Rosary will be held on Sunday at 8 p.m. at Elmo Hall. Mass of the Resurrection will be on Monday, Aug. 9, 1999, at 11 a.m. at Elmo Hall. Burial with Military Honors will be held at Calvary cemetery, Ronan.
Memorials can be made to American Cancer Society or to the donor's choice.
Arrangements are by the Grogan Funeral Home of Polson.
David W. Lilley
JUDITH GAP - David W. Lilley, 72, of Judith Gap died early Friday morning in the Central Montana Medical Center of complications of an earlier stroke and of diabetes. He was born Sept. 20, 1926, in Hedgesville, the son of Roy A. and Theo A. (Prettis) Lilley. He received his schooling at Franklin. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1944 to 1946.
After his discharge he worked for the Milwaukee Railroad in Harlowton. In 1956 he moved to Hardin and worked in the coal mine in the winter and fenced in the summers.
On Dec. 6, 1956, he was united in marriage to Mary Betts in Hysham. They continued to live in Hardin until 1968 when they moved to Judith Gap. He worked as a logger and cut posts in Judith Gap until his diabetes forced him into retirement after years of hard work and an occasional coffee and pie stop.
David was a member of the United Methodist Church of Judith Gap.
He loved his family and grandchildren very much. While his sons were growing up, they all enjoyed fishing and fencing together and in later years remembering these stories.
He is survived by his wife, Mary of Judith Gap; four sons: Arnold and his wife, Karen of Livingston, Dennis Betts and his wife, Jamie of Great Falls, Paul Bond and Ron Lilley, both of Judith Gap; two brothers: Fred of Polson and Ernie of Harlowton; one sister: Beatrice of Butte; 12 grandchildren, one great-granddaughter and several nieces and nephews.
His parents, one son, one daughter, two brothers and two sisters preceded him in death.
Funeral Services for David W. Lilley will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the United Methodist Church in Judith Gap with interment to follow in the Judith Gap cemetery. The Cloyd Funeral Home of Lewistown is in charge of arrangements.
Friends may make memorials to the Central Montana Skilled Nursing Center or the American Diabetes Association and they may be left at the Cloyd Funeral Home.
Donald P. Warner
BROADUS - Donald P. Warner, 72, of Broadus, died Thursday, Aug. 5, 1999, at the Holy Rosary Health Center in Miles City.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10, at the Powder River Congregational Church with interment at the family ranch. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home is in charge.
H.F. 'Dutch' Dahmer
GREAT FALLS - H.F. "Dutch" Dahmer, 78, of Great Falls and Swan Lake, died Tuesday, Aug. 3, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. Dutch had suffered from Alzheimer's disease for several years. He died of congestive heart failure.
"Dutchie, " as he was known to his grandchildren, was born April 28, 1921, in Cut Bank to Henry F. and Grace Sartain Dahmer. He grew up in Havre, attended Northern Montana College (MSU-Havre) for one year before transferring to the University of Montana where he excelled in Grizzly athletics and lettered in football, basketball, and track. In 1943, he received the Grizzly Cup, which was awarded for outstanding achievement in athletics, scholarship, and student leadership, and later graduated in absentia in March of 1943.
He went to Parris Island, S.C., for Marine boot camp and then to Quantico, Va., for officer candidate school where he earned his commission as a second lieutenant. He served in the South Pacific and went with the first occupation troops into Nagasaki, Japan, after the atomic bomb was dropped. He returned to the states and was discharged as a captain and started his professional career as a teacher and coach at Columbus in the fall of 1946.
He married
Garnet Sethne in June 1947. They moved to Great Falls in 1948. He spent the next 35 years at Great Falls High School, retiring in 1983.
At G.F.H.S. Dutch coached all sports and he and his best friend, Bill Swarthout, led the Bison to a number of championships. He was instrumental in getting Bison wrestling and girls basketball programs started in the high school.
He was a member of the Lions Club, Quarterbacks Club, a past-president of the University of Montana Alumni Association, and a member of Faith Lutheran Church. He devoted his life to his students and his family.
Following his retirement, Dutch enjoyed summers at Swan Lake where he was an avid fisherman and grew the most beautiful roses. He loved to spend time with his children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Garnet; son, Scott Dahmer and daughter-in-law, Susan English of Billings; daughter, Dee Butorac and son-in-law, Tom of Missoula; his five grandchildren, Tim, Tori, Erik, Lauren, and Ross; and his sister, Betty of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Services will be held Tuesday, Aug. 10, at 10:30 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in Great Falls. Cremation has already taken place. An additional reception will be held Friday, Aug. 13, at 7:30 p.m. at the Swan Lake Community Club.
Memorials in Dutch's name may be sent to the University of Montana Foundation, P.O. Box 7159, Missoula, MT 59807, to fund a Lady Griz basketball scholarship for a Montanan.
Alice B. Rowe
POWELL, Wyo. - Alice B. Rowe, 87, died Thursday, Aug. 5, 1999, at the Powell Nursing Home.
Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 9, at Crown Hill cemetery. Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home is in charge.
Grace J. Senef
LEWISTOWN - Grace J. Senef, 92, formerly of Denton, died Thursday, Aug. 5, 1999, at the Central Montana Skilled Nursing Center.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11, at St. Paul Lutheran Church with interment in the Lewistown City cemetery. Creel Funeral Home is in charge.
Robert J. Beadle
Robert J. Beadle, 73, of Billings, formerly of Roundup, passed away Wednesday morning, Aug. 4, 1999, at the hospital. "Bob" was born on Dec. 12, 1925, at Klein. He was preceded in death by his parents, Phil and Lucella Beadle, brothers, Glen and Norman Beadle.
Bob led an active life. He was a master mechanic, volunteer fireman, golfer, fisherman, hunter, computer wiz, a ham radio operator, but most of all, he was a loving family man and friend. He is respected and revered by all that knew him. Bob knew no strangers for he could talk to anyone and be a friend to all. "73"
Cremation has taken place, memorial will be held at a later date.
