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Doris Mary Garriffa
SHERIDAN, Wyo. - Doris Mary Garrifa, 75, died Thursday, Sept. 9, 1999, at Westview Health Care Center.
Visitation will be 7-9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12, at Kane Funeral Home. Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church with interment in the Elks cemetery.
Stewart J. Thomas
HOBSON - Stewart J. Thomas, 91, of Hobson, passed away early Friday morning, Sept. 10, 1999, at the Central Montana Skilled Nursing Center in Lewistown following a lengthy battle with cancer.
Stewart was born Aug. 26, 1908, in the Philippine Islands in Tugegarao-Kagayean Province. His parents were teachers commissioned to teach English to the natives in the newly acquired American territory. He spent his first birthday in Hong Kong with his mother and older brother. They were on a six-week steamer ship trip to the United States which would be his home for the next 90 years.
Stewart and his family settled on a homestead near Radersburg and also lived in Three Forks. In 1915, they moved to Butte and then to Missoula. While still in high school, Stewart lived with his aunt and uncle in Phillipsburg where he attended school, worked on a ranch and also in the mines.
He enjoyed the ranch work and later would tell the story of being involved with a runaway team pulling the dump rake that had him caught by the seat of his pants. His underground work in the mines gave him a deep appreciation of the dangers both to life and health that would later serve him in his work with the Social Security Administration.
Stewart graduated from Missoula County High School in 1927 where he once scored 35 points in a basketball game - quite a feat considering the center jump after each goal scored. His love of sports and young people's participation in all school activities was a mainstay his entire life.
Stewart graduated from the University at Montana with a bachelor's degree in business administration. While attending college, he met the love of his life, Catherine Nicholson. They were married
at her parents' home in Hobson on Aug. 16, 1931. The young couple first lived in Missoula where Stewart was employed at the University Business Office. Fort Peck Dam was under construction at this time and Stewart worked there, in the administrative office in 1934 and 1935. Then they returned to Missoula and the university where son, Bill, was born in 1935. This same year the Social Security Administration was established and Stewart found his occupation that was to be his for the next 32 years. He opened the first office in Butte in 1937. It was here that their son, Charles, was born in 1940. The family moved to Helena in 1943 where Stewart was to become the manager of the Social Security Office until his retirement in 1967. They moved to the ranch west of Hobson (Catherine's birthplace) the day after Stewart retired. What joy was in their hearts!
They remodeled the old ranch house and lived the American dream until her death in 1981. It remained Stewart's home until moving to Central Montana Skilled Nursing Center in June of 1999.
One of Stewart's grandchildren recently remarked, "Grandpa lived a big life." What a legacy to leave for others!
Stewart's number one joy in life after his family was trout fishing. Growing up in Missoula in the 1920s was the perfect place for a boy whose mother and father and five sons all loved to camp and fish. Stewart became an expert fly fisherman using a split bamboo fly rod and dry flies on his beloved Rock Creek. He was a fly fisherman's fisherman long, long before it was cool to fly fish! He passed this legacy - his love of fishing, camping and the outdoors to his sons, his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren.
Stewart's love for his family extended to the community of Hobson and especially to the young people. He was a "regular" at all school activities. He served on the Hobson School Board for a number of years and was the secretary-treasurer of the Ackley Lake Water Users Association for 32 years. He was a member of the Hobson United Methodist Church where he served as treasurer for many years. He was also very active in the Senior Citizen's organization of Hobson.
He is survived by two sons and their families: William and his wife, Janet of Hobson and their children, Mark (Karen) Thomas of Billings and Sheri (Keith) Derks of Denton; and son, Charles and his wife, Karen of Hobson and their children, Jewel (Mike) Greene of Redding, Calif., Vicki (Wayne) Waliser of Missoula, David (Barbara) Thomas of Lewistown and Dan (Chantelle) Thomas of Missoula; and 11 great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be conducted at the family ranch west of Hobson on Monday afternoon, Sept. 13, at 2 p.m. A private family burial service will be held at the Philbrook cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the Stewart and Catherine Thomas Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Thomas family in Hobson; or to the Hobson United Methodist Church; or to the Central Montana Medical Center Foundation at P.O. Box 580, Lewistown, MT 59457; or to the Rock Creek Trust at P.O. Box 8953, Missoula, MT 59807.
The Creel Funeral Home of Lewistown is in charge of arrangements.
Rena Little Head
Oct. 12, 1919 - Sept. 7, 1999
LAME DEER - Rena Little Head passed away on Sept. 7, 1999, at her home in Lame Deer. She is the daughter of John Little Head and Julia Seminole. Rena grew up in the Busby area and attended the Tongue River Boarding School, presently the School of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. She was the oldest sister to Rose and Glen Eaglefeathers, Bernard White, and also Paul and Leonard Little Head as well as Gloria Little Head.
She began her married
life with Clyde Redneck and became a mother at the birth of her firstborn son, Gilbert Redneck a/k/a Richard Morris. She later married
Roy Spang and they became parents to Ray and Lucy Ann. And later in her life, George Whitewolf became her companion.
Rena's passing is the family and tribe's loss of a lifetime of knowledge that they gained through her long life. Her generation of Cheyennes are the people whose grandparents were present in the 19th century historical events of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. The emphasis of her generation was the family, both the immediate and the extended families. Within her own family of relatives, she was one of the oldest members and she was most proud of her heritage as a member of a Cheyenne chief's family.
Rena was among the Morning Star descendants who were born into the heritage of a Cheyenne chief's family as one of the great-children of Northern Cheyenne Chief Morning Star, also known as Dull Knife, and his two wives, Little Woman, who was a Pawnee captive, and Slow Woman, his Cheyenne wife. Her maternal grandmother, Mary Dull Knife, was one of the surviving children of Morning Star.
Cloe E. Idland
CIRCLE - Cloe E. Idland passed away in the early morning hours on Sept. 9 of respiratory failure, at the age of 82 at the Miles City Holy Rosary Hospital.
She was born April 21, 1917, to Ervin and Maggie Hale in Kearney, Neb. She graduated from high school in Sioux Falls, S.D., but moved to Montana. She graduated from nursing school at Miles City and was greatly influenced by one of her instructors, Sister Mary Fanahan.
In 1945, she married
James Bruce. This union produced a daughter, Sharon, and a son Larry. In 1950, she married
Bill Idland and they had a daughter, Marilyn.
Cloe was preceded in death by James Bruce, Bill Idland, her parents, her two brothers, Bill Hale and Sam Hale, and her sister, Kay Meredith.
She is survived by her daughters, Marilyn (Jim) Krause of Miles City, Sharon (Duane) Woodward of Doniphan, Neb., and a son, Larry (Sandy) Bruce of Circle. She is also survived by her five grandchildren, who brought her joy and laughter, Cory Bruce, Paul Woodward, Brenda Woodward, Chad Krause and Britta Krause.
Cloe was a lifetime member of the Order of Eastern Star. Her adult life was spent in Circle, where she worked at her profession of nursing, a career that gave her great satisfaction and to which she devoted herself. Her life was one of giving. She gave herself to her family and to her beloved patients and to her friends.
She was well known in the community for her lemon pie, her brownies, and the beautiful afghans she made. She had a beautiful smile that could lighten up a room and her warmth and humor brightened the day of all whom she embraced.
As a mother, a nurse, and a friend, she left all of us a legacy of a life of devotion, giving, and courage. Her leaving has left a void in our lives, but God's Kingdom stands ready to welcome home a retired nurse that truly was "an angel in white."
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11, at the First Lutheran Church in Circle with Pastor Neva Rathbun officiating. Interment will be in the Dawson Memorial cemetery in Glendive. Clayton Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Gertrude Maria Beeler Calkin
July 22, 1912 - Sept. 7, 1999
CHINOOK - Gertrude Maria Beeler Calkin, 87 years old, died Tuesday morning in the Northern Montana Hospital after suffering a stroke at the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home in Chinook where she had been living the past year.
Her parents, Edward Arthur Beeler and Donna Maria Veltum Beeler, were early-day pioneers in Montana. Her father, Edward Arthur, homesteaded on Sage Creek in the Pryor Mountains in 1899.
Gertrude was born in the house at 1038 N. 30th in Billings. The family moved to Pike Road, Ala., near Montgomery, in 1920, where her father was in the sheep and wool business. She attended Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery before moving to Edinburg, Texas, in 1930 when they ranched on the Santa Cruz Ranch. She graduated from Edinburg High School in 1931.
In 1936 she returned to Billings where she went to work for Baumgardner Photographic Studio as a photo tinter, and later for Tippets Studio where she tinted black and white photos and retouched negatives. She also worked for Hester's Photo Studio before becoming the color processing manager for Kasper's Photo in Billings.
During World War II she was in great demand as a black and white photo tinter because of her artistic abilities. Color photography was in its infancy and it was important to returning service men, who had portraits taken in uniform, that their campaign and battle ribbons were always depicted precisely in the correct colors which she did.
She met Ronald W. Calkin at a Billings Camera Club meeting and married
him Oct. 1, 1939. They owned and operated a photo studio in their home at 338 Wyoming Ave. before moving to the Billings Bench where they lived at 1205 Billings Bench Blvd. from 1954 until 1998.
Gertrude Calkin was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. She was Worthy Matron of Billings Friendship Chapter No. 124 OES from 1962 to 1963. In 1964 she was Grand Representative of Manitoba, Canada, in Montana, and in 1991-92 she was Grand Ruth of the Grand Chapter of Montana, OES.
In June, 1961 she received the honor of the Grand Cross of Color from the Supreme Assembly of the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. She was active in many other Masonic organizations and was a longtime member of the Yellowstone County Republicans, and was also a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, (DAR).
She was well recognized for her artistic talent as an artist, illustrator, sculptor, ceramicist, wool spinner and cartoonist.
Of all of her talents and interests, her strongest passion throughout her life was her love for horses. From her high school years throughout her adult life, her greatest paintings and drawings were of horses. She owned horses and trained them and was dedicated to her children having them.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Donna Louise Hackett, Helen Jacqueline Tilleman, Betty Jean Kaye; and her brother, Edward Ellsworth Beeler.
She is survived by her husband, Ronald W. Calkin of the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home in Chinook; a son, Dennis W. Calkin of Alexandria, Va.; a daughter, Ann S. Davies of Chinook; two sisters, Phyllis Clouse of Helena and Judy Bartley of Casper, Wyo.; two granddaughters, Tiffany Kay Froman and Heather Capris Calkin of Alexandria; and several nieces and nephews and grandnieces and nephews.
In Chinook a memorial service will be 3 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10, at Sweet Memorial Nursing Home Chapel. In Billings a memorial service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 15, at Smith's West Funeral Chapel, 304 34th St. W. A reception will follow at the chapel.
Memorials may be made to Billings Friendship Chapter No. 124, O.E.S., c/o Billings Masonic Center, 1101 Broadwater Ave., Billings, MT 59102.
David Scharf
BOZEMAN - David Scharf, 79, formerly of Miles City, died Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1999, at the Evergreen Care Center.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, in the family lot in Calvary cemetery in Miles City. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge.
Helen G. Archambeault
GLASGOW - Helen G. Archambeault, 83, of Glasgow, died Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1999, at St. Vincent Hospital in Billings of heart failure.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, at the First Lutheran Church with interment in Highland cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge.
A. LaVerne Baxter
POWELL, Wyo. - LaVerne Baxter died Sept. 8, 1999, at the Powell Nursing Home from complications of Alzheimer's disease. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 13, at the Union Presbyterian Church, with military honors by the Powell Drill Team.
Vern and his twin brother, Marion, were born Feb. 16, 1921, to John A. and Ruby L. Baxter in Powell. The family moved to Arley, Mo., in 1924 and returned to Powell in 1938. Vern graduated from Powell High School with the class of 1939.
On July 18, 1942, he married
Gwendolyn Jacobs. Two children, Gary and Linda, were born to this union.
Vern was a veteran of World War II, U.S. Army Air Corp. He entered in September 1942 and served 18 months as an airplane mechanic with the 99th Bombing Unit, stationed in Foggia, Italy. He was discharged in October 1945 and returned to Powell. He was employed by Powell Auto Electric until starting his own business, B & L Auto Parts. He retired in 1983.
He was a member of the Union Presbyterian Church and served as a trustee and an elder.
Vern had life memberships in the VFW and the American Legion, being a past commander of Hughes-Pittinger Post No. 26. He served as the service officer for all veterans for 30 years. After retirement he served on the senior citizen board of directors and enjoyed spending time at the center playing pool.
Vern loved people and made friends easily. His favorite pastimes were camping and fishing. He entertained at the senior center and nursing home playing organ music for many years. His hobby was woodworking and he made wind whirls and butterfly sets which he sold at the craft fair each year.
His parents and twin brother and one grandson preceded him in death.
Survivors are his wife, Gwen; son, Gary and his wife, Pat of Powell; daughter, Linda and husband, Jeff George of Fort Collins, Colo.; sisters, Jeannette and husband, Harry Wilson and Dorothy Christiansen of Powell; eight grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.
Cremation has taken place. Memorials may be made to Union Presbyterian Church.
Rena Littlehead
LAME DEER - Rena Littlehead, 79, died Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1999, at the Lame Deer Clinic.
A wake service will be at 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 12, at the Blessed Sacrament Church. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 13, at the church with interment in the Busby cemetery. Rausch Funeral Home is in charge.
Donald R. Clausen
EUGENE, Ore. - A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Messiah Lutheran Church in Eugene for Donald R. Clausen, of Eugene, who died on Sept. 7 of cardiac arrest. He was 60.
Don was born April 16, 1939, in Everett, Wash., to James and Evelyn Clausen. He graduated from Everett High School in 1957.
He worked for McKesson HBOC for 33 years in sales and as district manager before retiring in June this year. He enjoyed yardwork, antique cars, and being around his family.
He is survived by his wife, Brenda; two sons, Jim of Gillette, Pete of Pocatello, Idaho, and daughter, Kimberly of Billings; stepchildren, Tracey of Eugene, Brian of Woodbridge, Va., and Mark of Minot, N.D.: his mother, Evelyn Clausen of Everett; sister, Alice Fisher of Kamloops, B.C.; and brother, Dick of Arlington, Wash. He had numerous nieces and nephews and five grandchildren.
Nonie L. Johnson
Nonie L. Johnson, 78 of Billings, formerly of Culbertson, died Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1999, at Parkview Convalescent Care Center in Billings.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10, at Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist, 1001 Alderson Ave., with cremation to follow. Private services will be held at a later date. Memorials may be directed to Big Sky Hospice, P.O. Box 35033, Billings, MT 59107-5033.
Elaine M. Roney
GLENDIVE - Elaine M. Roney, 66, died Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1999, at the Glendive Medical Center.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13, at Our Savior Lutheran Church with interment in the Dawson Memorial cemetery. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home is in charge.
Gabriel M. Yensen
LIVINGSTON - Gabriel "Gabe" Michael Yensen, 19, died Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1999, as the result of an automobile accident on Bridger Canyon Road east of Bozeman.
Visitation will be 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10, at Franzen-Davis Funeral Home with cremation to follow. A celebration of his life will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Forest Service picnic area on Suce Creek, south of Livingston.
Harold H. Rozell
LEWISTOWN - Harold H. Rozell, 75, died Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1999, at his home of cancer.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 13, in the Cloyd Funeral Home Chapel with interment in Central Montana Memorial Gardens.
