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Elizabeth Besel
YAKIMA, Wash. - Elizabeth Besel, 89, of Yakima, died Tuesday at her home.
Mrs. Besel was formerly of Hardin, Mont.
Survivors include seven sons, Leo Besel Jr. and Robert Besel, both of Billings, Bill Besel of Wapato, Conrad Besel of Toppenish, Jerry Besel, Henry Besel and Dennis Besel, all of Yakima; five daughters, Alice Hagerman of Zillah, Elizabeth Koch of Billings, Eleanor Clark of Toppenish, Betty Southards of Yakima and Marilyn Freeburg of Medford, Ore.; three brothers, Jake Yerger of Hardin, Conrad Yerger of Bozeman, Mont., and Victor Yerger of Forsyth, Mont.; and a sister, Emily Besel of Billings.
The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the Langevin-Mussetter Funeral Chapel in Yakima. Concluding service and burial will be in the Zillah cemetery in Zillah. Colonial Funeral Home, Toppenish, is in charge of arrangements.
Nora E. Brower
Nora E. Brower, 91, of Billings, passed away Sept. 7 at her home. Mother of William A. "Bill" Long and Geraldine Erickson. Graveside service will be at Rockvale cemetery, 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11.
Ronald Derheim
TACOMA, Wash. - Ron Derheim, 55, formerly of Billings, died Saturday, Sept. 4, 1999, at his home of cancer.
Cremation has taken place and graveside services will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10, in the Fir Lane Memorial Park in Spanaway. Fir Lane Funeral Home is in charge.
Carol Jean Doney
HAYS - Carol Jean Doney, 44, died Sunday, Sept. 5, 1999, in an automobile/horse accident on Highway 66 south of Fort Belknap.
Wake will start at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, with the Rosary at 7 p.m. at the Hays/Lodge Pole High School. Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 10, at the high school with interment in St. Paul's Mission cemetery. Adams Funeral Home of Malta is in charge.
Max A. Graham
RHAME, N.D. - Max A. Graham, 43, died Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1999, at his home.
Visitation will be 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10, at Stevenson's Funeral Home in Baker, Mont. Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Marmarth with interment in the family lot in Riverside cemetery, also in Marmarth.
Betty J. Horton
POWELL, Wyo. - We mourn the passing of Betty J. Horton, who joined the Lord quietly and at peace on Monday, Sept. 6, 1999, at Powell Hospital, Powell.
Betty had a loving, generous spirit and a brave soul, and will be sorely missed by her family. She was born to Frank and Louise Schultz of Billings who have preceded her in death.
She is survived by five siblings: Mary Bangart of Joliet, Mont.; Robert Schultz, Ronald Schultz and Joyce Brumfield of Billings; and Wayne Schultz of Kennewick, Wash. Betty raised and nurtured four children, all of whom are still living and will cherish her memory. They are Lonny Schultz of Vancouver, Wash.; Tresa Pilquist of Lovell; Jason Sanders of Billings; and Michelle Wiggens of Gillette. She is also survived by six grandchildren whom she dearly loved and took every opportunity to be with.
A memorial service to honor her life will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Powell on Sept. 10, 1999, at 10 a.m. May she be at peace, having weathered the storm.
Lyle D. Hoyt
BIGFORK - Lyle D. Hoyt, 72, formerly of Redstone, died Saturday, Sept. 4, 1999, at his home.
Services will be held at a later date at the family home in Bigfork. Inurnment will be at a later date in Redstone. Johnson Mortuary of Kalispell was in charge.
William K. Loff
William K. Loff (Bill), 69, of Billings, lost his battle with cancer Sept. 7 at Deaconess Hospital. Bill was born April 17, 1930, in Opheim, the only child of Henning and Rose Loff. He attended and graduated from Nashua High School in 1948.
Bill married
his high school sweetheart, Farol Peterson, Aug. 2, 1952, and they began their life's journey together in Glasgow. They had two daughters, Linda and Sheri. In 1962 they came to Billings, where Bill worked for Massey-Ferguson, and in 1966 he began a 27-year career as an agent with Farmer's Insurance Group.
Bill was active in the National Guard, Mason's and Elk's Club. He was a real family man; loving his wife and daughters, son-in-law and grandchildren. His grandchildren filled him with pride and brought him great joy. Bill never met a stranger, and he had a wonderful sense of humor.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents and wife, Farol. He is survived by his daughters, Linda Loff of Billings, Sheri Bond (Rick) of Billings, and grandchildren, Lacie, Bailey and Kooper.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial Service will be at Dahl Funeral Chapel, Friday, Sept. 10, 2 p.m. Memorials may be made to Big Sky Hospice, 3021 Sixth Ave. N., Billings, Mont. 59101.
Paul Forest Roby
Paul Forest Roby passed away on Sept. 4, 1999, at his home in Billings. Son of Forest Orvil and Ruth Hedges Roby. He was born in Camp Crook, S.D., on Oct. 4, 1931.
Paul was very proud of his Western heritage, particularly his grandfather, J.P. Hedges, who was a practicing dentist in Ekalaka, and who rode with the Rough Riders in the Spanish American War in 1898.
Paul retired in 1976 after 30 years employed by Western Airlines/Delta Airlines. Paul enjoyed coaching his sons in Little League and a highlight was taking his all star team to the state tournament in Great Falls.
His passion later was running race horses, and during this time, developed a strong and loyal friendship with Jerry and Sue Backlund.
Paul is survived by his wife, Judy; sons, Judd and Scott; granddaughter, Hayley "Whistle Breeches"; sister, Kathleen Schell of Billings; in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death are his father, Forest; mother, Ruth; and brother, Judd.
A celebration of Paul's life will take place at a later date at the family home. Cremation is planned. Memorials may be made to Big Sky Hospice.
J. Bert Sammons
J. Bert Sammons, 88 of Billings, passed away Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 7, 1999, at Valley Health Care Center. The son of James and Mabel (Holeton) Sammons, he was born Feb. 9, 1911, in Tower City, N.D.
Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served during World War II. He was honorably discharged as a corporal in September of 1943. Bert married
Catherine Fortman on April 25, 1957, in Billings. He worked as a salesman in the fire equipment business and later for the N.F.I.B. He was a member of the Elks Club and the Scottish Rite and enjoyed reading and art. He was preceded in death by his wife, Catherine, and one brother, Douglas Sammons.
Survivors include his two sisters, Hazel Knight (Earle) and Ruth Cauble; and two stepdaughters, Julie Jackson and Darlene Ellis.
Cremation has taken place and a graveside service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 10, in Section 11 of Mountview cemetery. Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist has charge of arrangements.
Patricia Leona Smith
SONNETTE - Patricia Leona Smith, 83, died Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1999, at her home.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 13, in the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City with interment in the family lot in the Custer County cemetery, also in Miles City.
Rae Jean Turner
CODY, Wyo. - Rae Jean Turner, 75, died Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1999, at West Park Long Term Care Center.
Memorial services will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 10, at West Park Long Term Care Center with private interment in Riverside cemetery. Ballard Funeral Home is in charge.
Barbara C. Willey
SHERIDAN, Wyo. - Barbara C. Willey, 80, died Tuesday, Sept. 7, 1999, at her home on Meade Creek.
Cremation has taken place and memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church. Kane Funeral Home is in charge.
Harold 'Gene' Bennet
STORY, Wyo. - Harold Eugene "Gene" Bennet, 74, died Saturday, Sept. 4, 1999, in Story.
Cremation has taken place and family memorial services will be at a later date in Longmont, Colo. Champion Funeral Home of Sheridan is in charge.
Bernice E. Cartwright
SILVERDALE, Wash. - Bernice Evelyn Cartwright, 88, formerly of Townsend, Mont., died Aug. 27, 1999, in Silverdale.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 11, at the Methodist Church in Townsend with interment in Forestvale cemetery in Helena, Mont. Connors Funeral Home is in charge.
Palmera 'Polly' Dyba
MILES CITY - Palmera "Polly" Dyba, age 91, mother of Pauline Deines of Glendive, Norma Tom and Charles Dyba of Miles City, passed away Monday, Sept. 6, 1999, at the Holy Rosary Extended Care in Miles City.
A vigil service will be held Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1999, at 6 p.m. in the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, Sept. 9, 1999, at 10:30 a.m. in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Eleanor Espy
Eleanor Espy, 85, of Billings, beloved wife of Melvin Espy for 63 lovely years, died Sunday, Sept. 5, 1999, at St. Vincent Hospital in the aftermath of a heart attack.
She was born June 1, 1914, in Altoona, Pa., the daughter of C. Ernest and Olive Good Gaines. She was schooled in Altoona. She worked as secretary for a prominent law firm in Altoona until marriage to Melvin Espy on June 20, 1936, in Altoona.
Melvin's engineering career took them from Presque Isle, Maine, to Burlington, Vt., and to Waynesboro, Pa., to Baltimore, Md., and to South Bend, Ind. Continuing on to Montreal, Quebec, they moved to Fullerton, Calif., and later to Seattle, then to Sequim, Wash., before coming to Billings in 1973 where Eleanor has collaborated with Melvin in planning a major advanced engineering-economic development program. This, expected to be quite successful, shall be a direct memorial to Eleanor.
She was active in Eastern Star and White Shrine of Jerusalem.
Survivors include her husband, Melvin; two daughters, Irene Louise (Dennis) Thurman, Jean Eleanor (Oliver) Judd; a son, Wayne Melvin Espy, all of the Seattle area; five grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and a sister, Louvenia Shull of Morrisville, Pa.
Via previous plans, her remains have been consecrated to science via WAMI program at MSU-Bozeman.
Plans are to Celebrate her 85 years plus of vibrant life on Friday afternoon Sept. 10, 1999, at 3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Fourth and Broadway. During all those years she has nicely spread Joy and Happiness all around and unstintingly given her indeed warm, devoted love to those few deeply privileged to be very close to her.
Arrangements by Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
Eleanor Harper
BIG TIMBER - Eleanor Harper, 68, died Sunday, Sept. 5, 1999, at her daughter's home.
Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 10, at Lowry Funeral Home.
D.C. 'Rusty' Holler
SHERIDAN, Wyo. - D.C. "Rusty" Holler, age 78, of Sheridan, died in Westview Health Care Center, Sheridan. He was born Sept. 8, 1920, on a ranch south of Big Springs, Texas. The family moved to a ranch in Yokum County, Texas, when he was 5. As a teenager, he worked for neighboring ranches in Texas. He came to Wyoming in 1940 and worked for Bill Eaton two summers and worked for the Circle Z and LaOsa dude ranches in Arizona in the winter.
During the war he worked at Lockheed in California where he joined the California State Guard. He met Tex Ritter on Signal Hill during guard duty. Tex got him a screen test with Republic Studios. He received his Screen Actors Guild card as a stuntman and double. Lifelong friends were made of many.
Rusty returned to Eaton's Ranch and met Jane Stephenson who worked in the office and they were married
on Dec. 30, 1945. They spent the next summer tending cow camp for ranchers on Dayton Kane.
In 1948, Bob Wood of Sheridan bought a ranch on Little Powder River in Campbell County and asked Rusty to run it for him. He became a partner then purchased it later. He lived on the ranch for 39 years. He had the largest registered Longhorn herd in Wyoming and had a show string of 40 head of big steers. He has a wall full of ribbons and belt buckles. He also has a pair of spurs given him by the Matador Cowboy Reunion Association as he worked on the Matador Ranch upper division as a young cowboy in Channing, Texas.
He was a life member of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. He has been a director for many years and was elected Director Emeritus this spring. In 1997, he received their highest honor - GREAT WESTERNER. In addition, he was a life member of the Hall's Rodeo Historical, Buckaroos & Winchester Club. The Hall has always been a special place for him. Other life memberships were 4-H Honorary, National Cattleman's Assoc., Elks Lodge No. 520, National Rifleman's Association, Rocky Mountain. Elk Foundation and the Matador Cowboy Reunion Association.
He served Campbell County on the Fair Board (chairman two times), Farmers Co-op (president), BLM Grazing advisory board, Rural and High School Boards, Rodeo board (chairman), Airport Board, Farmers Home Administration, New Camplex Committee and Rural District Supervisor Intermountain Conservation.
He was a member in Sheridan County of the Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, Historical Society, Hospital Foundation, Equestrian Foundation, Sportsmen's Association, Sheridan Inn Heritage Center. He was a PRCA Advocate member in Colorado Springs, Colo., and a Wyoming state water commissioner of District No. 10.
Rusty was a Wyoming Game and Fish commissioner who was instrumental in having the Fish Hatchery at Story built and the visitors center in Sheridan built. He had two senators present and have passed the bills for Wyoming Prestige License plates and off-ramp signage for businesses.
Rusty's first priority was his family and he never met a stranger. He fed the elk in the Sheridan city park every morning and loved all animals.
He is survived by his wife, Jane of Sheridan; his daughter, Patty of Billings, Mont.; two sisters, Dorothy Shipley of Ardmore, Okla., and Doris McKay of Austin, Texas.
Cremation has taken place and at his request no services are planned.
Arrangements are with Ferries Funeral Home.
Memorials to Rusty may benefit the Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County Foundation, Box 391, Sheridan, WY 82801.
