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Elisabeth Ann Ofstad
GLASGOW - Elisabeth Ann Ofstad, 68, died Friday, Dec. 24, 1999, at Our Place Retirement Home of cancer.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 27, at the Assembly of God Church with burial in Highland cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge.
Walter Haig Russell
Walt Russell, 81, of Billings, passed away Friday, Dec. 24, 1999, at Deaconess Medical Center following a short illness. Walt was born Nov. 15, 1918, in Gebo, Wyo., the son of Billy and Jessie Russell.
He was raised and educated in Fromberg and following graduation from high school, entered the Army Air Force and served during World War II. Walt married
Eileen (Tex) Church on Dec. 29, 1955, in Billings. He retired from the Montana State Highway Department as a maintenance foreman after 42 years of dedicated service.
Walt's first love of his life was his wife Tex and then fishing. He also enjoyed his buddies. He also looked forward to his annual trips with his wife to Las Vegas.
Survivors include his wife Eileen and one sister, Olive Stukey of Casper, Wyo. At his request, cremation has taken place and no services are planned. Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist had charge of arrangements.
"Remember, I love you, hon - good fishing."
Elton Robert Stevenson
Elton Robert Stevenson died Dec. 22, 1999, at Valley Nursing Home in Billings. He was born Aug. 18, 1913, in Oceola, Mo., the sole surviving triplet and fourth child of William Chester and Una Ethel Stevenson.
The family moved to the Judith Gap area of Montana in 1914. Elton graduated valedictorian of his class from Buffalo, Mont., High School in 1931. He went on to attend college in Billings and California.
Elton married
the love of his life, Helen Evelyn Wells, on March 13, 1937, in Billings. They made their home in Billings for 62 years, except for the four years in Ballantine during the early 1940s. Together they raised three sons: Robert C. (Lois), Ronald E. (Kaye) of Billings, and Mel G. of Palmeres, Alajarela, Costa Rica.
Besides his sons, Elton is survived by one sister, Thelma Grayson (Stan) of Sacramento, Calif.; his grandchildren, Barbara Merrifield of Laurel, Carol Ehrman of Modesto, Calif., Kim Stevenson and Scott Stevenson of Billings, and Keri Stevenson of Seattle; eight great-grandchildren, Tyson, Nicole, Brett, Kelly, Jace and Dylan Merrifield, and Whitney and Haley Ehrman, plus many nieces and nephews.
Elton was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Evelyn, and five brothers: Harold, Knolie, Dick, Edward and Orin.
Elton began to study the Bible in the 1940s and became one of Jehovah's Witnesses. One of his favorite scriptures was 1 Peter 2:21; "Christ suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely." Elton took this to heart and walked the walk "of a Christian." For 50 years his main goal in life was sharing the Bible's hope for the future, delivering Bible sermons and studying the Bible with others. Elton also successfully displayed the fruitages of God's Spirit listed in Galatians, Chapter 5; love, joy, peace, long suffering, goodness, faith, mildness and self control. He always had time for the sick and elderly. Elton will be remembered for these qualities along with his love of the land and horses.
Cremation is planned and a memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 29, 1999, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 36th Street West and Monad Road in Billings. Smith West Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Joyce M. (Grosch) Stratton
Joyce M. (Grosch) Stratton was surrounded by family as she quietly passed away at the ranch near Roberts on Friday, Dec. 24, 1999. A short but valiant battle with cancer limited her life to only 55 years.
Joyce was born in Worland, Wyo., on July 24, 1944, a daughter of Alexander and Elsie (Bux-mann) Grosch. She received her education in Worland, graduating in 1964. On June 6, 1964, she married
William G. "Bill" Stratton in Windsor, Colo., and as a family they moved to Montana to work the Stratton ranch on Blue Creek Road south of Billings.
In 1972 she and Bill bought a ranch near Roberts and resided in the Billings area, including 16 years on Dover Road. Joyce began a career in taxidermy following her licensing in 1982 and in 1996 witnessed the construction of the home of her dreams on the ranch.
Mrs. Stratton loved her four stepsons and her grandchildren. This love for children extended outside her own family, as through the years she worked with youth camps and shared a love of the outdoors and her taxidermy skills with the students in area schools. Joyce hunted and fished on four continents, winning a trophy fishing competition with the landing of a 629-pound marlin after two hours of drag and reel. A member of Safari Club International, she served as president of the Montana chapter for two years. Her lifesize replicas of trophy animals were sold internationally, and she was an accomplished artist, working with oils and pastels.
Joyce is survived by her husband, Bill; four stepsons, Russell of Gillette, Wyo., Richard of Roundup, Donald and Ronald, both of Billings; three sisters including her twin Janice Franklin of Powell, Wyo., Nancy Martin of Windsor, Colo., and Linda Sutton of Los Gatos, Calif.; one brother, Donald Grosch of Worland, Wyo.; 14 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild; and her precious "wonder dog, " Essie. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Robert and Edward Grosch.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 27, at the Smith Downtown Chapel, 120 N. 26th St. in Billings. No public visitations are scheduled. Interment rites and burial will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 28, at the Worland cemetery. Smith Downtown Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Mary M. Bauer
Mary M. Bauer, 97, of Billings, passed away Thursday morning, Dec. 23, 1999, at St. John's Lutheran Home. The daughter of Ludwig and Katherine (Repp) Miller, she was born in Portland, Ore., May 2, 1902.
In 1930, she married
Leo Bauer in Portland. Mary and Leo moved to Billings in 1960. Leo preceded her in death in 1974.
Survivors include her three nieces, Jean Andersen and Marie Pippin of Billings, and Velma Yeomans of Yountville, Calif.; and numerous great-nieces and -nephews.
At her request, cremation has taken place and no services are planned. Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist had charge of arrangements.
Cami Billin
HARDIN - Cami Renee Billin of Hardin, passed away Dec. 21, 1999, in a single-car accident near Billings, while on an errand for Santa.
Cami was born Dec. 14, 1966, in Westminster, Calif., the daughter of Don C. and Peggy Gardner Hokanson. She was raised in Bountiful, Utah, and graduated from Viewmont High School where she excelled in cheerleading, sports and being a friend to all. She met Aaron R. Billin of Laconia, N.H., while attending Brigham Young University. They were sealed in the Salt Lake City LDS Temple on Aug. 13, 1986.
She later attended the University of Utah and trained as an emergency medical technician while her husband attended medical school in St. Louis, Mo. However, her greatest satisfaction was in her "full time job" as a wife and mother.
Cami and Aaron lived in Utah, New Hampshire, Washington and Missouri, settling in 1998 in Hardin where her husband practices medicine. Cami is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was active in directing the Primary Children's Organization and organizing the Cub Scout pack in the Hardin Branch of the church. Cami enjoyed spending time with her family, attending the Temple, crafts, fishing, boating, skiing, camping and cycling. She was particularly proud of completing a 200-mile bicycle tour from Seattle to Portland in two days.
Her family includes her husband, Dr. Aaron Billin; four children, Joshua (11), Ethan (9), Zachary (6) and Mikayla (2); her parents, Don and Peggy Hokanson of Bountiful, Utah; parents-in-law, Drs. Robert and Carole Billin of Center Harbor, N.H.; four brothers, Don Michael (Jeannine) Hokanson and Russell (Chikako) Hokanson of Sandy, Ore., Clifford (Regina) Hokanson of Kaysville, Utah, and Craig (Emily) Hokanson of Layton, Utah; her maternal grandfather, Ralph Gardner of Layton; seven brothers-in-law; 11 sisters-in-law; 12 nephews and 18 nieces.
Funeral services for Cami will be held Monday, Dec. 27, at 3 p.m. in the Hardin Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (920 N. Cody Ave.). A graveside service will follow at the Hardin Fairview cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements. Contributions may be made to the Cami Billin Memorial Fund, c/o First Interstate Bank, Box 903, Hardin, MT, 59034.
Lydia Buxbaum
GLENDIVE - Lydia Buxbaum, 87, died on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 1999, at the Glendive Medical Center Extended Care Facility in Glendive.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 27, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Glendive. Interment will be in the Dawson Memorial cemetery. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive is in charge.
Alice E. Ellertson
LEWISTOWN - Alice E. Ellertson, 76, died Saturday, Dec. 18, 1999, at Valley Lutheran Hospital in Mesa, Ariz.
Funeral liturgy will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, at St. Leo's Catholic Church with burial in Central Montana Memorial Gardens. Creel Funeral Home is in charge.
Herman J. Erhart
Herman J. Erhart, 67, of Billings, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 22, 1999, at Deaconess Hospital following a long illness. He was born June 29, 1932, in Almont, N.D., the son of Florian and Ann Steckler Erhart. He was schooled in North Dakota and later married
Viola D. Dallman in Jamestown, N.D., July 21, 1951. After their marriage, they lived in Nevada, Idaho and South Dakota before moving to Billings in 1965.
Herman worked as a diesel mechanic for various construction and trucking firms. He retired due to disability in 1994. He loved his family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, enjoyed fishing, being a handyman, and playing his accordion.
Survivors include his wife, Viola; one daughter, Deborah (Lloyd) Hartford of Billings; two sons, Allen (Linda) Erhart of Billings and Wayne (Diane) Erhart of Park City; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; seven brothers, Martin, Leo, Ed, Rudy, Myron, Lawrence and Bernard; and three sisters, Marie, Loretta, and Annabelle. Herman was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Catherine and Grace.
Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday and 1-5 p.m. on Sunday. Funeral service is 11 a.m. Monday at Cremation or Funeral Gallery, 8 St. W. and St. Johns. Interment will follow at Yellowstone Valley Memorial Park. Arrangements were made by Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
Loretta Garoutte
PARK CITY - Loretta Garoutte, 88, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 22, 1999, at Billings Deaconess Hospital. She was born Aug. 12, 1911, at Ewing, Neb. Her parents were Evo and Clara Vandersnick. The family later moved to Nye, Mont., where she went to school and grew up on a ranch.
Loretta was well-known for playing the piano at dances in the surrounding communities.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry, and her son, Kenneth.
She is survived by her sister, Viola "Jimmie" Grotbo of Missoula; a son, Dennis (Gen) Garoutte of Raleigh, N.C.; two daughters, Jane (Dave) Schlosser of Anchorage, Alaska, and Carol Heit of Laurel; 14 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 27, at Smith Funeral Chapel-Laurel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28, at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Laurel with Rite of Committal in Park City cemetery. Visitation will begin Monday morning at 9 a.m.
Parker Harris
CODY, Wyo. - Parker Harris, 82, died Wednesday, Dec. 22, 1999, at the West Park Long Term Care Center in Cody.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 27, at the Ballard Funeral Home. Cremation has taken place. Ballard Funeral Home is in charge.
Martha Francis Holden
Martha Francis Holden, 80 years old, died Dec. 22, 1999, in Billings after a short illness. A lifelong resident of Billings, Martha graduated from Billings High in 1937 and Billings Business College.
In addition to raising four daughters, Martha was a longtime employee of the Midland Bank, which is now U.S. Bank. After her retirement in the late 1980s, she continued to volunteer at the bank and was active in retirees functions, especially around the holidays. Martha and Ed were married
in San Francisco during the second world war while she worked at the Army Medical Depot and he served in the U.S. Army.
Martha is survived by her husband of almost 57 years, Edward; their four married
daughters, Kay Allen of Blaine, Wash., Pat Burhan of Hoffman Estates, Ill., Jo Harkless of Billings and Janet Cassel of Salt Lake City; her two brothers, Walter McLaughlin of Oregon and Robert McLaughlin of Indiana; her sister, Ruth Watters of California; and her six grandchildren who called her Grammy, Andrew and Lyndsey (Jo), and David, Alexandra, Madeliene, and Samuel (Janet).
Cremation has taken place and a Vigil Service will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 26, at Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist, 1001 Alderson Ave. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 27, at St. Pius X Church. Memorials may be directed to St. Pius X Church, 18th St. W. and Broadwater Ave., Billings, MT 59102.
Evelyn P.L. Coon Jacobson
MOM NOW DANCES WITH DAD AGAIN
"Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing;
thou hast loosed my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,
thus my soul may praise thee and not be silent
O Lord, my God, I will give thanks to thee forever.
--Psalm 30:11, 12 RSV
Evelyn P.L. Coon Jacobson (84) died on December 23 at 1 a.m. peacefully in her bed of emphysema and heart disease complicated by osteoporosis. She was born January 23, 1915, and lived in Montana most of her life. She was a devoted wife, tender mother and skilled homemaker.
She is preceded in death by her loving husband Stanley R. Jacobson, and their daughter Patricia Jean Kostelecky. Remaining are Mr. and Mrs. Gary A. Gray (daughter Diana) who live in Billings and Mr. and Mrs. Steven A. Brewster (daughter Pamela) who live in Bozeman. Her grandchildren are (in order of age and spouse) Rohnn, Rick and Charlotte, Shari and Randy, Shan and Sue, Zane and Karen, Rhonda, Christina and Ron, Darin and Angie, and twelve great grandchildren.
Evelyn and Stanley loved to dress up and go dancing. Well, Evy is dancing in heaven now. She walked into the "Welcome Home" party prepared just for her. All her family was there - Stanley, Pat, her sister, her parents, and most of her dearest friends. Stanley stood at the door with Jesus, beaming, eager as a groom at the altar, waiting to usher her in.
Now Evy has entered the promised new life eternal. She stands tall and straight and fills her lungs with full breaths of heavenly air, and is dancing with Stanley at that party in heaven. Her mourning has turned to dancing; she is in fact dressed with gladness and is praising God, giving thanks forever and ever.
And we, though sad, rejoice.
The Family of Evelyn Pearlene Louise (Coon) Jacobson
Visitation will begin 12 p.m. Sunday at Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist. Graveside services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 28, at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be directed to the charity of one's choice.
Marie (Loe) Johnson
SIDNEY - Marie (Loe) Johnson, 61, died at her home, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 1999.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28, at the Fulkerson Memorial Chapel of Sidney. Fulkerson Memorial Chapel is in charge.
