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Julian Weinzetl
CUSTER - Julian Weinzetl, 61, of Custer, passed away Jan. 28, 2000, at his home of natural causes.
He was born a twin on Jan. 23, 1938 in Billings, a son of Julian C. and Magdalena Kuntz Weinzetl. He grew up and attended Custer schools, graduating in 1956. While in school, he was selected as a Montana Boys State delegate.
Julian enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1956, served aboard the U.S.S. Hancock and later received his Honorable Discharge.
He married
Agnes Lix on Nov. 7, 1959 in Forsyth, and the couple made their home on the family farm near Custer. He was a former Montana State Alfalfa Seed Committee member, a member of the Victory Ditch Board, St. Mary Catholic Church and an Honorary member of the FFA.
Julian enjoyed fishing, agate hunting and agate cutting. However, the most important part of his life was his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Carolynn. Survivors include his wife Agnes of the family farm; three daughters, Belinda (Steve) Darlinton of Great Falls, Colleen (Jim) Schneider of Calif. and Julie (Todd) Grebe of Custer; a son Dean (Kellie) Weinzetl of Bozeman; five sisters, his twin Juliette (R.J.) Stookey of Custer, Kathleen (Daryl) Newman of Hysham, Jackie (Ben) Wong of Calif., Stephanie Gillespie of Billings and Marilynn Schneider of Miles City; one brother, John (Merna) Weinzetl of Tenn.; seven grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Prayer services will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31, in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be held 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1, in the Custer High School Gymnasium. Interment will follow in the Custer cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Custer EMT Fund, Custer, MT.
William R. 'Bill' Fiene
William R. 'Bill' Fiene, 79, of Billings, died Saturday, Jan. 29, 2000.
Bill was born in Absher, Mont. on Aug. 16, 1920, to Otto and Catherine Fiene. He lived in Roundup, Wyoming and Billings as a child. Bill graduated from Billings Senior High in 1938.
With the onset of W. W. II, Bill moved to San Diego, building airplanes for Consolidated Aircraft until joining the Army Air Corp. in March of 1944. A proud member of the 8th Air Forces 96th Bomb group, Bill served as tailgunner on a B-17 until he was shot down, escaping into Switzerland where he was interned. His experience led to life long relationship with surviving crew mates and active role with the 8th Air Force Historical Society.
Upon returning to Montana, Bill was successful in the building material trade. He and his brother-in-law, Bob Lands, built a thriving business in Lands Lumber. Bill retired in 1975, and spent his remaining years enjoying life, his family and friends.
Bill married
Marjorie Byers on Jan. 31, 1959. She survives him as do his daughters, Cathy Lehner (Tony) and Linda Fiene (Michael Quinn). Bill was devoted "PAPA" to grandchildren Tuesday, Madison, Harley, Emma, Omega, Jan and new baby Abigail. He is also survived by sisters Dee Kirk (Erle), Ruth Giampaolo (Paul) and brother-in-law, Leon Wiese, as well as several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by sisters Irma, Lindee, and Jane Wiese.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 2, at Smith Downtown Chapel. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to Big Sky Hospice, P.O. Box 35033, Billings, MT 59107.
George Haffner
SIDNEY - Funeral services for George Haffner, 89 are at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2000 at the Ebenezer Congregational Church, Sidney. Interment will be in the Sidney cemetery, under the direction of Fulkerson Funeral Home of Sidney. Memorials may be sent to the charity of one's choice.
George Haffner died, Friday, Jan. 28, 2000, at the Sidney Health Center Extended Care Facility.
He was born on Nov. 10, 1910, the son of Henry and Eva (Oblander) Haffner. When he was nine months old his family immigrated to the United States. After two different moves the family arrived in Sidney in 1918. After seven years of farming, they moved to Colorado. However, two years later they returned to Sidney permanently.
George farmed with his father South of Sidney. In March of 1934, George married
Katie Gable. They had one son, Harold. In 1936 he farmed on his own and in 1941 he purchased the farm. George continued to work on the same farm until well into his late seventies.
For many years he was a member of the FT Reynolds Bowling Team. He also enjoyed fishing with his friends at Rock Creek. He also was a member of the Ebenezer Congregational Church in Sidney and a long time member of the Sidney Moose Lodge.
In Jan. of 1993 he entered the Extended Care Facility. He spent two years there with his wife, Katie. She passed away in Jan. of 1995 and George continued to live at the Extended Care Facility.
Surviving him are: a son, Harold Huffner of Sidney; four sisters, Lydia Gable of Sidney, Emma Rein of Fallon, Freida Case of Kennewick, Wash. and Leah Haas of Glendive; two granddaughters and four great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Katie, and a sister Molly Miller of Tacoma, Wash.
Lois C. Orf Hansen
LAUREL - Lois C. Orf Hansen, 67 of Laurel passed away Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2000, at the Evergreen Laurel Care Center after an extended illness with cancer.
She was born Jan. 26, 1933, in Pueblo, Colo., a daughter of Bryan and Ida Gray Orf. Lois was educated in Pueblo and later moved to Tucson. During her life, she moved around the U.S. until she found her home in Laurel where she was self-employed as an antique dealer, seamstress and herbalist.
Her survivors include four children, Kirk Schroeder, Ricki Ralston, Susan Hansen, and Dana Schroeder; and one sister, Ellen Schwartz. Among her survivors are also those who loved her dearly and whose lives she touched. Due to her love of gaining knowledge, she enrolled at RMC at the ripe old age of 59, where she majored in psychology.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the WAMI Program, P.O. Box 173080, Bozeman, MT 59717-3080 or to Big Sky Hospice, P.O. Box 35033, Billings, MT 59107.
Arrangements were by Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
Bill C. Petersen
WESTBY - Bill C. Petersen, 93, of Westby, died Thursday in Plentywood.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church of Westby. Interment will follow at the Emmaus cemetery (6 miles on the Emmaus Road which is at mile marker 19.4 on Highway 5 just west of Westby). Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood is in charge.
Leo C. Bratsky
BRIDGER - Leo C. Bratsky, 74, a lifelong resident of the Bridger area, passed away Friday morning, Jan. 28, 2000, at Western Manor in Billings following a lengthy illness.
Leo was born on Aug. 30, 1925, in Bridger, a son of Leo and Frances Bratsky. He attended Sand Creek and Fromberg Schools.
On Nov. 1, 1944, he married
Louise J. Brown in Austin, Texas. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, Leo served with the 10th Mountain Division in Italy, where he was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. After his discharge, Leo and Louise farmed north of Bridger, where they raised their four children. In 1988, they settled in Bridger.
Leo was active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, 10th Mountain Division Veterans, American Legion, and was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans. He was a longtime director of the Mountain States Beetgrowers Association of Montana, served on the Bridger City Council, school board, fair board, and was a 4-H leader. Leo was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Parish of Bridger.
Survivors include his wife, Louise J. Bratsky of Bridger; his four children and their spouses, Jim (Suzanne) Bratsky of Bozeman, Pat (Don) Strachan of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Ralph (Donna) Bratsky of Bridger, and Linda (Lyle) Lacock of Hinsdale; eight grandchildren, Kevin and David Bratsky, Don and Darryl Strachan, Jay and Dana Bratsky, and LeAnn and Levi Lacock; one brother, Hank (Betty) Bratsky of Bridger and three sisters, Mary Joy of Seattle, Wash., Frances (Leo) Kelsey of Bridger, and Lillian (Frank) Salo of Belfry.
"Dad and Grandpa, you were an inspiration to us all, and you will always be held dear in our hearts. You were so easy to love."
A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31, in Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bridger. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1, in the Church. Rite of Committal will be in the Bridger cemetery with Olcott Funeral Chapel of Red Lodge in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be given to the VFW, Jim Bridger Post #1543, Bridger, MT 59014, or to the charity of one's choice.
Walter Broeder
GLENDIVE - Walter Broeder, 83 died on Friday, Jan. 28, 2000, at the Glendive Medical Center.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1, at the Chapel of Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home. Interment will be in the Dawson County cemetery.
Polly Opal Brubaker
WORLAND, Wyo. - Polly Opal Brubaker, 96, died on Jan. 28, 2000, at Community Care of America.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30, at the Veile Mortuary Chapel. Interment will follow at Riverview Memorial Gardens cemetery.
Lynn P. Collins
LOVELL, Wyo. - Lynn P. Collins died Jan. 28, 2000, at the North Big Horn Hospital in Lovell of lymphoma. He was born Jan. 12, 1933, at Gain, Tenn., to Curtis and Virgie Collins.
Lynn grew up in Tennessee and at age 15 moved to Lovell to be raised among the LDS influence. He graduated from Lovell High School. He was the 1951 Wyoming state wrestling champion in one of the first years of Lovell's wrestling program coached by local men.
He married
Arlene Brinkerhoff in 1951 in Billings. He worked for the Lovell Brick and Tile and then moved to Laurel, Mont., where he began working for the railroad. He served as railroad union local chairman for 16 years. He worked for 39 years for the Burlington Northern Railroad and the family moved as the job required to Livingston and Columbia Falls, Mont. Upon retirement, Lynn moved to his Cowley farm and then to Lovell.
Surviving are his wife, Arlene; his children, Diana (Jay) Emmett, Lovell; Sherry (Wayne) Weishaar, Shelby, Mont,; Thomas (Lisa) Collins, Palmerton, Pa.; and John (Susan) Collins, Idaho Falls, Idaho; one sister, Eva Savage (Douglas); two brothers, Glynn (Shirley) and LeRoy (Gail) Collins, all of Lovell. He leaves 19 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Viewing to be held Sunday, Jan. 30, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Haskell Funeral Home. His funeral will be held at 2 p.m. at the Lovell, Wyo., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Monday, Jan. 31. Interment in the Lovell cemetery. If desired, in lieu of flowers, send donations to Lovell North Big Horn Hospital, 1115 Lane 12, Lovell, WY 82431. "In Memory of Lynn P. Collins".
Haskell Funeral Home of Lovell is in charge of the arrangements.
Fred Fetzer
WORLAND, Wyo. - Fred Fetzer 89, died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2000, at Community Care of America.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1, at Ballard Funeral Home in Cody. Interment will follow in Riverside cemetery.
George Haffner
SIDNEY - George Haffner, 89, died Friday, Jan. 28, 2000, at the Sidney Health Center Extended Care Facility.
Visitation is 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 31, and one hour before church on Tuesday, Feb. 1. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1, at the Ebenezer Congregational Church. Interment will be in the Sidney cemetery under the direction of Fulkerson Funeral Home.
Lois C. Orf Hansen
LAUREL - Lois C. Orf Hansen, 67, of Laurel, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2000, at the Evergreen Laurel Care Center after an extended illness with cancer.
She was born Jan. 26, 1933, in Pueblo, Colo., a daughter of Bryan and Ida Gray Orf. Lois was educated in Pueblo and later moved to Tucson. During her life, she moved around the U.S. until she found her home in Laurel where she was self-employed as an antique dealer, seamstress and herbalist.
Her survivors include four children, Kirk Schroeder, Ricki Ralston, Susan Hansen, and Dana Schroeder; and one sister, Ellen Schwartz. Among her survivors are also those who loved her dearly and whose lives she touched. Due to her love of gaining knowledge, she enrolled RMC at the ripe old age of 59, where she majored in psychology.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the WAMI Program, P.O. Box 174080, Bozeman, MT 59717-3080 or to Big Sky Hospice, P.O. Box 35033, Billings, MT 59107.
Arrangements were be Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
Richard E. Houser Jr.
The Rev. Richard E. Houser Jr. passed away at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2000, at St. Vincent Hospital due to complications following a heart attack. Born May 15, 1927, in Covington, Ky., Dick's family moved to the mountains above Oroville, Calif., when he was a small child. He attended a one-room school until high school. When his mother died suddenly, his father moved the family to Stockton, Calif., where he finished high school and joined the Navy.
After his discharge in 1946, he went to college and seminary. After ordination, he returned to Northern California and pastored rural community United Methodist churches for over 20 years. After retiring from the church, he and his wife, Marjorie, moved to Billings in 1980 - a return to her family home.
Dick worked on Vale Creek Ranch for his brother-in-law, Max Thornton, for two years and then assisted in the United Methodist Conference office for several years. In 1987, he volunteered at the Billings Food Bank. He became a supervisor and all around "right-hand man," a position from which he retired at least twice. He also volunteered several hours a week at the local Democratic office as well as being involved in several other organizations and actives.
He will be remembered by some for his antics (stealing second base at age 65) and by most for his kindness, compassion and unwavering faith.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Marjorie (Thornton); his two sons, Neil, 43, (Judy) of Noble, Okla. and Eric, 39; foster daughter, Pat Clowers (Troy) also of Oklahoma; two sisters, Pat and Mary both of Northern California; a half sister, Darlene Hazel (Mike); two grandchildren, Aaron and Shaun and numerous nieces and nephews. A son, Bruce and brother, Don passed on previously.
The family has entrusted Dahl Funeral Chapel with the arrangements. Cremation has taken place. A service in celebration of Dick's life and friendship will be held Feb. 14, at 10:30 a.m. at Hope United Methodist Church, 244 Wicks Lane.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to: Hope United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 50066, Billings, MT 59105, to the Nature Conservancy, 4245 Fairfax Drive, Ste. 100, Arlington, VA 22203-1606 or to the charity of your choice.
"He was a faithful, life-long servant of the Lord, and will dwell in His kingdom forever."
