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GRACE ETHEL SMITH
NORTH BEND, Wash. — Grace Ethel Smith, 102, a former resident of Red Lodge and Joliet, Mont., died Feb. 8, 2000.
Mrs. Smith was born Jan. 12, 1898 in Stanberry, Mo., to Levi Grant and Nettie Jane (Dix) Webber. In 1900, the family moved to Silesia, Mont., where they farmed. Levi was also an early-day telephone lineman and a noted photographer in the local area. They lived three miles from the local school , so travel was by foot or buggy. Things were rather rough in the winter.
On April 22, 1922, she and Eugene Field Smith were married in Billings. He was a rural mail carrier. In 1927, the couple moved to an 80-acre irrigated farm on Rock Creek. It was two years before they had the luxury of electrical power at the farmhouse. Grace did a lot of the farm work, and also served as a substitute mail carrier during planting and harvesting times.
In 1944, they moved to Silesia, and six years later moved to Red Lodge. After Eugene’s retirement in 1957, the couple purchased an Airstream trailer and spent the following 13 years traveling throughout the United States. They were particularly fond of wintering in Texas, Florida and Arizona, where they were able to watch a great deal of baseball during spring training. After leaving Red Lodge in 1981, they moved to Joliet, and in 1985 moved to North Bend to be near their son. Eugene died Sept. 17, 1995 at the age of 101.
Relatives include a son, Raymond Smith, of North Bend; grandchildren, Margaret Mayo or Soldotna, Alaska, Janet Harvey of Seattle, Wash., Roger Smith of Hoquiam, Wash., Elaine Smith and Laural Webb of Seattle, Wash. The extended family includes four great-grandchildren, four great-great-grandchildren and eight cousins. In addition to her husband, Grace was preceded in death by two sisters, Bertha James and Elva Winkler.
A family gathering was held Feb. 12, 2000 at North Bend. Interment was in the Rockvale Cemetery at Silesia, Feb. 14, 2000, with arrangements by Smith Funeral Chapel of Laurel.
AMALIA "MOLLY" COLUMBUS
LAUREL — Amalia "Molly" Columbus, 81, formerly of Red Lodge, died on Feb. 15 at Evergreen Laurel Care Center, where she had been a patient since 1990. Since early 1974, she had had a progressive loss of mental functioning, requiring her youngest daughter and son-in-law, Pat and Mike Hink of Billings and Red Lodge, to oversee her care and well-being.
Molly was born on Sept. 25, 1918, to Amalja Ljube (Krulijac) and Mike Hudak in Red Lodge, where she graduated from high school. She married Dr. George L. Herrmann on June 22, 1938, in Denver, where they raised George, Marilyn, Randolph and Patricia. Elizabeth Jean and Douglas died in early childhood and infancy.
Following her divorce in 1950, she moved to Red Lodge to finish raising her children while living with her brothers, Steve and Mike. She worked as a clerk for several department stores in Red Lodge and operated Molly's This-N-That Shop, a unique second-hand and antique store. She was an active participant in Yugoslavian Day at the Festival of Nations for many years She was a member of St. Agnes Church, Moose Lodge and VFW.
She was preceded in death by her siblings, John, Steve and Michael Hudak, Helen Nichols and Carolyn Gabrian. She married D.W. Columbus, who served as mayor of Red Lodge for many years, in Sept., 1964. He died in 1973.
Molly had a clever wit and sense of humor, a kind and generous heart, a wonderful smile and tremendous love for her children and grandchildren. She was deeply spiritual and dedicated her life to her Lord in 1972. Even recently, she loved the picture of Jesus by her bed.
The family expresses appreciation to the people of Red Lodge who helped us keep her in her home she loved so much for as long as we could, and the Laurel Care Center staff who treated her with utmost care, kindness and respect.
Molly is survived by her children, Pat Hink and husband Mike of Red Lodge, Marilyn Waller and husband, Richard of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.; George Herrmann and wife, Kay, of Clarendon Hills, Ill.; and Randolph Herrmann of Fort Washington, Md.; and by grandchildren Susan (Waller) Poland, Theresa (Herrmann) Shea, Michelle (Hink) Hightower, Gabriel, Raphelle and Nathaniel Hink, Steven Waller, and Alexander and Kim Herrmann.
Cremation has taken place. There will be a memorial and graveside service at a later date in Red Lodge. Memorials can be made to Evergreen Laurel Health and Rehabilitation Center.
GLADYS BOWMAN FOX
RED LODGE — Memorial services for retired area teacher Gladys Bowman Fox will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 26 in the Olcott Funeral Chapel. Cremation has taken place, and interment will be in the Red Lodge Cemetery.
Mrs. Fox, 97, of Red Lodge, died Feb. 4, 2000 in Beartooth Nursing Home. Following the memorial service, friends and family will gather at the Peaks to Plains Museum for refreshments.
MELBA HERRONEN
RED LODGE — Melba Helen Herronen, 82, of Red Lodge, died Feb. 21, 2000 at Cedar Wood Villa Nursing Home.
Melba was born in Kalvia, Finland, May 25, 1917, the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Jarvie. She married William “Bill” Herronen on Nov. 30, 1933 in Red Lodge. They moved to Michigan around 1937, where Bill was employed by GM for 34 years.
Bill and Melba retired to Red Lodge in 1971, where they both enjoyed fishing at Island Lake and rockhounding around the state. They both enjoyed working and camping at Kaleva Lodge. Melba was involved with the Red Lodge Senior Citizens.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, on Jan. 6, 1986.
Survivors include her brother, Charles “Ginzey” Jarvie of San Diego, Calif.; nephew, Jan Jarvie of Hambeldon Hauts, Scotland; nieces, Lorraine Hook of Ketterling, Ohio, and Pat Brehm of Stockbridge, Ohio.
Cremation has taken place, and following Melba’s wishes, there will be no services.
Memorials may be made to Kaleva Lodge, c/o Wilho Seikkula, PO Box 867, Red Lodge, MT 59068.
ARTHUR E. HYEM
RED LODGE — Arthur E. (Art) Hyem, 91, of Red Lodge, died Sunday morning, Feb. 20, 2000 in Cedar Wood Villa.
Born on May 18, 1908 on Red Lodge Creek, he was the next to youngest son of James and Jennie Hyem, area pioneers who homesteaded on Red Lodge Creek in 1895.
Arthur attended the Jackson School through the eighth grade. He ranched on Red Lodge Creek for many years, and later moved to Red Lodge, working road maintenance in Yellowstone National Park and on the Beartooth Highway.
He was preceded in death by seven brothers, Louie, Nels, Tilmar, Edwin, James, Carl and John Hyem; one sister, Minnie Tjeltveit, and his close friend and companion, Betty Bicknell.
Survivors include one niece, Berna Jean Niemi (Artie) of Roy; six nephews, Ed Hyem (Linda) of Roy, Ramon Hyem (Eileen) of Red Lodge, Roger Hyem (Shirley) of Florence, Jerry Hyem (Carolyn) of Memphis, Tenn., Glenn Tjeltveit of Reno, Nev., and Alvin Tjeltveit (Margaret) of Red Lodge; and a sister-in-law, Cora Hyem of Red Lodge Creek.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24 in the Olcott Funeral Chapel. Cremation has taken place, and interment will be in the Red Lodge Cemetery.
ORVAL M. BOYER
RED LODGE — “Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a Daddy.” Our Daddy, Orval M. Boyer, 89, of Red Lodge, died Wednesday afternoon, Feb. 23, 2000 in Cedar Wood Villa.
Orval was born in Red Lodge April 2, 1910 to pioneer parents Orval Clay and Emma Caroline Boyer. He lived and farmed on Willow Creek most of his life. Orval loved the farm — the horses, the machinery, but mostly the old threshing machine steamer tractor. He had his own harvesting route on Willow Creek, Red Lodge Creek and Volney Creek, starting at Cooney Dam and working toward home. Orval ran the steamer, the regular threshing machine and the modern combine over the span of his life.
He was a “doer” — he saw it all and he did it all. He loved music and reading. Orval played the button accordion and was an accomplished violinist.
On June 16, 1934 Orval married Lucille M. Wood. Together they raised their family on Willow Creek. Becoming a number one husband and parent were added to his repertoire. Six children were born to this union. Four survived the years when there were no antibiotics to fight childhood diseases and the poor childbirth procedures.
Surviving are children Carolyn Kumpala (Ron), and sons Ron Jr. and Bruce D. of Laurel; Nancy J. McArtor (James) of Cody, their son Brandon and Ashli Koster; Elaine of South Africa, her son, Corey Huff and daughter, Carla Khyl of Billings; Orval E. “Skip” Boyer, and daughters Kristie Dennis and Barbara Boyer of Bearcreek, and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille M. Boyer on Jan. 8, 1994.
Orval instilled in his children a simple faith in our Lord and the confidence that they could do anything. He always stood beside them to help.
In later years they resided in Bearcreek, and Orval worked as the Carbon County road crew foreman, working hand-in-hand with his friend and neighbor, Frank Cole, Jr.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 28 in the Olcott Funeral Chapel in Red Lodge. Orval will be buried at John Henry Cemetery in a pine casket beautifully fashioned by his grandson, Bruce. Memorials may be given to Cedar Wood Villa, Box 430, Red Lodge, MT 59068.
“Daddy, we love you and will miss you. Give Mom a hug for us.”
TSUGI (YOKO) WILSON
RED LODGE — Our dearly beloved Tsugi (Yoko) Wilson peacefully left this earthly existence on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2000 at her home in the presence of her loving husband after a five-year battle with cancer and other complications. She was 66 years old.
Yoko was born April 14, 1933 in Shizuoka, Japan, the second daughter of Kyotara and Kayo Kon. During her youth, Yoko experienced the horrors of war during the Russian invasion of the former Japanese island of Sakhalin at the end of World War II, where her family was residing at the time.
Yoko and her future husband met while Oliver was serving in Japan with the Army Signal Corps during the Korean Conflict. Oliver and Yoko married in Tokyo at the American Embassy on Nov. 24, 1958. She arrived in the United States on Jan. 15, 1959.
She spent most of her married life as a partner with her husband on the Wilson family farm on Clear Creek until their retirement in 1990, at which time they moved to an acreage two miles south of Red Lodge.
Yoko began working as a cook at the Beartooth Elks Lodge in 1983, and continued until New Year’s Eve, 1998. She was a member of the B.P.O. Does. Yoko pursued a variety of activities, but she was particularly passionate about knitting, fishing and playing bingo.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father, two sisters-in-law, Aila Jarvie and Esther Hill, one brother-in-law, Waino Wilson, and her mother-in-law and father-in-law, John and Bertha Wilson.
Survivors include her husband, Oliver Wilson of Red Lodge; son Michael J. (Arlene) of Anchorage, Alaska, son Matthew J. (Madeline) and grandson Shane of Los Angeles, Calif.; sisters Shiyoe and Kiseko Kon, and brother Sinti Kon of Shizuoka, Japan; sister-in-law Ellen (Toby) Lantta of Red Lodge, and numerous nieces and nephews. She will be lovingly remembered by many friends of many cultures in Red Lodge and surrounding area.
In accordance with Yoko’s wishes, cremation has taken place and no service will be held. The Olcott Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials are preferred to Beartooth Hospice, Box 590, Red Lodge, MT 59068.
