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Edward E. Cooney
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. – Edward E. Cooney, 86, passed away April 28, 2000, at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park. Minn. He was born June 18, 1913, in Butte, Mont., to Edward and Irene Cooney. preceded in death by his parents, infant daughter Eugenia, sisters Ellen and Roseanne, and son-in-law Daryl Erickson. Survived by his wife of 63 years, Marian Wold Cooney of St. Louis Park; daughter Kathryn Ann Almquist and husband Eric of Larchmont, N.Y. and their children Nils and Erica of New York City; and daughter Lou Cooney Erickson of St. Louis Park and her son Mark and his wife Jane of Mahnomen, Minn.; and other relatives and friends.
Proud of his family and his Irish heritage, his particular joy was with his grandchildren. His memory will be fondly kept forever in our hearts.
Ed was a graduate of the University of Montana in Missoula with a major in English and minors in Art History and Journalism. After he and Marian were married
, he was a newscaster at radio station KGHL in Billings. In WWII, he was an officer in the U.S. Navy, serving on the staff of Admiral Nimitz in the Pacific. At the war’s conclusion he returned to Billings to continue his career in broadcasting. He then assumed the position of station manager of KOPR radio in Butte, where he became a pioneer in the introduction of television. He was also a ghost writer for politicians in Montana. In 1959, Ed became field representative for New York based SESAC, Inc., a music publishing and licensing company for musicians and composers, thus initiating the family’s move to Minnesota. He retired in 1983 at the age of 70.
He was an influential advocate and sponsor of Alcoholics Anonymous, being a member for 42 years.
Memorial Mass will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 3, at St. Olaf Catholic Church, 215 S. 8th Street, downtown Minneapolis. Private internment. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Kennedy Child Study Center, Attn.: Kathryn Almquist, 1028 E. 179th Street, Bronx, NY 10460.
“Amidst the other heavenly Leprechauns, Cooney’s Irish eyes are smiling.”
Carl N. Fowler
SIDNEY – Funeral services for Carl N. Fowler, 65, Sidney, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 3, 2000, at the Assembly of God Church, Sidney with Pastors, Ronald Fischer, Ron Masters and Arlan Swanson officiating. Interment will be in the Sidney cemetery under the direction of Fulkerson Funeral Home of Sidney.
Carl Norman Fowler was born Oct. 2, 1934, in Price, Utah, to parents, Leo and Vana (Oman) Fowler. Carl grew up at Soda Springs, Idaho, where he attended schools and entered into the Army, in 1953, during the Korean Conflict, until 1957, when he was honorably discharged. He returned to Idaho, where he worked seismograph, moved around. While Carl was working in Broadus, he met Elaine Myren, and they were united in marriage in 1963, in Miles City. They moved to Richey, Mont., where they lived a few months and then moved to Casper, Wyo., Oklahoma and throughout eastern Montana before moving to Sidney, Mont. In 1983, Carl opened Fowler 1-Hour Photo which he operated until 1996, when he retired.
Carl enjoyed golfing, hunting, fishing, his yard and garden. Carl truly loved God. He was grounded in his Christian Faith and actively served at the Assembly of God Church, including several terms as a board member. He was also a Gideon. Carl especially enjoyed photography.
Carl died at his home Thursday, April 27, 2000, in Sidney.
Carl is survived by his wife, Elaine, of Sidney; son, Joe (Deneen) Fowler, of Austin, Texas; daughters, Carol Fowler, of Prescott, Ariz. and Melissa Fowler, of Fargo, N.D.; brother, Jim Fowler, of Soda Springs, Idaho; sisters, Marie Skinner, of Soda Springs, Idaho, Verda Leautaud, of Price, Utah and Lola Jewkes, of Orangeville, Utah; two granddaughters, Brittany and Jamie Fowler, of Austin, Texas; numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Loran and Vaughn and an infant sister.
Mudge C. Stetter
FRANNIE, Wyo. – Mudge C. Stetter, 84, passed away Sunday, April 30, 2000, at the Powell Nursing Home in Powell, Wyo.
Per his wishes, cremation has taken place with memorial services to be held at a later time. Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Lorna Hitz
POWELL, Wyo. – Lorna Allred Hitz, 73, passed away Saturday, April 29, 2000, at the Powell Nursing Home.
Visitation will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 2, at Haskell Funeral Home in Lovell, Wyo. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 3, in the Byron L.D.S. Chapel, Byron, Wyo. Interment will be in the Byron cemetery.
John Martin Anderson
SHELL, Wyo. – John Martin Anderson died June 11, 2000, at his home in Shell. John was born in Miles City, Mont., on Nov, 16, 1932, to Alfred Anderson and Annie Johansen Anderson.
John attended school on the family ranch in Montana and then transferred to Ashland Public Schools. Following his education, he ranched on the Tongue River below Ashland. John married
Eleanor June Harris on Feb. 18, 1956, in Billings. John and Eleanor operated the L Diamond Ranch in Ashland until January 1958 when the family moved to Shell where they raised their three boys on the Red Canyon Ranch.
John was a natural businessman and in 1973, he expanded his agricultural interests by forming the partnership of AC Supply in Basin. In 1998, J&E Irrigation was established, in which he was actively involved at the time of his death,
John supported his local community in many ways, serving as a director at the First Interstate Bank in Greybull, and also on the Shell Canal Board, Shell Community Hall Board, ASCS Board and he was a member of BPOE No. 1431. While his boys were young, John was a 4-H leader, and over the years, an avid supporter of Junior Livestock Sales throughout the Big Horn Basin.
Services will be held Thursday, June 15, at 2 p.m. at the Shell Community Hall. Burial will follow the services at Whaley cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in his name at the Security State Bank in Basin with proceeds to benefit the Shell Community Hall.
John M. is preceded in death by his father, mother, three brothers: Clarence, L.P. and Raymond, and one grandchild, Jennifer Lynn. Survivors include his wife, Eleanor; their three sons of the Shell-Greybull area, Alfred and his wife, Dana, John Ed and his wife, Gina, and Larry and his wife, Lisa. John had seven grandchildren: Cassie, Kayla. Kirbi, Andrew, Sarah, Mike and Joel. John is also survived by his sister, Ellen Marie Terrell her husband, Julian, and numerous nieces and nephews, all of the Miles City area.
Alden E. Beller
KALISPELL – Alden E. Beller, 78, died at his home in Kalispell with his loving family around him on June 11, 2000.
A Service of Celebration will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 14 at Northridge Lutheran Church with burial at Conrad cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Crematory.
Harold Vance Bock
BUFFALO, Wyo. – Graveside interment services will be held later this summer for Harold Bock, 85, who passed away Sunday, June 11, 2000, at his home in Buffalo. Adams Funeral Home in Buffalo are in charge of arrangements.
Sister Frances Catherine Curran
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – Sister Frances Catherine Curran, 90, a Sister of Charity of Leavenworth, died on Monday, June 12, 2000, at Ross Hall, Mother House, Leavenworth.
A vigil will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 14, in Ross Chapel of the Sisters of Charity Mother House in Leavenworth, where friends may call after 4 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Ross Chapel at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 15. Interment will follow in Mount Olivet cemetery on the Mother House grounds. Davis Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Bradley Alan Dittus
MILES CITY – Bradley Alan Dittus, age 11, of Miles City, passed away on Sunday, June 11, 2000, at the Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City.
Bradley was born on Oct. 30, 1988, at Miles City, the son of Rick and J’nine (Frost) Dittus.
Bradley was a very special little person. We knew that the day he was born. He will be greatly missed. He lit up everyone’s life that he touched. Bradley may not have been able to talk, but he spoke with his eyes, smile and gestures. He loved being talked to and putzed with. His favorite things were watching Disney movies and listening to music. He could sit in his room all day and do that. He loved to eat and drink his milk, his all time favorite. He would yell at you if you quit before he wanted you to. Bradley had a great love for long warm baths. He would lay in there for hours as long as you warmed his water. Bradley loved his brothers to watch movies with him and tickle him. He would squeal when Hope would get on him and kiss him. He knew how to work his grandmother! He was no different than any other grandchild! He kept her on her feet when she was around! He and his grandma had a very tight bond. Bradley had a special person working with him the last year. He loved April with all his heart. He would give her heck when she did his therapy, but if she left the room he would yell till she came back. Bradley had a cat named Tigger that would sit in his wheelchair with him and let Brad pet him. Bradley was his mother’s life. They had a very special bond, she needed him as much as he needed her.
He is survived by his parents, Rick and J’nine Dittus of Miles City; two brothers, Ryan and Jesse Dittus of the family home; a sister, Hope Ann of the family home; grandparents: Mel and Carol Dittus of Miles City; Susan Frost of Glasgow; and Lawren and Anita Frost of Glasgow; a great-grandmother Alwina Dittus of Glen Ullin, N.D.; and many aunts, uncles and cousins. He was preceded in death by his great grandfather Herbert Dittus; great grandmother Alice Stuart; great grandfather Joyce Stuart; great grandmother and grandfather Frost; great grandmother and grandfather Huber; and a cousin Rob Dittus.
Prayer services will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, in the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 15, at in the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home with Rev. James Mavis officiating. Interment will follow in the family lot in the Custer County cemetery. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of arrangements.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the family to establish a fund for a monument for Bradley.
Norman Rolf Hetland
Norman Rolf Hetland, age 78, of Billings, died Sunday, June 4, 2000, at Aspen Meadows due to complications of injuries received in an auto accident last December.
He was born Dec. 11, 1921, at Hope, N.D., the son of Bern G. and Nina Ruth (Looney) Hetland. He graduated from Huntley Project High School.
Norman worked at the Yale Oil Refinery later called Standard and Exxon. He had an award for 40 years of service with no loss of time.
Norman is survived by his brother, Myron G. and wife, Donna Hetland and three nieces and nephews, all of Las Vegas, Nev.
A memorial service is planned in the near future. Smith Funeral Chapels is in charge of arrangements.
Keith R. Kimball
HYSHAM – Keith R. Kimball, 68, of Hysham, passed away at his home on June 10, 2000. He fought the “good fight” with cancer for the last five years and was ever determined not to let the disease define his life.
Keith was born May 23, 1932, in Billings, the youngest child of Carroll and Frances Isaac Kimball of Myers, Mont. Most of his childhood was spent on his parents’ farm at Myers which is still the family home. He was educated in Hysham and was active in 4-H during his youth.
Keith attended college at Montana State College (now MSU) at Bozeman where he was active in the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity and ROTC, and also editor of Montana State College Farmer. After graduation, he served in the Army and was stationed first at Fort Lee, Va., and then in Ogden at the Utah General Depot. Keith met Carol McRae of Colstrip in college, and they were united in marriage at her family home on Jan. 7, 1955. They started married
life together in Ogden and then returned to the farm at Myers after the service. Carol died in a car accident in February of 1975. Keith was then united in marriage to Sharon (Ebbers) Syljuberget on May 20, 1978.
Besides farming, Keith was employed at ASCS in Forsyth, the First National Bank in Hysham, and owned Tillitt Insurance Agency. He served many years as an independent insurance agent and attained the designation of CIC (Certified Insurance Counselor) during his career.
He was a 25-year member of the Hysham Lions Club and active in the Presbyterian Church. Keith was honored as Good Citizen of the Year of 2000 by the Hysham Chamber of Commerce. He was a lifelong supporter of 4-H, not only with his own children and grandchildren, but also in the community as a whole by supporting other 4-H members and taking an active part in the 4-H Fat Stock Sales.
Keith experienced the thrill of sailing on a trip with cousins to La Paz, Mexico, in 1988. He also enjoyed working in the garage, yard work, bird watching, nature as a whole, and the grandkids’ many and varied activities (which he attended faithfully). He was well read and could converse on many topics, history being one of his favorites.
He is survived by Sharon, his wife of 22 years; his son, Kevan (Tami) of Myers; daughters, Karen Sable (Ed), Kaylene Hauck (Todd); Nancy Schlicht (Mike) all of Billings, and Julie Ferrell (Doug) of Miles City, as well as 10 grandchildren. Also surviving are his brother, Eddie (Mary Lou) of Miles City and his sister, Lucille Van Hemelryck of Hysham; and many nieces and nephews, relatives and good friends. Keith was preceded in death by his parents; sister and brother-in-law, Marion and Ford Martin; and brother-in-law, Bob Van Hemelryck.
Private family graveside services have already taken place at the Rancher cemetery. A public memorial service will be held 11 p.m. Friday, June 30, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hysham. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Rancher cemetery, c/o Patty Willems, Hysharn, MT 59038; Hysham Presbyterian Church, Hysham, MT 59038 or the Keith Kimball Memorial Fund, c/o Todd Yeager, Rosebud-Treasure Counties Extension Office, P.O. Box 65, Forsyth, MT 59327. Beals Mortuary of Forsyth is assisting the family with the arrangements.
Vincent F. Kunda
BIG TIMBER – Vincent F. Kunda, 57, died in Billing on June 12, 2000, after a courageous battle with cancer.
A loving husband, devoted father, trusted friend and dedicated teacher and public servant, Vince loved the outdoors and cherished his time with family and friends at his cabin by the Boulder River. We will miss him.
Vince was born in Beach, N.D., on March 5, 1943, to Edward and Victoria Kunda. He was educated at St. Philips School in Wibaux County, Mont., and at Sacred Heart High School in Miles City. He attended the Kenmore Seminary in Washington and Resurrection College in Kitchener, Ontario. He finished college in Dickinson, N.D., and began his teaching career in Wibaux. He also taught in Hardin, Bridger and for 28 years in Big Timber.
Vince was everybody's favorite teacher. "I have thoroughly loved teaching. It was the best accident that could have happened to me, " he said upon retirement earlier this year.
He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Audrene of Big Timber and three daughters: Michelle Porter of Big Timber; Stephanie Schulz and husband, Troy of Castro Valley, Calif.; and Deidre Kunda of Bozeman; son-in-law, Dave Porter of Billings; grandsons, David Jr. and Mitchell Porter; brother, Ray and wife, Liz of Big Timber; sister, Agnes and husband, Pat Toennis of Miles City; and sister, Barbara and husband, Roger Harris of Wenatchee, Wash. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Chester and Richard and sisters, Rita and Cecelia (Sister Marita).
A prayer service will be held on Wednesday, June 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Lowry Funeral Home in Big Timber. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Thursday, June 15 at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Big Timber. Interment will take place in the Mountain View cemetery in Big Timber. Memorials may be sent to a college scholarship to be established in his name at Sweet Grass County High School or to the Big Timber Volunteer Fire Department.
Robert E. ‘Luke’ Lukenbill
LAUREL – Robert E. “Luke” LukenbiIl, age 66, of Laurel, passed away on Sunday, June 11, 2000, at Billings Deaconess Medical Center due to coronary heart failure.
Robert was born on July 4, 1933, in Salem, Ind., to Lester “Luke” and Lola Lukenbill. He grew up in Indiana, graduating from Salem High School. He then joined the Air Force where he became a pilot. After his discharge, he became a commercial airline pilot. When Robert retired, he moved to Montana so that he could be closer to his family.
Robert enjoyed fishing, hunting, and woodworking. He loved the outdoor Montana scenery.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and a favorite uncle, C.H. Lukenbill.
He is survived by his wife, Vivian of Laurel; two daughters Lisa Diaz of St. Francisville, La., and Vikki Smith of Baton Rouge, La.; two sisters, Anita E. Hedrick of Laurel and Annella Klink of Laurel; his grandchildren, Kayleigh, Ashleigh, Graydon, Mason, and Ryan; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Service will be 2 p.m. Friday, June 16, at Smith Funeral Chapel in Laurel. Interment will take place at the Laurel cemetery. Visitation will be on Thursday from 5 - 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Laselle W. ‘Bud’ Worthington
Laselle W. “Bud” Worthington, 93, longtime Billings native, passed away Monday, June 12, 2000, at the Deaconess Hospital. Bud was born Oct. 22, 1906, in a two-room log cabin in Billings and spent his younger years in Billings attending McKinley and Roosevelt Elementary Schools, Jefferson Junior High and Billings High School where he graduated in 1924. He attended MSC in Bozeman where he studied mechanical engineering. This education, cut short by the depression, was completed when the university issued him an honorary degree in 1999.
While in Bozeman, he met Mary Simpson, whom he married
on July 25, 1928, in Livingston. After leaving Bozeman, they returned to Billings where Bud began his career with the Billings Gas Co. with a temporary job reading meter. This fostered his love of combustion engineering which led to work with Sullivan Valve and Engineering Co. in Butte in 1935. Bud and Mary returned to Billings in 1942 where he worked as an engineer for Pacific Car & Foundry in a war factory at what is now MetraPark.
In 1951, he started selling fire and safety equipment for Big Horn Supply. In 1956, he purchased the company and expanded as a factory representative for boilers, heating and air conditioning equipment. Bud continued to operate the business until 1976 when he sold it to his employees.
Bud was very active in community service, including a life membership of the Billings-Yellowstone Kiwanis, life member of the Billings Elks Club, charter member, past president and member of many committees of the Yellowstone Country Club, member and past tournament president of the Montana Senior Golf Assoc., charter member of the Billings Chapter of the American Society Heating Refrigeration Engineers, charter member Legion of Honor recipient Billings Order of DeMolay, member of Masonic Lodge No. 113, member of the Scottish Rite KCCH, member of Al Bedoo Shrine, the Greeters Unit and the Royal Order of Jesters Court 87.
Bud was recently preceded in death by his wife of 71 years, Mary, who passed away thirty days ago.
Survivors include a son, James L. (Betty) Worthington of Billings; a daughter, Diane (George) Gelernter of Great Falls; and a son, Robert A. (Marsha) Worthington of Helena; 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren; a brother, Max Worthington of Bozeman and a sister, Bonita Johnson of Red Lodge.
Memorial service will be 1 p.m. Monday, June 19, at Cremation or Funeral Gallery, 8th & St. Johns. A reception will follow at the West Park Village Retirement Home. Memorials may be made to Shrine Children’s Hospital Transportation Fund or to the Kiwanis Circle K Ranch.
