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Roy Glen Birdinground
BUSBY – Roy Glen Birdinground, 25, passed away July 20, 2000, at Muleshoe, Texas, as the result of an auto accident.
He was born April 28, 1975, in Billings, a son of Dillard M. and Grace Bearquiver-Birdinground Sr. He was raised by his grandmother, Irene Bearquiver and family. He received his education in Busby, Wyola, St. Labre in Ashland and the Kicking Horse Job Corps Center in Ronan. During his school years, he actively participated in sports including basketball, track and cross country, excelling greatly in cross country, where he always ran with his cousin/brother, Mike LaRance.
Roy worked for area farms and ranches, usually with Arnie Bends with whom he became close friends. His other area of skill was in concrete finishing work. He was currently working on a concrete job in Texas with his “big brother” Bouyer Thomas LaForge.
He was an avid outdoors man perhaps not in the sporting sense, but in the “Traditional sense” in that he had a love and respect for the land and the game the he hunted. He was well known for his hunting success on foot in the rugged sections of the country. His family was very fortunate that Roy had an ambitious and generous spirit. Our cars were always in good repair, our houses painted and he still always kept us laughing, even now as we recall his many adventurous times. We will miss you so, but we will see you again.
Roy was a member of Whistling Water Clan, a child of the Whistling Water Clan and a member of the Crazy Dog Society.
He was preceded in death by his mother, grandfathers, Frank Bearquiver and Glen Birdinground; a sister, Lanette and two uncles.
Survivors include his father, Dillard (Beldean) Birdinground Sr. of Wyola; four sisters, Lori (Donovan) Limberhand of Lame Deer, Melissa (Lyn) American Horse of Busby, Michelle Wallace of Ronan and Frances Birdinground of Wyola; nine adopted sisters, Kimberly and Eileen Leon of New Mexico, Koren Diebert of Hardin, Dana Bearquiver of Busby, Jocelyn Costa of Crow Agency, Theresa and Misti Argon of Wyola; nine brothers, Lupe Morin of Oklahoma, Adrian (Denise) Morin of Lame Deer, Dillard Birdinground, Jr. of Billings, Arnold (Elizabeth) and Patrick Birdinground of Hardin, James (Sandra) Birdinground of Crow Agency, Melvin Pretty Weasel of Wyola, Michael and Shan Birdinground of Wyola; 10 adopted brothers, Todd Bearquiver-Leon of New Mexico, Frank Bearquiver, III of Indiana, Bobby Flores and Boyer Thomas (Gloria) La Forge of Texas, Jethro Diebert of Hardin, Chance Roundstone of Crow Agency, Marcus Capture of Lame Deer, Waylon Two Moons, Ernest Hill and Dan Vance of Busby; his grandmothers, Frances and Dorothy LaRance, Evelyn Old Elk, Louise Three Irons, Joy Brien, Verna Pease, Irene Bearquiver, Ethelene Killsnight, Frances Swallow, Agnes Brady, Agnes Bear, Victoria Walks Along, Mollie Waters and Evelyn Morgan; his grandfathers, James LaRance, Clifford, Sampson and Alex Birdinground, Martin Avon and Roger Killsnight, Christopher and Albert LaRance, Sr.; his great grandmother, Agnes Cummins; his adopted mother, Naomi Costa; his aunts, Terra Highwalker, Ranee and Patricia Bearquiver, Sarah Birdinground, Lavina Passes, Glenette Alden, Cathy LaRance and Loretta (Al) Leon; his uncles, Edmund (Katherine) Edward, Richard (Debra) and Frank Bearquiver, Jr., Leland Walking Bear, John Colhoff, Arnold Argon, William Cummins, El Leon, David and Burton Smith; and his good friends from Texas, the Arzola family.
Wake services will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, in the Bearquiver family residence near Busby. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 26, at the residence. Interment will follow in the Bearquiver Family cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Elva Etta Clifton
GREYBULL, Wyo. – Long time Greybull resident, Elva Etta Clifton, 93, passed away Saturday, July 22, 2000, at the Bonnie Bluejacket Memorial Nursing Home between Basin and Greybull.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 25, at the First Presbyterian Church in Greybull, with Reverend William Foster officiating. Following this service Eastern Star will officiate at the graveside service at the Hillside cemetery in Greybull, with burial to follow. Atwood Family Funeral Directors, Inc. are in charge of arrangements.
Isaac David Ferro
Isaac David Ferro, loving son, grandson, brother, uncle, nephew and friend died July 22, 2000, in a tragic car accident.
Isaac was born Dec. 3, 1980, to Larry and Cathy Ferro in Bozeman and moved with his family to Billings when he was six years old. He attended Billings schools where he graduated from Billings Senior High in 1999. Isaac played Little Guy Football and was an avid BMX rider. He had a great love of music and was bass guitarist with the Billings band “Krunk” for four years. He had played over 200 shows in and around Billings and helped write and record two CD’s with the band. Isaac worked as a sous chef at Juliano’s and as a pasta chef at Sidney’s restaurants. Isaac will always be our music loving pasta king.
Isaac is survived by his parents, stepmother, Sarah, all of Billings; brothers, Peter (Jodie) of Missoula, Paul of Billings; grandparents, Tommy and Margaret Ferro, Mert and Jake Balzer all of Billings; nephew Ryan of Billings; uncles and aunts, special friend Pam Sattler, Teddy, his faithful dog, and many friends and fans.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Joshua, and his grandfather, Earl Kellogg.
Isaac’s warm smile, laugh and easy going way will be greatly missed by all who loved him.
Memorial mass will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 25, at Little Flower Catholic Church. Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist has charge of arrangements.
Phyllis Lorraine Thurlow
LIVINGSTON – Phyllis Thurlow, 79, longtime Livingston resident, died at her home Thursday afternoon, July 20, 2000, after an extended battle with cancer. At her request, cremation has taken place and no services are planned. Arrangements are under the direction of Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory.
Phyllis was born Sept. 23, 1920, in Schafer, N.D., the daughter of Ted and Stella (Gurling) Richardson. She spent her earliest years there, until the family moved to Livingston when she was 11. She completed her schooling here, graduating from Park County High School in the late 1930s. Phyllis lived most of her life in Livingston, she always enjoyed the friendly townspeople and the beauty of the surrounding mountains.
Phyllis was a member of Order of the Eastern Star.
Survivors include her two sons, Jack Volk and his wife Vinita, and Bill Thurlow and his wife Judy, all of Livingston; one stepson, Fay Thurlow of Buena Vista, Colo.; two brothers, Dick Richardson of Livingston, and Bob Richardson and his wife Jane of Billings; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, as well as nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her dog and special friend “Buffy.” She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers.
Memorials may be made in memory of Phyllis to the Park County Chapter of the American Cancer Society, c/o Shirley DePuy, P.O. Box 487, Livingston, MT 59047.
Kathleen Boyce
SIDNEY – Kathleen “Kathy” Boyce died Thursday, July 20, 2000, in California, following a long illness.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 25 at the Nazarene Church. Interment will follow in the Sidney cemetery. Fulkerson Funeral Home is in charge.
Opal Stephens Cunningham
BIG TIMBER – Beloved mother, grandmother, sister and aunt, Opal Stephens Cunningham passed away Thursday, July 20, 2000, in Columbus.
Opal was born July 27, 1913, in Three Forks to Michael and Grace (Potter) Lane. During her grade school years she attended Lane School then graduated from Three Forks High School and attended Dillon Normal School. Opal married
James Arthur Stephens Dec. 3, 1934, to this union was born their only child, Audrey. Art passed away Nov. 6, 1973.
Opal married
Robert Cunningham on Aug. 9, 1975. Bob passed away Jan. 30, 1993.
Opal loved spending time with her daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Opal is survived by her daughter, Audrey (Jack) Parks. Grandchildren, Colleen (Kenneth) Ekie, Don (Sue) Parks, Cheri (Clint) Stimpson, and Susan (Phil) Anderson. Her great-grandchildren, Brett and Brynn Ekle, Tanya (Eric) Kinneman, Chasity, Lacey and Abby Stimpson, Paige and Blake Anderson. Brothers, Earl (Lonnie) Lane and Leo (Florence) Lane. Sister-in-law, Gladys Stephens; brother-in-law, Dale Cass; and many nieces and nephews.
Opal was preceded in death by her husbands, Art Stephens, and Bob Cunningham; and sister, Inez Cass; and brother, Gene Lane.
Prayer Vigil will be 7 p.m., Monday, July 24, at Lowry Funeral Home, Big Timber. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, July 25, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Big Timber. Interment will be at Mountain View cemetery followed by a luncheon at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Box 871, Big Timber, MT 59011 or charity of your choice.
Elva V. Danielson
Elva Violet Heathcote Danielson, 96, died Monday, July 17, 2000, at Eagle Cliff Manor. She was a native of Watertown, S.D., growing up with four siblings. She became a school teacher in South Dakota for two years, and on Aug. 8, 1928, she married
Theo-dore Danielson of Aberdeen, S.D. They lived in Waukegan, Ill., for several years before moving to the Shelby area in 1934. Later they lived in Great Falls, and with their two children came to make Billings their home in 1941.
Mrs. Danielson was a very talented seamstress, working at Shadoan’s Men’s Store, Mildred Hazel Dress Shop, and Hart Albin’s. She was manager of the Mildred Hazel alteration department for many years. This was work she truly enjoyed, continuing well into her retirement years.
Elva is survived by her two children, Dan Danielson of Pensacola, Fla., and Mari Okken-Hedges of Billings; along with seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. They join in celebrating her life, and her achievement of surviving into the new millennium.
Following cremation, a grave-site service will be held aat 9 a.m. Friday, July 28, at the Mountview cemetery. Cremation or Funeral Gallery is handling arrangements.
Robert ‘Bob’ Grasser
WHITEHALL – Robert “Bob” Grasser, age 69, passed away Friday, July 21, 2000, at his residence.
He was born Dec. 1, 1930, at Clarkston, Wash., to Ralph and Mable (Batty) Grasser. He was raised and attended school in Clarkston and Walla Walla, Wash., graduating from Clarkston. He then attended the University of Washington. As a youth and during college, he spent his summers working the wheat and cherry harvests. After college, he entered the U.S. Navy and served during the Korean Conflict.
After the service, he worked as an air traffic controller at SeaTac at Seattle, Whitehall, Boise, Idaho; Salt Lake City, as a supervisor at Great Falls from 1961-1968, as an assistant chief in Milwaukee from 1969 to 1971, and as chief in Billings from 1972 until retiring in 1983. He moved to Whitehall in 1993.
He was an avid fisher, hunter, and enjoyed camping with his sons.
He married
Laberta “Bertie” Hunt in 1957 at Horseshoe Bend, Idaho.
He is survived by his wife, Bertie Grasser of Whitehall; two sons, Kevin Grasser of Laurel, Scott and Vicki Crasser of Columbia Falls; two daughters, Linda and Ron Jung of Whitehall, Debi and Wayne Doney of Green River, Wyo.; seven grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; one brother, Fred Grasser of Newport, Ore.; two sisters, Patsy Wheeler of Salem, Ore., and Marilyn Wheeler of Issaquah, Wash.; one uncle, Kenny Batty of Paloose, Wash.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and an infant daughter, Lisa Ann Grasser.
In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Jefferson Valley Museum at Whitehall or the Whitehall Senior Citizens.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, at the Scott Funeral Home at Whitehall with Pastor Cordon Jones officiating. Interment will follow in the Whitehall cemetery.
Bernice Gray
LEWISTOWN – Bernice Gray, 76, died Saturday, July 22, 2000, at St. Vincent Hospital in Billings due to a stroke.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 25, at the Creel Funeral Chapel in Lewistown. Interment will be in the Lewistown City cemetery. Memorials may be designated to the Central Baptist Church or to the charity of donor’s choice.
Lorraine Weedman Gustafson
SEATTLE – Lorraine Weedman Gustafson died peacefully at her home in Seattle on July 14, 2000. She was 73.
Lorraine was born in Billings on May 19, 1927, the youngest child of Dr. Walter and Anna Kess Weedman, who had moved to Montana in 1917 to practice medicine and raise their family. Lorraine graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1945 and from Montana State University in 1949 with a degree in home economics.
In 1950, Lorraine married
Francis Wayne Gustafson. After a brief time working in the Los Angeles area, they returned to Billings. Those years were centered on providing a home and activities for three busy and inquisitive children. Lorraine made wonderful cookies, especially at Christmas. The whole family decorated cutout cookies in holiday shapes, made from the same recipe used by her grandfather at his bakery in Illinois at the turn of the century. Lorraine and Wayne were divorced in 1965, but continued to work together throughout the years to raise their children.
While the children were still young, Lorraine began taking art classes at what was then Eastern Montana College. As her interest grew, she tried many different media, including ceramics, jewelry making, mosaics and printmaking, among others. For many years she made individual woodcut prints for the family’s Christmas cards. Her specialty became watercolor painting, and she had several solo exhibitions in Billings. Lorraine earned a teaching certificate and became a teacher of Art and English at Custer County High School in Miles City in 1968. She lived there with her children for five years and became an active member of the art community there as well. After returning to Billings, much of her life centered on her art and associations with the art community there.
In 1990, Lorraine moved to Seattle to be near to her adult children and grandchildren. Throughout her life she was sustained by her family, her art, her lifelong friendships, her church and faith and by the strong values she learned from her parents. Those who remain remember her for all these.
Lorraine is survived by her three children and their spouses, Cindy Gustafson and Tom Chatriand, Grant Gustafson and Barbara Cooper of Seattle, Wash., Paige and Tim Thompson of Wenatchee, Wash.; grandchildren, Anna and Dillon Chatriand, Natalie and Curtis Thompson; her sister, Arlene Cony of Lander, Wyo. Her brothers, Walter and William Weedman preceded her in death.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, August 7 at First Congregational Church in Billings. In lieu of flowers, memorials may go to the First Congregational Church, 310 North 27th Street, Billings, MT 59101 or to the Art Department Endowments, c/o Montana State University-Billings Foundation, 1500 North 30th Street, Billings, MT 59101.
Ray N. Jenson
CODY, Wyo. – Ray N. Jenson, 86, died Friday, July 21, 2000, at the West Park Long Term Care Center.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 25, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Cody Stake Center. The casket will be open in the Relief Society from 9 a.m. until service time. Interment will be in Riverside cemetery. Ballard Funeral Home is in charge.
John Maag
GLASGOW – John Maag, 54, died Saturday, July 22, 2000, at the Valley View Nursing Home from complications of a stroke.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 25, at the Bell Chapel. Interment will take place in the Maag Family cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge.
Margaret Evelyn McManigal
BEACH, N.D. – Margaret Evelyn McManigal, 89, died Thursday, July 20, 2000.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, at the First Lutheran Church. Interment will follow in the Lutheran cemetery. Silvernale-Silha Fun-eral Home is in charge.
Eleanor M. Newton
ROUNDUP – Eleanor Newton, longtime Roundup resident, passed away Friday. July 21, 2000, after a courageous battle from complications of a blood clot.
She was born in Roundup on Nov. 19, 1918, the daughter of J.Victor and Lena (Girardin) Lewis. She was raised on a ranch north of Lavina and graduated from Lavina High School.
On April 16, 1938, she married
Walter Newton in Roundup, where they farmed and ranched until retirement in 1983.
Eleanor’s class as a homemaker and dedication to family and friends served as a model for all that knew her. Eleanor possessed an energy level that was envied by even the youngest family members. This enthusiasm and caring was often directed towards her many friends in the community.
In later years, even with her failing health, she remained active with her church groups, social card clubs and especially her garden in the summer.
Preceding Eleanor in death were her parents; and her brother, Jack.
Those who loved and will deeply miss Eleanor are Walter, her loving husband of 62 wonderful years; two daughters, Erna (Chuck) Crouse of Billings, Oral (Dick) Swanson of Miles City; one granddaughter, Cam (Kevin) Croff; two grandsons, Mitch (Jana) Crouse, all of Billings, and Sam Swanson of Bozeman; two great-granddaughters, Dara Crouse and Mikayla Croff; one sister, Helen Lehfeldt of Wyzada, Minn.; four brothers, Dave and Bill Lewis of Grass Range, Edgar Lewis of Lavina, and Clayton Lewis of Billings.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church in Roundup or the Shrine Crippled Children’s Fund.
Visitation will be held at 5-9 p.m. Monday, July 24, at Wier Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 25, at the First United Methodist Church in Roundup. Interment will be at 1 p.m. at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Billings.
