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Ocee Johnson
SIDNEY – Rev. Ocee Johnson was born on April 12, 1913, to Oscar and Alma Johnson of Norse, Texas, a small community of Norwegian immigrant families near Clifton, Texas. This community was one of the first Norwegian settlements in America.
Ocee was a hard working, bare-footed Texan who began working in the cotton and grain fields of his family farm at a very early age. By about age 8, he had taken over many of the responsibilities of running the farm. He plowed with a team of horses and picked cotton by hand
Ocee read every book available to him. He was an outstanding student, winning the only available scholarship to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa.
While at Luther, he majored in English and kept an active correspondence with Inga and visited her at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. After earning his bachelor of arts at Luther in 1935, he attended Luther Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. He married
Inga Adelaide Reinertsen on June 11, 1939, and was ordained as a minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sioux City, Iowa, shortly thereafter.
Ocee’s dedication and pioneering spirit were demonstrated by his acceptance of a call to serve seven isolated rural parishes in the North Woods of Minnesota with Mizpah, Minn., being the main parish. He and Inga had their first child, Marilyn Louise, in Bemidji, Minn., on Dec. 4, 1940.
In 1942 Ocee and Inga accepted a call to Conrad, to serve Conrad and four rural parishes. During his service there, he built the present Pondera Valley Lutheran Church and founded the Flathead Lake Lutheran Bible Camp at Lakeside, Mont. He and Inga had two more children, Kathryn Elaine, born on Nov. 7, 1943, and Mark Allen, born on Dec. 4, 1945.
From 1952 to 1957, Ocee served St. Petri Lutheran Church in Story City, Iowa. He left in 1957 having constructed a landmark limestone church and a congregation in excellent financial shape. Ocee also served on the city council.
From 1957 to 1966, Ocee served the Big Timber and Melville, parishes. He also served as the assistant bishop of the Rocky Mountain District for 17 years. Ocee served the American Lutheran Church in Billings, from 1967 to 1975. He then accepted a position as Chaplain at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Billings for several years while also serving the Congregational Church in Molt.
He enjoyed his memberships in Kiwanis and the Augsburg Investment Club he founded in Billings. In October 1998, Ocee and Inga moved to Sidney, to live with their daughter and son-in-law, Marilyn and John Olson. He spent the last two months of his life at the Extended Care Home in Sidney.
Ocee is survived by his wife, Inga; his two sisters, Agnett Johnson and Fern Wiggins of Clifton, Texas; his children, Marilyn (John) Olson of Sidney, Kathy (Bob) Polanchek of Medical Lake, Wash., Mark (Auguste) Johnson of East Calais, Vt.; his grandchildren, Karen Olson (Eric) Beenken and Randy (Jane) Olson of Sidney, Brooks (Margaret) Johnson of Washington, D.C., Luke and Erik Johnson of Barre, Vt.; and two great-grandchildren, Luke and Lauren Beenken of Sidney.
Ocee Johnson will be always remembered by the hundreds of couples he married
, the thousands of families he comforted, the ministers he led and taught, the youngsters he confirmed and baptized in the Lutheran faith, and thousands of his parishioners. No matter how difficult the situation, all knew that Reverend Johnson would always have exactly the right words. His sermons were firmly based upon the scripture, but he gave the words his humanity, kindness, and an expected humorous twist. His sense of humor and compassion have been a gift to all who knew him. He was the strength of his family, the model of what a husband, a father and a minister should be.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 7, at the Pella Lutheran Church in Sidney. A service will also be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9, at the American Lutheran Church in Billings, with burial in Clifton. Fulkerson Funeral Home of Sidney and Smith Funeral Home of Billings are in charge of arrangements. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of choice.
Kordell Michael Gatzemeier-LaForge
Kelly Gatzemeier and Sheldon LaForge announce the birth of their special angel, Kordell Michael, born July 31, 2000, at 3:22 a.m. He stayed long enough to touch our hearts before he died on Aug. 1, 2000.
Private services and interment are planned. Memorials in Kordell’s name may be directed to the Saint Vincent Hospital N.I.C.U., c/o the St. Vincent Foundation, 1106 N. 30th, Billings, MT 59101. Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist has charge of arrangements.
Marjorie P. Moss
PAYSON, Ariz. – Marjorie P. Moss, 92, passed away in Payson Aug. 1, 2000.
She was born in Quietus, Mont., May 21, 1908. Marjorie lived in Billings for 52 years before moving to Arizona in 1997. She was the daughter-in-law of P.B. and Mattie Moss, a pioneer Billings family.
She was preceded in death by her husband, David H. Moss (1958) and seven brothers and sisters. Marjorie was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, First Church of Christ, Scientist of Billings, and a 50-year member of the Order of Eastern Star.
Survivors include a daughter, Marilyn M. Castleman and son-in-law, Don Castleman of Payson; a sister, Josephine Parker of Sheridan, Wyo., and many loving nieces and nephews. “She was a loving mother and wonderful friend of many.”
Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, at Smith West Chapel, 304 34th St. West. Contributions may be made to El Zaribah Shrine Temple, Transportation Fund, 552 N. 40th St., Phoenix, AZ, 85008, to the Moss Mansion in Billings, or to a charity of your choice.
Clifton H. Pace
RED LODGE – Clifton H. Pace, 73, formerly of Superior, Ariz., died of lung cancer on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2000, in his home.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday in the Red Lodge Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Interment will be in the Red Lodge cemetery, with the Olcott Funeral Chapel in charge.
Peter Pfau
SIDNEY – Funeral services for Peter Pfau, age 70 of Sidney, will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, 2000, at the Lonsdale United Methodist Church. Pastor Susan Twidwell will officiate. Burial will be in the Sidney cemetery under the direction of the Fulkerson Funeral Home of Sidney.
Peter Pfau was born Feb. 8, 1930, in Dodge, N.D., to parents Othilia (Pfaff) and John Pfau. He grew up in the area and started schools. In 1938, the family, including eight children, moved to Sidney. Two other sons were in the CCC. A year later, they moved six miles northeast of Sidney. Peter went to the Ridgelawn School.
In 1940 at the age of 10, Peter’s mother died. In 1942, the family moved into Sidney. Pete worked for his brothers and sisters as well as his cousins in North Dakota. In 1951, Pete joined the U.S. Army. On Dec. 22, 1951, while on leave from the service, Pete was united in marriage to Jean Etta GoldSmith. Pete served in Korea with the 180th Infantry Division until he returned to the States in 1953. He was discharged and returned to Sidney. Pete continued to be active in the National Guard and Army Reserve, where he served over thirty years.
In 1954, Pete started working with Jack Cosgrove at Culligan Water Service where he remained until 1976. He later sold water softeners, worked for Sears and worked three years full time with the Montana National Guard. The last 12 years before his retirement, he worked for the Sidney Public Schools as a maintenance and custodial supervisor for the four Sidney schools. Pete retired in 1992. Pete enjoyed puttering in his shop and helping out on his niece’s farm.
Pete was a member of the Lonsdale United Methodist Church and a life member of the VFW, a member of Germans from Russia Heritage Society, the Sidney Moose Lodge, and the Guys and Gals Square Dance club. He enjoyed woodworking, stain glass and coin collecting. He was devoted husband and father who especially enjoyed his grandchildren.
Peter died early Tuesday morning, Aug. 1, 2000, at his home in Sidney.
Survivors include his wife, Jean E. Pfau of Sidney; two sons, Lon Pfau and his wife, Mary of Cheyenne, Wyo.; Jay Pfau and his wife, Mary of Sidney; a daughter, Tana and her husband, David Johnson of Miles City; five grandchildren, Ryan Pfau, Jeremy Pfau, Jessie Pfau, Shalako Emly and Alicia Cahill; two sisters-in-law, Jean M. Pfau and Ione Pfau; a brother-in-law, Wilbur Rupp.
Pete was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers, Henry, John, Dan, Phillip, Tony and Joe; three sisters, Regina, Eva and Mary Ann.
Valine E. Reed
Valine E. Reed, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, died on Wednesday morning, Aug. 4, 2000. After battling cancer and Parkinson’s Disease, the Lord Jesus Christ took her home.
Valine was born on Oct. 29, 1921, in Denton, the only child of Thomas and Mabel Mietzner. She graduated from Denton High School in 1940, Montana State Uuniversity in 1944, and went to work for the University of Washington in Seattle as an administrative dietitian. She managed the Persian Dining Room under her mentor, Ms. Margaret Terrell. It was while in Washington that she met her husband, Arnold Reed. They were married
Oct. 22, 1948.
Valine was involved in many organizations including Eastern Star, Daughters of the Nile, P.E.O., First United Methodist Church, Deaconess Medical Center Volunteers, American Cancer Society, Family Services, YWCA, and the Blue Blazers. It was the organizations that involved her children like Jobs Daughters, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and the PTA that she will be best remembered for.
Valine is survived by her husband, Arnie; her children, Kirby (Jill) of Henderson, Nev.; Rhonda (Rohn) of Cincinnati, Ohio; Kent (Kari) of Billings; her grandchildren, Chris (Dorothy), Tiffany, Danielle, Kyle, and Kolby; and great-grandchild, Bernadette all of whom consider it an honor and privilege to have been blessed with such a wonderful wife, mother, and grandmother.
We look forward to the day that we will meet again to spend eternity together.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5, at the First United Methodist Church. Cremation is planned at Smith Crematory and Smith Downtown Chapel is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church.
Marie Robertson
HARLOWTON – Marie Sedgwick Robertson, 88, died Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2000, at Wheatland Memorial Hospital & Nursing Home.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, at the Federated Church in Harlowton with interment following at the Harlowton cemetery. Perkins Funeral Home is in charge.
Carol Ann Whitewolf
LAME DEER – Carol Ann Whitewolf, 72, died Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2000, at the Sheridan Manor in Sheridan, Wyo. Ann was born Jan. 10, 1928, in Lame Deer to Hugh and Mamie Limberhand Walksalong. She attended Lame Deer School through the fifth grade.
Ann worked for 32 years for the N.C. Craft Center and two years for the N.C. Head Start Program. She and Fred Whitewolf were united in marriage on May 5, 1948, at the Petter Memorial Mennonite Church in Lame Deer.
Survivors include her husband, Fred Sr.; three sons, Fred Jr., Leslie and Mark; two daughters, Delores Wolf and Alfretta Hart; one brother, Joe Walksalong Sr.; 16 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Ann was preceded in death by her parents, one daughter, Ether in 1952; four half-sisters, Martha Littlewhirlwind, Fannie Burgess, Mary Roberts and Ida Killsnight.
Wake service will be held on Sunday evening at 7 p.m. at the Mennonite Church in Lame Deer. Funeral service will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at the church. Burial will be held near the home of Joe Walksalong Sr., north of Lame Deer. Rausch Funeral Home of Lame Deer is in charge of arrangements.
Garnett W. Bushey
POWELL, Wyo. – Garnett Wright Bushey died on Dec. 7, 1999. Memorial graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday at Crown Hill cemetery. Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home is in charge.
Neil Duke
JOLIET – Neil’s love of the mountains and wildlife defined his life since retiring as a cattle rancher.
Neil Duke was born to Roy and Louise Duke in Greybull, Wyo., on Nov. 15, 1919, the third of four sons. He was raised and schooled in Lewistown, graduated from high school in 1937 and worked on the Fort Peck Dam project. His family moved to Edgar in 1938 where he and his parents farmed. Neil married
Joyce Epperson on Jan. 11, 1941, in Columbus, and together they raised three daughters.
He worked at the Benbow Mine and then started his lifelong occupation of farming and ranching, raising registered polled Herefords at Edgar. In 1960, he bought his parents’ ranch at Roberts where he realized his dream of specializing in cattle and bumper hay crops in the shadow of the Beartooth Mountains. Neil and Joyce sold the ranch and retired in 1976, moving to Joliet where they had a home built.
After that time, his hobbies were scenic and wildlife photography along with writing. He had numerous photographs and articles published and went on to write and publish the novel, “Trails of Destiny”. Traveling around the country to see and photograph beautiful scenery was one of his greatest passions. He always enjoyed playing the guitar and singing, especially with his brother, Jim. Neil and his family and friends celebrated his 80th birthday last November. Neil always had a zest for life, just recently returning from a trip to the Canadian Rockies. Neil passed away at his home on July 30, 2000.
Neil is survived by his wife, Joyce, of Joliet; his three daughters, Bonnie (Walt) Kuhr and Janet (Bill) Patenaude, both of Laurel, and Joni Duke of Kent, Wash.; his three brothers, Jim Duke of Lewistown, Galen Duke of Billings, and Bob Duke of Riverside, Calif.; his grandchildren, Kris Kuhr, Kari Beebe, Dena Dentler, Holly Bragg and Starla Patenaude, and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and one grandson, Ken Kuhr. He loved his family and will be greatly missed.
Visitation and funeral services will both be held at Smith Funeral Chapel, 315 E. Third St. in Laurel. Visitation is from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3. Funeral Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 4. Interment will follow at Rockvale cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to the American Heart Association, Montana Division, 2812 First Ave. N. No. 216, Billings, MT 59103, or charity of choice.
King Fred Edwards
JORDAN – King Fred Edwards, 84, died Monday, July 31, 2000.
Visitation will be held Friday, Aug. 4, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home. funeral services will be held Saturday, Aug. 5, at 11 a.m. in the VFW Hall in Jordan. Interment will follow in the family lot in the Pioneer cemetery. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home is in charge.
Marcia Joan Hubber
TERRY – Marcia Joan Hubber, age 69, of Terry, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2000, at the Prairie County Nursing Home due to complications of diabetes.
Marcia was born on Nov. 6, 1930, at Great Falls, the daughter of Marvin and Elizabeth (Marshall) Smith. She graduated from Great Falls High School. On Oct. 11, 1949, Marcia married
Don Hubber in Great Falls. Following their marriage, they moved to Bozeman, Three Forks, Belt and Helena. They then moved to Terry in March of 1957.
Marcia loved to oil paint, knit, cook and most of all spend time with her grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, Don of Terry; two sons: Dale Hubber and his wife, Joan and sons, Jude and Ross, of Terry; and Dan Hubber and his wife, Peg and children, Bret and Erica, of Clancy; a daughter, Susan Miller and her husband, Kevin and children, Evan and Bethany, of Glendive.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, Aug. 3, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Terry. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Aug. 4, at 2 p.m., in the Community Presbyterian Church with Rev. Leon Rathbun officiating. Interment will follow in the family lot in the Prairie County cemetery. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Terry is in charge of arrangements.
Murray Edwin and Mary Rose Jones
BOUSE, Ariz. – Murray Edwin and Mary Rose Jones, formerly of Montana and Wyoming, died together July 23, 2000, at the Granite Mountains Campgrounds, north of Prescott, in a camping accident.
His survivors are his daughter, Sarah of Crow Agency, Mont., and his son, Edwin of Billings. Her survivors are her son, David King of Arizona and her brother, James Little Boy of Washington state; and numerous grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other family members.
Cremation and private family services were held in Prescott. Memory Chapel Mortuary of Prescott was in charge of arrangements.
William. H. Kern
HARDIN – William Henry Kern, 75, longtime Hardin north valley resident, passed away Aug. 2, 2000, in the Big Horn County Memorial Hospital.
He was born Jan. 28, 1925, in Hardin, a son of William and Mabel Pitsch Kern. He received his education at the Nine-Mile School and Hardin High School, graduating in 1941. Following his education, he enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II, served during the liberation of the Philippines and the occupation of Japan, before receiving his honorable discharge.
Bill married
Jean Beck on Dec. 10, 1947, in Billings, and the couple made their home on the family farm north of Hardin. He farmed until his retirement in 1984.
He was a dedicated family man who enjoyed assisting his family and neighbors. He was a member of the E and R Church, American Legion and a charter member of the Elks Lodge.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Jean; his daughter, Susan Kern of Bozeman; two sons, Steven W. (Ileene) Kern of Hardin and Dan (Kym) Kern of California; five sisters, Clara Muhlbeier, Wilma Cole and Bonnie Torske of Washington, Elsie Rice of Great Falls and Carol Bowers of Hardin; two brothers, Dave Kern of Billings and Ed Kern of Idaho; his aunts, Sarah Pitsch and Amelia Kern; his uncle, Alex Kern, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Bullis Funeral Chapel with Rev. Robert Baker. Interment will follow in the Fairview cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the E R Church, Hardin, or to the Big Horn County Hospice in Hardin.
