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J. Gregg Ralston
J. Gregg Ralston, 85, passed away Monday, Sept. 11, at St. Vincent Hospital.
He was born in Choteau on March 7, 1915, to Angela and Josiah Ralston. When Gregg was four years old, he moved to Billings with his mother, and has lived in Billings since that time.
Gregg married
Mildred Nobles on Jan. 6, 1934. He worked as a butcher at the Midland Packing Co., and in September of 1942, he started working as a switchman for the Northern Pacific Railroad. Gregg also had a livestock business for many years, hauling dairy cattle from Wisconsin by rail. Gregg and Mildred loved to travel after his retirement.
He is survived by his loving wife; three children: daughter, Sheryl Smith and her husband Jim of Rockvale; daughter, Brenda Logan and her husband Jim of Billings; and son, Jay Ralston and his wife Shirley of Waynesville, Ohio. Gregg and Mildred have six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren whom they love and adore. He was preceded in death by his three sisters and two brothers.
Gregg was a lifetime member of the Billings Saddle Club, a member of Hope United Methodist Church and the Billings Senior Citizens Club. He was an avid fisherman, hunter and liked all sports. He also enjoyed horses and horse shows, as well as working in his garden and yard.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, Sept. 14, at 11 a.m. at Hope UMC, 244 Wicks Lane. Memorials may be made in Gregg’s name to the Hope UMC or the charity of one’s choice.
Helen E. (Braun) Scott
MINNEAPOLIS – Helen Scott, 71, died Sept. 10 of heart failure in Minneapolis. She had moved to Minneapolis from her home in Bozeman in December 1999 after suffering a stroke while visiting her children.
Helen was born on Jan. 23, 1929, in Sheridan, Wyo., to Leslie and Lenny Braun. She was a graduate of Sheridan High School and Montana State College of Nursing, where she received her R.N. In 1950 she married
Bill Scott in Columbus, where they lived for many years. Bill and Helen moved to Bozeman in 1966; there she raised her family and worked as a nurse.
Helen was preceded in death by dearly beloved husband, Bill. She is survived by son Steve of Tulsa, Okla.; daughter Cynthia and her partner Cathy Hoffman of Minneapolis; son Jim and his partner Dan Greene of Harris, Minn.; sister Ruth (Jack) Bennick of Gillette, Wyo.; brother-in-law Norbert Scott (Jan) of Billings; sister-in-law Dorothy (Bob) Patterson of Columbus; cousins Iris Ferren and Jackie Kitchens of Sheridan; and many, many friends in Bozeman and Minneapolis.
Helen will be remembered for her quick, often irreverent sense of humor, her tremendous love for and devotion to her family, her ability to brighten a day and her pleasure in simple things. She will be deeply missed.
Vigil will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13. Funeral Mass is at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 14 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Bozeman. Arrangements are by Dahl Chapel.
Hildur Ann Vallee
Hildur Ann Vallee (Covert) passed away Monday, Sept. 11, 2000, at St. Vincent Hospital. She was born Aug. 8, 1912, in Sherwood, N.D., to Amelia and Albert Lundby.
Hildur spent the later part of her life working at MDU and the BIA for 11 years. She had been married
to John Vallee, who preceded her in death in 1950, and John Covert, who preceded her in death in 1984. In addition to her two husbands, she was preceded in death by three brothers, Raymond, Walter and Harold
Survivors include her daughters, Joan Vallee Jones and Barbara Vallee Gurley of Billings; her grandchildren, Robin and Emily Jones of Belgrade, Greg Jones of Dana Point, Calif., Jennifer and Matt Thomas of Billings, and Heather West of Ashland, Mo.; 10 great-grandchildren; her brothers, Delbert and Nina of Broadview, David and Jimmi of Brennon, Wash., and Gerald and Lillie of Chicago; and a sister-in-law, Ruth Lundby of Billings.
Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Michelotti, Sawyers, & Nordquist. Funeral services will be held 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, at Michelotti, Sawyers, & Nordquist with interment in Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Hannah Willard
PLENTYWOOD – Hannah Willard, 91, died Sunday, Sept. 10, 2000, at Sheridan Memorial Hospital.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Plentywood Lutheran Church with burial in Plentywood Memorial cemetery. Fulkerson Funeral Home is in charge.
Waunita G. Zak
Waunita G. Zak, 78, of Billings, died Tuesday Sept. 12, 2000, in St. Vincent Hospital, following a courageous battle with cancer.
She was born Oct. 18, 1921, in Keokuk, Iowa, a daughter of Frederick and Minna Brown Slater. She grew up and received her education in Warsaw, Ill.
Waunita married
Clyde Clampitt and was later divorced. She married
Rudy Zak and was later divorced.
She moved in 1957 to Hardin, where she owned and operated several restaurants and motels, retiring in 1982.
Waunita was a member of the Catholic Church. She enjoyed flowers and gardening, however, her grandchildren were the highlights of her life.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her daughter, Ginger Landrie.
Survivors include her son, Edwin (Marie) Clampitt of Wyola; her daughter, Sylvia Stapp of Billings; one sister, Mildred Boone of Iowa; 13 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren. Her family extends a special thank you to her grandson. Clyde Landrie, for his love and devotion.
Rosary will be recited 4 p.m. Thursday in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Friday in the St. Joseph Catholic Church. Interment will follow in the Hardin Fairview cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.
John Zimmerman
Mr. John Zimmerman, 72, of Billings, passed away in his home on Sept. 11, 2000, after a prolonged battle with cancer. John was a rancher west of Billings since 1950, raising cattle, wheat and barley.
He enjoyed his ranch, attending rodeos and coin collecting. He was a member of the American Legion Club and a veteran of the 82nd Airborne Infantry. John was also involved with the Billings Motorcycle Club and was very giving to numerous organizations throughout the Billings area.
He was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Mary (Blend) Zimmerman; his wife Alvena (George) Zimmerman; three sisters, and one brother.
Surviors include his four children, Cliff Zimmerman (Jeany), Jerry Zimmerman (Karen), Kim Zimmerman (Joan), and Judy Zimmerman; and one brother and two sisters. John will also be missed by his grandchildren, Jodi, Kevin, Robbie, Sarah, Annie, Nikkole, Ross, Lindsey and Jack. We love you, Papa!
Visitation will be 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13, at Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 537 Grand Ave., with interment in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Memorials in honor of John may be sent to Big Sky Hospice or the American Cancer Society.
Edward Charles Althoff
POWELL, Wyo. – Edward Charles Althoff, a businessman in Powell, Wyo., for many years, passed away Sept. 10, 2000, in Overton, Nev. Rosary Wake will be held at the Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home in Powell on Friday, Sept. 15, 2000, at 7 p.m., and funeral services will be held in the St. Barbara’s Catholic Church at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 16.
Ed was born March 22, 1912, on a homestead 1-1/2 miles southwest of Powell. His parents were Herman and Catherine (Henning) Althoff. His parents moved the year of his birth to Wilmont, Minn. In 1921, the farming family moved to Casselton, N.D., and then to Pompey’s Pillar, Mont. Ed finished the eighth grade and started high school in Worden, Mont. He quit high school to work on the family farm. In 1927, his family moved to Carterville, Mont.
It was in Carterville that Ed met and married
Julia Polich. They were married
in Forsyth, Mont., on Aug. 11, 1934. They celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary last summer. Julia passed away on March 20, 2000. Ed and Julia farmed in the Carterville area where sons Al and Art were born. In 1943, the family moved to a farm at Badger Basin, Wyo. He sold out in 1945 and the family briefly moved to Juneau, Alaska. In 1946, they moved to Powell where Ed worked for his Uncle Ed Althoff in the Chrysler Garage for a year, then he worked as a carpenter for Alan Klint for three years in the post-war building boom in Powell.
In 1949, Ed and Julia opened the Althoff’s Tile & Linoleum Store. They operated the store until a car accident forced selling the business to Darrel Anderson in 1966. Ed worked for the Park Service for a couple years at Yellowtail while the lake was forming. In October 1967, he bought the War Surplus Store, which he operated until 1974 when he sold the business to his son Al.
Retirement was enjoyable and fulfilling for the Althoffs. In the summers, they had a trailer at Buffalo Bill Reservoir where they developed a reputation as master fishermen. The winters were spent in Overton, Nev., where fishing and “fourwheeling” and making new friends consumed their leisure time. The past year, 1999, they spent the entire year in Overton.
Music and enjoying the outdoors were important to Ed. He had limited lessons on the violin as a youngster, but he went on to play the banjo and violin for many years. He played for dances until an accident resulted in the loss of a finger. In retirement, he bought and taught himself to play the electronic organ. He played the organ almost every day. He was fascinated by all the advancements in science, electronics and transportation that happened in his lifetime. At the age of 86, he bought his first computer.
Ed was a life member of the Knights of Columbus and the Elks. He belonged to the National Rifle Association, Heart Mountain Rod and Gun Club, Eagles, Buffalo Bill Boat Club in Wyoming, and the Overton Four Wheeling Club in Nevada.
Surviving family include his sons, Al and Lori Althoff of Sequim, Wash., and Art and Julia Althoff of Glendale, Ariz.; nine grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Julia, his parents and brothers, Lawrence, Ray and Hermie.
The family requests a contribution to Northwest College Scholarship Fund in lieu of flowers.
Hilda Rosina Boner
GLENDIVE – Hilda Rosina Boner, age 78, of Glendive, died on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2000, at the Glendive Medical Center Extended Care Facility.
A Memory Service for family and friends will be held at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 12, at the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13, at Our Savior Lutheran Church with Pastor James Hageman officiating. Interment will be in the Dawson Memorial cemetery. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.
Hilda was born on Nov. 16, 1921 in Marsh, Mont., the daughter of Christian and Christina (Gaub) Schock. She attended the Valley School in Marsh through the ninth grade. At the age of 49, Hilda completed her G.E.D. Hilda married
Ray Boner on Dec. 20, 1947, in Warrenton, Va. They lived in Fallon, Mont., until moving to Glendive in 1957. Hilda owned and operated a cleaning service and had cleaned for various professional buildings and private homes in Glendive for many years.
Hilda’s hobbies included gardening and working with flowers. She enjoyed her children and grandchildren and especially enjoyed pulling Nick, as a small child, in his wagon around Highland Park.
Hilda was preceded in death by her parents and by her husband Ray on Feb. 29, 1992.
Survivors include five sons, Harvey Bonner and his wife Margy of Billings, LeRoy Bonner and his wife Marcia of Auburn, Wash., Verlin Bonner and his wife Suzanne of Lolo, Mont., Jerrell Boner and his wife Pam of Glendive and Daryl Bonner and his wife Jeannie of Antioch, Calif.; one daughter, Jeannie Roberts and her husband Mark of Mesa, Ariz.; two brothers, Reuben Schock and his wife Vivian of Glendive and Walter Schock and his wife Louise of St. Ignatius, Mont.; eight grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Florence Dutton
GRANTS PASS, Ore. – Florence Dutton, 82, died peacefully at home in Grants Pass, Ore., on Sept. 6, 2000, after attending two weeks of gatherings with friends and family from Oregon to Iowa.
Florence Agnes Ronan was born to her loving parents Daniel and Margaret Ronan Dec. 13, 1917, on a farm just south of Hawarden, Iowa. After graduating from Hawarden High School in 1935, she attended St. Joseph School of Nursing in Sioux City, Iowa, and received her RN in 1938. She married
Norman Paul Dutton Feb. 4, 1941, in Cumberland, Md., and in 1953 settled with their five children in Billings, Mont. Florence worked as a reflexologist and massage therapist for next 40 years until moving to Grants Pass in 1995 to live with her daughter, Irene.
Florence is survived by her children, Paula Winkel of Sioux City, Iowa, Daniel Dutton of Belfry, Mont., Rona Long and Maggie Dutton Hackendale, both of St. Simons Island, Ga., Irene Hezmalhalch of Grants Pass, Ore., and five sisters and one brother. Her children blessed her with 21 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Florence was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel and Margaret Ronan; loving husband, Norman Paul; sister, Mary Brown: brother, Gene Ronan and grandson, Jeffrey Winkel.
Florence was a generous and compassionate healer with the unique ability to recognize the source of pain and relieve that pain. Florence’s life was a demonstration of her strong Christian morals and values, her deep faith in God and her unselfish love and compassion for the sick.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, Sept. 14, at Faith Presbyterian Church in Grants Pass, Ore. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 29, at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Billings. Interment will be at Holy Cross cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
Frances Gedrose
GREAT FALLS – Frances Gedrose, 78, died Saturday, Sept. 8, 2000, at Park Place of natural causes.
She was born April 13, 1922, in Pinto, Mont., and was educated in Broadus. She married
Morris Gedrose on May 15, 1940, in Miles City. She followed her husband who was a construction worker until they settled in Belt in 1951. For several years she worked as a waitress and cook at Johnny’s Bar & Grill and Sue’s Cafe in Belt. In 1967, they moved to Great Falls.
She collected bells, enjoyed fishing, gardening and dancing and loved animals.
Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Janet (Fred) Olson of Great Falls and Sharone (Ron) DeSelva of Seakonk, Mass.; two sons, Sheldon (Mary) of Garnett, Kan., and Doug (Judy) of Helena; three sisters, Marcella Zabroski of Miles City, Naomi Burley of Williston, N.D., and Beth Schneidt of Broadus; two brothers, Willis (Margaret) Tipton of Broadus and Clarence (Eunice) Tipton of Kalispell; and 14 grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Chapel of Chimes Funeral Home with interment of the cremated remains in the Belt cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Peace Hospice.
Edith M. Brokaw
SHERIDAN, Wyo. – Edith M. Brokaw, 76, died Sunday, Sept. 10, 2000 at Sheridan Manor.
Visitation will be held from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 13, at Kane Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, at Kane Funeral Home with Rev. Ron Nelson and Rev. Chuck Gifford officiating. Interment will follow in the Elks cemetery.
Sister Agnes Celine Dooley
LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – Sister Agnes Celine Dooley, 89, died Sept. 11, 2000, at Ross Hall, Mother House.
Vigil is a 7 p.m. Wednesday in Ross Chapel of the Sisters of Charity Mother House. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday with burial in Mount Olivet cemetery. Belden-Sexton-Sumpter Chapels are in charge.
Dr. James E. Elliott
WHITEFISH – Dr. James E. Elliott, 70, a longtime physician in Havre, died Saturday, Sept. 9, 2000, in St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula after complications of an aortic dissection. Dr. Elliott practice pediatrics and family medicine in Havre for 38 years prior to retiring to Whitefish in 1998. He devoted his life to his patients, family and the community of North Central Montana.
A vigil will be held on Thursday, Sept. 14, at St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Havre at 7 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at the armory gym at Montana State University-Northern in Havre at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 15. Refreshments will be served at the MSU-Northern Student Union Building following the funeral services. A private graveside interment of the ashes will be at Calvary cemetery in Havre. Services and arrangements are under the direction of Holland and Bonine Funeral Home.
Jim was born on Nov. 11, 1929, in Towner, N.D., where he lived until the age of 13. His parent, Delbert and Bertha Elliott, and their children moved to a ranch outside of Havre in 1942. He graduated from Havre High School in 1947. In 1952, he married
Katherine Kotan, his wife of 47 years. Jim first met Kay when she provided care for Jim at Deaconess Hospital in Havre after he injured himself playing basketball, one of his many sporting endeavors.
Jim knew from an early age that he wanted to become a physician and help others throughout his life. He attended Northern Montana College for two years. He served two years in the army at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Wash. He attended and graduated with honors from the University of Oregon in Eugene in 1953. He graduated with a medical degree from the Oregon Health Sciences University in 1957. He completed an internship and pediatric residency at the hospitals affiliated with the Oregon Health Sciences University in 1960. Dr. Elliott returned to his hometown of Havre in August, 1960, to begin his medical practice and serve the Hi-Line.
Jim was always available to take care of his patients and was never deterred by long hours or waiting rooms full of sick patients. He worked with quiet determination to provide the best care possible to each individual regardless of their situation. His humility, loyalty and kindness were gifts cherished by all who knew him. Dr. Elliott was especially proud of the strong bonds that he built with Native Americans and the Hutterite colonies throughout northern Montana. He encouraged and assisted young adults who were interested in becoming health care professionals and routinely had medical students and residents participate in his medical practice. He generously offered his time and services for the betterment of the whole community. His extraordinary commitment and perseverance were both a wonder and an example matched by few. Jim was always grateful for the unique practice opportunities that Havre and the Hi-Line provided him. He was proud to be called an “old country doc.”
Dr. Elliott was guided by his strong inner and personal faith and realized that God’s healing touch was an integral part of his care. Jim was a member of St. Jude’s Catholic Church in Havre and St. Charles Catholic Chruch in Whitefish. He was a member and served on the board of the Montana Medical Association, Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Montana and the Montana School for the Deaf and Blind. Amongst the many awards and recognition he received, Jim was a national finalist for country physician of the year in 1996 and was honored as a distinguished alumnus of Northern Montana College. He recently served as a member of the selection committee for the WAMI program at the University of Washington School of Medicine.
He enjoyed being the physician for every sports team in Havre. He was an avid fan of any sporting event. In a rare spare moment, a deck of cards was always found in his hand. He was especially accomplished at bridge and earned a Silver Life Master, although he could never beat his sons at cribbage. He was happiest with a grandchild on his lap.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his loving wife, Katherine, whom he will be buried next to at the Calvary cemetery. Surviving him are six children, Nancy of Seattle, Janice of Seattle, Ronald of Saline, Mich., James of Billings, Mark of Missoula and Scott of Burlington, Wash. Dr. Elliott has nine wonderful grandchildren. His sisters, Maxine LeFever of West Lafayette, Ind., and Judy Sargent of New Smyrna Beach, Fla.; brother, Jerry Elliott of Huntington Beach, Calif., and aunt Betty Sommerdorf of Havre are living. All of his family and friends will miss him greatly.
A college scholarship fund in Dr. Jim and Kay Elliott’s honor has been established for North Central Montana high school graduates. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials in Dr. Elliott’s name be given to the Dr. Jim and Kay Elliott Scholarship Fund, care of Salomon Smith Barney, P.O. Box 1346, Mt. Vernon, WA., 98273.
Remembrances to the family should be marked to Jan Elliott, 2563 E. Madison, Seattle, WA 98112.
