Search Archived Marriage Records
Edna Mae White
Edna Mae White, age 89, died peacefully surrounded by her beloved family on Oct. 30, 2002, at St. Peter’s Hospital.
She was born Aug. 27, 1913, in Springhill (near Bozeman) to George and Etta (Benbrooks) Bennett.
Edna married
Howard Maxwell White in 1932 and resided in Townsend until 1990 when she moved to Helena.
Edna and Howard spent their lives together celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary in 1982.
Throughout her life, Edna was completely dedicated to her family as a homemaker and caregiver.
Edna and Howard raised four daughters and one son, which provided Edna with the joy of her life along with 17 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.
Edna enjoyed her family in countless ways.
There were many get-togethers at one of their mountain cabins and at her home in Townsend where it was a sure bet that a game or two of pinochle would break out. She loved the outdoors and could always “out fish” the men of the family.
Edna took great pride in her beautiful flower and vegetable gardens.
Every family member covets the beautiful crocheted afghans she made over the years, with her last afghan completed only months ago.
Even though she has gone on to a better place, she will never be forgotten.
She was preceded in death by her husband Howard; daughter Betty Riley; son-in-law Walt Biskupiak and Edna’s three brothers and a sister.
Surviving Edna are her daughters Lois (Joseph) Prebil, Mary Biskupiak, Marjorie Blewett, and son Howard “Mac” White all of Helena.
A memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 4, at Retz Funeral Home Chapel.
Private interment services at Deep Creek will be held at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to St. Peter’s Hospital Cancer Foundation, 2475 Broadway, Helena, MT 59601 or a charity of the donor’s choice.
Retz Funeral Home will be caring for arrangements.
William D. Fleiner Sr.
William “Dutch” Fleiner Sr., 77 years old, passed away at his home in Helena Dec. 8, 2002.
Bill was born Aug. 17, 1925, in Butte to Catherine Farren and Herman Fleiner.
He attended St. Ann’s Catholic Grade School and graduated from Boys Central High School in 1943.
Bill fulfilled his military obligation to his country by joining the Navy and received an honorable discharge in 1946.
After serving in the service, Bill married
Mildred Kennedy Sept. 3, 1949, in Butte at St. Lawrence Catholic Church.
Bill’s work history included skills as a stonecutter for Tervillion-Johnson Memorial for 10 years while living in Butte.
He moved with his wife and four children to San Francisco where he worked in construction, and he and Mildred had their fifth child.
In 1960, Bill moved to Sparks and Reno, Nev., where he became employed in the gaming industry.
Two more children were born, completing his family of five boys and two girls.
He retired from the Club Cal-Neva after 21 years as a respected employee and manager.
Bill and Mildred returned to Montana in 1989 and resided in Helena, where Bill became a member of the Thomas Francis Meagher Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Catherine; father, Herman; sister, Catherine; and step-mother, Clara.
He is survived by his wife, Mildred; brother, Robert; children, William Jr. (Charlotte Fuson), Helena; Linda Foust (Kenny Brock), Townsend; Dave of Hawaii; John (Karen) of Sparks; Joe (Cindy) of Reno; Michael of East Helena; and Delores (Richard Wardwell) of Las Vegas.
There are 12 grandchildren.
Pallbearers for the service will be Bill Jr., Dave, Jack, Joe and Mike Fleiner, and his brother, Bob.
Honorary pallbearers are Robert E. Lee, John Shea, Mick, and Joe and Jack Kennedy.
Ushers for the service will be William D. Fleiner III, Darren Fleiner, Stephanie and E. J. Foust, Bridget (Rene O’Reilly), Jennifer, Kevin, Tara and Eric Fleiner, and Nicole, Bryan and Rachel Wardwell.
Bill will be missed dearly by his family and friends.
Visitation will begin Thursday morning, Dec. 12, at Retz Funeral Home.
A vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, at Retz Funeral Home.
Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 13, at the Cathedral of St. Helena.
Interment with military honors will follow at the Montana State Veteran’s cemetery at Fort Harrison.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the American Heart Association, 4414 Woodland Park Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98103 in memory of William D. Fleiner Sr. of Helena.
William Cummins
William J. (Bill) Cummins passed away at his home on Dec. 13, 1999.
He was born in Manistee, Mich., on Oct. 8, 1909, to James and Charlotte Cummins.
The family later moved to Niagra, N.D., where Bill went to school.
After graduation he moved to Los Angeles where he embarked on a 15-year career in show business.
He was an adagio dancer, did acrobatic work and top dancing with a quartet called `` Karels Adagio Four."
They played the vaudeville stages throughout the United States, Japan, China, Australia and New Zealand, and Bill appeared in several motion pictures at Warner Brothers and MGM Studios.
He then served in the Army Air Force for four years during World War II.
After returning to Helena he met and married
Shirley Bernasek and the two of them ran the Cummins School of Dance for a number of years in Helena.
They also owned and operated the Helena Agate and Gift Shop.
In later years he also worked at Capital Ford, AAA and Cummins Electric.
Bill is survived by his wife, Shirley; his sister, Eleanor Rulifson of Seattle and numerous nieces and nephews.
Private services have been held.
Arrangements are under the direction of Hagler-Anderson Mortuary.
Elsie Wilson
Elsie Hannah Wilson, 81, died peacefully at St. Peter's Hospital on Dec. 15, 1999.
Elsie was born on a farm in Sweet Briar, N.D., Sept. 21, 1918, to Gus and Hannah Schleicher.
The Schleicher family moved to Springdale when Elsie was 12 and later moved to Livingston.
In 1935 she moved to Butte and lived there for 26 years.
In Butte she worked at Singer Sewing Center as a sales person and instructor.
She married
Charles (Bus) Wilson in 1952.
The family moved to Helena nine years later.
She then started a monogramming business in her home.
Later she worked at Ruckers Furniture as a salesperson for 25 years before retiring in January 1998.
Elsie is survived by Bus Wilson, her husband of 47 years of Helena; sons and daughters-in-law, Frank and Jeannie Wilson of Butte, Mark and Donna Wilson of Helena and Gary and Ann-Marie Carter of Missoula; daughter and son-in-law, Beverly and Tom Nicholls of Helena; stepdaughter and husband, Carol and Bob Heidecker of Bozeman; stepson and wife, Don and Donna Wilson of Pittsburgh, Pa.
She is also survived by 17 grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; four brothers and three sisters.
One son, Brian Carter preceded her in death.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 18, at Retz Funeral Home, 215 E. Sixth Ave.
Interment will be at 10 a.m., Monday, Dec. 20, at Montana State Veterans cemetery at Fort Harrison.
Memorials are suggested to Hospice of St. Peter's, 2475, Helena, Mont. 59601.
