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Tyson Kirby Goetz
Tyson Kirby Goetz, 40, passed away Jan. 1, 2013, at his home in Billings, MT.
He was born on January 17, 1972, to Calvin and Sylva Joy (Wacker) Goetz in Hettinger, ND. He attended elementary and high school in Miles City, MT.
He attended Miles Community College and graduated with Job Corps. Tyson was employed as a mechanic/welder.
His hobbies were camping, hunting, fishing, ATV 4-wheeling and barbecuing at family get-togethers.
Tyson is survived by his wife, Sara of 20 years; children, Andrew (Alexis), River James, Brayden Marshall and TyLeigh Jane; granddaughter, Alice; mother, Sylvia Goetz; brothers, Dave (Carol) and Steve (Robin); and a host of other family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Calvin Goetz.
Memorial services were held at Dahl Funeral Chapel on Monday, January 7, 2013.
A memorial fund has been set up at Stockman Bank, 800 Main St., Billings, MT 59105.
Ray & Marie Schmidt
Raymond Schmidt, Sr., ended his busy 90 years on Jan. 3, 2013, following a brief illness. His wife, Marie, 89, passed a mere 85 hours later on Jan. 7, also after a short illness.
Former residents of Dickinson, N.D., and Miles City and Laurel, Mont., Ray and Marie left us as they had wished — in their own home in Richland, Wash., in the presence of their loving family.
Ray was born on the plains of North Dakota to George and Barbara Schmidt on June 17, 1922. His early years were spent on the family farm near Fayette, N.D., and he remained a farmer at heart for the rest of his life. Due to economic conditions, his formal education ended with his 8th-grade year. He nonetheless remained an avid learner throughout his life and was self-taught in many areas. He often said he was an honor graduate of the finest university available: The School of Hard Knocks. In his youth, he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) helping to build Roosevelt National Park in Western North Dakota.
Ray met his wife at the age of 14 in a friendly showdown in which she became a regional spelling-bee champion. She so impressed him at the bee that he tracked her down years later by buying a newspaper ad seeking her whereabouts. They married
June 4, 1946, and began a faithful 66-year journey through richer, poorer, sickness, and health.
Before moving to Montana in 1964, to own and operate Dairy Queens and other restaurants, Ray worked as a mail carrier and a master carpenter. In Miles City, he belonged to the Knights of Columbus and was a longtime member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Ray was an accomplished, self-taught accordionist who played by ear. Music was one of the great joys of his life. He played his first gig at age 10 and played with a number of bands thereafter. He continued to play for his own enjoyment throughout his life. After suffering a stroke this past Christmas morning, Ray had difficultly talking, reading, and writing, but he could still play the accordion.
An accomplished woodcraftsman, Ray was often found in his carpenter’s apron, liberally sprinkled with sawdust, whistling away as he measured, sawed and nailed. He was a friendly man of great wit and humor and a natural storyteller. In 2010 he wrote his memoirs as a Christmas gift to his family, which he recently published digitally on Amazon.com under the title “From the Farm to Fast Food: My Adventures During the Great Depression and Beyond.” Ironically the print version of the book became available on Amazon the morning following his passing.
Marie was the eldest daughter of Barbara and Frank Commes. She was born April 12, 1923, in Richardton, N.D. In her youth, she attended Assumption Abbey in Richardton, and was a devout Catholic her entire life.
Marie was good at everything she set her mind to. She was the first person in her family to attend college, graduated with a teaching degree, and taught at a number of country schools in Western North Dakota. She was such a gifted, exceptional teacher that she was assigned to the schools with the “toughest customers” (kids), for which she was paid a premium (hazard pay, of sorts). Marie immediately put all of them on the path to learning and good citizenship. Marie was also good at cooking, baking, sewing, gardening, crocheting, quilting, and — last but not least — raising her and Ray’s children. She and Ray eventually had eight of them join them for their journey. Although Ray had gone to the “School of Hard Knocks, ” she was determined they send all of their children to college, which they did.
Marie worked tirelessly by Ray’s side farming and in the restaurant business. She was also a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. In her retirement, she was a member of the parish’s altar society. She looked after neighbors when they were elderly and cared for her mother in her later years.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Marian and Magdalen and his brothers Jerome and Philip. The patriarch of a large close-knit family, he and Marie will be missed by Ray’s surviving sisters and brothers and their spouses: Rose (John) Anderson, Tillie Mullen, Jenny (George) Rice, Roselle Schmidt, Florian Schmidt, Andy (Joan) Schmidt, George (Liz) Schmidt, and Matt (Maria) Schmidt.
Marie was preceded in death by husband, her parents, and sisters and brothers Rosalie Heagle, Evelyn Samson, Kathleen Gleich, Norbert Commes, and Frank Commes, Jr. She and Ray will be missed by Marie’s surviving sister, Ramona Ames, and her husband, Robert, of Goldsboro, N.C.; and their brother-in-law Pius Gleich of Helena, Mont.
Both Ray and Marie are survived by their children: Ray (Terri) Schmidt of Miles City, Mont.; Cindy (Kevin) Klein, Mary (Steven) Kincaid, and Julie (Nick) Grubich of the Tri-Cities in Washington state; Rita Atkinson of Laurel, Mont.; Lucy (Dana) Kruse of Seattle, Wash.; Tom (Penny) Schmidt of Lompoc, Calif.; and Amy (Mike) Ray of Fort Worth, Texas. Ray and Marie are also survived by 16 much-loved grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren and will be remembered by a host of friends and extended family members.
Theirs were lives well and fully lived. Godspeed Dad/Gramps. Since Mom/Grandma did not drive, we trust you safely chauffeured her to heaven.
Per their request, no funeral services will be held for Ray and Marie. Eventually they will be interred in a small country cemetery on the North Dakota plains they loved so much.
Any donations you wish to send can be made out to the benefit of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Or, in lieu of donations, simply do something today for someone in need in Ray and Marie’s honor.
Gary Clark Chamberlain
Gary Clark Chamberlain, 52, of Miles City died Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in the Billings Clinic ICU.
Mr. Chamberlain was born Oct. 1, 1960, in Baker to Winfred and Frieda Chamberlain. He was raised in Baker for 12 years before coming to Miles City.
He and Vickie Parsons were married
on Dec. 4, 1987, in their home in Miles City and just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary on Dec. 4, 2012.
In 1977, Mr. Chamberlain and his identical twin, Terry, joined the Marines. Upon returning home, Mr. Chamberlain worked hard at several jobs in Miles City including 4B’s, United Beverage, Blue Rock, Conlins, and had spent his last 15 years at M and C Beverage where he worked as a delivery driver and towards the end of his career as a salesman.
Mr. Chamberlain loved to camp, fish, hunt, to speak over the guide at Custer’s Battlefield. He loved the great outdoors with friends and family. He had a great passion for football, from watching his favorite team, the Minnesota Vikings, to coaching Little Guy Football. He took pleasure in enjoying life to the fullest. Spending weekends and holidays with his family and friends was one of his greatest pastimes.
He was an affectionate, humorous, fun loving man who was notorious for his tootsie pops, toe gappin’s and snake bites. His sons would say that he was not only the best father, but the best friend that they ever had. His friends would be the first to say that he had the biggest heart of anyone they ever knew. There was not a person that he had ever come across in his travels through life who hadn’t been touched by this wonderful man. He was the type of person who could go up to a complete stranger who was hurting, give him or her a hug and make that individual feel better. He was loved by his co-workers, clients, friends, family and most of all, his wife, Vickie.
His survivors include his wife, Vickie Chamberlain and his loving dog, Snicker doodle; his two children, Kelly (Holly) Parsons and Travis (Stephany) Chamberlian; seven brothers and sisters, Billy (Karen) Chamberlain, Elsie (Leo) Efta, Diann (Mel) Mytty, Juanita Milne, Larry (Gloria) Chamberlain, Leonard (Lennis) Chamberlain and Terry Chamberlain; his mother-in-law, Rosella Parsons; four sisters-in-law, Ginger Bennette, Shelly and Bob Dyba, Robin (Tim) Neiffer and Lisa Parsons; and numerous nieces, nephews and those he called family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Winfred and Frieda Chamberlain; sisters, Arlene and Mary; and his father-in-law, George Parson.
Visitation will be Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City with family receiving friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Funeral services will be Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at 11 a.m. in the First Lutheran Church in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Eastern Montana State Veterans cemetery with full military honors provided by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1579.
Should friends desire, memorials are in place with the Little Guy Football association.
Jeanitte Ann Hartse
Jeanitte Ann Hartse died suddenly Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013, in the Kenmare Hospital at Kenmare, N.D., where she was living at the time.
She was born June 9, 1958, at Spokane, Wash., the daughter of James and Virginia Drennen Hartse. She attended schools in Golva, New Salem and graduated from Dickinson, N.D. She attended one year of college at Miles Community College in Miles City.
Her survivors include a son, Robert Dennis of Miles City, and a daughter, Johanna Hartse of Billings; four brothers, Joe, Pat and Mike Hartse, all of Miles City, and John Hartse of Douglas, Wyo.; one sister, Lenora Engett of Kenmare, N.D.; three grandchildren, Schain, Alyson and Gracie; one aunt, Rosemarie Johnson; several cousins; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, James; grandparents, Stanley and Genevieve Drennen; and a sister, Cleo Hartse.
A funeral service will be Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, at 1 p.m. in the Chapel of Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Miles City.
Memorials may be made to the family and left at the funeral home.
Betty Fadhl Lund
Betty Fadhl Lund died peacefully where she began life 78 years earlier.
She was born Dec. 9, 1934, to John and Margaret Fadhl in Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City, and she died in the new hospital, just a few blocks from her cherished home, on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013. She was always a loving wife, mother and grandmother.
She attended school in Miles City, although there were a few summers she was with her parents when they farmed outside of Hardin. She graduated from Custer County High School in 1952.
Two things defined her high school life. She was first chair cornet in the band, playing a new instrument she bought with money she borrowed from her parents. She repaid her debt by babysitting for 25 cents an hour.
She was just as serious about one other thing. When she was a freshman she saw an upperclassman, with a James Dean look, on a motorcycle and instantly fell in love. She married
Christian “Chris” Lund four days after she turned 18 when he returned home on a leave from the Army. They celebrated their 60th anniversary on Dec. 13, 2012.
Mrs. Lund lived her whole life in Miles City except for the better part of that first year of marriage when Mr. Lund was stationed in northern California. She returned to Miles City when her husband was posted in Alaska.
When Mr. Lund was discharged, he went to work farming with his father-in-law north of Miles City and the new couple started a family. Loreen “Lori” was born in 1954 and twins Gerard “Jerry” and Janice were born in 1956.
Mr. and Mrs. Lund struck out on their own a couple years later, taking over the Schott place on Dead Man Road. When the wicked winter wind would howl, the linoleum on the kitchen floor would billow.
Often Mrs. Lund would feed a thrashing crew while taking care of three young children. She would never complain about the hard word and often also had the added responsibility as a gopher, going to town to get parts for machinery.
They began moving to town when the twins started school because there weren’t enough children to hire a country teacher. They lived on Bridge Street for about four years before purchasing their dream home on Cottage Grove Avenue.
Mrs. Lund often said she never dreamt that she would have a home as nice as this and wondered how she would ever fill all those cupboards. It’s safe to say that after 43 years, those cupboards are overflowing.
Even as her children grew up and moved away, Mrs. Lund never considered leaving, saying she was planted where she wanted to be. That was true even after the death of her son, Jerry, in 2004, although those who knew her best knew things weren’t quite the same.
Mrs. Lund was a very private person, but her personal relationship with the Lord was very important to her and that helped her during this difficult time.
Her survivors include her husband, Chris; her younger brother, Robert (Nancy) Fadhl of Buckeye, Ariz.; daughter, Lori (Dave) Trimmer of Spokane, Wash., and their sons, Garrett and Blake; daughter, Janice (Rand) Young of Dickinson, N.D., and their sons, Christopher and Travis; and a granddaughter, Breanna (Tyler) Lund Harbaugh of Miles City.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John Fadhl and Margaret Ford; as well as her son, Jerry, whose fiancée, Jo Beaty, has remained a close family friend.
Memoria1s may be made to Hospice of Miles City.
Visitation will be Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City with family receiving friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Funeral services will be Thursday, Jan. 10, 2013, at 11 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Custer County cemetery.
Paula Gayle Roberts Terrett
Paula Gayle Roberts Terrett was born April 20, 1962, the daughter of Kenneth and Virginia Roberts. Known as Gayle, she spent her formative years at the family ranch on Mizpah Creek southeast of Miles City.
She grew up surrounded by her siblings and cousins, the Weischedel children. She enjoyed the outdoors, helping her dad ride, work cattle, and hay as well as 4-H and rodeos.
In May of 1980, she graduated from Custer County District High School. She and Curt Terrett were married
on Sept. 12, 1981. Together they have two children, William Scott born Feb. 23, 1986, and Cody Jay born Dec. 30, 1989.
Mrs. Terrett was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and aunt. She was a fabulous cook. She followed her sons, Willie and Cody, to many school events including football and rodeo. Mrs. Terrett enjoyed painting, scrapbooking, card making and taking pictures. She loved to help outdoors with the riding and working cattle. She took great pride in her yard and flowers. Mrs. Terrett also enjoyed spending time with her family and friends.
On June 7, 2008, William Scott married
Danielle Tofte and together they have two children, Madelynn Noelle and Allison Gayle. Mrs. Terrett’s battle with her cancer led her to make goals and one of them was to live to see Allison Gayle born.
In August of 2012, Mrs. Terrett, began nail technician school in Miles City. She was excited to begin a new chapter in her life. She enjoyed the schooling and she especially enjoyed the classmates as she lovingly referred to as the “girls.”
She is survived by her husband: Curtis; two sons: William Scott (Danielle) and Cody Jay; granddaughters: Madelynn and Allison; her parents: Ken and Virginia; and siblings: brother, Kent (Mickey) and their children, Lacy, Zane, Reed, CL, Matthew, Jennifer (Justin) and Xaidyn Schaefer; sister, Becky (Bill) and their children, Cole (Briana) and Grant; and youngest brother, Bruce (Jamie), and their children Michael and Bentley.
Her survivors also include her mother-in-law, Ellen Terrett; brother-in-law, Jay (Debbie); sister-in-law, Nancy Markuson (Stan); and numerous nieces and nephews. Also holding a very special place in Mrs. Terrett’s heart is her dear friend, Kathy Felton.
She was preceded in death by both maternal and paternal grandparents, Clarence and Paula Compton, Lloyd and Marybeth Roberts; and nephew, Trace Allen Roberts.
The family will receive friends Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013, from 4 to 6 p.m. in Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Miles City. Funeral services will be Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013, at 11 a.m. at the Grace Bible Church. Burial will follow in the Custer County cemetery.
A memorial has been established to the Wake Up and Lace Up Foundation at 107 Balsam Dr., the Range Riders Museum in Miles City and The Broadus Cancer Fund, 20 Gardner Road, Ashland, MT 59003.
Billie Jackson Pool
Billie Jackson Pool, 90, died Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013, in Katy, Texas.
She was born in Pryor, Okla., on Sept. 15, 1922. She and her husband, Yates, worked on the Mathers Brothers Ranch north of Miles City for many years and were active in the Northside community.
Her survivors include her sons, Ralph Pool and Porter Pool of Katy, Texas.
Mrs. Pool was preceded in death by her husband, Yates Pool of Miles City.
There will be no services at this time. Condolences may be sent to:
1317 Bob White Ln., Katy, Texas 77493.
Irene Helms
Irene Helms, 82, of Miles City died New Year’s Day, Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013, at Holy Rosary Healthcare.
Mrs. Helms was born May 6, 1930, in Olive, to Carl O. Schneidt Sr. and Katherine Paul Schneidt, the third of 10 children. The family moved to Miles City in the 1940s. Mrs. Helms did babysitting for different families, later working at the Milligan Hotel, Miles City Steam Laundry and the Crossroads.
She was married
to Robert Green for a short time. To this union, one daughter, Linda, was born. They divorced and she married
Stan Ziesmer. The couple managed the Green Dragon Bar and Lounge from 1959 to 1960. In 1961 they moved to Watertown, S.D., where she worked at the laundry and dry cleaners. She enjoyed bowling and golfing. They divorced in 1965.
Later, she met and married
Donald Helms of Clark, S.D. They were married
for 33 years. Mrs. Helms worked at the Double D Café and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, retiring from there.
In 1999, she returned to Miles City where her daughter was living. Mrs. Helms lived on her own until 2007, when she moved in with her daughter and lived with her until entering Holy Rosary Extended Care Unit in March of 2012. Mrs. Helms enjoyed visiting with all the friends she made while living there. One of the things she most enjoyed was playing bingo and watching golf on television. She enjoyed her visits from friends and family.
Her survivors include her daughter, Linda Winkley; five sisters, Joyce Hayes (Don) of Billings, Mary Jane Mitchell of Casper, Wyo., Liz Hofer (Birney) of Miles City, Ella Cain (Jim) of Broadus and Dolly Bidwell of Belle Fouche, S.D.; two brothers, Carl Schneidt Jr. (Panzy) of Miles City and Jim Schneidt (Ninola) of Roy, Wash.; five grandchildren, Laura Wetherelt (Allen) of Forsyth, Roni Sue Adams (Bob) of Eau Claire, Wis., Scott Sotka of San Jose, Calif., Mark Winkley (Jennifer) and Kari Winkley, all of Miles City; two step-grandchildren, Allen Winkley of Miles City and Melinnee Mastel (Marvin) of Rapid City, S.D.; eight great-grandchildren, Sarah Lane (Terry) of Miles City, Tonya and Cody Wetherelt of Forsyth, Taylor and Thomas Adams of Eau Claire, Draven and Cash Winkley of Miles City, and Shylis Pitcher of Miles City; and 13 step-great-grandchildren, Dillon and Derek Winkley of Miles City, Jake and Hailey Everson of Aitkin, Minn., Ken Worm of Germany, Michelle Jones of Aberdeen, S.D., Melody Moorehouse of Alaska, Jon Mastel of Rapid City, S.D., Tansen, Nikki, Brian and Lela Winkley of Helena, and Jennifer Underwood of Arizona.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald; her parents, Carl and Katherine (Paul) Schneidt; a brother, Bill; a sister, Margaret Barnett; and a step-grandchild, Terry Winkley.
Visitation will be Sunday, Jan. 6, 2013, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Eastern Montana State Veterans cemetery.
Margot "Bobbie" Harding
Margot “Bobbie” Harding, 95, of Terry died Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2013, at her home near Terry.
She was born in Burke, S.D., on April 30, 1917, the eldest child of Morris and Amy Holmquist Jensen. A child of the depression era, she spent her childhood moving from community to community as her father searched for employment. The family ended up in Ogallala, Neb., where she graduated from high school.
She became a telephone operator with AT&T, but was forced to quit her job when she married
the love of her life, Kenneth E. Harding. They were married
for 73 years, until his death on Dec. 1, 2012.
While Mrs. Harding served on many community boards and activities, her main role in life was being a wife, mother and valued friend. She was devoted to her two sons, Kenneth L. and Richard. She provided nurture and guidance to her boys throughout her life. She then embraced her daughter-in-law, Patricia, and grandchildren, Jeff and Tracy (McElvery). She was blessed with six great-grandchildren. This was her family, however she was “Mom, ” “Grandma” and “Aunt Bobbie” to many people.
She opened her heart to everyone and encouraged everyone to have pride and confidence in themselves and their abilities. She had very high standards for how life was to be lived, but accepted everyone and touched their lives in many positive ways. She was an example and inspiration for many. Her devotion to her husband demonstrated a very deep love.
Her home was always with her family. She loved Ogallala, Neb. In the 1970s, as her family’s business interests expanded, she fell in love with Key West, Fla. There she could enjoy warm winters while hosting family and friends from throughout the world. She enjoyed the role of hostess and created many fond memories.
Again, in the 1980s, her family’s business interests expanded to eastern Montana and she came to the open northern plains with enthusiasm for rural life and the many friends she found.
She is survived by her sons, Kenneth L. and Richard; daughter-in-law, Patricia; grandchildren, Jeff (Kristine) and Tracy (Paul McElvery); her six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was blessed to have devoted caregivers who helped her with her husband and in her final days. They were truly valuable people in her life.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Carl and Chris; and sisters, Jean, June and Mildred (Harding); and her husband, Kenneth E.
Family will receive friends of Mr. and Mrs. Harding for a joint celebration of life on Friday, Jan. 4, 2013, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the family farm on Blatchford Road near Terry.
