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Emanuel Constantinos Hasapis
Emanuel Constantinos Hasapis, 83, of Miles City died at Friendship Villa, Saturday, May 12, 2007, after an extended illness.
Born in Athens, Greece, on Oct. 15, 1923, he was the son of Anistasia Koukidou and George Hasapis. His father died in the Greek war against Turkey when Mr. Hasapis was very young and his mother placed him in an orphanage until she remarried
. He has a half-sister and brother, Mary and Antonio. His mother died in 1944 and his step-father, Demetrius, remarried
a woman named Magda. Mr. Hasapis lived with them until he left home to enter the service.
Mr. Hasapis attended the University of Athens but had to quit one year short of graduation when Greece entered another war. Mr. Hasapis joined the Greek Merchant Marines and served as ships engineer but dreamed of going to America some day.
He jumped ship and came to America as an illegal alien somewhere around 1950. He worked for awhile and then left the country for two years and again jumped ship and came back into the United States.
The second time he entered the United States, friends in New York sent him to Minneapolis to a Greek family there for help and they sent him on to Miles City to the Lucas family. The Lucas family helped him get a job with Love Motors and to find a teacher who would teach him to speak English.
In 1954 he married
Jennie Warford who had two young daughters and instantly became a family man. A year later his daughter, Maria, was born and just over a year later his son, Frank, was born.
On Nov. 10, 1964, Mr. Hasapis took and passed his test for naturalization and became a legal United States citizen.
Mr. Hasapis worked for Love Motor for 15 years and started building houses on weekends and evenings. For awhile he was involved with Master Craft Homes with Mullen Realty as his partner. He later formed a partnership with Ray Hunt that lasted for 28 years. Mr. Hasapis, Ray Hunt and Jack Hardesty started Crafted Homes around 1957. They later sold their interest to Hardesty. Mr. Hasapis also helped Hardesty fund the starting of the Hardesty Addition. Mr. Hasapis and long time partner Hunt also started the first pre-fabricated housing factory in Miles City (H&H Construction), which they owed and operated until they both retired.
Mr. Hasapis’ greatest passions in life were bowling, fishing, music, his children and being an American.
He is preceded in death by his daughter Maria in August of 1972 and his son Frank in August of 1988, his step parents Dimitrius and Magda in 1998 and grandson James Bart in September of 1999.
His survivors include his two step-daughters, Carolyn (Emerson) Hays of Pompeys Pillar and Katheryn (Irish) Strackbein of Belle Creek; his sister, Mary and his brother, Antonio, two nephews and two nieces of Athens, Greece; and many grand- and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Maria in August of 1972; his son, Frank in August of 1988; his step-parents, Dimitrius and Magda in 1998; and his grandson, James Bart in September of 1999.
Memorial services will be Saturday, June 2, 2007, at 1 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will be at a later date.
Newton "Newt" Hollowell
Newton “Newt” Hollowell, 99, of Miles City died Monday, May 21, 2007, at the Cottonwood Care Center in Miles City.
Mr. Hollowell was born the youngest son of Emmett Newton and Cora Davis Hollowell on Dec. 25, 1907, in Alexandria, Ind. He joined a family of two brothers, two half-brothers and three half-sisters.
His mother Cora died of tuberculosis before he was two years of age. For the next few years he was taken in by his married
half-brothers. His father remarried
when Mr. Hollowell was six, and within a short while his step-mother died from complications of a fall during pregnancy. Shortly after her death, Mr. Hollowell’s father contracted tuberculosis and was soon unable to care for his family, so Mr. Hollowell was back to living with his half-brothers again until a permanent home could be found for him.
A dedicated Christian couple, Alonzo and Edith Nolan of neighboring Frankton, Ind., decided since they had no children they would take him in and raise him as their own. They had a 160-acre farm, and Mr. Hollowell helped as he could while they put him through grade and high school. He graduated from high school in 1926, and enlisted in the Marines.
After boot camp, he was stationed at Quantico, Va., and later was sent to Nicaragua to help protect American interests, as there was a civil war brewing there. He spent 27 months in Nicaragua, being involved in several skirmishes with the rebel Sandinistas. He was discharged from the Marines in 1930.
After his discharge, he went back to the farm for awhile, but the depression forced him to look elsewhere for work. He joined his brother Leo in the Seattle, Wash., area working jobs as a farmhand, logger and carpenter or whatever work he could find.
In 1938, he and his first wife, Francis, were married
. They were divorced in 1948. During World War II, he took evening classes and became a welder, then took more classes and became a sheet metal lay-out man. This was the trade that brought him to Miles City to work on the construction of the Veterans Affairs Hospital.
Mr. Hollowell became friends with several of the workmen at the hospital. A special friend, Jess Trainer, took Mr. Hollowell to his sister’s boarding house for supper one evening. This supper was the start of a long friendship and marriage to Trainer’s sister, Bessie Carey. Although Mr. Hollowell had no children of his own, his marriage to Bessie on June 30, 1950, gave him a wife and a family of four married
adults, and two youngsters at home. When the VA Hospital was done, he worked on the Eagles building until it was completed. They then moved to Cut Bank to help build three radar sights there.
From Cut Bank they lived between Seattle and Miles City, moving many times both ways. During this time they bought numerous run down houses. They worked together, fixed them up and resold them, only to buy another and start all over again. Their final project together was buying some land on the Sun Dial Ranchettes northeast of Miles City, where they retired. Mrs. Hollowell died from cancer in October 1983, and Mr. Hollowell lived on his own until moving to Cottonwood Care Home in 2004.
He lived a Christian life, caring for others and helping where he could. For the last 25 years he has been deeply involved in the Seventh Day Adventist Church, serving as Elder for many of those years. He also did volunteer work at the VA Hospital for several years, which he enjoyed immensely.
He felt he was blessed to have a beloved family in Bessie Hollowell’s children, grandchildren, great- and great-great-grandchildren. He looked forward to the holidays and visiting with family.
His survivors include a sister-in-law, Pearl Hollowell of Florida; two step-sons: Del (Bernice) Carey of Volborg and Randall (Virginia) Carey of Bothell, Wash.; four step-daughters: Irene Gresens, Helen Jones and Betty (Bob) Barthelmess, all of Miles City, and Peggy (Herb) Barrett of Itiat, Wash.; 29 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and many special nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Bessie; two brothers, Leo and William; one sister-in-law, Helen Hollowell; and four sons-in-law, Charles (Casey) Jones, Neal Gresens, Dick Fuller and Doug Ensminger.
Funeral services will be Friday, May 25, 2007, at 2 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Eastern Montana State Veterans cemetery with full military honors provided by VFW Post 1579.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Range Riders Museum or to the charity of one’s choice.
Ellen Durfey Kuhl Battin
Ellen Durfey Kuhl Battin, 60, died Tuesday, May 22, 2007, in her home after a long battle with cancer.
Mrs. Battin was born in Wolf Point in 1946 to parents Bud and Odway Durfey, who preceded her in death.
She spent most of her life taking care of others as a nurse in various facilities, most recently Holy Rosary Extended Care. No one who knew her will ever forget what a loving, caring and hard-working nurse she was. She also was a wonderful wife, mother and friend.
Her survivors include her loving husband, David Battin, who did an amazing job of caring for her during her illness.
She was also survived by her daughter, Jody Kuhl (Billy Bickel) of Billings; her brother, Curtis (Karen) Durfey of Billings; her cousins, Kristy (Larry) Lobdell of Richey, Diane Hathaway of Miles City; her aunt, Aileen Hagen of Miles City; and many other cousins.
Funeral services will be Saturday, May 26, 2007, at 2 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Custer County cemetery in Miles City.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to Holy Rosary Hospice, 2600 Wilson St., Miles City, MT 59301 or to the charity of one’s choice.
Jack Milmine
Jack Milmine, 83, of Sanders, died Sunday, May 20, 2007, at his home.
Mr. Milmine was born March 21, 1924, the son of Victor and Margaret Angles Milmine in Howard. He attended school at Sanders until the eighth grade. He then went to work with his father on the family farm and ranch.
On Oct. 11, 1945, he and Betty McLeod were married
in Miles City. In 1945 he entered the United States Army and was stationed in Jamaica. He returned to the family farm in 1946 where he and his wife had lived since.
Mr. Milmine loved music and had a small band. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting and loved to shoot.
In addition to his wife, Betty of 61 years Mr. Milmine is survived by sons Waine (Sharon) and Lee (Angie), all of Sanders, and Don (Debbie) of Billings; daughter Marian (Jack) Larson of Miles City; brother Keith Milmine of Sanders; and sister Betty Olson of Sheridan, Wyo.
He also is survived by grandchildren and great-grandchildren Mike (Deann) Milmine and children Connor and Bowen; Jennie (Jason) Chase and Alex; Ken (Christy) Milmine and Caden, Kollen and Cody; Cindy (Tim) Oblender and Kelsey and Dustin; Clint (Lisa) Milmine; Daniel and Darick Milmine; Garrett, Jordan and Inga Larson.
Mr. Milmine was preceded in death by daughter Janet, brother Donald and sisters Jean Milmine and Margaret DeCock.
A Funeral Service will be Thursday, May 24, 2007, at 2 p.m. at the Community Presbyterian Church in Hysham with internment to follow in the Hysham Vale Memorial cemetery.
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Forsyth is in charge of arrangements.
Memorials in Mr. Milmine’s name may be made to the Sanders Hall in care of Bob and Pat Miller, Sanders, MT. 59076.
Lee Franklin Rhea
Lee Franklin Rhea “young Lee” died Wednesday, May 16, 2007, after a brief hospitalization in Duluth, Minn.
He was the son of Hildred Goff Rhea and Robert Lee Rhea “old Lee.” Born Jan. 24, 1920, in Sheridan, Wyo., he grew up on the SH where his father was ranch foreman. Mr. Rhea graduated from Custer County High School, attended the University of Montana at Missoula and served as a pilot in the Navy.
He later lived and worked in New York and Barbados, BWL.
In 1968 he returned to the Miles City area and worked with his father on the Mill Iron ranch.
Several years later, he moved to Askov, Minn., where he met and married
Lois Olson. They celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary on Thursday, May 10.
Mr. Rhea is survived by his wife, Lois; his daughter, Lou Towner (Luther) of Seattle, Wash.; his step-sons, John Niemonen of Hudson, Wis., Jack Niemonen (Karen Brokenleg) of Sioux Falls, N.D., Kevin Olson (Terry) of Evansdale, Iowa, and Darren Olson of Askov, Minn.; his grandchildren, Arrisen Towner of Los Angeles, Calif., Rheaana Guess (Larry) of Chicago, Ill., Eric Olson of Waterloo, Iowa; his great-granddaughter, Zoe Towner; and several loving step-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
A family celebration of Mr. Rhea’s life followed by interment of his ashes in Miles City is planned for this summer.
Dion Huber
Dion Huber, 37, formerly of Miles City died Friday, Aug. 10, 2007, at her home in Laurel.
She was born and raised in Miles City where she attended Sacred Heart Schools.
Prior to moving to Billings where she was employed by Global Crossing, she worked for her dad at Milo’s, where her outgoing nature earned her the high regard of many. Facing a lifetime of serious health challenges, she met them with strength as she fought to overcome the challenges and live her life. She is remembered for her wit, courage, and love of family and friends.
Her survivors include her parents, Milo and Mary Lou Huber; sisters Dana Huber, Debbie (Eric) Johnson, and Deani (Doug) Goyette; nephews Andrew and Ethan Johnson; niece McKenna Johnson; dog Wally; and cats, Goose and Mavrick.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents and infant twin sisters.
A vigil service will be Monday, Aug. 13, 2007, at 6 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007, at 11 a.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Rite of Committal will follow in the Custer County cemetery.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to St. Jude’s Children Hospital, the American Cancer Society, or to the charity of one’s choice.
Jerry Deane Gramm
Jerry Deane Gramm, 56, of Ferndale, WA, passed away July 25, 2007, at home after an extended illness, his family by his side. He was born May 23, 1951 in Forsyth, MT and moved to Ferndale with his family August, 1967. He was a proud 1970 graduate of Ferndale High School and followed his father in the electrical trade, completing his apprenticeship program in 1983. He believed in hard work, integrity, and family. His sense of humor brought laughter to those he knew, and he will be truly missed by those who knew and loved him.
As a journeyman electrician with the IBEW for 28 1/2 years, he worked on numerous construction jobs in Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, and California, always returning to his family and “home base” in Ferndale. He enjoyed boating, bowling, fishing, hunting, playing cards, dominoes, Yahtzee, traveling, and sharing time with family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and an older sister. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Debra Lynn Gramm of the family home in Ferndale; daughter, Katherine Gramm of Bellingham; son, James Gramm; daughter and son-in-law, Sandra and Daniel Hayes; and granddaughter Eve Marie Hayes; sister, Judy Gramm, all of Ferndale; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other extended family members. In his passing, he provided an example of how one faces life and death. A person does what has to be done because it must be done - but it can be done with dignity, and love, and a sense of humor.
Memorial services were held at Moles Greenacres Funeral Home, 5700 Northwest Drive, Ferndale, on Thursday, August 2nd at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to the Salvation Army and Hospice of Whatcom County.
Howard James Cummings
Howard James Cummings, 60, died at his home in Glendale, Ariz. on Friday, Aug. 3, 2007.
Mr. Cummings was born Sept. 14, 1946, to Donald and Frances Cummings in Miles City. He graduated from Custer County High School in 1964 where he was active in football, wrestling and track.
In 1965 he enlisted in the Navy, and was assigned as a mechanist mate on the destroyer escort “D.E. Bronstein, ” later being transferred to the “U.S.S. Bradley.” He served two tours in Vietnam before being discharged in 1969.
After his discharge, he worked as a truck driver in the Phoenix area before returning to Miles City. Upon his return to Miles City, Mr. Cummings became a Group Life Counselor at Pine Hills School, and enrolled at Miles Community College, graduating in 1972.
He returned to Arizona in 1973 and started working for the Arizona State Department of Corrections. In 1978 he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, and in spite of being in a wheelchair, he was able to continue working at his job until 1993.
Mr. Cummings and Dorothy Nan Phillips Arnold were married
Feb. 27, 1982, and he became the father to three lovely daughters. He was always so proud of his family. A bright spot in his life was the arrival of his five grandchildren.
He attended Apollo Baptist Church in Glendale, Ariz., and had a close relationship with his Lord and Savior. In spite of being confined to a wheelchair, he always had a cheerful attitude and with the support of his loving wife, Dorothy, was able to remain at home. He was always a generous and kind person. He inspired many with his ability to smile through the many challenges thrown his way.
In 2006, he was diagnosed with cancer. Although he fought this illness with the same ferocity he always did, his weakened body could no longer go on and he succumbed to his illness.
His survivors include his wife Dorothy of Glendale; three daughters: Wendy (Kevin) Severance of Peoria, Ariz., Andrea (Phil) Kahrl of Everett, Wash., and Jill (Dominic) Arnold-Gallegos of Phoenix, Ariz.; five grandchildren, Rory, Tara, Felix, Milo, and Isobel, all who will miss him greatly; his mother, Frances Coombe Cummings Grasky of Miles City; his sister, Connie (Gary) Stewart of Las Alamitos, Calif.; two step-brothers: Leo (Terry) Grasky of Sheridan, Wyo., and Jim (Mary) Grasky of Choteau; his nephew: Justin (Jenny) Stewart of Anaheim Hills, Calif.; and niece Shannon Stewart of Chicago.
He was preceded in death by his father, Don Cummings; and his sister, Fronda Cummings.
A Memorial Service will be Monday, Aug. 13, 2007, at 11 a.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will be Friday, Aug. 17, 2007, 1 p.m. at the National Veteran Memorial cemetery located at 23029 N. Cave Creek Rd., Phoenix, AZ. A Memorial Service will be at Apollo Baptist Church, 11611 N. 51st Ave., Glendale, AZ on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2007, at 11 a.m.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to Apollo Baptist Church, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society or the National Cancer Society.
Joe Landa
Joe Landa, 97, died Monday, Aug. 6, 2007, at the Powder River Manor in Broadus.
Mr. Landa was born on Feb. 24, 1910, in Uhart-Cize, France of the Basque race in that area of the Pyrenees Mountains between France and Spain. He was the fourth of five children born to Pierre and Jeanne (Gaillurru) Landa. He attended school in St. Jean Pied de Port for six or seven years and then went to work on different farms at the age of 12.
When he was 19 years of age, he heard of a sponsorship program where an established sheep rancher in the United States would pay for transportation of young Basque herders wanting to come to the U.S. Mr. Landa got the paper work done and on March 15, 1930, just turned 20 years of age, he left his homeland from LeHavre, France, on a ship, the “Ille de France.” After six days at sea, he arrived in New York. Mr. Landa was $300 in debt to his sponsor and didn’t know a word of English. He soon learned the word coffee from the porters walking up and down the aisle chanting “coffee, coffee” on the train taking him to Buffalo, Wyo.
Mr. Landa worked for John Camino on his first job and for other sheep ranches after that. His brother, Jean Baptiste Landa, joined him in 1931. They traveled to Bakersfield, Calif., where they had a cousin married
to a Basque sheep man. They herded sheep for awhile but found the climate to hot for their tastes and headed north to the Big Horns of Wyoming, which are similar to the Pyrenees of their homeland. The two brothers worked until the debts were paid and then took their wages in ewe lambs. After a few years they had a band of ewes.
In February 1941, they trailed the sheep for 12 days from the Big Horns to the Jim Catti Ranch on Horse Creek, Powder River County, Montana. They leased the Catti Ranch. In the spring of 1942, Mr. Landa leased the Catti Ranch again and his brother moved to Arvada, Wyo., and bought a ranch. He later returned to France.
Mr. Landa met the love of his life about this about this time, a pretty Italian girl from the black hills of Wyoming named Rosalie Giachino. After a short courtship they were married
in Miles City on July 6, 1942. They were married
for 65 years.
The newlyweds purchased the Catti ranch in 1943 and Mr. Landa also became a naturalized U.S. citizen that year. Their first son, Jerry, was born in November 1944.
It was hard to find sheepherders and the coyotes were numerous so Mr. Landa trailed the sheep to Moorcroft, Wyo., in 1945 and sold them for $13 a pair with wool on. He then bought cattle from Abner Castleberry, a neighbor on Horse Creek.
In September 1948, a second son, Bernard “Mike” Landa, was born. Mr. and Mrs. Landa bought the adjoining Pete Pascoe Ranch in 1950 as the children were almost school age. They moved from Horse Creek to Duncan Creek on the Pascoe place and built a new house and outbuildings. There they ranched, raising cattle for the next 40 years.
Mr. Landa had no hobbies. The only life he knew was hard work, sacrifice and the satisfaction of owning his own ranch. He did enjoy country dances and social gatherings. He slowed down a little in his mid-70s and ran yearling steers until his mid-80s. Mr. Landa liked to make chokecherry wine when the berries got ripe in August.
His survivors include his wife, Rosalie of Broadus; one son, Jerry (Sylvia) Landa of Boyes; three grandchildren, John Joseph (Cathy) Landa of Boyes, Robert William Landa of Seattle, Wash., and Carisa (John) Powell of Missoula; daughters-in-law, Vida Landa of Miles City and Phyllis Landa of Broadus; and step-grandchildren, Kirk Askin and family, Kacey Askin and family, and Kassie Taylor and family, Nicole Wheeler and family, Steven Lindstrom; and numerous nieces and nephews, here and in France.
He was preceded in death by his son, Mike Landa.
Funeral services will be Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007, at 2 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Broadus. Interment will follow in the Valley View cemetery in Broadus.
