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Edith Smith Osborne
Edith Smith Osborne, 86, died Friday, Feb. 11, 2005, in Billings.
She was born March 13, 1918, in Ismay, Custer County, and was raised on the homestead just out of Ismay. She received her teaching degree from Eastern Montana College in Billings
Mrs. Osborne joined the United States Army during World War II and served in northern Italy.
She taught at the Larsen School (a one-room school in Richland County) and in Bozeman, Savage, Three Forks, Hingham and Jordan.
Mrs. Osborne was a member of Mark Curtiss Post 6774, Billings Heights Veterans of Foreign Wars and was a longtime member of the Rebekah Lodge.
She was very active at Prairie Towers, including working in the library, starting up the residency worship services, enjoying the flower gardens and arranging activities. Garage sales were her favorite pastime with her best friend, Pat Southern, and garage sales won't be the same in Billings without her there.
She will be missed greatly by Sister Mary David, Emma and numerous other friends in Prairie Towers.
Her survivors include her daughter, Ethel Mae (Willard) Rome of Tooele, Utah; her grandson, Lance J. Rome of Tooele, her granddaughter, Connie (Tracy) Lauvray, and her great-grandsons, Ethan and Baylor Lauvray, all of Columbus, Ohio; her brother, Robert (Gloria) Smith of Mesa, Ariz.; and her sister, Marian Bourn of Tacoma, Wash. She was preceded in death by two sisters.
A celebration of life will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, 2005, at The First United Methodist Church in Billings, with military rites at graveside.
Memorials can be made to her church in lieu of flowers or to one's favorite charity.
William Earl Davis III
William Earl Davis, Meh ih yohtse (Comes In Sight) died unexpectedly on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2005, as a result of a vehicle accident.
He was born in Colorado Springs, Colo., on June 15, 1980. Moving to Montana in the first year of his life, he was raised by his maternal grandparents, James Jr. (deceased) and Lucille Spear. Spending quality time with his maternal side of the family, he was very energetic and eager to learn new things.
Learning the Cheyennes' traditional and cultural ways, he participated in Cheyenne ceremonies at a very young age and was a member of the Kit Fox Society. Also being a Cheyenne language speaker, he felt it was very important for other young people to learn and was always encouraging them to do so.
Meh ih yohtse received his education in Lame Deer and Dickinson, N.D. Being friendly and outgoing, he was able to make friends easily and didn't hesitate to help anyone in need. His favorite pastimes included horse breaking, horse back riding, drawing, playing basketball, weight lifting and spending time with friends and family.
Meh ih yohtse was very protective of all his sisters and no matter where he was, he managed to keep tabs on them, sending words of encouragement with reminders of being good and not to be careless with their lives.
His survivors include his Grandma Lucille; his mother, Faith Spear of Lame Deer; his father, William Davis of Colorado; his grandpas, John Seminole and David Glenmore; Grandma Jennie Parker of Ashland; his brothers, Darrell James, Delbert, Sean and Gary Spear, Sheldon Foote, Gabriel Mexicancheyenne, Charles and George Brady, Dornie, Brandy and Randy American Horse, all of Lame Deer, Tom (Misty) King of Birney, Rufus Spear of Albuquerque, N.M., Lucas King of Brainerd, Minn., Gary Middle Rider Jr. of Ashland, Michael Mexicancheyenne of Billings, Mark Stephen Elkshoulder, Craig Elkshoulder of Phoenix, Ariz., and Michael Elkshoulder of Seiling, Okla.; and his sisters, Therese (David Wick), Heather, Rebekah, Newta and Cinnamon Spear, Mranda Shanta and Jennifer Shakespeare all of Lame Deer, LaVonne (Matt) King-Hutchins of Brainerd, Gina Middle Rider of Ashland and Michelle (Shawn) Elkshoulder of Billings.
Meh ih yohtse also called his Aunties, Janis Spear of Billings, Wanda (Gilbert Sr.) Brady and Kim (Thomas Jr.) Gardner of Lame Deer, Pam (Ken) Kania of Ashland and Diane (Gary) Temple of Billings, "Mom" and recently pointed out how lucky he was that he "had a lot of Moms."
His Uncles include, Silas (Alice) Biglefthand, Eddie (Kathy) Foote Jr., and Tom Mexicancheyenne, all of Lame Deer and Stephen (Kristy) Parker of Ashland. He also leaves a special friend, Jamie, of North Dakota and relatives including the Eaglefeathers, Russell, Parker, Red Robe, Seminole, Little Coyote and Sioux families as well as many others who have not been named.
Meh ih yohtse was preceded in death by his grandfather, James Spear Jr.; his great-grandparents, Myles Seminole and Flora Red Robe, James Bites Sr. and Sally Crazy Mule; his uncles, Gary Spear, Forest Spear, Jimmy Spear; and his aunts, Cheryl Shoulderblade, Rebekah Ann Spear, Kathryn Adelyn Spear and Dorothy Castro.
Wake service will be Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2005, at 7 p.m. at the Lucille Spear residence in Lame Deer. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, 2005, in the St. Labre Catholic Church in Ashland. Burial will be in the St. Labre cemetery.
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Forsyth is in charge of the arrangements.
Willis Kelly
Willis Kelly, 64, of Camas, Wash., former Miles City resident, died Sunday, Feb. 13, 2005, at his home.
Mr. Kelly was born Aug. 3, 1940, in Broadus. At the age of 15-16 years, he jockeyed horses at Portland Meadows Racing Track. A member of the 701 Union, Mr. Kelly loved his work as a welder and also worked in the North Slope Camps.
He was a Camas resident since 1979.
His survivors include his wife, Kristine Kelly, at home; his daughter, Anne Francis Kelly-Richards of Seattle, Wash.; his son, Willis "Billy" W. Kelly Jr. of Sedro Woolly, Wash.; and four grandsons.
Survivors also include his sister, Margie Rockwell of Yuba City, Calif.; and four brothers, John Kelly of Billings, Earl Kelly and Father Frank Kelly, both of Great Falls and Glen Kelly of Waldport, Ore.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Robert R. Kelly; and his half-brother, Jay Ryerson.
A graveside service will be held at Fern Prairie Cemetery on Friday, Feb. 18, 2005, at 2 p.m. At Mr. Kelly's request, friends and family may attend the service wearing casual attire.
Brown's Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Donations many be made in Mr. Kelly's memory to the American Lung Association, 223 Tacoma Avenue South, Tacoma, WA 98402-2513.
Raymond W. White
Raymond W. White, 86, of Miles City, formerly of Forsyth, died Saturday, Feb. 12, 2005, at the Veterans Affairs Nursing Home in Miles City.
Mr. White was born in Rosebud County on Oct. 21, 1918. The family lived in Vananda at the time and moved to Forsyth in 1929. He completed High School in 1938.
He was employed by Foley Brothers in Colstrip from 1938 to April of 1942. Mr. White entered the Army and served with the United States 65th Signal Battalion. He was dropped by glider behind lines on D-Day. Mr. White was discharged in January 1946, having achieved the rank of Master Sergeant.
He continued employment with Foley Brothers in Colstrip until 1959. Mr. White briefly lived in Billings, then worked in the western states as a lineman for various construction projects. He settled back in Forsyth upon retirement and lived at the family home until pneumonia overtook him in November of 1989. After a brief hospitalization, he entered the nursing home in Forsyth until going to the Veterans Hospital in Miles City a year later.
He had survived throat cancer and various broken bones through his life. Mr. White was raised as a Catholic and enjoyed communion the last several years of his life.
His survivors include his son, Raymond L. White of Warner, Okla.; two grandsons, John Matthew White and Robert Lee White, both of Warner; two sisters, Adelade Russell of Three Forks and Margaret Rangel of San Diego, Calif.; a niece, Yvonne Armstrong of Big Timber; and various other nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Christine White; a sister, Lorraine Kurka; two brothers, Dennis and Ralph White; and a son, John White.
Funeral services will be Thursday, Feb. 17, 2005, at 1 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will follow in the family lot of the Forsyth Cemetery in Forsyth.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice.
