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Dana Michael Roberts
Dana Michael Roberts passed away into the arms of our Lord in Bozeman on Wednesday evening, Sept. 10, 2003.
He was the fifth of six children born to Donald E. and Shirley (Lewis) Roberts in Helena on Aug. 17, 1967.
Dana attended elementary school in East Helena and graduated from Helena High School in 1985. He attended MSU in Bozeman for approximately four years. He married
Christine Thennis in 1991. They were later divorced.
Flying was one of Danas favorite pastimes. He received his pilots license in 2001, and just a few months ago purchased a single place bi-plane, which was modeled after the Pitt special. Unfortunately, he did not get a chance to fly it as he was working on his tail-wheel certification.
Among his many other interests were, skiing, hunting, motorcycling and fishing, but most of all, he was an accomplished woodworker. He worked for Gibson Guitar in Bozeman, Shirno Cabinetry in Whitefish, a millwork company in Denver, and for the past six years, has been production manager for Cherry Tree Design in Bozeman. He made, and gave to his family, many beautiful handmade wood items which will be treasured for years.
Dana was a very loving person and will be greatly missed by his parents; siblings, Dan of Townsend, Dirk and Devin of Helena, Marcee Allen of Denver, and Christi (Dean) Brinda of Lolo. Also surviving are his nieces and nephews, Mike Allen, Jason and Justin Stein, Jody Roberts, Max Roberts and Desiree, Ariel, Emilee and Abby Brinda, all of whom he adored. Other survivors are aunts and uncles, Lois Roberts, Rich Lauber, Carmen Jones, Madeline (Garfield) Linde, Bill (Donna) Lewis, numerous treasured cousins, and close friend, Amy Rue. Preceding him in death are both maternal and paternal grandparents, an aunt and an uncle.
Visitation hours will be Sunday, Sept. 14, from noon to 8 p.m. at Retz Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 15, at the East Helena United Methodist Church. Memorials in Danas name are suggested to the East Helena United Methodist Church Memorial Fund Box 850 East Helena, MT 59635.
John H. Morrison
John Haddow Morrison, Sr., age 101, died peacefully of old age at the Masonic Home in the Helena Valley on Sept. 14, 2003.
John was born in Manchester, England, on Aug. 2, 1902, to his Scottish parents, Isabel Crawford Haddow and David Morrison. He arrived with his family in the United States at Ellis Island on board The Baltic on Sept. 15, 1911. He became a U.S. citizen in 1916. John grew up in New Britain, Conn. At the age of 16, after one year of high school and pre-vocational school, he started his career in engineering as a surveyor and draftsman for Mr. Lewis A. Oldershaw, a local consulting engineer. John was physical director and swimming coach at the Bridgeport, Conn., YMCA from 1921-1922. Johns lifelong association with the YMCA started as a boy, and he credited that association as having a profound influence in his life.
John set out, with a pack on his back, to see the world with his brother, Neil, in May 1922, and they arrived in Montana in October. John loved to tell the story of how he came to stay in Montana. John and Neil came across a highway location survey crew near Arlee, .ohn wanted to stop and see what they were doing but Neil wanted to move on because they were heading to the Pacific Ocean. They flipped a coin and John won. When the location engineer found out that John had some experience surveying, he put him to work serving as an instrument man on a highway location crew. In the spring of 1923, John went to work with Mr. John C. Beebe for the Glen Lake Irrigation Co. at Eureka and the U.S. General Land Office in Helena. John spent nine weeks by himself on top of Mount Baldy near Townsend the summer of 1923 acting as a light keeper for a triangulation survey being done by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey between Mexico and Alaska. Thus was born his love of Montana.
Encouraged by Mr. Beebe to complete his education, John enrolled as a "special student" at Montana State College (now MSU) in Bozeman in the fall of 1923. John worked his way through school with a variety of part-time jobs at MSC and summer employment. He completed both his high school and college education in four years, graduating with honors in 1927 with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering and a commission as a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. Army Reserve. He was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity, Tau Beta Pi (engineering scholastic honorary, and Pi Beta Phi (national scholastic honorary).
On Sept. 4, 1927, John married
Mary Vera (Mamie) Henderson of Bozeman. She died June 20, 1928. He married
Rosalie Lehrkind of Bozeman on Aug. 14, 1929. She died March 12, 1978 in Helena. They had two children, John Jr. and Helen Isabel.
Following graduation, John was an instructor in the civil engineering department and part time swimming coach at MSC. He received a professional civil engineering degree from MSC in 1931. In 1930, John left MSC for the Montana State Highway Department where he planned to get practical experience in civil engineering before returning to teaching. John served with the highway department from 1930 until 1945 as bridge designer and resident engineer, chief bridge designer and as head of the bridge design and construction department.
John resigned from the Highway Department in 1945 to start his own consulting engineering firm, Morrison Engineering. On March 22, 1946, he and Joseph Maierle, a former co-worker, formed Morrison-Maierle, Inc. John was active in the management of the firm until 1973, at which time he became a consultant and adviser to the management and staff of the firm, a role he enjoyed until his death. Morrison-Maierle is listed as one of the ENR Top 500 engineering firms in the country with offices in Montana, South Dakota and Arizona. John and Joe Maierle (who died at 96 in March 2002) had a unique friendship and business relationship that allowed the firm to grow and prosper from a small operation into an international engineering firm with 250 employees.
John was very appreciative of the opportunity Montana gave him to complete his education and practice his profession. John was active in local, state and national community and professional affairs. He served on the first Helena Community Chest board over 50 years ago, forerunner of our present United Way. He was a scoutmaster in Helena for many years. While serving as chairman for the National Ski Patrols Northern Rocky Mountain Division, he was a special adviser to the First Special Service Force locating winter training areas in Montana. John and Margaret Hibbard were made honorary members of the First Special Service Force in 1978 in recognition of their contribution to the force during World War II.
In his profession, John served as a state president or national director for the American Society of Civil Engineers, Montana Water Congress, Montana Water Development Association, Montana Consulting Engineers Council, American Water Works Association and National Society of Professional Engineers. He was instrumental in the passage of Montanas first civil engineering and land surveying registration law. He served on the engineering registration board from 1947 to 1969, and as first chairman of the board, received civil engineering and land surveyor license No. 1ES.
In the community, John was active with and served on the boards or as an officer of the Community Chest, Helena Chamber of Commerce, YMCA, local and national boards of the Florence Crittenton Home, Shodair Hospital, Helena Kiwanis Club, Lewis and Clark Scout Council, Mount Helena Ski Club, Belmont Ski Club, National Ski Patrol (national patrolman #91), and Green Meadow Country Club. He was active in Masonic affairs, serving as a member of Helena Lodge No. 3 (75 year member), Scottish Rite (KCCH), Algeria Shrine, Miriam Chapter # 1 Order of Eastern Star and the Rainbow Girls Board. John was a life member of the BPOE Elks Lodge #193, Carroll College Advisory Board and the board of directors of the former Commerce Bank & Trust.
John was president of the MSU Alumni Association in 1963 and served on the board of the Montana State University Foundation and the Presidents Advisory Council. He was also a visiting civil engineering professor in the 1970s and was an avid Bobcat Booster. In 1978, following the death of his wife, he established the John and Rosalie Morrison Civil Engineering Scholarship Endowment in her memory.
During his lifetime, John received many honors, including honorary degrees from Montana Tech in 1966 (professional engineer) and Montana State University 1968 (doctor of engineering), community service award from Carroll College in 1983, Fuller Award from the American Water Works Association, distinguished service award from the National Council of Engineering Examiners, first honorary member of the MSU Chi Epsilon Civil Engineering Honorary, Kiwanis Club Hixson Award, Citizen of the Year by the Helena Association of Realtors in 1976, and was named one of 100 top graduates at the MSU Centennial in 1993. In November 2002, John was inducted into the Montana Society of Engineers Engineering Hall of Fame located at MSU. Earlier this year, The American Road & Transportation Builders Association, in celebrating their 100th birthday, honored John by including him as one of the 100 top people who most influenced the building of roads in the 20th century.
John was an avid skier and golfer. He was a fixture at Belmont until his late 80s and a cross country skier into his 90s. He shot his age in golf from his late 70s until his late 80s and continued to practice golf daily (weather permitting) until his mid 90s. He taught and encouraged many young Helena people the joys of swimming, golfing and skiing. His grandchildrens fondest memories are on the ski hill or golf course with Grandpa and the feeling was mutual. The entire family gathered from around the country to enjoy the wonderful celebration of his 100th birthday on Aug. 2 of last year.
John was preceded in death by his wives; brothers, Robert (infancy), Neil and David; son-in-law William Diehl, daughter-in-law Shirley Easbey Morrison; and great-granddaughter, Helena Marie Longcoy.
He is survived by his son, John Morrison, Jr.(Minh) of Phoenix, and daughter, Helen Morrison Diehl Hoffman (Don) of Helena; grandchildren, Robert (Kathy) Morrison of Montana City, Richard (Cindy) Morrison of Billings, Karen Diehl Orr (Jack) of Tacoma, Wash., and Gretchen Diehl Longcoy (Larry) of Derry, N.H.; great-grandchildren, Paul Morrison of Missoula and David Morrison of Bozeman; Sara, Jennifer and Katlyn Morrison, of Billings; Christina Schnepf of Las Vegas, Ryan Schnepf of Chapel Hill, N.C., and Alan Longcoy of Derry. He is survived by his sisters-in-law, Eloise Howard of Tucson and Margaret Lehrkind of Bozeman; numerous nieces and nephews and Johns very special friend of the last seven years, Winnie Marinos of the Masonic Home.
Johns motto was that he hoped that he would leave the world better than he found it and to do good as we only pass this way once. His record of accomplishments is testimony to the active life he led. In discussing his impending death with his daughter, he told her he thought death would be "an interesting experience." John faced life as an opportunity to learn, to serve, to coach and mentor and to have interesting experiences. It was fitting that he would face the final journey in the same fashion.
The family prefers that in lieu of flowers, friends remember John by memorials to The Masonic Home, 2010 Masonic Home Road, Helena, MT 59602, or the charity of their choice.
Hagler-Anderson Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. Masonic service will be held Tuesday evening Sept. 16, at 7 p.m. at Hagler-Anderson Mortuary, 650 Logan. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17, from Hagler Anderson Mortuary with the Rev. Kenneth Kinner of Holy Family Anglican Church of Casper, Wyo., officiating. Internment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Steven Lawrence Arbenz
Steven Lawrence Arbenz lost his three year fight with leukemia and died Friday, Sept. 12, 2003, at St. Peters Hospital here in Helena.
Steve was 24-years old. Steve was born on May 1, 1979, at St. Peters Hospital and had always lived in Helena. He attended local elementary and junior high schools and graduated from Capital High School in 1997. He worked at Safeway, Yat-Sons Restaurant, Champion Auto Parts and most recently at Applebees Restaurant.
Steve was fond of working on, modifying and upgrading car stereo systems, computer hardware and software and radio controlled cars. He enjoyed downhill skiing, Internet gaming, the outdoors, camping and riding his mountain bike. Steve believed in a Higher Power with a weird sense of humor. Steve found a closeness with his Higher Power in his many friends and the outdoors. He enriched the lives of his friends in small and important ways.
Steve is survived by his father, David L. Arbenz (I am really, really missing you, Steve! Thank you for being my son); his mother, Laura Land (Gordon) Zuelke; his sister, Kathryn Katie (Arbenz) Prahl, her husband, Douglas Doug Prahl, and their new son, Connor D. Prahl (born June 10, 2003); his maternal grandmother, Edith Land, several aunts and uncles and many good friends.
We would like to extend to the many people at St. Peters Hospital our sincere appreciation and deep gratitude for all your time and effort that gave Steve three additional years of life. Steve related that his last three years were the best years in his short life experience. Extra special thanks are extended to Dr. Thomas Weiner, medical oncologist, and to Mary, Nancy and Vicky, all registered nurses, in the Cancer Treatment Center at St. Peters Hospital. Your time and effort are directly responsible for extending Steves life for those three additional years.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2003, at 1 p.m. at Helena Funeral Chapel with visitation Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Graveside will follow at Forestvale cemetery. Arrangments completed by Helena Funeral Chapel.
Carol L. Murray
Carol L. Murray, 62, passed away in her Great Falls home on Sept. 20, 2003. She was born to James and Audrey Murray in Helena on Oct. 29, 1940.
She attended Helena schools and the Helena Business College in 1960. She worked at the Placer Hotel for an accounting firm, State Nursery, Mountain Bell and Master Cleaners Home Service, a family business. She moved to Great Falls in 1964 and attended the Great Falls Commercial College. She also worked parttime as a cocktail waitress at several places and did some secretarial work.
She is survived by her sister Kathy (Jim) Kathan, her favorite uncle, Jim (Freckles) Richards, her cousin and special friend Debby (Kurt) Flansaas, cousins Dee Dee (Bill) Mills, Shirley (Bob) Johnson, several other nieces, nephews and cousins, and her very special friend Isabel Smith.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Audrey Kathan, stepfather, Howard Kathan, father, James P. Murray, grandmother, Mabel Richards, sister Sue Murray, and brother Johnny Paul.
Carols neatest attribute was her devotion and loyalty to her friends and family. We loved her very much and she will be greatly missed.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003, at Retz Funeral Home Chapel with graveside services to follow immediately.
Carol Ann Lunceford McGuire
MISSOULA - Carol Ann Lunceford McGuire, 65, a native Montanan, died Monday, Aug. 11, 2003, at her home after a short battle with cancer.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 15, at Fort Missoula cemetery. A reception will follow in the garden behind Fort Missoula Museum.
Carol was born March 13, 1938, to William and Margaret Lunceford in Harlowton. She graduated from Harlowton High School and later attended the University of Montana.
In 1956, she married
her husband, William L. McGuire. They started a life together in Fort Bliss, Texas, where her husband served in the U.S. Army. They later returned to Montana and resided in Ronan, Polson and settled in Missoula in 1961.
The mother of six children, Carol was very active in boy and girl scouting, 4-H, school music and sports activities, particularly soccer. Four of her six children served in the armed forces.
She worked for a short period in the postal inspectors office; several years for Drs. Carol and Robert Ammons, psychological test specialists; and for the Montana Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services. For a period in the 1970s she owned and operated the beer concession at the Missoula Auto Racers Race Track.
Not without an opinion, Carol was a frequent letter writer to the editor of the Missoulian. She took a keen interest in the goings-on in Montana and Missoula politics.
She was an avid NASCAR fan and enjoyed needlecraft, reading, gardening, genealogy, camping outings with her family, motorcycling and worldwide travel, traveling to Europe, Canada and Mexico.
Carol was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, William.
She is survived by her husband of 47 years of the home and her six children, Colleen McGuire of Fort Leavenworth, Kan., William F. McGuire of Helena, John McGuire and his wife, Rachel, of Fort Meade, S.D., Mary Anne McGuire Cummings and her husband, Chris, of Dhaka, Bangladesh, Patrick McGuire of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Daniel McGuire and Cynthia Daniell of next door; along with nine grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and her adopted dog, Max.
The family suggests contributions in lieu of flowers be made to the Missoula Humane Society or Partners in Home Care Hospice.
Gary Lee Delano
Gary Lee Delano, 70, of Helena, died Wednesday night Oct. 1, 2003, at St. Peters Hospital.
He was born Jan. 31, 1933, in Forsyth to John and Hope Delano. After moving to the Gallatin Valley as a young boy, he attended school in Belgrade. He enjoyed early success playing basketball, football and baseball and was also a member of FFA and other organizations.
In September 1950 he married
Hazel Gibson. He worked on the family farm and worked as a mechanic in Belgrade. As a young man he began his career with Weights and Measures for the state of Montana. In 1960, he moved his family to Helena. His extended family included all those that he worked with during his more than 30 years with Weights and Measures.
While head of Weights and Measures, he hosted conferences of the Western Weights and Measures Association, served on committees at a national level and was recognized with awards in his field. He enjoyed boating, fishing, hunting, golfing, horse racing, exchanging a good joke and being grandpa Gary.
Survivors include his fiancée Cyndy Hustad; two sons, Gary J. ( Jan) Delano of California and Gibson L. (Sylvia) Delano of Helena; daughter, Becky (Bob) Olsen of North Carolina; brother, Virgil Delano of British Columbia; two sisters, Doris Puryear of Washington, and Joanne Prescott of British Columbia; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
He will be missed greatly by all who knew and loved him.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday Oct. 6 at Hagler-Anderson Mortuary with burial immediately following at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Friends and family will gather to share memories at 1720 Lockey following the burial. The family suggests memorials to the community playground, What Dreams May Become, P.O. Box 4434, Helena, Mt 59604 or the St. Peters Hospital Foundation.
Billie M. Willis
Billie Maurita Willis, age 82, of Clancy, passed away Friday evening at her home. She was born on Oct. 14, 1920, in Paducah, Ky., to Marshall Edward Penn and Sallie Terrel Word. She married
her high school sweetheart, Ernest E. Willis, on June 17, 1938, in Charleston, Mo.
Her smile and optimism will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her.
She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Ernest E. Willis; son and daughter-in-law, Gary L. and Sharon Willis; grandson, Mark Eugene and Denise Willis (daughter Brooklyn) of Helena; grandson, Terry L. Willis of Helena; sisters and brothers-in-law, Edoenna and Elwood Turner of Kentucky, and Alice Marie and James Flowers of Kentucky; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be conducted on Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2003, at 2 p.m. at the Montana State Veterans cemetery at Fort Harrison with Rev. Norman Jackson Haas, chaplain of St. Peters Hospital. Family suggest memorials to: Shodair Childrens Hospital, 2755 Colonial Drive, Helena, MT 59601. Services have been entrusted to Hagler-Anderson Funeral Home.
Brenda (Largis) Jackson
Brenda (Largis) Jackson, age 38, passed away on Oct. 5, 2003, after a courageous battle with cancer. She never gave up her hope and determination.
She was born on Nov. 11, 1964, at Dickinson, N.D., to Jon and Bonita Largis. The family moved to Billings, where Brenda attended Bitterroot Elementary.
In 1977 she transferred to the Helena School System, graduating from Helena High in 1983. After completing two years at Montana State University, Brenda enrolled at Missoula Vo-tech. She graduated with a certificate in retail management/fashion merchandising in 1986. Soon after, Brenda married
Tyson Jackson on June 21, 1986. They were later divorced in October 2001.
Brendas working career began in Escondido, Calif., as a department manager for J C Penny Co. From there she moved back to Helena and began a new position as assistant manager for Hart-Albin Co. The store eventually closed the Helena Branch. Brenda then worked the next 12 years for the Keller Law Firm. After a job change, Brenda gained employment in June 2002 with Department of Environmental Quality until she was forced to go on medical leave because of her illness.
The family will remain forever grateful for what wonderful and caring co-workers she found at DEQ.
Brenda served as a member of the Holter Museum Board and the Arts Council in capacities of secretary, treasurer and vice-president.
She had such a strong love for life, with limitless energy and enthusiasm. Her sense of humor and generous giving nature was a joy to all. She cherished her family and her wide circle of friends. Some of her favorite activities were softball, fishing, camping, exercising to keep in shape and traveling on road trips.
Words cannot express the void she leaves in passing, but her memory will always have a special place in our hearts. Despite all of the tragic happenings in her life, she worked hard -always remained caring and very involved in helping people in need. She touched many hearts along her pathway of life. If wealth could be measured in friendships, she would be rich beyond compare.
Brenda is survived by her parents Jon and Bonita Largis; a sister Tammy Wilkins, her husband Craig and sons Calvin and Kenny of Spokane, Wash.; a brother, Daryl Largis, his wife Carla and daughters Olivia and Abby of Buffalo, N.Y.; grandmothers, Mary Sander of Hamilton, and Eleanor Largis of Helena; aunt, Judy Sander of Missoula; uncle and aunt, Marlin and Susan Sander of Helena; uncle, Jerry Largis of Livingston; and cousins Leo and Jenny Hackett.
Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Helena Funeral Chapel, with the family present from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at Our Redeemers Lutheran Church, 1400 Stuart, with graveside rites following at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Memorial Contributions maybe made to the Lewis & Clark Humane Society, 1712 East Custer, Helena, MT 59602.
Helena Funeral Chapel has completed the arrangements.
