Search Archived Marriage Records
Jane Oberg Nelson
Jane Oberg Nelson, age 91, passed away May 27, 2004, at Big Sky Care Center. She was born Dec. 18, 1912 in Minneapolis to Agnes Staps and Clarence Oberg. She married
Woodrow Nelson May 25, 1935.
An accomplished organist and pianist, Jane was an active member of the Episcopal Church, serving as choir director, organist and vestry member in the various communities in which she lived.
Jane is survived by sons Robert John, James Peter and Thomas George and by daughter Mary Jane Pederson. She was preceded in death by her son William Woodrow. She is also survived by her sister Helena Hillstrom of Minneapolis, 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 2, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 511 N. Park Ave., Helena. Jane's family request that any donations be made to St. Peter's Church. Burial services will be held at the Church of the Incarnation in Great Falls at a date to be determined. Arrangements have been made through Retz Funeral Home of Helena.
Garnet Jean Schwaeble
Garnet Jean Schwaeble, 64, of York, passed away early Saturday morning at her home on Jimtown Road following an extended illness.
She was born Sept. 8, 1939, in Eureka, to the late Robert and Vera (Smith), Holstine. She attended Park County High School in Livingston. She met and married
E. F. "Smokey" Schwaeble in Livingston on Feb. 7, 1958.
Survivors include her husband, Smokey; a daughter, Michele Ann "Shelly" Swenson, of Columbia Falls; granddaughters Tana Lynn Pickett of Helena and Christy Renee Pickett of Amsbury, Ma., grandson Jesse Cole Chadwick of Absarokee, and a great-grandson Zakhery Robert Grey of Amsbury.
At Garnets wishes, no funeral services will be announced. Cremation has taken place and a private interment of cremains will be at the Mayn cemetery in White Sulphur Springs at a later date. Hagler-Anderson Funeral Home was entrusted with local arrangements. Family prefers memorial to the American Lung Association, 825 Helena, Ave., Helena, MT 59601.
Hildred (Billie) Scire
Hildred Scire was born in Hickory, N.C., Feb. 28, 1922, and passed away peacefully on May 31, 2004, at St. Peters Hospital.
Preceding her in death were her parents, Oliver Theodore Yoder and Dessie Em Yoder Smith; brothers and sisters Howard Keith Yoder, Oliver Theodore Yoder, Jr., Edna Yoder Smith, June, John, Darvin, Ray and Charles Smith and Illa Kanupp. Her son-in-laws father, John Oitzinger, Sr., a dear friend, also preceded her in death in Arizona.
Surviving Hildred are her daughter and son-in-law, Sandy and John Oitzinger; granddaughters and families Christine (Greg) Sanders and their children, Joey, Mitchell and Marley; Jennifer (Mark) Magee and their children, Leyna and Liam; and Hilary and Johnna Oitzinger. Extended family members are Janet Sanderson and children, Heather, Michelle and Paul, and J.T. VanEngen and B.J. Hammer. Also surviving her are her family in North Carolina: Lola Berry, Jean Ingerfelt, Thelma Ruth Holland, and George Albert Smith and their husbands and wife and their families, who have always been to Hildred and Sandy true relations of the heart. Niece Jessica, nephew, Brantley, and niece Ramona Ann have sent loving prayers and wishes to Hildred in her final days, as have all of her family in North Carolina and Montana.
"Hilly-billy Bobtail" was the nickname given Hildred by her sisters and brothers when she was but a tot. Once her brother Keith talked her into firing a slingshot backwards, pulling the rubber waaay back, giving her a sizable knot on her head. Naturally brother Keith howled with laughter at his own cleverness, but received swift and decisive retribution for this betrayal from their mother. Billie was tow-headed as a small child (in a photo her hair looked almost white), and, according to her sister, Edna, who helped raise her, "She had the prettiest little hands and feet that God ever put on a youngun."
The Depression kept Billie from finishing high school, but she was a voracious reader and read the paper every healthy adult day of her life from cover to cover. Pre-WWII, Billie waitressed in Washington, D.C., working at the Statler Hotel. She remained both as a waitress and a hostess for many years. During her early years waitressing she had an encounter that would shape her life.
She and friends were ambling through Quantico when they came upon three Marines. Billie, who was a looker, took in the scene of the oncoming Marines and a hearty, appreciative wolf-whistle emanated from her lipsticked kisser. Joe Scire made a beeline for her and the rest was history. After the war, Bill and Joe got married
and Billie became a loving part of a Joes Brooklyn Italian-American family.
Bill and Joe had one daughter, but the couples youth and perhaps fate dictated that their marriage did not stay intact. She was from about age 28 the finest single mom a child could ever hope for. Bill would not and simply could not ever suffer impudence from her daughter. Her love, however, was boundless and her determination to see her child succeed and achieve was unwavering.
Bill's inherited thrift was central to her personality and so it remained throughout her life. This enabled her to send her daughter to Catholic school in Washington, D.C. Limited in education herself, she thus left the legacy of excellent education to her progeny. A hard worker, Bills daughter recollects one evening when Bill was reading her paper sitting in the round melon-colored chaise with the half-moon footstool. The kid was watching TV and made a comment to her mother to which no response came. Bill was discovered sound asleep sitting up with her paper still held upright in reading position.
Bill always loved her vehicles and kept them in fine order. The memorable ones were a 1954 Chevy, a 1958 Pontiac and a 1983 Suburu. Her daughter and granddaughters have many memories of long trips to North Carolina or to the beach and of simply tooling around town. During the 50s and 60s, Bill was nothing if not glamorous and displayed righteous indignation when her daughter would borrow her clothes.
When Hildreds first granddaughter understood that she would have an incomparable friend and advocate in her grandmother (this was at the age of two), she could not yet pronounce her words clearly. She tried to say grandma and instead came out with "Bubba." Since that time, our Bubba gave appellation a unique meaning.
Bubba's laugh was contagious and she had no compunction about laughing AT the children, especially when they perfected the art of negotiation. Her second granddaughter was once on the receiving end of the smallest half of a stick of gum. The child was raging against the injustice and was told that she was the littlest so thats why she got the smallest piece of gum. Without a pause, the grandchild said "But my mouth is THIS BIG!" and opened it to an incontrovertibly huge size. Bubba laughed at this memory for the rest of her life.
Bubba moved to Montana so she could be close to her daughter and help care for Hilary, her third granddaughter and namesake, when the child was about 2. Hilarys artwork and grade school crafts adorned Bubbas apartment and do to this day. Bubba patiently taught Hilary to crochet at age five, another great gift that will continue to enrich our familys heritage.
Johnna was rocked as an infant by Bubba on the Oitzinger family porch swing. She was this fourth and final grandchilds haven when the child ran away from home at age 6.
These two soulmates connected in a way that was foundational to Johnnas and our familys life.
Bubba's relationship with her son-in-law was one of cheerful appreciation of shared humor and esteem. John was there for her foursquare. Bubba was a little hard to please at Christmastime, and whatever she was given by her daughter was frequently too frivolous or precipitated the comment "Where am I going to put that?" A gift from her son-in-law, however, was instantly treasured and emphatically praised.
Sustaining Hildred during times of ill health were her enduring friends, Dee Dee Lyons and Marilyn Ramirez and their families. Hildred loved all animals deeply and is missed by her faithful feline companion, April, and the family "boy-cat, " Bychan. She has two dogs in heaven, Prissy-Poo and Amelia.
To her daughter, Sandy, Mom was the wisest of advisers and the very soul of human interaction and experience. Others may have had their impacts, but Mom is at the very core of who Sandy is. This relationship resulted in the understanding that the two would forever be entwined. They are.
Visitation for Hildred will begin at 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 3, at the Retz Funeral Home Chapel, 315 E. 6th Ave. in Helena. The funeral service for Hildred will be held at 2 p.m., also on Thursday at the Retz Home Chapel as well.
Erma M. Thompson Ridgway Benson
Erma M. Thompson Ridgway Benson, age 77, passed away Sunday, June 6, 2004, at Heritage Place in Kalispell.
She was born on Feb. 24, 1927 in Whitefish, to Robert C. "Shorty" and Gladys (Runyan) Thompson. Erma grew up in the Somers area, attending school there as well as at Flathead County High School.
She enjoyed doing needlework, sewing, crossword puzzles and was a charter member of the Faith Baptist Church and a former member of the Eagles.
She was employed at many Flathead Valley restaurants as well as in Helena and Libby.
Erma was preceded in death by each of her husbands: Robert Ridgeway Sr, Leonard Gaab and George Benson; one son, Floyd "Pete" Ridgeway, and a daughter, Wanda Pierson.
She is survived by seven daughters; Carol Lee Jeffries and husband Jim; Bobbie Annamae Glenn and Brian; Nancy Lynn Swanson and husband Lance; and Deana Rae Carter all of Kalispell; Patty Jean Brewer and husband Charles and Terry Sue Hamper and husband Pat all of Helena, and Glenda Kay Neff and Dave Clairmont of South Windsor, Conn.; and two sons, Robert Lee Ridgway Jr. of Kalispell, and Kevin Ray Gaab and wife Teresa of Bozeman; 30 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; one sister-in-law Margaret Thompson of Lewiston, Idaho, with many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Friday, June 11, at 2 p.m. at Johnson Mortuary Chapel with the Rev. Clint Theline officiating. Burial will follow at the C.E. Conrad Memorial cemetery. Visitation will be from noon until 6 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials be given to Faith Baptist Church Building Fund, 1015 East Idaho, Kalispell, MT 59901. Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary and Crematory.
Tom Frederick Kellington
Our beloved father, Tom Frederick Kellington, 75, of the Country Life Assisted Living, 12 Bessler Road, Montana City, passed away Sunday, June 6, 2004. He was born Oct. 30, 1928, to Edward C. and Taletha (Westerman) Kellington in Butte.
He graduated from Butte High School in 1946 and later attended Vo-tech of Great Falls. He served in the U.S. Army from 1947 to 1950. Tom and Ruth Arlene Wells married
in 1952 but later divorced. In 1985 he married
Mary Alice Fink in Coeur dAlene, Idaho. She preceded him in death.
Tom was a self-employed mechanic for many years in Butte, worked for Ford Motors in Thompson Falls, the Little Beaver Creek Ranch in Frenchtown, and Boettle Ranch in Choteau, all in Montana. He loved fixing cars, working on anything that needed fixing, racing cars in his younger years, photography, watch repair and BS-ing with friends. He attended church and had great faith in Jesus Christ our Lord.
He was also preceded in death by his parents of Butte and his brother Edward "Ted" Kellington Jr. of Great Falls. Tom is survived by daughters Trena Kay (Jerry) Kaufman and Carla Irene Rothenbuhler (Richard McWilliams), both of Helena; stepsister Lorraine Kellington; brother Carl Kellington of Great Falls; grandchildren Shawn (Allison) Kaufman, Shane (Sarah) Kaufman, and Nick Kaufman, Cassie Rothenbuhler and Jeremy Rothenbuhler; and great-grandchildren Ryan Kaufman and Ethan Kaufman.
Thank you to Country Life and staff from the families of Trena Kaufman and Carla Rothenbuhler for taking such good care of our father during his stay at Country Life.
Memorials are suggested to Country Life Assisted Living, 12 Bessler Road, Montana City, MT 59634. A graveside service with military honors will be held 11 a.m. Monday, June 14, at the Montana State Veterans cemetery at Fort Harrison. Retz Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.
Joseph Meyer Jr.
Joseph Meyer Jr., 84, of Rollins, died June 7, 2004, at Brendan House in Kalispell after a brief illness.
He was born in Eichstatt, Germany, on Sept. 27, 1919, to Joseph and Helen (Layher) Meyer. They immigrated through Ellis Island in January 1925 to farm in Rockville, Mo.
During his high school years, to help support his family, Joe worked the wheat and apple harvests as far as Washington state. He graduated from Rockville High School in 1936.
He served in the Eighth Air Force 39th Bomb Group during WWII as a radio operator on B-17s in the European Theatre. During the Battle of the Bulge, his plane was shot down but he parachuted to safety, earning entry into the "Caterpillar Club." A decorated veteran, he was a man of peace who never wanted to see any young person have to endure the trauma of war.
Joe spent 57 beautiful years with his wife, Ruth Evelyn (Fricke) Meyer. The G.I. Bill allowed him to earn a bachelors degree in psychology from the University of Missouri in Kansas City in 1955. He completed two years of coursework in social work administration at Washington University in St. Louis. He was regional director of the Missouri Bureau of Rehabilitation for the Blind and the last 10 years of his career of service to others culminated in his 1974 retirement as executive director of Lutheran Social Services of Montana in Helena.
He was pre-deceased by his wife, Ruth, in July 2003; his parents and brothers Karl and Bob. Left to mourn are his sister, Elsie Gann, of Greenwood, Mo.; three sons, daughters-in-laws, and children, Dennis (Betsy) and Liam and Megan of Schenectady, N.Y., Dan (Wendy Flaschner) and Emily and Nathaniel of Readfield, Maine, and Jerry (Meredith) and Loren and Liz of Helena, together with surviving in-laws, beloved nephews, nieces, and friends in the community.
In all communities where he lived, Joe was an active leader of the Lutheran Church congregation, always enjoying hymns and fellowship.
A memorial service will be scheduled at Eidsvold Lutheran Church in Lakeside later in the summer. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be directed to the Eidsvold Educational Fund, Eidsvold Lutheran Church, Lakeside, Mont., or a charity of their choice.
Ethel Knowles TenEyck Grandy
Ethel Knowles TenEyck Grandy, 96, of East Helena, passed away June 6, 2004.
She was born in Butte on July 28, 1907, to Sarah Knowles TenEyck and Marshall Percy TenEyck. Ethel attended grade school and graduated from Jefferson County High School in Boulder in 1925. She attended teachers college in Lewistown, taught school in one-room schools at Olaf School north of Two Dot and one near Three Forks. She married
Arden Samuel Grandy May 28, 1927, in Harlowton, (Born Feb. 3, 2003, at Grand Meadow, Minn.)
The Grandy's had five children, Esther Cox of East Helena, Arden Hill, Carol (Barney G.) Sedlacek of Goodyear, Ariz., Maribeth Smith, Jonathan (Colleen Donavan) Grandy, all of Helena, and two adopted children, Louis Grandy of Helena and Doris Grandy of Great Falls.
Ethel is survived by two sisters, Doris Nyquist and Lorna (Harold) Jessen, both of Boulder; sister-in-law Eunice (Verle) Grandy of East Helena. She is also survived by six children, 16 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, 9 great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.
Ethel was preceded in death by husband Arden (March 9, 1992), daughter Arden Hill (June 9, 1997) and grandsons Jason Grandy (Dec. 25, 2003) and Jonathan Jay Grandy (July 28, 1983, on the birthday of his grandmother Ethel Grandy).
She lived in East Helena from the fall of 1928 until the summer of 1970 when they moved to Great Falls. Ethel returned to East Helena to live after her husband Ardens death in 1992.
Perhaps Ethels most outstanding achievement was in giving over and care to a total of 98 foster children from 1945 through 1970.
Visitation will be noon to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 10, at Retz Funeral Home. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, June 11, in Retz Funeral Home Chapel. Casket bearers will be Scott Smith, Blaine Cox, Michael Grandy, Wyatt Hill, Lowell Cox, Edmund Smith, Mitchell Hill, Dean Rio Grandy, Matt Sedlacek and Mark Sedlacek. Interment will follow at East Helena City cemetery. Memorials are suggested to any childs charity of the donors' choice.
Nancy Jean TwoTeeth LaMere
Arlee - Nancy Jean TwoTeeth LaMere of Box Elder, age 72, passed away Sunday, June 6, 2004, at St. Patricks Hospital of natural causes.
Raised in Great Falls, Helena and the Rocky Boy Reservation Nancy was a member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy.
Survived by her husband, James LaMere of 45 years; two sons, William Weaselboy of Rocky Boy and Darrin Ameline of Rocky Boy; four daughters, Violet (Mike) Norris of Helena, Sara (Chuck) LaFountaine of Helena, Carmie (Rob Williams) LaMere of Helena and Alvina Ameline of Billings; brother, Chuck (Sarah) TwoTeeth of Arlee; 12 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held today at 10 a.m. at the Arlee Community Center with interment following in the Resurrection cemetery in Helena later in the afternoon. Foster and Durgeloh Funeral Home of St. Ignatius is assisting the family with arrangements.
Doris Pearce Homan
Forsyth - Doris Pearce Homan, age 86, died June 7, 2004, at a care center in Forsyth.
She was born Aug. 23, 1917, to Ernest and Ruby (Bedard) Pearce. Doris grew up in Canyon Ferry and East Helena, attending high school in Helena. Following her graduation, she attended business school. On June 5, 1947, Doris married
Robert G. Homan in Helena. He preceded her in death. The family moved to Colorado, then Wyoming, befor returning to Montana where they made their home in Laurel, Forsyth, Dillon and finally Fort Benton. In 1985, Doris returned to Forsyth to be closer to her family.
Survivors include daughter Carole (Larry) Mougey of Colstrip; two grandchildren; brother Richard (Gladys) Pearce of Helena; and two cousins.
Graveside services are today at 2 p.m. in the family lot of the Fort Benton cemetery. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers, are suggested to the Alzheimer Association Montana Chapter, 3010 11th Ave. North, Billings, MT 59101. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Forsyth is in charge of the arrangements.
Dr. John B. Pearson Sr.
Dr. John B. Pearson Sr., age 93, died June 4, 2004, in Helena from pneumonia.
He was 1937 graduate of Harvard Medical School. He served in the Army Air Corps from 1940-1946 and was discharged a colonel.
Pearson was a physician and surgeon in Kenosha, Wis., for 32 years. Since 2001, he was a resident primarily at the Waterford.
Survivors include his son, John B. Pearson Jr. (Mary) of Chippewa Falls, Wis.; son Robert E. Pearson of Chicago; son Dr. Thomas W. Pearson (Marilyn) of Helena; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, June 14, at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church. Memorial contributions are suggested to that of the donors' choice.
Suzanne E. 'Suzi' (Wright) McGivern
Suzanne E. "Suzi" (Wright) McGivern, 41, of 3021 5th Ave. N., a registered nurse, died after a long illness Tuesday at home.
Suzie was born Nov. 4, 1962, in Helena and was raised and educated in Helena and Great Falls. She attended Helena Vo-Tech and Northern Montana College at Havre.
Suzi worked as an emergency medical technician for Linden Ambulance Service in Helena, attended Helena Vo-Tech and worked as a licensed practical nurse at the veterans hospital in Helena until going to Northern Montana College to become a registered nurse. She then worked at Columbus Hospital and Benefis Healthcare on the rehab unit for 14 years until retiring because of kidney disease in January 2002. She had earned her CRRN (Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse) and worked the night shift the whole time. This was where she met Bill McGivern, her friend, partner, caretaker and husband. She married
him Sept. 13, 2003, after being together the previous 13 years - she had to be sure!
Survivors include her husband, Bill McGivern of Great Falls; sisters Judy (Alun) Wright, Lois (Mark) Thomas and Lisa (Mike) McArthur; brothers Mark (Karen) Wright and Andy (Michelle) Wright; her grandmother, Lois Wright, who is 100 years old; nieces and nephews Page, Joette, Jerilyn, Mary Jo, Jason, Christopher, Cody, Kyle, Connor, Cameron, Aidan and Kyra; and her puppy dogs, Maverick, Bailey and Watson.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Mary and John Wright.
A memorial service is 2:30 p.m. Saturday at OConnor Memorial Chapel. Cremation has taken place under the direction of OConnor Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to the Suzanne McGivern Transplant Fund, c/o Montana Federal Credit Union, 901 8th Ave. S., Great Falls, MT 59405.
