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Charles Sooktis Sr.
Today we honor the life of one of "our elders, our greatest teachers," Charles Smith Sooktis "Spotted Horse." A Cheyenne man enrolled in the South with the Cheyenne-Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma.
He came to walk on this earth in 1915 and was born in Butler, Okla.
Our dad peacefully died in his sleep on Sunday night, Sept. 20, 1998. His passing was established as Monday, Sept. 21, 1998, of natural causes, when he returned to his God, Ma'heo'o.
He returned to the eternal Cheyenne camp in the stars, to his beloved Josie, the diamond of his soul. She was his life, his purpose, his reason for living. For this reason, he followed her to the village of Cheyenne angel spirits only a year after her death.
"Charley" has been a resident of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation since 1936, for 62 years. The son of Sooktis-Sooktis Mann, a Southern Cheyenne, and Josephine American Horse. He was the grandson of a great Northern Cheyenne Chief.
Charley was full-blooded Cheyenne, 1/2 Northern and 1/2 Southern. Our dad was honored recently by the Morning Star Memorial Foundation with a Certificate of Honor.
Charles was a lifelong student and he attended schools in Oklahoma at Red Moon and Pie Flat in Sheridan, Wyo. He listened to and watched television, closely following the progress of national news, especially President Clinton's situation.
Because of his fluency in the Cheyenne language and in the English language, he served as an official interpreter for the Constitution of the Northern Cheyenne people.
He met and spoke with Senators Burton K. Wheeler and Mr. Howard. He also spoke with the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, John Collier. He worked with the establishment of the boundaries of the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. As such, he is intimately familiar with our sacred homeland.
Spotted Horse was a contributing member of our community. He was a Roman Catholic belonging to the Native American Church, a traditional Cheyenne and was a Crier from the Arrow Teepee and Sun Dancer. He also was a former Keeper of the Cheyenne Sacred Hat Teepee.
Charley was a family man and good provider. He retired from federal service after many years of working with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service. In this capacity, he became one of the first certified Emergency Medical Technicians on the Reservation.
He leaves behind his beloved children: Charles "Butch" Sooktis Jr., Rubie, Vernon, Joann and Andrew. He was a father figure to Henri Mann, his brother's daughter. He also leaves his sisters: Emma Hart, Ruby Roubideaux, Lucille Parton and June American Horse, many, many other relatives, nieces and nephews, 10 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.
Rosary will be recited 7 p.m. Thursday in the Lame Deer Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 1 p.m. Friday in the Church. Interment will follow in the Family cemetery near Lame Deer. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Mitch Hammer
BUTTE - Memorial services for Mitch Hammer, 37, of Butte, formerly of Sidney, are at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26, 1998, at the St. Matthew's Catholic Church in Sidney with Father Ned Shinnick officiating. Fulkerson Funeral Home of Sidney is in charge of arrangements.
Mitch left us on Sunday, Sept. 20, 1998. He died in Los Angeles while undergoing treatment for the cancer he had so bravely fought for 12 years.
He was born Mitchell John Hammer on Oct. 27, 1960, the youngest child of Bob and Carol Van Berkom Hammer. Mitch grew up and attended school in Sidney, where he later taught English for a time. He was living with his family in Butte at the time of his death.
Mitch loved his life, living it fully and richly in spite of the limitations of illness. He enjoyed sharing this love with his family, and spent many hours with them fishing, swimming, golfing, and camping. He never forgot how good it felt to walk barefoot in the mud and feel it squish between his toes.
He leaves behind his wife, Maureen Hammer of Butte; their sons, Lee, Lewis, and Kelly, and their daughter, Rose; his parents, Bob and Carol Hammer of Sidney; his brothers, Pat and his wife, Lori of Stanton, N.D., Robin and his wife, Joyce and their children, Steve and Emily, all of, Hazen, N.D.; his sisters, Gail Hammer of Missoula and Carolyn Hammer of Sidney; numerous cousins, aunts, and uncles.
We are forever grateful for the time we had with him, and we will miss him more than words can ever say. God be good to him.
"For what is it to die but to stand naked in the wind and to melt into the sun?
And what is it to cease breathing, but to free the breath from its restless tides, that it may rise and expand and seek God unencumbered?
Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance."
Kahlil Gibran
Darryl Wayne Graff
July 12, 1960-Sept. 22, 1998
Darryl Wayne Graff, 38, of Billings, died Tuesday night of heart and kidney complications at Deaconess Medical Center.
Darryl was born July 12, 1960, in Valley City, N.D., the son of Arnold and Frances Graff. After graduating from Billings West High School, Darryl attended Billings Vo-Tech and graduated in welding. He then worked at Empire Steel Manufacturing and Crown Machine, Welding and Manufacturing in Billings.
Darryl enjoyed trap shooting and was a lifetime member of the Billings Trap Club and the Huntley Trap Club. He also enjoyed metal work, and one of his greatest passions was spending time in his garage, creating and building artistic metal cowboy sculptures, each with its own distinct personality.
Darryl celebrated life every day, and he cherished holidays, especially birthdays and Christmas. He loved to shower his family with heartfelt gifts and cards and his family will lovingly remember his generous and caring spirit. Darryl was the first to enjoy a good joke, and his sense of humor never failed him, even in times of illness. That humor was a source of comfort and inspiration to those who loved him.
A highlight of Darryl's life was spending time with his beloved nieces and nephew: Josie Potzman, Betsy Potzman, Nikkeal Potzman, Trevor Graff.
Darryl was preceded in death by his father, Arnold Graff, and paternal grandparents, Ole and Emma Graff, and maternal grandfather, Lawrence Lynch.
Darryl Wayne Graff is survived by his mother, Frances Graff of Billings; maternal grandmother, Elfie Lynch; stepmother, June Graff of Henderson, Nev.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Yvonne and Harold Thomson of Forsyth and Roberta and Roger Arre of Otis Orchard, Wash.; brothers and sisters-in-law, Arlen and Mary Potzman of Pocatello, Idaho, Dennis and Barbara Potzman and Arnold and Lauri Graff of Billings. Darryl will be missed by his beloved nieces and nephews: Trevor Graff, Josie and Betsy Potzman, all of Billings; Nikkeal Potzman of Pocatello; Jessica and Jennifer Arre of Otis Orchard; and Dean and Lisa Thomson of Billings.
Funeral services for Darryl Wayne Graff will be held Saturday, Sept. 26, 10 a.m. at Smith Funeral Home, West Chapel, 304 34th W., Billings. Memorials can be made to Northern Rockies Kidney Center, P.O. Box 37000, Billings, MT 59107.
Richard Arthur Jones Jr.
GREAT FALLS - Born July 17, 1929, in Great Falls to Richard A. and Myrtle Jones, he grew up in Conrad and Great Falls. From 1948-1952 he served as a crew chief repairing airplanes on the carrier U.S.S. Midway in the Atlantic, Arctic, and Mediterranean. 1952-1954 found him at the College of Great Falls during classes and shoveling coal into Great Falls' copper smelter in the summers. Between 1955-1957 he completed his bachelor's degree in business, graduating with honors from the University of Montana. He was recruited by what is now Exxon for their marketing division, training in Denver where he met his wife, Sonja. He married
Sonja C. Hartman, R.N., in 1958.
During his 28 years in marketing and real estate for Exxon, he found his greatest enjoyment came from helping hundreds of small business owners with the struggles of operating service stations and bulk fuel plants during the price wars of the 1960s and the energy crisis of the 1970s. Exxon regularly recognized his abilities and he turned down promotions that would have moved him and his family out of his beloved Montana.
His father died when he was just 14 in 1944, so Dick always placed his family first. He spent his free time with his family and enjoyed being home most of all. He and Sonja avoided luxuries all of his life so that he could send both of their children through college without loans, public grants, and with the time to get the most out of college. He worked hard so his wife could stay home and care for their children through high school, placing that as more important than what luxuries her income could buy. From age 14 to his retirement, he worked full-time first to support his widowed mother and then his wife and children.
After retirement, he was active in Great Falls civic affairs, Optimists, UM Alumni, HOSTS, and as Treasurer of the Montana Re-release Center. He had previously been a Little League Coach for three years and an active PTA member for many years at his children's schools.
He passed away in his sleep from a sudden heart attack on Aug. 21, 1998, at the age of 69.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Sonja; his children: Allen and his wife, Ranetta, and Linda and her husband, Jeff Lee. His older sister, Marianne, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins also survive him.
His body has been cremated and his ashes buried next to those of his parents in Highland cemetery in Great Falls. Memorials should be sent to the University of Montana alumni association for undergraduate scholarships in business.
The world will miss his humor, compassion, and mind. His family will miss all of him.
Joseph Benedict Marmion
CHESTER - Joseph Benedict Marmion, son of Sylvester Marmion and Mary Bernadette Henchy, was born in Loughrea, County Galway, Ireland, on the 3rd of April, 1932. He received his elementary schooling in Saint Brendan's National School, and high school in De La Salle Secondary School, both in the town of Loughrea. Though he spent a year in the seminary of the Society of African Missions in Kilcolgan, the bulk of his college and theological training was taken at Saint Patrick's College, Thurles, Ireland. Joseph was ordained to the priesthood by the Most Reverend T. Morris in the Cathedral of the Assumption at Thurles, County Tipperary, Ireland, on the 10th of June, 1962.
Father Marmion was first assigned as an assistant in Sacred Heart Parish, Miles City, where he remained one year. In June 1963, he was moved to Saint Joseph's, Great Falls, where he served in the same capacity for about a year before being assigned to Saint Leo's in Lewistown. He also spent some time as chaplain in Saint Joseph's Hospital there, before taking over Saint Mathias Parish, Ryegate, as Administrator in February 1968. After a year in this position, he returned to Great Falls as an associate at Saints Peter & Paul. In 1970, Father was granted a leave of absence to pursue advanced studies at Montana State University, Bozeman.
After receiving a Master's Degree from Bozeman, he was assigned to Queen of Angels Parish in Nashua as Pastor. This was the first of a series of brief assignments as pastor of Saint Theresa, Lambert; Sacred Heart, Cascade; Saint Cyril, Geyser; Saint Benedict, Roundup; Saint Margaret, Geraldine; and Saint Mark the Evangelist in Belt. In February 1987, Father Marmion was given leave to be absent from the Diocese to serve parishes in other dioceses, principally in California. In 1994, he returned to Montana and took a brief assignment at St. Jude's Church in Havre. His last assignment was to serve as pastor of St. Mary's Church in Chester and the surrounding communities of Hingham, Inverness and Rudyard.
Father Marmion died suddenly on Aug. 23, 1998, while visiting his family in Ireland. The funeral Mass will be Aug. 26 at St. Brendan's Cathedral, Loughrea, Ireland, with burial to follow in County Galway. A memorial Mass will be held Thursday, Aug. 27, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Church in Chester, with Bishop Anthony M. Milone presiding.
Survivors include four brothers and one sister who all reside in Ireland.
Mary A. Woods
ABSAROKEE - Mary A. Woods, 92, of Absarokee, formerly of Sidney, passed away Sunday, Aug. 23, 1998, at Brookside Personal Care Home.
She was born May 16, 1906, at Edgeley, N.D., a daughter of Elbert and Minnie French. She lived with her parents on upper Bennie Peer Creek in western North Dakota. Mary then moved to Sidney in the fall of 1923 and married
Orval J. Woods, June 1, 1925. The couple resided in Sidney until 1964 when they moved to Absarokee.
Mary enjoyed working with the 4-H girls instructing them in home canning. Mary took many 1st place ribbons and awards for her canning at the Richland County Fair. Mary's other interests included reading and knitting.
She was preceded in death by her son, Larry O. Woods in 1989 and also by her husband in 1989. One brother and one sister also preceded her in death.
Survivors include one grandson, Larry O. Woods Jr.; one granddaughter, Shelley A. Woods; one great-grandson, Michael Herschel; a daughter-in-law, Edith Woods; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Sidney cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the American Heart Association, Montana Division. Smith Funeral Chapel-Laurel was in charge of arrangements.
Arthur McNaney
Arthur McNaney, of Billings, passed away on Aug. 23, 1998, at St. Vincent Hospital after a lengthy illness.
Art was born in Ismay on Oct. 11, 1915, son of William and Mary (Hugel) McNaney. He lived most of his life on the home place on Cabin Creek in the Ismay area. He was joined in marriage on Sept. 14, 1941, to Agnes (Lil) Victora in Baker. Retiring from ranching in 1978, Art and Lil moved to Bozeman where they resided until 1993 when ill health forced a move to Billings. They had one daughter, Judith Ann (McNaney) Voss, who preceded Art in death in 1977. They have one grandson, Richard Lee Voss of Denver.
Art was a member of the Presbyterian Church of Ismay where he was an elder. He was also an elder at the Miles City Presbyterian Church. While in Bozeman, he was a deacon at the Presbyterian Church. He was a member of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church of Billings at the time of his death.
He belonged to the Cattleman's Association, Montana Stock Growers, served on the school board in Ismay, and was a member of the Farm Bureau. Art and Lil enjoyed square dancing and belonged to many square dance clubs through the years until his health forced them to quit dancing.
Art and Lil traveled extensively for several years, making three trips to Europe, including traveling to Germany to find his roots. They also traveled to Costa Rica, twice to Hawaii, and to the World's Fair in Victoria, British Columbia. Telling his stories of these trips and his ranching experiences was a great joy to Art and Lil and to all those who would come over and "sit a spell."
He is survived by his wife, Lil; grandson, Richard; "Son" Dr. Lance Parks, his wife, Sally, and their three children, Lance "Sparky" Parks, Juliet and Becky of Billings; son-in-law, Gary Voss of Denver; brothers: Jim and his wife, Julia McNaney of Hereford, Texas, Walter and his wife, Daisy of Hardin; sisters-in-law, Sarah (Sallie) McNaney of Grassy Butte, N.D., Jeanette McNaney of Terry; brother-in-law, Charles Victora Jr. and his wife, Corrine of Billings. He has two god daughters, Juliet Parks of Billings and Grace Harris of Missoula, and numerous nieces and nephews and grandnieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his mother-in-law, Agnes Victora Callen, and father-in-law, Charles Victora Sr.; his brothers: Bert, Harvey, Harold, Martin, George, Lee, Everette, Roy; and two sisters, Helen (Mathison) Carley and Clara (McNaney) Brittenham.
Visitation will begin 5 p.m. Tuesday at Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist Alderson Chapel. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Billings. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Memorials can be sent to The Dialysis Clinic, 2411 Village Lane or to St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, both of Billings. Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist Alderson Chapel has charge of arrangements.
Eunice Betty Peterson
MISSOULA - Eunice Betty Peterson, 80, died Thursday, Aug. 20, after a brief, but courageous battle with mesothelioma (a type of lung cancer) at the Mountain Valley Hospice House in Missoula with her family at her bedside.
Eunice was born on Feb. 14, 1918, in Minneapolis, Minn., to Alice Adams. She was later adopted and raised by her great-aunt and uncle, William and Mary Scott of Ronan. She graduated from Ronan High School in 1936 and later from the Business College of Butte.
Eunice married
Carl Oscar Peterson on May 3, 1939, in Ronan. They lived for a short time in Polson where their son was born, then moved to Helena and later to Billings where they lived for 44 years. In Billings, their two daughters were born. Eunice was preceded in death by Carl in 1954 and never remarried
.
Eunice's many interests included a lifelong love for the piano. She raised her children by giving piano lessons and enjoyed playing the piano in nursing homes as a volunteer. She also worked as a Senior Companion and as a Foster Grandparent and enjoyed attending music and community functions. Her favorite pastimes included driving her car and sight-seeing. She also enjoyed mall walking with Senior Citizens. Eunice was a lifetime member of the Women's Masonic Eastern Star and was a member of the First United Methodist Church.
Eunice is survived by her children and their spouses: Bruce and Joyce Peterson, Missoula; Dr. Marie Peterson-Holland and John, Spokane, Wash.; and Gayle Peterson Schwehr, Williston, N.D. She also is survived by eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren: Christine and spouse, Doug Larson, and unborn son, Parker, Ledger; Scott and spouse, Beckie Peterson, and son, Preston, Missoula; Kimberlee Colbo, Anchorage, Alaska; Bethany Colbo, Seattle, Wash.; Rachael Colbo, Spokane; Russell and spouse, Amy Schwehr, and daughter, Shantel, Pensacola, Fla.; Aaron Schwehr, Grand Forks, N.D.; and Janelle Schwehr, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Memorial Services were held Monday at The Malletta Family of Funeral Homes, Squire Chapel at 3035 S. Russell with Pastor Steve Garnaas-Holmes of the First United Methodist Church officiating. Following cremation by the Squire Chapel, Burial Services and placement of the urn will be in Billings at the Mountview cemetery on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 2 p.m. with Pastor Howard Hunter of the First United Methodist Church of Billings officiating.
Honorary pallbearers will be Eunice's grandchildren, Christine Larson, Scott Peterson, Kimberlee Colbo, Bethany Colbo, Rachael Colbo, Russell Schwehr, Aaron Schwehr and Janelle Schwehr.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Hospice of Missoula, 10450 Mullan Road, Missoula, MT 59802.
Felicitas E. Rodriguez
LOVELL, Wyo. - Felicitas E. Rodriquez, 73, of Lovell, died Sunday, Aug. 23, 1998, at Westview Health Care Center in Sheridan.
Rosary services will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, at Haskell Funeral Home in Lovell. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Lovell with interment in the Lovell cemetery.
Agnes Helen Adams
GLENDIVE - Agnes Helen Adams, 85, formerly of Beach, N.D., died Monday, Aug. 24, 1998, at the Glendive Medical Center Extended Care Facility.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 27, at the United Community Church in Beach with interment in the Beach City cemetery. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Beach is in charge.
Donna M. Stuber
BOZEMAN - Donna M. Stuber, 47, formerly of Big Timber, died Sunday, Aug. 23, 1998, at the City of Hope Medical Center in Duarte, Calif.
Visitation will be 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Big Timber. Prayer service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the church with interment in Mountain View cemetery in Big Timber. Lowry Funeral Home of Big Timber is in charge.
Ryan Gene Schriner
COLUMBUS - Ryan Gene Schriner, age 14, of Columbus, passed away Aug. 23, 1998, in Billings. He was born June 2, 1984, in Wenatchee, Wash., a son of Rick Schriner and Lynn Bell.
Ryan attended schools at E. Wenatchee, Wash.; Cashmere, Wash.; Wenatchee; Deer Lodge and Columbus.
He was in Little League and on the All Star Team for Deer Lodge. Ryan loved the outdoors including hiking, fishing, camping, hunting skiing, biking and roller blading. He enjoyed helping his father prospect along the Columbia River.
Ryan will be remembered for his shy smile, working hard, especially on the ranch, and his polite manner.
He is survived by his parents, Lynn and Brian Bell of Columbus, Rick Schriner and Susie Hogan of E. Wenatchee; brothers, Drew Smith of Columbus and Travis Schriner of Kamloops, B.C.; also his grandfather, Ron Schriner of Eagle, Neb.; aunts and uncles, Jim and Gerri Dolman and Tedd and Judy Dolman, all of Cashmere.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Emma and Jack Dolman.
There will be a memorial service Tuesday, Aug. 25, 1998, at the Itch-Ke-Pe Park in Columbus at 2 p.m. Services and burial will be held in Cashmere later this week. Memorials may be made to the Columbus Ambulance Service.
GOD BLESS OUR SON.
