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Maureen Patricia Desmond Flitner
'When Irish Eyes are Smiling'
TORRINGTON, Wyo. - Former Shell resident, Maureen Patricia Desmond Flitner, 94 years of age, died on Oct. 27, 1998, in Torrington. Maureen was born Nov. 7, 1903, in Cork, County Cork, Ireland, the eldest daughter of Timothy Joseph Desmond and Annabelle (Kilroy) Desmond.
Before Maureen was 1 year old, she traveled with her mother across the Atlantic to join Mr. Desmond in Montana. Maureen attended elementary schools in Butte and Wisdom, Mont., and following the divorce of Mr. and Mrs. Desmond, Maureen moved by stagecoach with her mother and sister, Annabelle, to Dillon, Mont., where Mrs. Desmond worked as a practical nurse.
Maureen continued her schooling in Dillon, and graduated from the University of Montana in Missoula, receiving a bachelor's degree in education in 1927. She loved music and drama, and her girlhood ambition was to become an actress on the New York stage. She also loved sports, and participated in the few athletic events open to girls at that time.
She worked as a young woman in the Dillon area teaching English to immigrants. She drove a motorcycle to work until she wrecked it, missing a bridge one day, and after that, sometimes flagged down the train as transportation. She worked her way through university clerking in a dress shop. She pledged Kappa Alpha Theta sorority in 1924 and remained a loyal member for her lifetime.
She taught physical education, drama and English in Greybull where she met and married
Howard Flitner, a local rancher. They were married
on Aug. 21, 1929, in Salt Lake City, Utah. They built a home and worked as partners in the Diamond Tail Ranch on Shell Creek, where they raised their family. She was active in many local and state organizations, including Sacred Heart Catholic Church and St. Rose Parish, Shell Valley Country Club, Chapter F PEO, bridge clubs, Wyoming Woolgrowers Auxiliary, Wyoming CowBelles, Legislative Wives' Club. She was the first president of the Wyoming Girl Scout Council, and at the time of her death was the oldest living participant in Wyoming Girl Scouts.
In 1984, Maureen moved to Torrington due to Howard's declining health. He preceded her in death in 1987. Her sister, Annabelle Desmond Cook, died in 1997. Maureen is survived by three sons: John of Santa Rosa, Calif., and his children, Michael, Cristina, Rosemarie, and Angela; David of Greybull and his children, Kathryn, Ellen and Gregory; Stan of Greybull and his children, Carol, Timothy, Sara and Daniel; and her daughter, Patricia Novak of Torrington and her children, Anne Marie, Catherine, Mary, Joseph and Elizabeth; a niece, Shirley Ann Mott of Denver, Colo.; her brothers, Gerald Desmond, Fremont, Calif., John Desmond of Baton Rouge, La.; and a sister, Eileen Desmond Kahn of Wilmington, Del.; and 16 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Services are scheduled beginning with visitations on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 2 to 5 p.m. and Friday, Oct. 30, from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Atwood Family Chapel in Greybull. Rosary will be at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Greybull on Friday at 7 p.m., and the Funeral Mass will be at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Greybull on Saturday, Oct. 31, 1998, at 10 a.m. with Reverend Peter Johnson as celebrant. Burial will follow at Whaley cemetery in Shell Valley.
A Memorial Fund has been established at the Big Horn Federal Savings and Loan in Greybull. Proceeds will go to the Wyoming Girl Scouts or to a fine arts scholarship to a student of Greybull High School. Atwood Family Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.
Otillia 'Tillie' Cossette
GLENDIVE - Otillia "Tillie" Cossette, 70, died Saturday, Oct. 24, 1998, at her home of brain cancer.
A vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, in the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Rite of Committal in Dawson County cemetery.
Robert M. 'Bob' Martelle
HARDIN - Robert Montgomery Martelle, age 63, passed away at his home in Hardin the morning of Oct. 22, 1998, after a two-year battle with colon cancer. Bob was born Nov. 1, 1934, at home in Miles City. He was the youngest of eight children of Joseph E. and Mildred (Murphy) Martelle. Bob attended school in Miles City. In 1952, he married
Merna Beeler. They had a son and two daughters. They made their home in Miles City, Red Lodge and Stevensville until 1987. Bob was baptized at the Church of Christ in Stevensville in 1985.
Bob worked at various jobs starting early in his life. He owned and operated Texaco and Chevron stations. After discovering his talents as a carpenter, he spent the rest of his life working on various projects even up to within days of his passing. He helped with the construction of the Eastern Montana Cancer Center, and worked on the construction or remodeling of many homes and businesses wherever he lived.
Bob was also a talented musician and spent several years performing with the Cridland Trio and other bands while living in Miles City.
Bob met his wife, Suzi, in Barrow, Alaska, where he had moved to work. They were married
in 1993. Bob and Suzi moved to Hardin in 1995, when a transfer in her job permitted them to be closer to his family.
Bob is survived by his wife, Suzi; a son, Robert J. Martelle of Forsyth; two daughters, Montie R. Martelle of Tucson, Ariz., and Christina "Tina" Unruh of Billings; three sisters, Betty Miller, Carrie Leitholt and Dorothy and her husband, Willis Jerrel, all of Miles City; one brother, Joseph E. "Bud" Martelle and his wife, Helen of Sapulpa, Okla.; six grandchildren: Jason and Darsen Gaughan, Sari, Aubrey and Ty Reed Lantta, and Erin Unruh; four great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Jake and Jim Martelle; and one sister, Martha Tyler.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service was held Saturday, Oct. 24, 1998, at 1 p.m. in the Chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Inurnment was in the Custer County cemetery.
Evon I. Bollinger
JORDAN - Evon I. Schwindt Bollinger, 56, died Saturday, Oct. 24, 1998, at her home.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, in the St. John's Lutheran Church with interment at Pioneer cemetery. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home is in charge.
Rosemarie D. Brown
BOISE, Idaho - Rosemarie D. (Molzahn) Brown, 71, formerly of Wolf Point, Mont., died Wednesday, Oct. 21, 1998, at her home.
Memorial Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at the Immaculate Conception Church in Wolf Point with a luncheon to follow in the parish basement. Interment will be in Greenwood cemetery in Wolf Point. Clayton Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point is in charge of local arrangements.
Otillia 'Tillie' Cossette
GLENDIVE - Otillia "Tillie" Cossette, 79, died Saturday, Oct. 24, 1998, at her home of brain cancer.
A vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28, in the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Rite of Committal in Dawson County cemetery.
Vienna Marie Crumbaker
At the age of 93, Vienna Crumbaker of Billings died at Valley Health Care Center on Sunday, Oct. 25, 1998. Vienna was born in Red Lodge on Feb. 23, 1905, the daughter of William and Minnie (Hyvonen) Puhto.
In 1923, she graduated from Carbon County High School and attended Western Normal School for one year.
On Aug. 24, 1925, Vienna was united in marriage to Howard Crumbaker in Cody, Wyo. They farmed in Fox until moving to Idaho Falls, Idaho, in 1952, then to Billings in 1962. Howard died in 1983. Vienna was a seamstress with the D.J. Cole Co. for 10 years.
She was a member of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Billings. A beautiful seamstress, Vienna loved sewing, gardening, playing the piano and organ, crocheting afghans and just loved visiting and having coffee with her neighbors.
Survivors include her son, Howard R. "Bob" and his wife, Norma of Billings; her daughter, Bernice and her husband, Buzz Christiansen of Billings; and a sister, Aune Garton of Idaho Falls, Idaho; five grandchildren, Jack Crumbaker, Hanover, N.H., Betty Spoonemore, Billings, Denice Berklund, Cathedral City, Calif., Jo Swain, Billings, Beth Binstock, Billings; nine great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. Her husband, her parents and a brother, Reino Puhto, preceded her in death.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, 1998, at Dahl Funeral Chapel in Red Lodge with interment in Red Lodge cemetery. Memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice.
Hazel L. Eisenman
PARK CITY - Hazel Banks Eisenman died Sunday morning, Oct. 25, 1998, at St. John's Retirement Home. She was 81.
Hazel was born on Aug. 13, 1917, in Big Sandy, to James and Edith Banks.
She graduated from Columbus High School in 1935. On Nov. 4, 1936, she married
Albert Eisenman. Most of her life was spent in Park City. She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, a member of Home Extension Club, a member of Park City Senior Citizens, served on the election board for many years and was also a meter reader for REA in earlier years.
Hazel was preceded in death by her husband, Albert; her father, James Banks; her mother and stepfather, Edith and Clarence Scott; a sister, Jamima Linden; and a stepsister, Jean Proffitt. Survivors include one daughter, Colleen Humpal and husband, Stan of Mesa, Ariz.; two sons, Stan and wife, Judy of Park City and Wayne and wife, Carol of Billings; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Services will be held on Thursday morning at 10 a.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Park City. Interment will be at Park City cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Park City, St. John's Lutheran Home in Billings or charity of one's choice. Smith Funeral Chapel-Laurel is in charge of arrangements.
Delbert Dalley Jones
BASIN, Wyo. - Delbert Dalley Jones, 88, of Basin, died Friday, Oct. 23, 1998, in Worland.
Visitation will be 1-5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Atwood Family Funeral Home and one hour before services at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Basin-Greybull Ward. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at the church with interment in the Otto cemetery.
Robert M. 'Bob' Martelle
HARDIN - Robert Montgomery Martelle, age 63, passed away at his home in Hardin the morning of Oct. 22, 1998, after a two-year battle with colon cancer. Bob was born Nov. 1, 1934, at him in Miles City. He was the youngest of eight children of Joseph E. and Mildred (Murphy) Martelle. Bob attended school in Miles City.
In 1952, he married
Merna Beeler. They had a son and two daughters. They made their home in Miles City, Red Lodge and Stevensville until 1987. Bob was baptized at the Church of Christ in Stevensville in 1985.
Bob worked at various jobs starting early in his life. He owned and operated Texaco and Chevron stations. After discovering his talents as a carpenter, he spent the rest of his life working on various projects even up to within days of his passing. He helped with the construction of the Eastern Montana Cancer Center, and worked on the construction or remodeling of many homes and businesses wherever he lived.
Bob was also a talented musician and spent several years performing with the Cridland Trio and other bands while living in Miles City.
Bob met his wife, Suzi, in Barrow, Alaska, where he had moved to work. They were married
in 1993. Bob and Suzi moved to Hardin in 1995, when a transfer in her job permitted them to be closer to his family.
Bob is survived by his wife, Suzi; a son, Robert J. Martelle of Forsyth; two daughters, Montie R. Martelle of Tucson, Ariz., and Christina "Tina" Unruh of Billings; three sisters, Betty Miller, Carrie Leitholt and Dorothy and her husband, Willis Jerrel, all of Miles City; one brother, Joseph E. "Bud" Martelle and his wife, Helen of Sapulpa, Okla.; six grandchildren: Jason and Darsen Gaughan, Sari, Aubrey and Ty Reed Lantta, and Erin Unruh; four great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Jake and Jim Martelle; and one sister, Martha Tyler.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service was held Saturday, Oct. 24, 1998, at 1 p.m. in the Chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Inurnment was in the Custer County cemetery.
Bertha B. McClure
WORLAND, Wyo. - Bertha B. McClure, 72, of Worland, died Tuesday, Oct. 20, 1998, in Silver City, N.M., in an auto/pedestrian accident.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at the Church of Christ with private family interment at a later date. Bryant Funeral Home is in charge.
Ruth H. Nyback
Ruth passed away suddenly Sunday, Oct. 25, 1998, of ovarian cancer. She was born Ruth Hilda Shipman to George Nelson and Hilda Forrest Smith Shipman in Corbin, B.C., on Sept. 15, 1919.
After her mother wed Walter Woody, she moved to Red Lodge where Walt worked in the coal mines and her mother ran the Dependable Hatchery. At the age of 13, Ruth went to live with her brother, Cliff, grandmother and grandfather Dryden in Chemaines on Vancouver Island, then moving on to school in Victoria, B.C.
On April 15, 1939, Ruth was united in marriage to Albert Walford Nyback in Billings. They lived in Butte and Astoria, Ore., before World War II. After Al returned from the war in Europe they made their home in Billings where she began working at the Dean P. Sullivan and Andy Okerman dental lab. Ruth was with Dr. Sullivan for 42 years.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Al; her parents; brothers, Alfie Shipman and Walt Woody Jr.; and sisters, Maude Shipman and June Sandine.
Ruth is survived by her sons, Al and Karen Nyback of Eagle River, Alaska, and Cliff and Vickie Nyback of Sheridan, Wyo.; daughter, Elaine and Thomas Killham of Lewistown; grandchildren, Todd Nyback and Nancy Pounds, Adam and Eric Nyback, Becky and Michelle Bell, Leslie Killham Lewis, and Matthew, Kelly Killham, Jess and Joseph Killham; brothers, Cliff Dryden and John Woody; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mother, we are so thankful for the time you shared with us. It is with saddened hearts we must say goodbye. As you always said to us goodnight and God bless.
Funeral services for Ruth Nyback will be 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to Big Sky Hospice, P.O. Box 35033, Billings, Mont. 59107. Arrangements were made by Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
Leonard W. Rothfusz
Leonard W. Rothfusz, 70, of Billings, died of a heart attack while on a hunting trip Sunday, Oct. 25, 1998, near Columbus.
Leonard was a new car dealer in Hebron, N.D., and Havre. After coming to Billings in 1983, he owned and operated Midway Auto. He was a businessman that remembered all of his customers, and was the type of person that always had time to chat with his many friends and acquaintances.
He is survived by his wife, Jan of Billings; daughters, Lori of Redmond, Wash., Debra Rayle (Craig) of Missoula, and son, Brian (Jenee) of Lewiston, Idaho; brothers, Oscar (Fern) of Orangeville, Calif., Calvin (Rose Ann) of Fredonia, N.D., and sister, Orpha Hartmann of Fargo, N.D.; seven grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; four stepsons and their families; and his two special friends, Andrew and Spyder.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, at the Smith West Chapel, 304 34th St. W. Cremation will follow.
Lula Schaak
Lula Schaak passed away peacefully Sunday evening, Oct. 25, 1998, at St. John's nursing home in Billings. She was 94 years old.
Lula was born on March 22, 1904, in White Sulphur Springs, the daughter of Weldon and Eva Clark. She moved to the Hardin area as a small child, where she graduated from Hardin High School in 1923. After attending Walla Walla College in Washington, she moved back to Montana, teaching at various church schools around the state.
On June 1, 1930, she married
Adolph Schaak in Hardin. The couple had three sons and one daughter - Duane, Robert, William, and Barbara, who were all born and raised in southeastern Montana. The family stayed in this area, where their farm and ranch operations took them from the Hardin area to the Pryor Mountains. Lula divided much of her later years between the Will James Ranch and her home in Billings, before moving to the West Park retirement community, where she spent the final years of her life visiting with her neighbors and sharing her faith.
Lula's faith was the cornerstone of all she did in her life. She was an active member in the Billings Seventh-day Adventist Church. Lula was always quick to share her faith with all who passed her way, and her impromptu Bible lessons will always remain as some of the most cherished memories in our hearts. She was an accomplished artist; her paintings of farming and ranching life decorate many of her relatives' living room walls. Some of her favorite pastimes also included playing organ, gardening, and visiting with friends and neighbors.
Above all else, Lula will be remembered as one of the most beautiful people we have been blessed to know: always happy, always smiling, always content with whatever situation or circumstance that would come her way. Her family and friends will miss her dearly.
Lula was preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Nellie Hollingsworth; her husband, Adolph; their daughter, Barbara; and their son, Duane. Her sons, Robert and William of Billings; two foster sons, Bud and Larry Walker of Victorville, Calif., and Sarasota, Fla.; eight grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and four step-grandchildren survive her.
Should family and friends desire, memorials in Lula's name may be directed to Big Sky Hospice, 123 S. 27th St., P.O. Box 35033, Billings, MT 59107.
Memorial Services will be held Saturday, Oct. 31, 1998, at 2 p.m. at Michelotti, Sawyers and Nordquist Mortuary, with interment services to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Billings.
Altha Bernice VanAken
LIVINGSTON - Altha Bernice VanAken, 78, of Livingston, died Friday evening, Oct. 23, 1998, at Livingston Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 27, at Franzen-Davis Funeral Home, 118 N. Third St. in Livingston. Rev. Jim Connor and Rev. Owen Arrington will officiate. Graveside committal and burial will be in Mountain View cemetery.
Altha was born Aug. 31, 1920, in Missoula, the daughter of Albert Ashley and Gladys Mildred (Keirns) Cowan. She spent her early life and attended schools in Victor, graduating from Victor High School in 1938. On May 28, 1939, she married
Vincent V. VanAken at Rev. Tabor's sawmill near Hamilton. They farmed in the Bitterroot Valley until December 1943 when they moved to Livingston, where Vince became employed as a brakeman by Northern Pacific Railroad. They have lived here since.
Altha was a member of T.O.P.S., Senior Citizens of Park County, Park County Pioneer Society and the Amy Downing Lodge No. 162, Ladies Auxiliary of the United Transportation Union, in which she had held all offices. She loved to cook and enjoyed sewing, fishing and doing leather work.
Survivors include her husband, Vince V. VanAken of Livingston; two sons, Rick VanAken of Great Falls and John VanAken and his wife, Carol of Laurel; a sister, Frances Connor of Anaconda; two grandchildren, Kamai VanAken Rhodes of Lolo and Mysti Rochelle VanAken of Mesa, Ariz.; and two great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by a sister, Gail Mederios.
Memorials in Altha's memory may be directed to Senior Citizens of Park County, 206 S. Main St., Livingston, MT 59047.
