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Clayton Robinson, 78
In memoriam
MAGNA, Utah — Clayton T. Robinson, beloved dad and granddad, died
peacefully Tuesday at home in his sleep.
He was born Oct. 2, 1924, in Bovill, Idaho, to Clayton J. and Elise (Warner) Robinson. He graduated from Butte High in 1942 and moved to Magna, Utah, the same year. He served in the Army from 1943 to 1946 with Asiatic Pacific Theater service, was appointed as sergeant in the Army 1950-1952 and received the Korean Service Medal with four bronze stars. He married Shirley Kilpack; they later divorced.
He was employed by and retired from Wheeler Machinery.
Survivors include his son, Craig (Anna) Kilpack, Magna; nephew, Bill (Cheryl) Grant; and nieces Judy Nakwas and Shirley Vigus, all of Butte; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.
He will be missed by all who knew him.
Graveside services will be held at noon Monday in the Utah Veterans Memorial Park, 17111 South Camp Williams Road. Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday in Peel Funeral Home, Magna.
Edward Mihelich
In memoriam
Mr. Edward Stephan Mihelich passed away Friday, February 25. He was 76.
He was born on October 20, 1923 in East Butte to Joseph and Mary (Kotich) Mihelich.
He attended Holy Savior school and Butte High School.
Mr. Mihelich served his country with the United States Army during World War II. He received the Asiatic Pacific Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Badge, American Service Medal, and Philippine Liberation Medal with one Bronze service Star Victory Medal.
After the war he met and married Dorothy Marie Klobchar on August 1, 1948 in Sacred Heart Church before the Reverend Albert Kaparich. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on August 1, 1998.
Mr. Mihelich was a diamond driller for the Anaconda Company retiring in 1983 after 38 years of service.
He is survived by his beloved Wife: Dorothy Mihelich of Butte; Sons and daughters in law: Edward and Lona Mihelich Jr. of Cheyenne, WY, and Dr. Michael and Kim Mihelich of Duncanville, TX; Daughters and sons in law: Carole and Dale Brekke of Beaverton, OR, Kathy and Richard Kurelowech of Glendale, AZ, Rozanne Mihelich and Ken Carpenter of Arlington, TX, and Christine Mihelich of San Francisco, CA; 11 Grandchildren and 1 Great Grandchild; Sister: Katherine Leslie of Seattle, WA; Sister and brother in law: Cecilia and Tom Marshall of Billings; Sisters in law: Anne Mihelich of Tigard, OR, Montana Mihelich of Tacoma, WA, and Gail Mihelich of Denver, CO; Brother in law and sister in law: Frank and Diana Klobchar of Butte; Sister in law and brother in law: Catherine and Joseph Burns of Butte; Numerous Nieces and Nephews.
Mr. Mihelich's remains are in Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home where there will be no wake or visitation. Friends are asked to call at St. Anns Catholic Church on Monday morning at 9 o'clock then join with the family for Liturgy of The Resurrection to be celebrated at 10 o'clock. Entombment will be in Holy Cross Chapel Mausoleum. The family requests that memorials be made to Camp Make a Dram, P.O. Box 1450, Missoula, MT 59806.
John Raile, 84
In memoriam
PHILIPSBURG -- Services for John Raile of Philipsburg will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Philipsburg Chapel of KT Riddle Funeral Home with Pastor Delbert Abbey of the Philipsburg Community Church officiating. Interment will be in the Sunset Memorial Park. Visitation will be held at the Philipsburg Chapel from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday.
Mr. Raile died peacefully early Thursday in St. James Community Hospital in Butte.
John was born Nov. 3, 1915, in Philipsburg to Thomas and Wassa (Squaricia) Raile. He graduated from Granite County High School. He served in the Army Air Force during World War II. He worked as a miner in the Philipsburg area. During the Depression he saw all of America riding the rails. He loved to fish, hunt and travel.
Survivors include his daughter, Cheryl Raile of Philipsburg; son, John M. Raile of Alberton; sisters, Helen Puich and Anna Raile, both of Butte, and Dena Poynter of Colorado Springs, Colo.; 17 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild.
Services are under the care of KT Riddle Funeral Homes, Philipsburg.
William Welch, 93
In memoriam
PHILIPSBURG -- Memorial services for retired miner William H. Welch will be conducted from the Philipsburg Chapel of KT Riddle Funeral Homes at 1 p.m. Friday. Participating in the service will be the Flint Creek Masonic Lodge No. 11 A.F.&A.M. Inurnment will follow in the Philipsburg Cemetery. No visitations/wake are planned.
William died Tuesday in the Granite County Memorial Nursing Home of Philipsburg.
William Hugh was born Dec. 6, 1906, in Deer Lodge, a son of Charles Davis and Sarah (Williams) Welch. He was reared on the family ranch near Helmville, and attended school in Helmville and Deer Lodge. When William was 18, he bought a ranch west of Avon. He operated the ranch until he sold it in the late 1930s and went into hardrock mining. He mined in the Avon area, then mined in the Whitehall area. In September 1943, he and his family moved to Philipsburg, where he was a self-employed miner. He worked for Taylor-Knapp Mining company until his health forced him to retire in 1964.
William married Zelda Bronson on Oct. 25, 1939, in Butte. William enjoyed gardening, hunting and fishing. His two grandchildren were a big part of his life. He took care of his wife for many years; she died Dec. 22, 1998. William was a past master of the Flint Creek Masonic Lodge, and was a past high priest of the Royal Arch of the Masonic Order.
Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law, John and Jeannie Welch of Philipsburg; grandchildren and their spouses, Cheri and Doug Bayer of Osburn, Idaho, Tim and Kayleen Welch of Fort Collins, Colo.; three great-grandchildren, Katie, Justin and Kayla Bayer; special nieces, Betty Monroe of Deer Lodge, Eva Browning of Lewistown; nephews, Cliff Benson and Fred Benson of Deer Lodge, and Bruce Benson of Avon.
Besides his wife, William is also preceded in death by a daughter, Carol Roberta Welch, who died on Aug. 8, 1959, and his sister, Ester Benson.
Memorials: Granite County Memorial Nursing Home, Box 729, Philipsburg.
Services and cremation are under the care of the KT Riddle Funeral Homes.
Jean Elizabeth Arnaud
In memoriam
DILLON -- Jean Elizabeth Arnaud, 74, passed away on Nov. 20 in Bozeman.
She was born April 19, 1926, in Butte to John and Victoria (Christiansen) Troupe. She graduated from Dillon High School and attended the University of Missoula for one year. Jean married Jerry Harrison of Dillon, divorcing after six years of marriage.
In January of 1955 Jean married Robert Arnaud, divorcing in 1979. They lived in Livingston, Bozeman, West Yellowstone and moved to Manhattan in 1966, where she lived until her passing.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father.
Jean is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Vickie and Ernie Dygert of Bozeman, son and daughter-in-law, Rob and Cheryl Arnaud of Gallatin Gateway and son Tim Arnaud of Seattle, Wash. Her grandchildren are Kendal Hansen, Crystal Hansen, Kraig Arnaud, Kevin Arnaud, Anna Dygert and Ernest Dygert.
Jean worked with in home care for the elderly in Manhattan for a number of years and always enjoyed the company of her many friends and neighbors. Pinochle games every other Wednesday during the winter brought a special highlight to her life. Her children and grandchildren were her joy and she often shared many of their stories with her friends. She was very close to her family, immensely enjoying time at the ranch with Rob's family, being entertained by Tim's travel adventures and her loving relationship with her daughter Vickie.
With our confidence in Jesus Christ we know we will see each other again some day. She will be missed immensely by all who knew and loved her.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. at Mountain View Cemetery in Dillon, Monday, Nov. 27.
Memorials in her name may made to the American Lung Assoc., 825 Helena Ave., Helena, MT 59601.
Walter Kougioulis, 64
Walter John Kougioulis died Tuesday in Gresham, Ore., following a long illness.
He was born Dec. 21, 1937, the son of Nick George and Aurora Dora Vigil Kougioulis Counsellor. He received his education at the Emerson, Washington and St. John's schools.
Walter worked at St. Vincent DePaul, Butte Civic Center, St. James Healthcare and Goodwill in Portland. He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Church. Walter loved sports, and his favorite team was Butte Central.
He is preceded in death by his father, Nick Kougioulis, mother, Dora Counsellor, and brothers, George and John Kougioulis.
He is survived by brothers and sisters-in-law, James and Marie Kougioulis and Leonard and Arlene Kougioulis, all of Butte; twin brother, William Kougioulis of Portland, Ore.; sisters and brother-in-law, Irene Thomas of Brownsville, Calif., Betty Whaley and Helen and Red Lehna, all of North Bend, Ore., and Kathleen Taylor of Coos Bay, Ore.; sister-in-law, Evelyn Kougioulis of Missoula; 15 nieces and 18 nephews; and numerous great- and great-great nieces and nephews.
Cremation has taken place. Relatives and friends are asked to join with the family at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. John the Evangelist Church for Liturgy of the Resurrection. Interment of ashes will be at Sunset Memorial Park.
Memorials: Girls' softball at Butte Central or St. John the Evangelist Church.
Leo Jarvis, 90
Leo V. Jarvis of Ronan died Friday at home of natural causes.
He was born Sept. 7, 1911, at Middleton, Idaho, to John W. and Anna (Zimmerman) Jarvis. He married Laura Bennett in 1932 at Challis, Idaho. They had two children, but later divorced.
Leo's main occupation during his long life was an outfitter and stock man in Montana's Pintler region and Idaho's Sawtooth range.
He also worked as a look out for the Forest Service and a firefighter. He spent a few years as a state police officer stationed in northern Idaho, and at one time had a mail route that was covered by dog sled.
Leo's hobbies included making saddles, leatherwork, breaking horses and raising appaloosa mules for his out fitting trips. He belonged to the Montana Institute of Art, Moose Lodge and many Vigilante Saddle Clubs.
He was preceded in death by his parents and three brothers.
Survivors include his devoted children, Anna Jarvis, and son, John Jarvis, both of Ronan; eight grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren .
Memorial services are 1:30 p.m. Saturday in the Grogan Funeral Home with Ed Gilchrist officiating. A potluck reception follows at the Montana Waterfowl Foundation, Ronan. Memorials: Montana Waterfowl Foundation.
Neil Sullivan, 73
Cornelius Joseph ``Neil'' Sullivan went to heaven late Monday evening, to meet his dad. He died in peace and with an abundance of faith, with his wife and his eldest son by his side.
In his last days of life, Neil had the company and love of many of his family members from far and wide. He died as a result of cancer at age 73.
Neil was born July 15, 1928, in Butte to Daniel Park and Elizabeth Mary Sullivan, both of whom immigrated to Butte from County Cork, Ireland. He was raised in Corktown and graduated from St. Mary's Grade School. He attended Butte Boys Central High School and the Butte Business College.
Due to the circumstances of his life, which included the death of his father when Neil was 4, work came at an early age. Neil sold newspapers to help support his mother, and at age 15, he was hired by the Montana Power Co. as a driver and clerical worker. At age 20, he began a 35-year career with Ingersoll-Rand Co. in the mining and waterwell equipment business, where he earned many friends and a reputation as a man who would go the extra mile for anyone, under any circumstance.
After retirement from Ingersoll-Rand, he began a 10-year association with Atlas Powder Co., delivering explosives.
On Sept. 12, 1955, Neil married Lucille Kunz of Walkerville, in St. Lawrence Catholic Church. Together they raised five children on West Diamond Street and shared 10 grandchildren. Together, Neil and Lucy enjoyed many years of family get-togethers and the sharing of love and real happiness with the Moores, the Shannons and the Bremerton Sullivans, among others.
Neil and Lucy traveled in later years, including trips to the Caribbean, South Africa, England, and, of course, Ireland.
Neil's real love was horses. Sometimes they didn't love Neil as much as he loved them. This led to some of the infirmities of his old age, but Neil was unshaken in his devotion to the species.
He was also an accomplished fisherman, and had a terrific eye with a shotgun. He loved Notre Dame and Green Bay Packer football. Neil was the last of the Good Samaritans. He was notorious for picking up hitchhikers and sometimes bringing them home and putting them up for the night.
The main focus of Neil's life was work. He could always be found outside on his property south of Rocker, working on some task. When his two youngest sons visited, they knew their dad had a long list of jobs to be done, because they inherited their father's talent and propensity for work.
Neil Sullivan didn't hold grudges. He believed no day was complete until he made someone else's day better. If someone did him wrong, his answer was a prayer for the offending party. His Catholic faith in God was unwavering.
Neil loved his wife, he loved his family, and he loved to make people laugh.
Neil is survived by his wife of 46 years, Lucille Sullivan of Butte; his five children and their families, John, Karen, Shannon and Mary Kate Sullivan of Butte, Rebecca Sullivan and Henry and Jackson Kleaveland of Seattle, Sandi Sullivan and Aaron and Sam Holcomb of Elko, Nev., Neil, Laurie, Hannah and Quinn Sullivan of Libby, and Tom, Jenn, Kelly and Meg Sullivan of Vashon Island, Wash.; sister, Esther Moore of Butte; brothers and sister-in-law, Jack and Catherine Sullivan of Bremerton, Wash., and Dan Sullivan of Butte; nieces and nephews, Bill Moore, Connie Daily, Cathy Morrow, Dan Sullivan, Noranne Olsen, Naomi McKay, Steve Sullivan, Tim Sullivan, Sean Sullivan and Eamon Sullivan, of Butte, Washington state and California. Neil also is survived by in-laws, Hildy and John Fisher, Eleanor Gruenberg, Harry and Jana Kunz, Carrie Scott, Dolores and Frank Mathern, Bud and Lorelei Kunz, and Ron and Rose Kunz. He is also survived by his best friend and best man, Tom Hughes of Butte, and several cousins in Ireland, including Patrick Quill and Jackie Sullivan of County Cork.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his parents-in-law, Peter and Catherine Kunz, and by brothers- and sisters-in-law, Bill Moore, Dorothy Sullivan and Annelise Sullivan.
Friends are asked to visit with the family beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Patrick Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. at the church. Burial next to his mother and father will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery.
Memorials: Highlands Hospice, 3703 Harrison, Butte, MT 59701.
Here's hoping that the horses in heaven are gentle, and the ground soft.
Keep the faith, Dad.
Robert Fitzwilliams, 70
Robert G. Fitzwilliams, Jr. died Wednesday at the Montana Developmental Center in Boulder.
He was born in Butte on Aug. 26, 1931, to Robert and Lucille (Sewell) Fitzwilliams.
He is survived by his sisters and brothers-in-law, Lucille Searle, Butte, Shirley and Millard Archer, Roy, Wash., Betty and Dion Sutherland, Butte, Debbie Fitzwilliams, Missoula; brother, Raymond Fitzwilliams, Elk Park; numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Jerry and John Fitzwilliams, and by his sister, Eleanor Thompson.
His remains are in Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday with Pastor Phil Wold officiating. Burial: Mount Moriah Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home at 5 p.m. Thursday.
Memorials: charity of the donor's choice.
Jack Moore, 63
John ``Jack'' Moore died Thursday at home after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his loving family.
Jack was born Jan. 26, 1939, to Frank ``Dinty'' and Catherine ``Sis'' Moore. He was raised in Centerville. He received his education at St. Lawrence grade school and attended both Butte Central and Butte High Schools. Jack served his country as a marine and he retired in January of this year after 30 combined years of service as a Silver Bow County Deputy and Butte Silver Bow police officer.
When he wasn't polishing his uniforms, dad was happiest when he was hunting on Fleecer Mountain or camping and fishing at Georgetown Lake. Another of his favorite pastimes was playing with his buddy and constant companion ``Rudy,'' his Yorkshire Terrier.
Jack is survived by his wonderful mom Sis; his loving wife of 40 years, Peggy; daughter and son-in-law Kellie and Randy Stephen of Anchorage, Alaska; Sons and daughters-in-law John and Kathleen and their children Kristin, Joshua and Jodi of Butte; Kevin and Janice and their daughter Samantha of Collinsville, Okla.; and Steve and Geri and their son Zachary of Reno, Nev.; sisters Peggy Simms and Shirley McCaul of Spokane, Wash.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jack was preceded in death by his dad Frank ``Dinty'' Moore and grandson Frank Ramey III.
Memorials: Butte Catholic Community North.
Relatives and friends may call for visitation after 5 p.m. Monday in the Duggan Dolan Chapel.
Parish Vigil Services will be conducted 7 p.m. in the chapel. Funeral services will be conducted Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. from the mortuary. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at noon in St. Patrick's Church. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery with full military honors.
Charles Christman Jr., 78
Charles Christman Jr. died Monday in Salem, Ore.
He was born May 23, 1923, in Butte, the first of five children of Charles Christman Sr. and Winifred Ivy (Couch) Christman. He attended school in Butte and graduated from Butte High. He then entered the Montana School of Mines in Butte. His studies were interrupted by World War II, and he entered the Army and attended training at Camp Roberts, Calif., and Fort Benning, Ga.
After exiting the military, he returned to Butte and worked in the mines. Later, he became a fireman on the Milwaukee Road. After sever al years, he quit the railroad to return to school under the GI Bill, graduating with a bachelor of science degree in geological engineering from the Montana School of Mines and later a master of arts degree in guidance and counseling from Montana State University in Missoula.
Unable to find a job in geology, he began his teaching career in Broadus. After one year in Broadus, he found another teaching job in Harlowton, where he taught high school mathematics for 12 years. While at Harlowton, he received various National Science Foundation Fellowships to attend colleges in Oregon, Washington, Nevada, California and Maine, which resulted in two additional master's degrees. In 1962, he moved to Corvallis, Ore., where he taught math at Highland View Junior High School. In 1981, he moved to Salem but continued teaching in Corvallis. He retired from teaching in 1985.
In his younger years, Charles could always be found in his spare time with either a rifle or a fishing pole in his hand. He also was an extremely competitive chess and handball player. After moving to Oregon, his attentions turned more to gardening, bowling and raising small animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. He was an excel lent piano player and could normally play most country tunes by ear.
He was preceded in death by his precious wife of 53 years, Alena in 1999 and his youngest brother Keith Christman in 2001.
Survivors include his younger siblings, Don of Gross Isle, Mich., Dale of Anthony, N.M., Carol Godtland of Butte; children, Phillip of Great Falls, Chanen Shannon of Salem, Ore.; and four grandchildren.
