Search Archived Marriage Records
Avon L. 'Al' Kemph
Avon L. "Al" Kemph, 85, of Billings and formerly of Miles City and Jordan, died Wednesday, Aug. 18, 1999, at the Evergreen Care Center in Laurel. He was born May 15, 1914, in Jordan to Joseph Leonard and Frances Alice McGiboney Kemph. He was educated in Jordan. Al was married
in Jordan to Mildred M. Derenberger on March 20, 1933, until her death in 1981. He later was married
to Irene Stewart in 1988 until she passed away in 1993.
Al owned and operated Kemph's Corner Bar with his wife, Mildred, and later moved to Miles City and to Billings in 1975. He was in the trucking business until 1988. He loved dancing, especially the jig, playing the mouth harp, playing cards and fishing. He was so proud of his children and grandchildren.
Others preceding him in death were his parents; twin brother, Aaron; two brothers; and his son, Martin Leonard.
Survivors include two daughters, Donna (Bob) Kent of Billings and JoAnne (Frosty) Hudson of Absarokee; one son, Monty A. (Connie) Kemph of Vaughn; 16 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral service will be 2:30 p.m. Monday at Cremation or Funeral Gallery, 8th St. W. & St. John's. Interment will follow at Mountview cemetery. Memorials may be made to South Side Senior Citizens Center, 901 S. 30th St., Billings, MT 59101. Arrangements were made by Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
Leonard C. Lavender
BOZEMAN - Leonard Clifford Lavender, 72, of Bozeman, died Monday, Aug. 26, 1999, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Cremation has taken place. A procession will leave Dahl Funeral Chapel at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, for graveside services at Sunset Hills cemetery.
George W. Noe
SYDNEY, Australia - George W. Noe, the son of Mabel Simpson Noe and Luther Noe, was born Feb. 22, 1912, and died Aug. 1, 1999, in Sydney. He attended school in Billings and graduated from Montana State University in 1936, where he received an honorary doctor of engineering degree in 1984 and was honored as one of the 100 distinguished alumni when they celebrated their centennial in 1993.
Noe, a native of Forsyth, Mont., has lived in Australia for more than 50 years. He first visited there while serving with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. As chief executive officer of the engineering firm Wood Hall Limited, he directed the engineering and construction of the Sydney Opera House in 1972. At the time, the use of curved pre-cast, post-tensioned, high tolerance fitting reinforced concrete components was an advanced technology.
Noe was a founding member of the Australian Federation of Civil Engineering and served as its president. After retirement from Wood Hall in 1975, Noe became a consultant to a West-ern Australian mining group developing coal production. He served as director of Jacia Mine Management Company until retiring once again in 1990.
Allan Pedersen
SIDNEY - Allan Pedersen, 41, of Sidney, died Wednesday, Aug. 18, 1999, at his sister's home in Williston, N.D.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Trinity Lutheran Church with interment in the Sidney cemetery. Fulkerson Funeral Home is in charge.
Gladys Pemberton
FORSYTH - Gladys Pemberton, 100, died Wednesday, Aug. 18, 1999, at the Rosebud Health Care Center.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Beals Mortuary Chapel with interment in the Forsyth cemetery.
Laura Odessa Peterson
Laura Odessa Peterson passed away on Aug. 10, 1999, in Salt Lake City, Utah. Dessa, as she was known to her friends, was born on July 27, 1918, in Pittsburgh, Pa., to John and Martha Howieson. During World War II, Dessa joined the Women's Army Corps (the WACs), and was the first WAC ashore in Europe.
While in Italy, she met Sanford Peterson. They became engaged at Lake Como, and were married
on Sept. 8, 1945, in Los Angeles. After their marriage, they moved to Minnesota, where Sandy farmed and Dessa worked as a secretary in a hospital. They had two sons in Minnesota, Henry and Sanford.
In 1955, they moved to Billings where they joined the First English Lutheran Church. Dessa worked for the original Billings Hardware and for several stenographic services before beginning work for Theodore Wirth & Associates, Landscape Architects, where she continued as an office manager/administrative assistant until her retirement. Dessa was a member of the Business and Professional Women's Association, American Legion, White Shrine, Daughters of the Nile and Eastern Star. She held numerous offices in Eastern Star. Dessa enjoyed gardening, especially roses, and visiting with friends.
Sandy died in 1995, several months prior to their 50th wedding anniversary. In December 1998, Dessa went to stay temporarily with her son, Henry, in Salt Lake City. Due to failing health, she was unable to return to Billings.
She is survived by her sons, Henry of Salt Lake City and Sanford of Renton, Wash.; their wives, Susan and Linda; and grandchildren, Matthew, Joshua, Jennie and Leslie.
A memorial service will be held at First English Lutheran Church, 1243 N. 31st St. in Billings, at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 23, 1999.
Guy Rhode
RANCHESTER, Wyo. - Guy Rhode, 84, died Monday, Aug. 16, 1999, at Sheridan Manor.
At his request, cremation has taken place and no services will be held. Champion Funeral Home was in charge.
Charlene Clair Clark Swan
AURORA, Colo. - Charlene Clair Clark Swan passed away Friday, Aug. 13, 1999, at age 72.
Charlene was born to Ulys C. and Ethel Madigan Clark in Denver on Dec. 6, 1926. She was raised in Denver with her brother Russell, graduating from East High School.
In 1946, she married
her high school sweetheart, Keith Edward Swan, moving to Billings where her children Clark and Claudia Swan were born. They resided in Billings and Butte before moving back to Denver. They recently celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary. Charlene retired in 1985 as executive secretary to the board of directors of the Colorado Department of Social Services. In her retirement, she was an avid fan of the Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies and the PGA Golf Tour. She was preceded in passing by her parents and brother.
Charlene is survived by her husband, Keith of Aurora; daughter, Claudia Dunn of Lusby, Md.; son and daughter-in-law, Clark and Sharon Swan of Billings; grandchildren, Rob, Ryan and Erin Swan, Scott and Lisa McCauley and Tina Coccia, and four great-grandchildren. Charlene is also survived by her sister-in-law, Beverly (Russell) Clark of Billings and 15 nieces and nephews.
A memorial service and cremation have taken place at Horan & McConaty Funeral Home in Aurora.
Donald E. Trenkle
OTTO, Wyo. - Donald E. "Don" Trenkle, 78, died Wednesday, Aug. 18, 1999, at his home of cancer.
Visitation will be 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Atwood Family Chapel in Basin. Funeral Graveside Services and interment will be at 4 p.m. Saturday at the Mount View cemetery in Basin.
Richard J. 'Jim' Allen
LIVINGSTON - Richard J. "Jim" Allen, 69, died Monday, Aug. 16, at Livingston Health and Rehab Center.
Cremation has taken place and no services are planned. Franzen-Davis Crematory was in charge.
Cleve E. Arney
ABSAROKEE - Cleve Arney passed away at Eagle Cliff Manor, Billings, on Aug. 16, 1999.
Cleve was born to Robert W. and Ida E. (Thompson) Arney on Feb. 10, 1906, in county of Davis Township of Union, Iowa.
Cleve came to Montana in 1914 at the age of 8 years, homesteading four miles west of Fishtail. He attended country schools in the area of the homestead, working the land with his father, mother, and three sisters. They moved to Fishtail later after his father could no longer work the homestead because of health. Cleve moved to Absarokee in 1927, working many jobs with his own horses, building roads in the area, one being the road from Columbus to Absarokee. Many stories have been told of building the old bridge nine miles west of Columbus over the Yellowstone River.
In the early '30s he worked for the Montana Power Company at Mystic Lake with his horses building the dam and power house.
Cleve met and married
Minnie Bess at this time. To this marriage came five children, Robert G., Charles W., Aarah A., Jeanette I., and Anna M. Arney.
Times were tough when Cleve worked for the county using his own horses. They lived in tents and old houses in the Stillwater area. He also worked getting the power into the Benbow Chrome Mine. He then worked out on the Grant Hammond, Temp Yates, and Jim and Thelma Bates ranches.
In the early '50s they purchased the Milligan ranch at Dean. This began the years of buying and selling farms and ranches on the Stillwater River, Willow Creek, Red Lodge, Belfry, and Bridger areas, all of which he worked with his own cattle. All of these ventures ended up coming back to their love of the Stillwater, when they purchased 40 acres at the Johnson Bridge in Absarokee.
Minnie passed away in 1990, so Cleve left the ranch and moved into the town of Absarokee where he lived until being hurt in May of 1998. His home then became Eagle Cliff Manor in Billings where he left us after a long battle with cancer.
Cleve is survived by his son, Robert G. (Frances) Arney; daughters, Jeanette I. Sheely and Anna M. (Ron) Larsen; eight grandchildren, Pam (Neil) Hoagland, Crystal (Gordon) Gerttula, Curtis (Marlene) Arney, Sherri Johnson, Steve (JoAnn) Misner, Terry Misner, Kevin Misner, and Deann Blackwell; 12 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, five nieces and one nephew.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Minnie; son, Charles W. Arney; daughter, Aarah A. Misner Lamb; parents; sister, Lala Ray; twin sisters, Minerva Barr and Marguerite Rathbun; and two nieces.
We wish to thank the employees of Eagle Cliff Manor and the Yellowstone Hospice Team for his care from May 1998 to Aug. 16, 1999.
Services will be Saturday, Aug. 21, at 2 p.m. at the Congregational Church in Absarokee with burial at Rosebud cemetery in Absarokee. Services to be conducted by Rev. James Fitzhugh. Dahl Funeral Chapels in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Big Sky Hospice, Cobblestone Preservation Committee, or the charity of your choice.
Reuben Bastrom
HARDIN - Reuben Bastrom, 82, longtime Hardin area farmer, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 18, 1999, in the Big Horn County Memorial Nursing Home.
He was born Oct. 19, 1916, in Ritzville, Wash., a son of Henry and Henrietta Harding Bastrom. He moved with his family at an early age to Colorado and later to the Sidney area, where he grew up and attended schools.
Reuben married
Mabel Seder on Aug. 5, 1935, in Watford City, N.D., and the couple farmed in Washington until moving to Hardin in 1937. He raised sugar beets for years, retiring in 1982. Mrs. Bastrom died in 1992.
He was a member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church, St. John Lutheran Church and was an active member of AA.
Reuben was preceded in death by two brothers, one sister and one granddaughter.
Survivors include one daughter, Betty (Henry) Seder of Hardin; two sons, Floyd (Linda) and Larry (Sharla) Bastrom of Hardin; a brother, Elmer Bastrom of Whitefish; three sisters, Violet Bauxbaum of Glendive, Frieda Reim of Sidney and Hanna Rein of Colorado; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Friday in the Hardin Redeemer Lutheran Church. Interment will follow in the Fairview cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hardin, MT 59034.
Gene Davis
Gene Davis was born in North Platte, Neb., on May 15, 1927. Following service as a mechanic with the US Army Air Corps, he married
Wanda Newkirk on Aug. 29, 1947. The couple owned and managed truck stops and service stations in their hometown of Hardin until moving to Billings in 1970.
An avid and accomplished bowler, Gene and Wanda owned the Three D Lanes, a bowling alley in Cody, Wyo., for 10 years. Upon retirement in 1983, the couple lived in Denver and Clovis, Calif. They returned to Billings in 1992.
Gene passed away on Friday, July 23, 1999, in Fresno, Calif. He died peacefully in the company of his devoted daughter, Deborah Eacock, after a long battle with cancer
He is survived by his daughter and his grandchildren, Sean, Jillian and Robin, who live in Fresno; a foster daughter, Reva Rose of Geneva, Ala.; and his sister, Pauline of Arvada, Colo. His bride, Wanda, preceded him in death on Nov. 13, 1993. He is survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, honorary children and friends.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held Friday, Aug. 20, 1999, at 2 p.m. in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow as Gene and Wanda are eternally united at the Fairview cemetery. Bullis Mortuary has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Should friend desire, in lieu of flowers, please make memorial remembrances to the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation, Box 80807, Billings, MT 59108.
He is greatly missed by all. He will always be remembered for his kindness, generosity and great sense of humor.
Avalee Dunn
MILES CITY - Avalee (Stallard) Dunn, 83, died Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1999, at the Holy Rosary Health Center.
A special Rosary will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 20, at the Ursuline Convent. Vigil services will be at 7 p.m. Friday in the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Rite of Committal in the family lot in the Calvary cemetery.
Rev. Gene S. McCurley
Rev. Gene S. McCurley, 53, of Billings, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 17, 1999, at St. Vincent Hospital. Brother Gene was born in California, raised in Colorado and moved to Montana in 1989. Called to be a Christian missionary to the Native Americans, he spent the last 10 years ministering the love of Jesus Christ to all those who knew him.
Gene is survived by his wife, Vera, to whom he married
in 1990, and his many spiritual brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the area.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 21, at Cremation or Funeral Gallery, 8th St. W. & St. John's. Steve Heimbichner will officiate with Dennis McCormick assisting. The family requests no flowers; memorials may be made to Eagle Ministries International, P.O. Box 31566, Billings, MT 59107. Arrangements were made by Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
Michael C. Mills
DURHAM, Maine - Michael C. Mills, son of Norman W. Mills and the late Lucille R. Mills, died suddenly Aug. 6, 1999, in Durham, where he resided for two years.
Mike was born in Billings Sept. 14, 1954. He graduated from Billings Senior High School then attended University of Utah.
Mike married
Theresa Turcotte in 1988 in Phoenix where he had established his business. He and Theresa moved to Colstrip, Mont., in 1990 where he managed the Colstrip Cable TV Co.
Mike was a member of Colstrip Moose Lodge where he served as president.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Lucille R. Mills.
Survivors include his father, Norman W. Mills of Billings; sister, Mrs. Donald (Barbara) Charleson of Utah; brothers, Gary Mills, Oregon, Dr. Ronald Mills of Idaho; daughter, Heather, New Mexico; sons, David and Darren, Arizona; wife, Terry Mills of Durham; three stepsons, Dan Fortin of Lewistown, Mont., Donald Fortin, Oxford, Anthony Fortin, Auburn; and 10 step-grandchildren
Mike was very gifted in the field of electronics and communications. He also enjoyed building his own homes in Montana and Maine. He was very gifted in many fields, especially in making friends.
Mike never encountered a challenge he would not accept. In high school they needed an oboe player and didn't have one; he arranged to borrow an oboe to teach himself and played solos by the end of the year.
It was not unusual for him to look at a piece of electronic equipment that was not operating; he could fix the problem without referring to a circuit diagram or instruction manual. He was a man of many talents and was successful in all his endeavors, especially in making people happy.
Funeral has taken place. A Memorial service will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at Sixth and Avenue D, Sept. 11, 7 p.m.
