Search Archived Marriage Records
Don Weibert
ST. GEORGE, Utah – Don Weibert was 61 years of age when he died of a heart attack on April 3, 2000, while swimming in St. George.
He was born and raised in Montana on a ranch in the Little Big Horn Valley next to the Custer Battlefield. This is where Don and his father, Henry Weibert, developed a passion for Montana history. Don, an accomplished historian and author, wrote several magazine articles and books including: “Four Days with Custer, ” “66 Years in Custer’s Shadow, ” “Montana’s Last Desperado, ” “The 1874 Invasion of Montana, ” “Buckskin, Buffalo Robes, & Black Powder, ” and “Custer, Cases and Cartridges.” Don had a very sincere interest in preserving Montana history.
Don graduated from Montana State University in 1963 with a degree in mathematics. Throughout his life he owned and operated several ranches in Montana. Recently, he retired and was living life to the fullest. Don was a talented wood carver and potter, but most of all he loved the outdoors and was very active in hiking, swimming, orienteering and running Ultra Marathons. Recently, Don had run the Silver State 50K which had several miles of tough mud and at least 10 miles of snow.
Don is survived by three sisters: Penny Arthur of Bozeman, Jeanie Goodwin of Absarokee, and Della Baldwin of Livingston; a son, Jim Weibert of Whitefish; a daughter, Sheila Adams of Lake Oswego, Ore.; and two grandchildren. At his request, a private funeral has been held to honor his life. Memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.
Don was a Christian and was known as saying that he began his relationship with Christ with the end of his life in mind. Don was a devoted brother, honored father, an accomplished historian, and a proven athlete. He will be missed.
Steven Lee Ohs
GLENDIVE – Steven Lee Ohs, age 45, of Glendive, died on Monday, April 17, 2000, at Deaconess Hospital in Billings.
Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at the Zion Lutheran Church in Glendive with Pastor Paul Everett officiating. Interment will be in the Dawson County cemetery. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive is entrusted with arrangements.
Steve was born on Sept. 18, 1954, in Malta, the son of Gustav A. and Hazel J. (Beyer) Ohs. He was raised and educated in Malta. He attended Malta Elementary School and graduated from Malta High School in 1972. He then attended Montana State University in Bozeman, graduating in 1979.
On Aug. 11, 1979, Steve married
Carol Fry in Missoula. They moved to Glendive in 1981 where Steve worked for the First National Bank and the Soil Conservation Service. He then went to work at Community First Bank and was the current president and owner and served on the board of directors. He was a member of the Glendive Chamber of Commerce and was on the paddlefish/caviar committee and had also served on the G.A.T.E. committee. He was also a member of Zion Lutheran Church and Puttwell Investment Club.
Steve was a wonderful husband and a perfect father to his three beautiful children. He was so proud of his family and enjoyed spending time with them on the many family vacations they went on. He enjoyed watching his kids’ many sporting events, and he was always there for them. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and most of all going to the Vikings games in Minnesota with his friends and family. Steve had so many great friends and he always enjoyed life to its fullest. He worked hard and played hard. He was loved so much and is missed so very deeply.
Survivors include his wife, Carol of Glendive; his daughter, Stephanie Ohs of the family home in Glendive; two sons, Brian Ohs and Derek Ohs, both of the family home in Glendive; his mother, Hazel Ohs of Malta; two brothers, Ron Ohs of Woodbridge, Va., and John Ohs and his wife, Krisanne of Pocatello, Idaho; two sisters, Joyce Yager and her husband, John of Helena, and Gloria Allwin and her husband, Dennis of Laurel. He is also survived by other relatives including aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins who were special to him.
Steve was preceded in death by his father and a nephew.
Jean R. Bonawitz
Jean R. Bonawitz passed away Monday, April 17, at Deaconess Hospital after a short illness. Jean was born in Iowa on July 25, 1920, to Carrie and Will Frantz. She attended elementary and high school in Martelle, Iowa, then attended and graduated nursing school with an R.N. degree from Mercy Hospital in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
She started her nursing career in San Antonio, Texas, where she met Irvin Moos. They married
March 6, 1943, and started a family. Jean returned to Iowa to have their first child, Karen. Following the war, they relocated to Billings where their second child, Ana, was born, followed by their third child, Rocky.
Jean continued her nursing career at St. Vincent’s Hospital then with Dr. Vye and Dr. MacIntyre. After Jean’s divorce, she met and married
Wayne Bonawitz April 17, 1969. Jean and Wayne located in the state of Washington where she continued her career in nursing and retired as the director of nursing from Issaquah Villa. Before moving back to Billings, they lived on the Hood Canal where Jean enjoyed the oysters, shrimp and walking Lady down the road and visiting the neighbors. She also enjoyed doing latch hook rugs, jigsaw puzzles and playing Skip Bo.
Jean frequently stated that the last 31 years of her life were very special in so many ways, and Wayne helped her to grow more then she ever thought she could. Following Mom’s wishes, no services are planned and her cremated remains will be scattered on the Hood Canal at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Big Sky Hospice, P.O. Box 35033, Billings, MT 59107.
Vee Seney
BUFFALO, Wyo. – Vee Seney, 91, died Wednesday, April 19, 2000, at her home.
Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Sunday from the Adams Funeral Home, and from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. on Monday. Services will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 24 from the Adams Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be in Willow Grove cemetery.
Garnette M. (Gregory) Olsen
LEWISTOWN – Garnette M. (Gregory) Olsen, 78, of Lewistown, died Saturday afternoon in Western Manor Nursing Home in Billings of cancer. She was born in Lewistown on June 24, 1921, to Margaret and Thomas Gregory of the family ranch in Straw, Mont. She attended the Buffalo School prior to the family moving to Lewistown where she graduated from Fergus High School in 1939.
Garnette worked at the Lewistown branch of the ASCS office for 17 years until her marriage to Jonas Olsen Jr. on Dec. 1, 1956. Jonas, a Grass Range-area rancher caught her eye at the local 4th of July parade. After their marriage, they focused on raising Herefords, alfalfa, and kids. Son Roy joined the family in 1957, daughter JoAnne in 1959 and daughter Janet in 1965. JoAnne died in infancy. There were many “extra” kids around the big table at the ranch, all are remembered fondly. Roy added to the family with wife, Teri (Cooper) and children Kayla Ann, 1983, Casey Howard, 1984, and Clinton Gregory, 1984. Teri’s sister’s daughter, Lauren Jean O’Brien of Texas is an honorary granddaughter to “Gramie Garnette.”
She enjoyed life to the fullest, and even managed to squeeze in one last effort at mowing the lawn. Her presence in our lives will be sadly missed, yet her spirit will live on in the lives of all those she touched.
Her activities in the Eagles Auxiliary, Flatwillow Extension Homemakers, Eastern Star, and the Grass Range Community will serve as a legacy for us all.
She is survived by son, Roy and family of Grass Range and daughter, Janet of Billings; sister, Margaret June (Babe) of California; brother, Wayne of Washington, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by brother, Thomas (Buster); husband, Jonas; and daughter, JoAnne.
Memorial services for Garnette M. Olsen will be Friday, April 21, at 2 p.m. in the Cloyd Chapel with inurnment to follow in the Lewistown City cemetery. The Cloyd Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Donations may be made to the Shrine Children’s Transportation fund or the Grass Range Ambulance fund.
Wilbert Hoagland
MALTA – Wilbert L. “Bill” Hoagland, 65, died Sunday, April 16, 2000, at the Phillips County Good Samaritan Center of cancer.
Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 19, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Adams Funeral Home is in charge.
Clyde R. Fisher
THERMOPOLIS, Wyo. – Clyde R. Fisher Sr., 56, died on Sunday, April 16, 2000, after a long illness.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at the Risen Son Southern Baptist Church. Cremation has taken place. Mortimore Funeral Home is in charge.
Leona Katherine Smith
HARDIN – Leona Katherine Smith, 84, of Hardin, passed away Sunday April 16, 2000, in the Heritage Acres Nursing Home.
She was born April 2, 1916, in Lame Deer, a daughter of Alpfonso and Cordellia Reed Spang. She received her early education from her grandmother and later attended and graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1933.
Leona lived and worked as the head cook at the Busby Boarding School. She enjoyed her work and often cooked for 12 hours a day at the school.
She married
Frank W. Smith on Aug. 25, 1943, in Billings, and that year the couple made their home in the Seattle, until moving to Montana and Hardin in 1992. Mr. Smith preceded her in death.
Survivors include her daughter, Cheryl Myers of Auburn, Wash.; her grandchildren of Washington; as well as the Spang and Denny families of the Lame Deer area.
Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow at a later date in Lynnwood, Wash. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Xavier Little Owl
ST. XAVIER – Xavier Little Owl, 54, of St. Xavier, died Saturday, April 15, 2000, in the Deaconess Medical Center.
He was born May 15, 1945, in Crow Agency, a son of William and Agnes Ceasley Little Owl. He grew up in the St. Xavier area and attended the St. Xavier public schools and graduated from Flandreau Indian School in South Dakota in 1966. Following his education, he entered the U.S. Army, served in Viet Nam and received his honorable discharge.
Xavier worked as a custodian and maintenance man throughout the United States. He was currently employed as a ward aide with the Crow Agency Detox Center.
He was a member of the St. Xavier Catholic Mission, Ties the Bundle Clan, a child of the Piegan Clan, Tobacco Society and member of the Native American Church. He was a traditional Crow man who enjoyed all forms of Crow culture, particularly hand games. He always carried his camera and recorder to save important moments in his family’s history.
Xavier was a mentor to many of his nieces and nephews. He took charge of his nephews, Joe Phares, Karl Spotted and Lauren Stewart when their mother passed away.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and two sisters, Lucy and Dorothy Little Owl.
Survivors include six sisters, Hazel (Starr) Not Afraid of Ft. Smith, Adelia (David) Stewart of Crow Agency, Nora (Dennis) Big Hair of Garryowen, Darlene (Oliver) Hugs Jr., Philamine Old Coyote and Virginia He Does It of St. Xavier; two brothers, Ettinge (Harriet) Little Owl of Crow Agency and Tom Little Owl of St. Xavier; four adopted brothers, Johnny Cummins Jr. of Lodge Grass, Howard Shane of Benteen, Myron (Vivian) Driftwood of Hardin and Lloyd (Mary) Top Sky of Rocky Boy; one adopted sister, Barbara (Cleo Jr.) Medicine Horse of Crow Agency; his adopted mother, Mabel Bebee of Canada; two special cousins, Larry (Linda) Little Owl and Loren (Vincent) Spirit of Crow Agency; one uncle, Phillip Beaumont of Pryor; one aunt, Annie Walks of St. Xavier; his Tobacco Society adopted brothers, Franklin Plenty Hoops of Lodge Grass and Grant Bull Tail of Crow Agency; one granddaughter; numerous nieces and nephews and members of the He Does It and Bell Rock families.
Rosary will be recited 4 p.m. Tuesday in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Wednesday in the St. Xavier Catholic Mission Church. Interment with military honors will follow in the Mission cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Helen M. Ashley
Helen M. Ashley, 84, of Billings, passed away Thursday, April 13, 2000, at home natural causes. She was born in Roundup Feb. 12, 1916, daughter of Fred Myron and Emma L. Whole Sadler. Educated in Roundup, she graduated in 1935, later attending a Bozeman secretarial school. She married
Avery Ashley in Billings, March 1, 1942.
Helen lived in Medford, Ore., until returning to Billings to work as a medical transcriber at Deaconess Hospital, retiring in 1989.
Cremation was held. At her request, no memorial is planned. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society, 409 N. 31st, Ste. 21 Billings, MT 59101.
Arrangements were by Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
Margaret J. ‘Peggy’ Williams
Margaret J. “Peggy” Williams, 87, of Billings, passed away Sunday, April 16, 2000, at Western Manor of Alzheimer’s Disease. She was born April 23, 1912, in Newark, N.J., the daughter of George and Francis Crate Robson. She attended school in Newark and joined the WAAC, serving overseas in Germany in the Army of Occupation. She met Gordy Williams while in Germany. They were married
April 23, 1949, at F.E. Warren Air Force Base at Cheyenne, Wyo.
She came to Billings in 1974 where she has lived since. She loved camping near a lake or river and enjoyed the outdoors. Peggy was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, VEW and the American Legion.
Survivors include her husband of over fifty years, Gordy Williams; one son, Richard Williams of Billings; one daughter, Joyce Ann (Glenn) Spannuth of Redding, Pa.; one grandson, Collins Spannuth; one brother, Art (Dee) Robson and a sister, Martha Negri, all of New Jersey. Peggy has been preceded in death by her parents, one sister and three brothers.
Cremation has taken p lace. Inurnment with military honors will be 1 p.m. Friday, Veterans Section of Mountview cemetery. Arrangements were by Cremation Society of Montana and Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
Lena M. Holmes
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS – Lena M. Holmes, 99, died Thursday, April 13, 2000, at Mountainview Medical Center of natural causes.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 20, at Twichell Funeral Home. Interment will be in Mayn cemetery.
Charles Eliot Moore
GREYBULL, Wyo. – Charles Eliot Moore, 72, died on Sunday, April 16, 2000, at his residence in Greybull.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 19, at the Atwood Family Funeral Chapel. Military graveside rites will follow at the Hillside cemetery.
Ruth Howard
Ruth Howard was born in Lithium, Mo., on Feb. 5, 1905, when the 20th century was still young and Teddy Roosevelt was president. Orville and Wilbur Wright had successfully flown their experimental aircraft only 14 months before. First production of the model T was still three years away.
Ruth grew up to became a teacher and headed west to instruct young students in algebra. She chose Worden to settle down. She was bright and not only good in math, but she loved music. Ruth’s students remember her directing an operetta at the high school. She didn’t just tell the students how to perform their parts. If a young actress had trouble getting her part right in rehearsal, Ruth would get up on stage and show them what she wanted. She loved to sing and to play the piano.
What enormous changes she saw during her lifetime. She was twelve when America joined the “war to end all wars.” She saw our country fight in the Second World War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and even the Gulf War. She lived through the Great Depression including the terrible stock market crash of 1929.
Ruth met her husband, Clifford, at a dance in Worden. They married
in 1930. Talk about optimism. Cliff was a handsome young farmer, but this was in the teeth of the depression: economic times the likes of which many of us have never seen. She supported Cliff when he returned to college in Kankakee, Ill., and continued to teach there after he graduated and began teaching himself. Cliff and Ruth returned to Worden and bought a farm in the 1940s. Ruth taught at both Worden and at Shepherd schools. Both Ruth and her husband were very involved in their community. Ruth enjoyed participating in Eastern Star.
She loved to garden and was good at needlepoint. Her house was immaculate. She took care to set a formal table even for simple meals for her and her husband. Their marriage lasted 65 years, ending at Cliff’s death in 1995.
Ruth’s life included an unshakable love of her husband and the commitment to excellence in the instruction of her young students. She is survived by two of her sisters, Billie Diekema of Niles, Mich., and Jacqueline Terwilliger of East Lansing, Mich., and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials may be sent in her name to the St. Johns Lutheran Home, whose staff provided such compassionate care of Ruth during the last years of her life.
