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Edwin 'Willy' Robinson
Edwin "Willy" Robinson, 71, died Tuesday, Nov. 3, 1998, at his home.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at the Montana Rescue Mission. Cremation has taken place. Smith Downtown Chapel is in charge.
Johnny Ross, Sr.
MILES CITY - Johnny Ross Sr., 87, died Saturday, Nov. 14, 1998, in the Veterans Administration Nursing Home.
Cremation has taken place. Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the Bullis-Graves Memorial Chapel. Interment will be at a later date. Bullis-Graves Memorial Chapel and Crematory is in charge.
Charles Gordon Saunders
PLENTYWOOD - Charles Gordon Saunders was born Aug. 17, 1916, in Buford Township, N.D., the second child of Charles W. and Eliza J. (King) Saunders. He attended grade schools in the Trenton-Buford area, and graduated from Williston High School in 1935. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 through 1945. He married
Helen Larson in Grenora, N.D., June 24, 1945. They lived in California for about a year after his discharge, then returned to Williston. In 1948, they moved to Plentywood, where Chuck, in partnership with Helen's brother, Frank, operated the S & L grocery store. After closing the store, Chuck worked for Wildwood Beverage Company, the Farmers Union Oil Company, Petrolane, and Williston-Scobey Transfer. After 18 years with Williston-Scobey, he retired in 1978, and then had time to pursue his hobbies of fishing and traveling with Helen. Charlie was an active member of the First Congregational Church, serving on the Board, as Moderator, and as Treasurer. For many years, the central part of his day was morning and afternoon coffee with the gang at The Bakery.
Known to his family as Gordon, he is survived by one daughter, Sara Beth Howland, and her husband, Jerry, and their children Jesse, Ashley, and Bill, of Billings. He is also survived by four sisters: Roberta Sandvik, Aleene Sandvik, and Dorothy (Arlen) Anderson, all of Williston, N.D. and Mary Lou and her husband W. D. "Bill" Black, of Tulsa, Okla. Also surviving are Larry and Rhonda Frederick, and their children Jessica and Sarah, who adopted Charlie as part of their family. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Helen, Nov. 28, 1996; and by his brother, M. W. "Bill" Saunders, whose wife, Betty, lives in Dickinson, N.D.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Mountain Time on Tuesday, Nov. 17. Pastor Martin Strom will officiate at the service at the First Congregational Church in Plentywood; interment will be at the Grenora cemetery at 3:30 p.m. Central Standard Time. Charlie, 82, died peacefully in his sleep at his Plentywood home Nov. 12. Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood has charge of arrangements.
Vera Schleinger
BOZEMAN - Vera Schleinger passed away Nov. 8, 1998, in Bozeman of natural causes.
She was born in Minnesota the daughter of Emal L. and Lillie Tesch.
She married
Edward H. Schleinger Aug. 8, 1932. They farmed in Combs Flat in the Molt area before moving to Billings in 1947.
Vera enjoyed cooking, baking, candy making and sewing. Her frosted carrot cakes were delicious. She worked at the Billings Laundry as a seamstress. Then at Town and Country for Al and Lorraine Larson as a seamstress until she retired and then she continued sewing in her home. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers, Herb and George "Bud, " and one son, Ernest Don Schleinger.
Survivors include her two sons, Edward of Bozeman and Bernard "Stub" of Billings; three sisters: Edna Tesch, Viola Creech and Mrs. Don "Lou" Brodsho of Billings; also 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces. She'll be missed by all who knew her but she's with her husband, parents and son.
I wonder if they allow card playing in Heaven? If they do Vera will be winning matches from Ernie.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at the Smith Downtown Chapel. Interment will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Daphne Charlene Weitz
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS - Daphne Charlene Weitz, 42, died Friday, Nov. 13, 1998, at Benefis East Hospital in Great Falls.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the Twichel Funeral Home with burial at the Mayne cemetery. Twichel Funeral Home is in charge.
Margaret Porter Benoist
Helen "Marge" Benoist, age 87, went to be with our Lord on Nov. 11, 1998. She was born Oct. 23, 1911, in Souix Falls, S.D. to Robert and Hanna Elizabeth (Hendrickson) Porter.
After graduating from high school she moved to the west coast. There she married
Terry Benoist. She lived and worked in the Lake Tahoe area for several years. In 1967, she moved to Billings and worked for her brother, Robert, "Bob" Porter Jr., at the Turf cafe and then later at Big Sky Campgrounds.
She enjoyed gardening, flowers, Bingo and the company of her beloved poodle, "Bo-Bo." "Aunt Marge, " will best be remembered for her "tell it like it is" philosophy. She believed in "The man upstairs, " honesty and honor. She also believed that family was the most important institution on this earth. Marge came from the "old school" and passed on her knowledge and beliefs to her next generation. Thanks Aunt Marge.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, stepmother, Freda Porter, brother, "Bob" Porter Jr., and his wife "Betty" Porter, their daughter Debbie Quick and her sister Mary Rukstad.
Survivors include her brother "Bob" Porter's children: Michael, Patrick, Richard and Jerry Porter; her great-nieces: Hanna Porter, Renee Quick, Hollie Porter Zimmerman; her great great-niece, Keasha; her great-nephews: Robert and Michael Swirzinski; brother, William "Bud" Porter; sisters: Pat Smith, Dolores Lindner, Lovyce Smith and Marcia Spencer and all their children. Other special people in her life were Joe and Janet Akiyama. Marge Jenson who was a good friend as well as her caregiver - God bless you Marge Jenson.
Cremation has taken place. No services at her request. Donations may be made to a charity of your choice.
David R. Brown
BUTTE - David R. (Dave) Brown died Oct. 23, 1998, at the University Hospital in Madison, Wis., from post-surgical complications. He was 49.
Dave was born to Ralph and Helen Kolb Brown on Nov. 20, 1948, and was reared in Pompey's Pillar. He attended Huntley Project High School, graduating in 1967 as class valedictorian. He graduated from Princeton University in 1971 with a degree in politics and religion. In 1975, he received a master's degree in legislative affairs from George Washington University.
Dave married
Marcia McCormick in Billings on Aug. 25, 1975.
Dave worked in Washington D.C., for Congressman John Melcher; as chief of staff for the House Interior Subcommittee on Public Lands and for Senator Mike Mansfield in Mansfield's state and Senate Majority Leader's offices. In 1977, Dave became the deputy director for corporate development for the Montana Energy Research and Development Institute in Butte. In 1979, he formed his own consulting firm, serving a variety of national clients, and maintained offices in Butte, Billings and Washington.
He was elected state representative from Butte in 1980 and served in the Montana House for seven terms. He served as speaker pro tempore, chairman of House Judiciary Committee, vice chair of the Environmental Quality Council, as chair of the Montana Gaming Advisory Council and several other elected and appointed positions in the Montana legislature. He was vice chair of the transportation committee of the National Conference of State Legislators for four years. In 1995 he registered as a lobbyist and represented a variety of clients.
Dave was a loving father, husband, son and brother. He will be greatly missed by his extended family, including his many nieces and nephews. Dave was a lifelong Democrat, a precinct and state committeeman for the Butte-Silver Bow Democratic Party. He was active in numerous national, state and local political campaigns. He served on the Bert Mooney Airport Authority, the Montana State American Civil Liberties Union and was executive director of the Montana Independent Machine Operators' Association.
Survivors include his wife, Marcia, son, Mac, and daughter, Meredith, all of Butte; mother, Helen L. Brown, Billings; sister and brother-in-law, Vivian and Michael Zabrocki, Billings; numerous members of his extended family including brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held in Butte on Oct. 28, 1998, with interment in Butte's Mountain View cemetery. Memorials may be made to Princeton University Class of 1971 Scholarship Fund, the Montana Democratic Party Intern program, or the NCAT (National Center for Alternative Technology) Endowment Fund.
Victor R. Charvat
LIVINGSTON - Victor R. Charvat, 80, died Thursday, Nov. 12, 1998, at his home.
Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, at the chapel of Franzen-Davis Funeral Home. Graveside committal and burial will follow in Sunset Hills cemetery in Bozeman.
James O. Jackson
James O. Jackson passed away peacefully Friday, Nov. 13, 1998, after a lingering illness.
J.O. Jackson was born Oct. 18, 1919, in Lineville, Ala., to Henry Lee and Lillie Langston Jackson. After spending his formative years in Lineville, he went on to attend Jacksonville State Teachers College, and received his B.S. and Master's Degree from Auburn University.
He was a decorated WWII veteran, having served as Captain in 22nd Infantry, 3rd Battalion, m and was the recipient of three Purple Hearts.
On May 16, 1945, he married
Amy Bradfield. After a brief tenure with the National Cotton Council, he began his career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, traveling with them from Cherokee, N.C. to Parker, Ariz., to Crow Agency and then to Billings, where they resided since 1970. He was adopted by Robert Half, Sr., into the Ties a Bundle Clan of the Crow Tribe, receiving the adoptive name, Spotted Rabbit.
In Billings, J.O. served as an active member of the First United Methodist Church and the Masonic Lodge, Order of the White Shrine Jerusalem. He also served as Past President of the Allied Masonic Degrees, Treasure State #50, past Governor of York Right Colleges, Grand Chaplain of the Grand Council of Kryptic Masons in Montana, and Past Master of St. John #92 Blue Lodge in Hardin. He was a member of the Al Bedo Shrine, Order of the Eastern Star of Hardin, Aldemar Commandry #5, Adoniram Council, Billings Chapter #8, Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, S.J. USA.
He is survived by his wife, Amy Bradfield Jackson; two daughters: Vicki Barich (Charles), of Sumner, Wash., and Karen Jackson-Andreson (Joel), of Billings; three grandchildren: Edward Barich, Teri Barich, and Kimberly Capitan; and two sisters: Etna Rhodes of Trustville, Ala., and Rebecca McGaughy of Montavello, Ala. He was preceded in death by his son, Lee Jackson, and three brothers: Ralph Jackson, Andrew Jackson, and David Jackson.
Memorial service will be at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, at the First United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the United Veterans council, c/o American Legion, earmarked Transportation for DAV; Endowment Fund for the Masonic Center and Knights of Templar Eye Foundation. Arrangements were made by Cremation or Funeral Gallery, Cremation Society of MT.
Paul H. Koester
FORSYTH - Paul H. Koester, 84, died Thursday, Nov. 12, 1998, at the Billings Deaconess Hospital.
Graveside services and interment will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, at the Forsyth cemetery. Beals Mortuary is in charge.
Robert 'Bob' E. O'Donnell
Robert "Bob" E. O'Donnell, 69, of Billings passed away Friday, Nov. 14, 1998, at St. John's Lutheran Home fol1owing a lengthy battle with cancer.
Bob was born July 27, 1929, in Whitefish, the son of Charles and Jemima (Peterson) O'Donnell. His family moved to Havre when Bob was two. He graduated from Havre High in 1947, served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and then returned to Havre and attended Northern Montana College.
On Feb. 13, 1954, he married
Wilma Munson in Havre.
He was the manager of Buttreys Dept. Stores in Havre and transferred to Billings in 1975 with Buttreys. He retired from Buttreys in 1964 after 30 years of service. He later worked seven years for Lang cemetery Service retiring in 1991.
Bob enjoyed all sports and in 1994 was inducted into the Northern Montana College Sports Hall of Fame.
He is a member or St. Thomas Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife Wilma of 44 years, his daughter and husband, Susan O'Donnell-Voorman and Raymond of Wyckoff, N.J.; his son Robert G. and wife Sandra O'Donnell of Blame, Minn., two grandchildren Erika Voorman and R J. Voorman, Jr., both of Wyckoff, N.J., and a step granddaughter, Honore O. Voorman of Rodondo Beach, Calif.; two brothers, Patrick O'Donnell or Tacoma, Wash. and Walter O'Donnell of Spirit Lake, Iowa; and a sister Jermima Brennan of Great Falls.
Bob was preceded in death by his mother and father, brothers, Charles and Richard and sisters Mary Johnson and Helen Draeger.
Vigil service will be at 7p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 18, at the Smith West Chapel. Memorial mass will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 19, at St. Thomas The Apostle Catholic Church. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Smith West Chapel. Memorials may be made to the MSU Havre Athletic Dept. Scholarship fund, Havre, MT, or the Big Sky Hospice P.O. Box 35003 Billings, MT 59107.
Steven Paul Reed
Steven Paul Reed, 47, of Billings, was born in Astoria, Ore., Oct. 15, 1951 to Joyce and Harry Koski. He was raised by Joyce and his stepfather Dallas J. Reed. Steven attended school in Missoula and graduated from Pocatello (ID) High School in 1970. Steven had been employed by the Tractor and Equipment Co. since 1979. He was facilities manager for the Billings, Great Falls and Williston, N.D. plants.
He is survived by his wife Jackie Lee Park Reed and sons Trevor and Matthew, born of their marriage; son Kevin of Plentywood, a college student a previous marriage to Dixie Rae Schmidt; and stepson, Jason Henrickson, now in the Marine Corps; his grandmother Alice Clark of Yuma, Ariz.; his mother Joyce Reed of Polson; sisters Allison Reed of Polson and Pamela Chavez of Phoenix, Ariz.; niece Melissa de Berry of Phoenix, uncle Jack Clark of Green Valley, Ariz., and the loving family of Jackie Park Reed. Preceding him in death were his grandfather Alma A. Clark; father Harry Koski; and stepfather Dallas J. Reed. Steven enjoyed fishing and camping. He was devoted to his family and friends.
Memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Monday Nov. 16, at Billings Bible Church, 802 N. 27th St. Those wishing to remember Steven are invited to donate to the Jeff Harnish Memorial, T & F, 1835 Harnish Blvd., Billings, MT 59101. Arrangements were made by Cremation Society of MT and Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
Harriet Fae Bowles
LIVINGSTON - Harriet Fae Bowles, 86, of Livingston, died Thursday, Nov. 12, 1998, at the Livingston Health and Rehab Center. Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, in the chapel of Franzen-Davis Funeral Home, 118 N. Third St. Rev. David Greep of Pine Creek United Methodist Church will officiate. Cremation will follow the services. Graveside committal and burial of the cremated remains will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, in Mountain View cemetery.
Harriet was born Dec. 1, 1911, to Harry N. and Edith (Winslow) Nelson. She grew up on the family ranch south of Livingston on Deep Creek, attended Pine Creek School grades 1-8 and graduated from Park County High School in 1930. The family moved to Long Beach, Calif., for two years where she attended and graduated from beauty school. From 1933 to 1936 she operated the beauty shop for John and Joe Wallace on south Main Street in Livingston. On Feb. 29, 1936, Harriet was united in marriage to Barton J. Bowles by Rev. Fenton at the Pine Creek Church parsonage.
They started ranching at that time on Deep Creek and continued doing so until 1976 when they moved to Livingston and resided at 616 W. Front. Harriet was a lifelong member of the Pine Creek United Methodist Church, enjoyed many years of WSCS meetings, quilting with the ladies aid. The quilts were sold at the annual Harvest Sale at Pine Creek Church. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, various Bible study groups in both Livingston and at Pine Creek, the Park County Pioneers, and the Senior Citizen Center of Park County.
She is survived by her husband, Barton; three sons, Ronald Bowles and his wife, Arlene "Tyke" of Fishtail, Gerald Bowles and his wife, Jane of Glendive and Jim Bowles and his wife, Julie of Bozeman; grandchildren, Dan and Wendi Bowles and their daughter, Jessica of Lovell, Wyo., Sina and Ed Fink and their children, Cooper and Chancey of Glendive, Kelly "Dude" and Ginny Bowles and their girls, Ashley and Kassie of Glendive, Ryan and Kristen Bowles of Bellevue, Wash., and Tami Bowles and Brady Bowles of Bozeman. She is also survived by very special friends, George and Kay Sitton of Livingston.
Harriet was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Judy Ann; a granddaughter, Judy Ann; a grandson; and two brothers, Harold and Wilbur Nelson.
Memorials be directed to the Park County Museum, 118 W. Chinook or the Livingston/Park County Library, 228 W. Callender, both in Livingston.
Molly Giest
LAUREL - Molly Giest, 90, of Laurel, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 11, 1998, at Billings Deaconess Medical Center. Molly was born at Laurel on Feb. 26, 1908, a daughter of Jacob and Mary Fox. On Dec. 22, 1924, she married
Henry Giest in Laurel and they had six children.
Her happiest time was when she worked in her flower and vegetable garden, as well as visiting with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She lived most of her life in the Carbon County area.
Molly was preceded in death by her husband, Henry; her daughter, Joyce Hart; granddaughter, Deborah Sue Strecker; brother, Harold Fox; and son-in-law, Paul Smith. Survivors include her children, Dorothy Smith of Laurel, Betty (Ray) Strecker of Billings, Geraldine (Jim) Staley of Billings, Shirley (Cliff) Graham of Missoula, Bruce (Christine) Giest of Bridger; son-in-law, Wilmer Hart; four sisters, Mary Staley of Billings, Emma Wegner of Billings, Lydia Bernhardt of Billings and Pauline Fox of Laurel; brothers, Henry Fox of Billings, Jake Fox of Red Lodge; 18 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, 1998, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Bridger with interment in Bridger cemetery. Memorials are suggested to St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Smith Funeral Chapel in Laurel is in charge of arrangements.
Charles Freeman Hessenthaler
BYRON, Wyo. - Charles Freeman Hessenthaler, 76, passed away Nov. 11, 1998, from complications following bypass heart surgery.
Charlie was the oldest son of Carl and Katie Hessenthaler. He was born June 26, 1922, in Basin. He attended schools in Kane and Lovell. In 1939 he joined the Wyoming National Guard. Following activation of his unit in WWII, he spent the next four years in the South Pacific. Charlie was a highly decorated survivor of numerous campaigns, receiving two Purple Hearts during his military career. The points Charlie received for combat allowed him to be the first Wyoming soldier to earn his discharge, allowing him to return home prior to the end of WWII.
Following the war he returned home where he married
Norma Abraham on Jan. 17, 1947. They were sealed in the LDS Idaho Falls Temple in 1950. They farmed and worked for the Ohio Oil Co. until he was appointed postmaster of the Byron post office in 1954. In addition to his job, he continued to operate a dairy and farm on the side. Charlie served as a commissioner on the Sidon Irrigation Board and spent several years on the local draft board. Following retirement from the post office in 1984, he worked campaigns for the Western Sugar Co. in Lovell. His summers were spent raising trout, apples and sweet corn. His sweet corn soon became known throughout the Big Horn basin as "Charlie's Gourmet Sweet Corn."
Charlie dedicated his life to his family and friends. He especially enjoyed attending and supporting his children and his grandchildren in their athletic events and other endeavors. Charlie was an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in many different callings throughout the years.
He was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings: Erwin, Eugene, Paul (WW II), and Gertrude Dorey. He is survived by his wife, Norma, and five children and their spouses: Charles A. of Byron; Jack M. of Byron; Ruth Kay Lohrenz of Denver, Colo.; Paul A. of Cody; and Kent A. of Thermopolis. He also leaves 24 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; his brother, Walter Hessenthaler of Yakima, Wash.; and five sisters: Bonnie (Minna) Franch of Casper; Rosealie Hentzel of Davenport, Iowa; Joyce Kobielusz of Sheridan; Jean Kimball of Yakima; and Ruth Shaffer of Bend, Ore.
Our "Rock" and "Anchor" has gone on to prepare a place for us. Charlie, you will be missed. Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, 1998, at the Byron Ward Chapel of the LDS church in Byron.
Haskell Funeral Home of Lovell is in charge of arrangements.
