Obituaries

HAYS George R. “Chinky” Doney, 78, died Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, at Fort Belknap Indian Health Center due to natural causes. His funeral Mass was scheduled for today at 10 a.m. at St. Paul's Catholic Church with burial following at Doney Owl Head Mountain Cemetery with military honors. His wake began Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Mission Recreation Center. His rosary was Monday at 7 p.m. at Mission Recreation Center. Chinky was born Sept. 22, 1928, to Dave and Ernestine (Fleury) Doney on Sage Brush Flats in Hays. Chinky attended St.... Full story

CHINOOK Terry C. Goodbar, 96, of Chinook died Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, at Sweet Memorial Nursing Home due to natural causes. His funeral service will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with burial following in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Terry was born Dec. 1, 1910, in Indiana to Walter and Tesora (Terry) Goodbar. He attended school south of Chinook and worked on the family farm for a number of years. Terry moved to Chinook and worked in the Sanitation Department for the City of Chinook for 17 years. Terry... Full story

HAYS George R. “Chinky” Doney, 78, died Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, at Fort Belknap Indian Health Center due to natural causes. His funeral Mass was scheduled for today at 10 a.m. at St. Paul's Catholic Church with burial following at Doney Owl Head Mountain Cemetery with military honors. His wake began Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Mission Recreation Center. His rosary was Monday at 7 p.m. at Mission Recreation Center. Chinky was born Sept. 22, 1928, to Dave and Ernestine (Fleury) Doney on Sage Brush Flats in Hays. Chinky attended St....

LIBBY Lester Lewis (Les) Skramstad, 70, a longtime resident of the Kootenai Valley, died Sunday morning, Jan. 21, 2007, at his home in Libby following a long battle with mesothelioma. Despite the devastating physical affects of his illness, Les remained a tireless and outspoken advocate for those affected by the disease. His funeral service will be Monday at 3:00 p.m. at the Libby Christian Church; a brief interment service will follow at the City of Libby Cemetery. Friends may call at the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home from 1... Full story

Chester Marion Rochowicz, 75, died Monday, Jan. 22, 2007, at Sweet Memorial Nursing Home of natural causes. A memorial Mass will be held in Chester's honor on Saturday at 5 p.m. at St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. A fellowship will be held at the North Central Senior Citizens Center, 2 Second St. W., Havre, immediately after the service. Chester was born Feb. 3, 1931, in Adina, Ohio to Zigmunt and Mary (Szymanski) Rochowicz. He graduated from high school and Kent State University, and then... Full story

Maynard L. Norenberg, 70, of Shelby died Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, due to natural causes. A vigil service will be held at 7 p. m. Tuesday at the Whitted Funeral Chapel in Shelby. His funeral Mass will be held at 11 a. m., Wednesday at St. William Catholic Church in Shelby with burial to follow in Mountain View Cemetery. Maynard was born on June 22, 1936 to Ray and Cecelia (Richter) Norenberg in Havre. In 1943, his family moved to Ferdig, where he attended school. In 1948, they moved to Oilmont, where he graduated from high schoo...

FORT BELKNAP Phillip F. “Cricket” Bitternose Jr., 44, a construction worker, died Sunday, Jan. 21, 2007, at the Veteran Hospital in Denver of pneumonia. Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Two Kill Catholic Church in Lodge Pole. Burial with military honors will be in the Lodge Pole Cemetery. Phillip was born Dec. 30, 1962, to Phillip Floyd Bitternose Sr. And Joyce Mae Brisbo. He was raised in Zurich by his foster parents, Lawrence and Delilah Mord, after his mother died in an accident in 1965. After he com...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Melvin E. Wilson, 85, of Tallahassee, Fla., and formerly of Havre, died of a heart attack at his home Sept. 3, 2006. No services are planned and cremation took place. Melvin was born Jan. 27, 1921, Eyremore, Alberta, to Ernest E. and Mary Elizabeth Wilson. The family later moved north of Havre and his father worked for Jim Kirk. From there, they moved to their grandfather's farm south of Lohman. Several years later they moved to Lohman and eventually to Chinook, where Mel's father worked for the Blaine Count...

Hugh DeWinter Jr., 60, of Havre died Sunday, Jan. 21, 2007, at his home of natural causes. Cremation has taken place and Hugh's memorial service will be held at 1 p. m. Friday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel with Pastor Michael O'Hearn officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the V. F.W. Club immediately after the services. Hugh was born Sept. 30, 1946, in Havre to Hugh and Gina (Henstra) DeWinter Sr. He was raised and educated in Big Sandy. In 1966, he entered into the U.S. Navy. He was honorably discharged...

Kenneth E. Christopherson Jr., 74, left his family and friends on January 19, 2007 at St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings. Services will be held at 2 p.m. today at the Smith Downtown Chapel, 925 S. 27 St. with the Rev. Don Dillavou will be officiating. Cremation has taken place. Interment will be held at a later date in Havre. Kenny was born the oldest of five to Mabel and Kenneth Christopherson Sr. On March 9, 1932, in Havre. He was raised in Havre and graduated from Havre High School in 1950. He began his long career with... Full story

CHINOOK Skyler James Randles, the infant son of Amber Fitzpatrick and Anthony Randles of Chinook, died Friday, Jan. 12, 2007, due to complication from birth. His funeral service will be held at 10 a. m. Saturday at the St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the service. Skyler James was born Jan. 12, 2007, at the Northern Montana Hospital. He was a beautiful baby boy, who left imprints on his family's hearts. Skyler was... Full story

MALTA Anne C. Dippy, 101, a retired school teacher, died Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007, at a Malta nursing home of natural causes. Her funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mary's Catholic Church with interment in the Malta Cemetery. Anne was born June 20, 1905, in Ellensburg, Wash., to Jesse C. and Cora C. (Grim) Poland. She was raised and educated in Ellensburg. After high school, she attended Washington Central Teacher College for two years. She moved to Montana in 1929 and taught at the Tolleffeson School north of...

Lydia Verploegen 92, of Havre died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, at Northern Montana Hospital after a short illness. A viewing will be held from 10 a. m. to 4 p.m. Friday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Her prayer vigil service will be held at 7 p. m. Friday at the St. Jude Catholic Church with her funeral Mass 10 a.m. Saturday at the St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial will follow north of Havre at the Cottonwood Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center i...

Dona Rae Madden, 76, of Havre died Friday, Jan. 12, 2007, at her home of natural causes. Her funeral service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Fifth Avenue Christian Church with Rowlie Hutton officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the Eagles immediately after the service at the graveside. Dona was born Oct. 22, 1930, in Duluth, Minn., to Donald M. and Claire (Sutton) Tennant. She attended school in Minneapolis. When she was a freshman in high school, Dona moved to Havre with...

CHESTER Ada O. Anderson, 86, of Chester died Saturday evening, Jan. 13, 2007, at the Liberty County Nursing Home. Cremation is planned with burial of ashes in the Chester Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at 11 a. m. Saturday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chester, conducted by Pastor Peter Erickson. Ada was born April 23, 1920, at Fort Benton to Leslie and Floy (Maguren) Collar, homesteaders in the Kenilworth community. When she was very young, her family moved to Oregon. Ada received her formal education in...

Lydia Verploegen 92, of Havre died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, at Northern Montana Hospital after a short illness. A viewing will be held from 10 a. m. to 4 p.m. Friday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Her prayer vigil service will be held at 7 p. m. Friday at the St. Jude Catholic Church with her funeral Mass 10 a.m. Saturday at the St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial will follow north of Havre at the Cottonwood Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center i... Full story

BOX ELDER Edward G. Berger, 76, of Box Elder died Monday, Jan. 8, 2007, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. A viewing will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. today at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel. Cremation will follow. At Ed's request, no services will be held. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Ed was born July 31, 1930, at Cleveland to Edward R. and Elizabeth (Sandanie) Berger. The family lived in Havre, where Ed attended St. Jude Catholic School. Ed married Darlene...

Joan M. Britt, 81, of Havre died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, at a Havre care center of natural causes. Cremation will take place. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Northern Montana Care Center with Ila McClenahan officiating. Interment of the cremated remains will be held at the Fort Harrison Veterans Cemetery in Helena on March 20. Joan was born June 7, 1925, at Helena to Frank Joseph and Agnes (Lorance) Lang. She was raised and educated in Helena, attending St. Helena School and the Ursuline Sisters...

BOX ELDER Edward G. Berger, 76, of Box Elder died Monday, Jan. 8, 2007, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. A viewing will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. today at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel. Cremation will follow. At Ed's request, no services will be held. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Ed was born July 31, 1930, at Cleveland to Edward R. and Elizabeth (Sandanie) Berger. The family lived in Havre, where Ed attended St. Jude Catholic School. Ed married Darlene... Full story

MALTA Raymond Joseph Demarais, 69, of Malta died Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007. He was an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in Belcourt, N.D. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Adams Memorial Chapel in Malta. Visitation will be Monday at 6 p. m. at the Adams Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in the Malta Cemetery. Raymond was born in Malta on Feb. 11, 1936, to Joseph and Philomene (McGillis) Demarais. Raymond went to school in Malta, then attended Indian boarding schools in Wahpeton, N....

Lorraine Marie Daniel, 72, of Havre died Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a. m. Monday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home with Tim Maroney officiating. Burial will follow at the Calvary section of Hill County Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held immediately after the graveside service at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Lorraine was born Nov. 5, 1934, in Havre to William and Julia (Baldwin) Daniel. She was raised and educated in Havre....

Laura Lee Frederick, 78, of Havre died of cancer Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007, at her home with her family. A formal viewing and visitation will be held from 7 to 9 p. m. Tuesday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Cremation will take place and her memorial service will be 2 p. m. Wednesday at Messiah Lutheran Church with Pastor Michael Dahle officiating. A fellowship will be held at the church immediately following the service. Laura Lee was born March 1, 1928, to George and Evelyn Habeger in Browning. She attended schools in...

MALTA Raymond Joseph Demarais, 69, of Malta died Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007. He was an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in Belcourt, N.D. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Adams Memorial Chapel in Malta. Visitation will be Monday at 6 p. m. at the Adams Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in the Malta Cemetery. Raymond was born in Malta on Feb. 11, 1936, to Joseph and Philomene (McGillis) Demarais. Raymond went to school in Malta, then attended Indian boarding schools in Wahpeton, N....

Lorraine Marie Daniel, 72, of Havre died Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a. m. Monday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home with Tim Maroney officiating. Burial will follow at the Calvary section of Hill County Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held immediately after the graveside service at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Lorraine was born Nov. 5, 1934, in Havre to William and Julia (Baldwin) Daniel. She was raised and educated in Havre....

CHESTER Earl Farley Thisselle, 95, of Chester died Thursday afternoon, Dec. 28, 2006, at the Liberty County Hospital. Funeral services will be held at 11 a. m. Friday at the Chester United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at the Chester Cemetery. Earl was born April 10, 1911, at Kendrick, Idaho, to Arthur F. Thisselle and Iva Jane Vickers. In 1913, the Thisselle family came to a Montana homestead in the Russell community north of Carter, where they farmed and raised cattle. In 1921, they bought the Tex Florence ranch on...