Obituaries

MALTA Sheila Mae Simanton, 76, retired owner of the Malta Mercantile, died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007 at Phillips County Hospital of cancer. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a. m. Saturday at Malta Lutheran Church. Interment will be in the Malta Cemetery. Sheila was born Aug. 5, 1930, in Malta to Lochiel “Shingles” and Gladys (Tieden) Edwards. She graduated from the Malta High School in 1948 and attended Colorado Women's College. She returned to Malta and worked at the Malta Mercantile. She married Dwayne Simanton on Nov...

FORT BELKNAP Merrilyn (Black Tongue) Ricker, 36, died Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, at her residence in Havre from a drug overdose. Her funeral Mass will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Red Whip Center with burial following at the Crazy Boy Family Cemetery south of Snake Butte. There will be a feed at the Red Whip Center following the burial. Wake service will begin at 5 p.m. today at the Red Whip Center with rosary recited at 7 p.m. Merrilyn was born to Caroline (Mountain) Crazy Boy and Ervin Black Tongue on Nov. 17, 1970, in... 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...

Julie A. Turner, 72, of Havre died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Viewing will be held Wednesday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home from 11 a.m. to 4 p. m. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a. m. Thursday at the St. Jude Catholic Church with Tim Maroney officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Julie was born Sept. 26, 1934, in Havre to Julius and Severina “Marie” (Possenti) Morelli. She was raised and educated in Havre, graduating from Havre High School. After hig...

MALTA Sheila Mae Simanton, 76, retired owner of the Malta Mercantile, died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007 at Phillips County Hospital of cancer. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a. m. Saturday at Malta Lutheran Church. Interment will be in the Malta Cemetery. Sheila was born Aug. 5, 1930, in Malta to Lochiel “Shingles” and Gladys (Tieden) Edwards. She graduated from the Malta High School in 1948 and attended Colorado Women's College. She returned to Malta and worked at the Malta Mercantile. She married Dwayne Simanton on Nov...

FORT BELKNAP Merrilyn (Black Tongue) Ricker, 36, died Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, at her residence in Havre from a drug overdose. Her funeral Mass will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Red Whip Center with burial following at the Crazy Boy Family Cemetery south of Snake Butte. There will be a feed at the Red Whip Center following the burial. Wake service will begin at 5 p.m. today at the Red Whip Center with rosary recited at 7 p.m. Merrilyn was born to Caroline (Mountain) Crazy Boy and Ervin Black Tongue on Nov. 17, 1970, in...

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

Edgar A. Dobrenz, 80, died Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2007, at the Veteran's Hospital in Helena of natural causes. Cremation will take place and his memorial service will be 1 p. m. Tuesday January 30, 2007 at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home with Pastor Brad Ulgenes officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship will follow the graveside service at the Eagles Club. Edgar was born May 24, 1926, in Sheboygan, Wis., to August and Frances (Le Barron) Dobrenz. He was raised and educated in... Full story

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...

CHINOOK Meredith Gilmore, 81, of Chinook, a retired Blaine County mosquito supervisor, died Friday, Jan. 19, 2007, at Peace Hospice in Great Falls due to natural causes. His funeral service will be held at 1 p. m. Tuesday in Saint Gabriel's Catholic Church with burial following in Kuper Memorial Cemetery with military honors. Meredith was born on May 7, 1925, in Eagleton to Pearl S. and Josie M. (Good) Gilmore. He was raised in the Missouri River Breaks and attended school in Dodson and Havre. Meredith served in the U.S. Army... Full story

Marion Rose Ekness, 76, died of cancer in Phoenix on Monday, Jan. 15, 2007. The memorial service for Marion will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at First Lutheran Church in Havre. She was born in Blaine County and lived the past 26 years in Havre. Marion was a loving wife, mother and grandmother as well as a caring sister and friend. She loved to be with her grandchildren, they brought so much joy and love into her life. She also enjoyed making gifts for them and always encouraged them in their endeavors. She worked as a nurse for...

SUNBURST Bonnie L. Dyrdahl, 73, a retired office manager from Sunburst, died Friday, Jan. 19, 2007, at the Marias Medical Center due to cancer. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Sunburst Cemetery. Bonnie was born June 30, 1933, at Big Sandy to Augustus and Alice (Flatness) Hobbs. The family moved to Box Elder in 1943, where she graduated from high school in 1951. Bonnie then moved to Shelby and married James Dyrdahl on Sept. 24, 1955 at Choteau. They moved from the family farm near Devon to Sunburst...

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... Full story

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

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... Full story

Marie Gibson, 78, of Havre died Wednesday Jan. 10, 2007, at the Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Cremation has taken place and her memorial service will be 2 p.m. Friday at the St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center immeidatley after the service. Interment will be held at the Hillcrest Mausoleum at a later time. Marie was born Feb. 21, 1928, in Havre to Jim and Babe (Stamey) Cowan. She had very fond memories of her childho... Full story

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....

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....

ROCKY BOY Frank Henry Sr., 85, of Rocky Boy died Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007, at the Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. His rosary service will began at 7 p. m. Wednesday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home with his funeral service scheduled for 11 a.m. today at St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Pete Guthneck officiating. Burial will follow at the Calvary section of Hill County Cemetery in Havre. Frank was born Sept. 6, 1921, at Box Elder to Charles and Angela Henry. Frank was raised and educated in Box Elder. He...