Obituaries

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...

Kurtiss J. (Kurt) Kezar, 51, of Havre died Dec. 21, 2006, at his home of apparent congestive heart failure. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at a later date. Kurtiss was born May 5, 1955, in Havre to Gerald (Bobo) and Marcia (Criner) Kezar. He grew up in Havre and Shelby. Kurtiss worked in the oil patch as a derrick hand for more than 20 years. He also worked for Baltrusch Construction in Havre as an asphalt raker. Kurt loved the outdoors. He enjoyed fishing whenever possible, and most of all, he...

Olive Marie “Dolly” VanValkenburg, 89, died Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Her funeral service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Fifth Avenue Christian Church with burial following in the Turner Cemetery at 3 p.m. with military honors. Dolly was born in Alameda, Saskatchewan, Canada, on Dec. 8, 1917, to William Denny and Hazel (Pierson) Hutton. The family homesteaded north of Turner and in 1920 Olive became a naturalized United States citizen. She attended the Petrie School...

Kimberly Elaine Duran Fuentez, 41, of Box Elder died Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006, at the Northern Montana Hospital from injuries she received in a motor vehicle crash on Dec. 26. Her wake service began at 4 p. m. Thursday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Box Elder with her funeral service to be held at 11 a. m. Saturday, also at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Father Nyquist will officiate. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery in Havre. Kim was born April 9, 1965, in Havre to Wilford (Leo) Duran and Glenda Salois. She was...

Olive Marie “Dolly” VanValkenburg, 89, died Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Her funeral service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Fifth Avenue Christian Church with burial following in the Turner Cemetery at 3 p.m. with military honors. Dolly was born in Alameda, Saskatchewan, Canada, on Dec. 8, 1917, to William Denny and Hazel (Pierson) Hutton. The family homesteaded north of Turner and in 1920 Olive became a naturalized United States citizen. She attended the Petrie School...

Kimberly Elaine Duran Fuentez, 41, of Box Elder died Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006, at the Northern Montana Hospital from injuries she received in a motor vehicle crash on Dec. 26. Her wake service began at 4 p. m. Thursday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Box Elder with her funeral service to be held at 11 a. m. Saturday, also at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Father Nyquist will officiate. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery in Havre. Kim was born April 9, 1965, in Havre to Wilford (Leo) Duran and Glenda Salois. She was...

Olive Marie “Dolly” VanValkenburg, 89, died Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Her funeral service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Fifth Avenue Christian Church with burial following in the Turner Cemetery at 3 p.m. with military honors. Dolly was born in Alameda, Saskatchewan, Canada, on Dec. 8, 1917, to William Denny and Hazel (Pierson) Hutton. The family homesteaded north of Turner and in 1920 Olive became a naturalized United States citizen. She attended the Petrie School...

Kimberly Elaine Duran Fuentez, 41, of Box Elder died Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006, at the Northern Montana Hospital from injuries she received in a motor vehicle crash on Dec. 26. Her wake service began at 4 p. m. Thursday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Box Elder with her funeral service to be held at 11 a. m. Saturday, also at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Father Nyquist will officiate. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery in Havre. Kim was born April 9, 1965, in Havre to Wilford (Leo) Duran and Glenda Salois. She was...

Olive Marie “Dolly” VanValkenburg, 89, died Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2006, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Her funeral service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Fifth Avenue Christian Church with burial following in the Turner Cemetery at 3 p.m. with military honors. Dolly was born in Alameda, Saskatchewan, Canada, on Dec. 8, 1917, to William Denny and Hazel (Pierson) Hutton. The family homesteaded north of Turner and in 1920 Olive became a naturalized United States citizen. She attended the Petrie School...

Billie Wayne Bryan, 78, of Chinook died peacefully on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2006, in Great Falls from brain cancer. His funeral service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Bill was born Sept. 13, 1928, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Dean and Helen (Elben) Bryan. He grew up and worked with his family at their fruit orchard in Valverda, Utah. Bill married the love of his life, Margaret Lee of Morgan, Utah on June 28, 1947 in Elko, Nevada. They had a double...

Billie Wayne Bryan, 78, of Chinook died peacefully on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2006, in Great Falls from brain cancer. His funeral service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Bill was born Sept. 13, 1928, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Dean and Helen (Elben) Bryan. He grew up and worked with his family at their fruit orchard in Valverda, Utah. Bill married the love of his life, Margaret Lee of Morgan, Utah on June 28, 1947 in Elko, Nevada. They had a double...

Mary K. Dawson, 59, died Dec. 24, 2006, at her residence in Chinook due to cancer. Her funeral service will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Assembly of God Church with burial following in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Mary was born on April 3, 1947, in Havre to Howard and Mina (Block) Dawson. She was raised in Chinook and graduated from Chinook High School in 1967. She lived all her life in Chinook and was involved with housekeeping and baby sitting. Mary's hobbies included listening to music, drawing pictures, crocheting,...

Arlene Marie Almeida, 70, of Havre died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006, at her home in Havre of natural causes. Cremation has taken place. Her graveside memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Highland Cemetery in Havre. Arlene was born June 29, 1936, in La Crosse, Wis., to Irving and Florence (Gile) Caulkins. She was raised and educated in Wisconsin. Arlene met John M. Almeida Jr. While he was stationed at Fort McCoy, Wis., and the couple married on July 5, 1952. They traveled extensively with the military and...

Mary K. Dawson, 59, died Dec. 24, 2006, at her residence in Chinook due to cancer. Her funeral service will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Assembly of God Church with burial following in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Mary was born on April 3, 1947, in Havre to Howard and Mina (Block) Dawson. She was raised in Chinook and graduated from Chinook High School in 1967. She lived all her life in Chinook and was involved with housekeeping and baby sitting. Mary's hobbies included listening to music, drawing pictures, crocheting,...

Arlene Marie Almeida, 70, of Havre died Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006, at her home in Havre of natural causes. Cremation has taken place. Her graveside memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Highland Cemetery in Havre. Arlene was born June 29, 1936, in La Crosse, Wis., to Irving and Florence (Gile) Caulkins. She was raised and educated in Wisconsin. Arlene met John M. Almeida Jr. While he was stationed at Fort McCoy, Wis., and the couple married on July 5, 1952. They traveled extensively with the military and...

CHINOOK Hilda M. Drugge, 98, died Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006, at the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home due to natural causes. Her funeral service will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Zion Lutheran Church with burial following in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Hilda was born on July 24, 1908, to Henry C. and Alvina (Struve) Hofeldt. She was raised on the family ranch and attended Bear Paw School and junior high school in Wisconsin. Hilda return to help with the family ranch. Later she worked in Davenport, Iowa, and Great Falls. She married...

HAYS Mildred Mary Christenson, 92, whose Gros Ventre name NEE-NA-AH-NAITHA means “Whirling Women,” died Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006, at her residence in Hays due to cancer. A wake service began Monday afternoon at the Mission Recreation Center with rosary recited at 7 p.m. Her funeral Mass was scheduled to be celebrated today at 11 a.m. at the Mission Recreation Center with burial at Mission Cemetery. Mildred was born to Robert and Annie (Walker) Mount on Nov. 11, 1914, at Hays. She was raised in the area, attending St. Pau...

CHINOOK Hilda M. Drugge, 98, died Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006, at the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home due to natural causes. Her funeral service will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Zion Lutheran Church with burial following in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Hilda was born on July 24, 1908, to Henry C. and Alvina (Struve) Hofeldt. She was raised on the family ranch and attended Bear Paw School and junior high school in Wisconsin. Hilda return to help with the family ranch. Later she worked in Davenport, Iowa, and Great Falls. She married...

HAYS Mildred Mary Christenson, 92, whose Gros Ventre name NEE-NA-AH-NAITHA means “Whirling Women,” died Thursday, Dec. 21, 2006, at her residence in Hays due to cancer. A wake service began Monday afternoon at the Mission Recreation Center with rosary recited at 7 p.m. Her funeral Mass was scheduled to be celebrated today at 11 a.m. at the Mission Recreation Center with burial at Mission Cemetery. Mildred was born to Robert and Annie (Walker) Mount on Nov. 11, 1914, at Hays. She was raised in the area, attending St. Pau...

Rita Mae Olszewski, 53, of Zap, N. D., died at her home due to natural causes. Her funeral service will be Wednesday evening in Zap, and rosary will be at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Harlem at 7 p. m. Thursday. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday in the Harlem High School Little Gymnasium. Burial will follow in the Harlem Cemetery. Rita was born Sept. 18, 1953, in Havre to Ed and Rose (Andrews) Grill. She was raised in Harlem and graduated from Harlem High School. Rita married Clarence Olszewski on New...

Esther Margaret Erickson, 82, longtime Chester area farmwife, died early Monday morning, Dec. 18, 2006, at the Liberty County Hospital in Chester, where she had been a patient for four days. Her funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Chester. Burial will be at the Chester Cemetery. A luncheon by the Altar Society will follow at the church. Esther was born April 9, 1924, on the Flesch family farm at Browns Valley, Minn., the fourth of nine children born to Edward and Hazel (Jummer)...

FARMINGTON, N.M. Gale E. Butterfield, 75, of Farmington, N. M., died of a heart attack Friday, Dec. 15, 2006, in Albuquerque N.M. A memorial service will be held in Farmington in early January 2007 to celebrate and honor the many joys and achievements of Gale's life. Gale was born on June 29, 1931, in Norfolk, Nebraska to Gordon and Mary Butterfield. Gale was raised in Norfolk, Neb. And Huron S.D. He received his bachelor's degree from the South Dakota School of Mines and his master's degree from the Missouri School of...

FORT BELKNAP Helen Agnes Shortman, 75, died at the Public Health Service Hospital in Fort Belknap Agency on Friday, Dec. 15, 2006, due to natural causes. A wake service will begin at 5p. m. today the Red Whip Center. Rosary services will at 7 p.m. on Monday evening. Her funeral Mass service will be held at 11a. m. Tuesday in the Red Whip Center with burial following at the Shortman Family Cemetery at Hays. Helen was born on Nov. 24, 1931, at Fort Belknap Agency to Phillip and Mary (Standing Bear) Shortman. She was raised in...

MALTA Harry D. Sawyer, 87, retired grocer and past owner of Harry's Confectionery in Malta, died of cancer Saturday, Dec. 16, 2006, at the Phillips County Hospital. His memorial service will be held at 11 a. m. Thursday at Adams Memorial Chapel in Malta. Cremation has taken place. Interment of his ashes will be in the Malta Cemetery. Harry was born Dec. 15, 1919, to Jim and Cora (Prentice) Sawyer of Malta. After graduating from Malta High School in 1938, he worked for Safeway. He married Gail Sandvig of Dodson in 1941. He...

Margaret R. Anderson, 86, of Havre died Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Cremation has taken place and her memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Van Orsdel United Methodist Church with Pastor Richard Rice officiating. Burial will follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the Eagles immediately after the services at the graveside. Margaret was born July 4, 1920, in Hopkins, Minn., to Carl and Rose (Weyh) Schmidt. As a young girl, she moved with...