Obituaries

CHINOOK Maurice Murray Harshman, 80, of Chinook died Dec. 12, 2006. His funeral service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Lloyd Sweet Auditorium at the Chinook High School with burial in the Kuper Memorial Cemetery with military honors. Maurice was born May 13, 1926, to Albert and Fern (Lowman) Harshman in Frankfort, Ind. At the age of 1, Maurice traveled with his family to Montana to homestead in the Chinook area. Maurice attended school in Chinook until the age of 17, when his desire to serve his country led him to...

Rose Mary Cech, 98, of Havre died Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Her funeral Mass will be held at 2p. m. today at St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery at Hill County Cemetery. A fellowship will be held at St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the services at the graveside. Rose was born Sept. 9, 1908, in Wimbelton, N.D., to Charles and Katherine (Mueller) Erbacher. As a young girl, she moved with her family to...

Jack J. Oliver, 83, died Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006, at Kalispell Regional Hospital of natural causes. His loving family was with him. Viewing for Jack will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. His funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Mark's Episcopal Church with Gail Wheatley as the celebrant. Burial with full military honors will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the Vets Club immediately after the services at the graveside. Jack was...

HAYS Mary M. Big Leggins, 66, whose Gros Ventre name was A-baa-too-si meaning “Guarder,” died Sunday, Dec. 10, 2006, at Northern Montana Hospital due to natural causes. A rosary will be held today at 5 p. m. in St. Paul's Catholic Church with a wake following at the Big Leggins' residence in Hays. The wake and rosary will continue at the Recreation Center late Wednesday afternoon. Her funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in St. Paul's Catholic Church with burial following in Mission Cemetery. Mary was born April 18,...

FORT BELKNAP Lewis Ray Quincy Shortman, 59, known as “Poto” to family and friends, a firefighter, welder and longtime employee of BIA Forestry, died Friday after a valiant fight against cancer. A wake service will begin at 5 p. m. Tuesday in the Recreation Center at Hays with rosary at 7 p. m. His funeral Mass will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the Recreation Center with burial following in the Shortman Family Cemetery at Hays. Lewis was born Dec. 6, 1947, at Fort Belknap Agency to Bill and Myrtle (Doney) Shortman. He was...

Kenneth Kimball Kuenzel, age 81, of Havre died Friday, Dec. 8, 2007, at Northern Montana Care Center. A memorial service will be held today at 2 p. m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Havre. Cremation will take with interment at Fort Harrison. Kenneth was born May 17, 1925, at Eagle Bend, Minn., to Henry and Laura Kuenzel. He married Wardeen in Havre in 1957. Kenneth was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. Survivors include his wife of 49 years, Wardeen; daughters, Lois Eyrse of Gig Harbor, Wash., Donnie (Rick) Deady...

FORT BELKNAP Floyd Marshall Jackson, 48, a firefighter for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, died Friday, Dec. 8, 2006, at home of natural causes after a lengthy illness. A wake began at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Red Whip Community Center at Fort Belknap. His funeral service was scheduled for 10 a.m. today at the Red Whip with burial in the Horn Family Cemetery. Floyd was born June 27, 1958, at Fort Belknap to Clinton and Pearl (Longknife) Jackson. He was raised and educated at Fort Belknap. Floyd worked many jobs in construction as...

FORT BELKNAP AGENCY Ada Nina Buckman Blackbird, 84, died Monday, Dec. 4, 2006, at the Northern Montana Care Center due to natural causes. Her funeral service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. in the Red Whip Center with burial following in the Wild Horse Buckman Cemetery. Her wake service will begin today at 5 p.m. in the Red Whip Center. Ada was born Aug. 11, 1922, near Lodge Pole to Richard and Carrie (Lemon) Snell on the family ranch. She was raised in the Little Warm and Lodge Pole area on the Snell Family Ranch, where she...

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. Rose Torkelson, 85 of Sioux Falls and formerly of Havre, died Monday, Dec. 4, 2006, at the Avera McKennan Hospital. Private services will be held at a later date. Rose was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Oscar; and son, Rodney. Survivors include her son, Terrance (Pam) Torkelson of Sioux Falls; granddaughter, Hollie; great-grandchildren, Hunter and Ariah; three siblings, Gordon Johnson of Grand Forks, N. D., Lloyd Johnson of Lakota, N. D., and Angie Halverson of Tolna, N.D.; and special family...

Amelia Catherine (Peters) Schaefer, 87, died Tuesday morning, Dec. 5, 2006 at Benefis East Medical Center in Great Falls. Amelia was born Jan. 8, 1919, at Conrad to Charles and Anna (Theis) Peters. Amelia grew up on the Peters' family farm in the Ledger community and received her early education at a nearby country school. She finished her formal education in Conrad, where she graduated from high school in 1937. She then attended beauty school for a short while. Amelia met her husband-tobe, Lawrence Schaefer, a Minnesota nati...

FORT BELKNAP AGENCY Ada Nina Buckman Blackbird, 84, died Monday, Dec. 4, 2006, at the Northern Montana Care Center due to natural causes. Her funeral service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. in the Red Whip Center with burial following in the Wild Horse Buckman Cemetery. Her wake service will begin today at 5 p.m. in the Red Whip Center. Ada was born Aug. 11, 1922, near Lodge Pole to Richard and Carrie (Lemon) Snell on the family ranch. She was raised in the Little Warm and Lodge Pole area on the Snell Family Ranch, where she...

Willard Purkett, 78, of Havre died Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006, at his home surrounded by his family of natural causes. Memorial services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. in Fifth Avenue Christian Church. Cremation has taken place. Willard was born Oct. 15, 1928, in Glasgow to Paul and Catherine (Gabrelick) Purkett. He attended schools in Glasgow and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was honorably discharged Oct. 28, 1947. Willard married Evelyn Huestis on Dec. 1, 1948, in Great Falls. Willard retired from Burlington...

Willard Purkett, 78, of Havre died Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006, at his home surrounded by his family of natural causes. Memorial services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. in Fifth Avenue Christian Church. Cremation has taken place. Willard was born Oct. 15, 1928, in Glasgow to Paul and Catherine (Gabrelick) Purkett. He attended schools in Glasgow and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was honorably discharged Oct. 28, 1947. Willard married Evelyn Huestis on Dec. 1, 1948, in Great Falls. Willard retired from Burlington...

Willard Purkett, 78, of Havre died Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2006, at his home surrounded by his family of natural causes. Memorial services will be Saturday at 11 a.m. in Fifth Avenue Christian Church. Cremation has taken place. Willard was born Oct. 15, 1928, in Glasgow to Paul and Catherine (Gabrelick) Purkett. He attended schools in Glasgow and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was honorably discharged Oct. 28, 1947. Willard married Evelyn Huestis on Dec. 1, 1948, in Great Falls. Willard retired from Burlington...

FORT BELKNAP Linda Marie Bacon, 42, a nurse's aide, died Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006, at the Northern Montana Care Center from complications of diabetes. Her wake and rosary will beging at 7 p.m. today at the Red Whip Community Center at Fort Belknap. Her funeral Mass will be held at 10 a. m. Thursday at the center with burial at the Hi-way Church Cemetery on U.S. Highway 2 east of Fort Belknap. Linda was born Feb. 8, 1964, in Havre, to Benny and Lorena (Buck) Bacon. She was raised and educated at Fort Belknap and New Jersey....

FORT BELKNAP Linda Marie Bacon, 42, a nurse's aide, died Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006, at the Northern Montana Care Center from complications of diabetes. Her wake and rosary will beging at 7 p.m. today at the Red Whip Community Center at Fort Belknap. Her funeral Mass will be held at 10 a. m. Thursday at the center with burial at the Hi-way Church Cemetery on U.S. Highway 2 east of Fort Belknap. Linda was born Feb. 8, 1964, in Havre, to Benny and Lorena (Buck) Bacon. She was raised and educated at Fort Belknap and New Jersey....

FORT BELKNAP Linda Marie Bacon, 42, a nurse's aide, died Sunday, Nov. 26, 2006, at the Northern Montana Care Center from complications of diabetes. Her wake and rosary will beging at 7 p.m. today at the Red Whip Community Center at Fort Belknap. Her funeral Mass will be held at 10 a. m. Thursday at the center with burial at the Hi-way Church Cemetery on U.S. Highway 2 east of Fort Belknap. Linda was born Feb. 8, 1964, in Havre, to Benny and Lorena (Buck) Bacon. She was raised and educated at Fort Belknap and New Jersey....

BOZEMAN John “Melvin” Grant, 87, died on Nov. 17, 2006. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Dokken-Nelson Sunset Chapel in Bozeman. He was born Sept. 17, 1919, to Joseph W. and Mary (Levey) Grant, the middle of three boys. The family came to Montana and settled in the Saco-Hinsdale area to farm and raise sugar beets. Mel's love for horses started at a very early age and continued to his dying day. He was always his happiest in the saddle. Melvin served in the 9th Armored Division as an MP during World War...

GREAT FALLS Walter H. Evens, 78, of Billings died surrounded by his family Thursday, Nov. 16, 2006, after a long battle with heart and lung disease. A memorial service and gathering will be held at 11 a. m. Tuesday at St. Luke's Catholic Church in Great Falls.A private family memorial will be held in Melrose, Minn., at a later date. Walter was born March 30, 1928, in St. Cloud, Minn., and later moved to Montana where he lived in Cut Bank, Great Falls and Havre. He had resided in Billings the past two years with his family....

DODSON Leslie Edwin “Killer” Kill Eagle, 75, a rancher, died Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2006, at a Billings hospital of natural causes. His wake service will begin at 7 p.m. today at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Dodson. His funeral Mass will be held at 11 a. m. Saturday at the Dodson High School Gym. Burial will be in the Ereaux Family Cemetery at Dodson. Les was born Feb. 10, 1931, at Fort Belknap Agency and was raised in the Lodge Pole area. He went to the Kirkaldie School in Lodge Pole and also attended VoTech at Northern Mon...

Gloria M. Almas, 88, of Havre died Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2006, at her home of natural causes. Her funeral service will be 10 a.m. Saturday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Havre. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the services at the graveside. Gloria was born Nov. 18, 1917, in Buffalo, N.Y., to Frank and Beatrice (Kraus) Math. She moved with her parents to Chicago, Ill., and Evansville...

CHINOOK Denys M. Pomeroy, 57, died Monday, Nov. 13, 2006, at Saint Patrick's Hospital in Missoula after a courageous fight with pancreatic cancer His funeral service will be Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Chinook Assembly of God Church with burial following in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Denys was born on Oct. 11, 1949, in Havre to Earl and Elsa (Olson) Pomeroy. He graduated from high school in Chinook in 1967. He married Lois Shennum in 1974 with whom he had four children. He ranched most of his life on a ranch south of Chinook....

GREAT FALLS Jack Gardiner Jr., 72, of Great Falls, a retired video business operator, died Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006, of natural causes at a Great Falls hospital. At his request, no services are planned. Cremation has taken place under the direction of O'Connor Funeral Home. Burial will take place at a later date in Kuper Cemetery at Chinook. Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Gardiner; and stepson, Steven Lynn Ness. Survivors include his daughter, Vikki Gardiner of Great Falls; stepdaughter, Marcia Durward of Havre;...

Eileen Wolery, age 80, died of natural causes early Monday morning, Nov. 13, 2006, at the Liberty County Hospital in Chester. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a. m. Monday at Fifth Avenue Christian Church in Havre. A luncheon will follow. A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m. Monday at Turner Cemetery in Turner. Hazel Eileen Wolf was born Jan. 18, 1926, in Joplin to Henry and Irene (Granger) Wolf. Eileen received her formal education in Joplin, where she graduated from high school in 1944. She went to Seattle for...

Lynn Elwood Taplin, 65, of Havre, retired railroad conductor, died Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2006, of complications from diabetes at Northern Montana Hospital. Friends and family are invited to share their stories and memories of Lynn at the VFW Club in Havre on Thursday from 5 to 8 p. m. A meal will be provided. Lynn was born Aug. 4, 1941, in Butte to James Elwood Taplin and Mary Ellen (Seery) Aune. He graduated from Dixon High School in 1959 and went to work as a gandy dancer on the railroad, fixing and repairing the track. He...