Obituaries

PLENTYWOOD - Roy Welter, 61, of Plentywood died just before noon Saturday, Feb. 25, 2006, at Sheridan Memorial Nursing Home. A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Fulkerson Memorial Chapel in Plentywood, with interment of cremated remains in Plentywood Cemetery to be held at a later date. Roy was born in Plentywood on Oct. 22, 1944, to Tom and Marge (Murphy) Welter. After graduation from Plentywood High School in 1962, Roy enlisted in the Montana National Guard. After his basic training at Fort Ord, Calif.,...

BIG SANDY - Myrtle Anna Dyrland Jappe, 88, died Saturday, Feb. 25, 2006, due to complications with diabetes at the Big Sandy Medical Center's long-term care facility. Her funeral service will be held at Christ Lutheran Church in Big Sandy at 11 a.m. Wednesday with the Rev. Jeff Stoopes officiating. Burial will follow at the Big Sandy Cemetery. Survivors include her sons, Larry (Marj) Jappe of Havre, Lenard (Nancy) Jappe of Big Sandy and Monte Jappe of Havre; daughters, Joyce (Merle) Olson of Chinook and Marla (Jim) Ray of...

ROCKY BOY - Patrick Chief Stick, 80, of Box Elder, passed away Friday at the Big Sandy Nursing Home. A wake service began Saturday at the Rocky Boy Senior Citizens Center. A funeral service was to be held at 11 a.m. today at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church with the Rev. Pete Guthneck officiating. Burial was to be in the Rocky Boy Cemetery. He was born March 23, 1925, at Rocky Boy to Grant and Bad Looking Big Wind Chief Stick. He attended school at Rocky Boy and Flandrau S.D. He joined the U.S. Army in July of 1945 and served... Full story

FORT BELKNAP AGENCY - Donald Edward “Turkey” Birdtail, 70, died Thursday, Feb. 23, 2006, at Benefis East Hospital in Great Falls due to respiratory failure. Wake and rosary were to be held Sunday evening in the Red Whip Center. A funeral Mass was to be held today at 11 a.m. in the Red Whip Center with burial following at the Birdtail Family Cemetery at Lodge Pole. He was born on June 17, 1935, at the Birdtail residence near Lodge Pole to James and Alvina (Morsette) Birdtail Sr. Midwife Ghost Calf delivered Donald. D... Full story

POWELL, Wyo. - A memorial service for Charles L. “Chuck” McCauley Sr., 66, of Powell, Wyo., was held Feb. 25, 2006, at the Eagles Club in Powell. Chuck suffered a massive heart attack while working in Rawlins for McGarvin Moberly Construction. Chuck was born in Riverside, Calif., to Stella and Thomas McCauley. The family moved to Montana and resided in Ronan, where he graduated in 1958. He served in the Army two years. Chuck worked in the trucking industry, both long haul and road construction. He and his wife, Judy, r...

ROCKY BOY - Jon Ralph “Cubby” Morsette, 52, of Rocky Boy, whose name Nah-nah-tea wak-yak-win means Heat Wave Goes Out, died Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, at his home of cancer. A wake began Monday at Rocky Boy Catholic Church with rosary at 7 p.m. The funeral was scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Rocky Boy Catholic Church with burial at Rocky Boy Cemetery. Cubby was born June 12, 1953, to Nadine and John Morsette in Fort Belknap. He lived in Rocky Boy his entire life. Cubby graduated from Box Elder High School in 1971. He r...

ROCKY BOY - Jon Ralph “Cubby” Morsette, 52, of Rocky Boy, whose name Nah-nah-tea wak-yak-win means Heat Wave Goes Out, died Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, at his home of cancer. A wake began Monday at Rocky Boy Catholic Church with rosary at 7 p.m. The funeral was scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Rocky Boy Catholic Church with burial at Rocky Boy Cemetery. Cubby was born June 12, 1953, to Nadine and John Morsette in Fort Belknap. He lived in Rocky Boy his entire life. Cubby graduated from Box Elder High School in 1971. He r... Full story

ROCKY BOY - Jon Ralph “Cubby” Morsette, 52, of Rocky Boy, whose name Nah-nah-tea wak-yak-win means Heat Wave Goes Out, died Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, at his home of cancer. A wake began Monday at Rocky Boy Catholic Church with rosary at 7 p.m. The funeral was scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Rocky Boy Catholic Church with burial at Rocky Boy Cemetery. Cubby was born June 12, 1953, to Nadine and John Morsette in Fort Belknap. He lived in Rocky Boy his entire life. Cubby graduated from Box Elder High School in 1971. He r... Full story

FARIBAULT, Minn. - Dale Striker, age 89, of Faribault, Minn., died Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006, at his home. A funeral service will be held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at the Celebration of Life Assembly in Faribault with the Rev. Craig Breimhorst, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Faribault, officiating. Interment will be held at the Meadow Ridge Memorial Park in Faribault. Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home in Faribault on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Wednesday at the church for one hour prior to the...

Lorraine D. Nordrum, 78, of Havre died Friday, Feb. 17, 2006, at Northern Montana Care Center after a lengthy illness. Cremation has taken place. Her memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Messiah Lutheran Church with Rev. Michael Dahle officiating. A time of fellowship will be held at the church immediately after the memorial service. Lorraine was born Oct. 31, 1927, in Racine, Wis., to Henry and Margaret Olson. She lived in California, then was informed that Arnold Nordrum had returned from Korea, so she... Full story

POST FALLS, Idaho - Curtis O. Hanson, 82, of Post Falls, Idaho, died Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006, at his home following a lengthy illness. Follow-ing cremation, his ashes will be interred with those of his wife, daughter and son at the Hillcrest Lawn Mausoleum in Great Falls. No services are planned at his request, but a revelry and celebration of his life characteristically suggested by him will be announced at a later date. He was born May 20, 1923, in Malta to Claude and Emma Hanson. He spent his youth on the Hi-Line, attending...

LOMPOC, Calif. - Francis A. “Sam” Burchard, 80, of Lompoc, Calif., died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006, at a Lompoc care facility. A family graveside service will be held at a later date in Highland Cemetery in Havre with burial of his ashes at his parents' grave site. Sam was born Sept. 7, 1923, in Havre to Charles and Anna (DuBois) Burchard. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II on the USS Bunker Hill. Sam moved from Glasgow to Santa Maria, Calif., in 1965 to work with the civil service at a Vandenberg Air Force B...

BREMERTON, Wash. - Frances Leona Bitz, 79, died Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006, in Bremerton. A memorial service will be held Friday at the Vintage in Bremerton. A graveside service will be held at Highland Cemetery in Havre in the spring. Frances was born Nov. 14, 1926, at Havre to Christ and Leona (Kramlich) Gomke. She attended school at Kremlin. She married Elmer Norstrom. They had two sons and later divorced. In 1965, she married Daniel D. Bitz. They divorced. Fran started her employment at the Elks Club in Havre. She also worked...

BREMERTON, Wash. - Frances Leona Bitz, 79, died Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006, in Bremerton. A memorial service will be held Friday at the Vintage in Bremerton, A graveside service will be held at Highland Cemetery in Havre in the spring. Frances was born Nov. 14, 1926, at Havre to Christ and Leona (Kramlich) Gomke. She attended school at Kremlin. She married Elmer Norstrom. They had two sons and later divorced. In 1965, she married Daniel D. Bitz. They divorced. Fran started her employment at the Elks Club in Havre. She also worked...

MALTA - Tim N. Carlson, 54, a lineman, of Malta died Saturday, February 11, 2006 at the hospital in Malta of cancer. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Adams Memorial Chapel. Timothy Nels Carlson was born in Malta to Sam and Jenny Carlson on Dec. 17, 1951. He attended school in Malta and graduated in 1970. After graduating, he worked for Big Flat Electric until 1974, than he worked for various line companies until he settled down with his friends and brothers at Red Rock Power in 1990. He married Rita M...

STEVENSVILLE - Gary Wayne Ashmore, 57, of Stevensville died Friday, Feb. 10, 2006, in a car accident while on a fishing trip at Lake Roosevelt, Wash. Friends are invited to toast Gary with his own special blend on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Mary's Family Center, 400 Mission Street, Stevensville. Gary was born on June 15, 1948 to Leslie “Bud” and Vera Ashmore in Ulen, Minn. His early years were spent on the family farm, milking cows. One of his favorite stories was when he was left in charge of the farm chores while... Full story

CHESTER - Russel John Wicks, 54, died Thursday, Feb. 9, 2006, at his home. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chester. Cremation will follow. Russ was born Jan. 13, 1952, at Havre to Walter and Pearl (Jabes) Wicks. Russ grew up in the Chester community and received his education here, graduating from Chester High School in 1970. He continued his schooling at Helena Vo-Tech and Northern Montana College in Havre, then began farming with his folks near Chester. Russ married Sta... Full story

BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Emilio Joseph “Emil” Morelli, 88, of Burnsville, Minn., died at his home Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2006, with his loving family at his side. Viewing will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, followed by a funeral Mass at 11a.m. at Mary Mother of the Church in Burnsville. Emil was born in Havre to Caesar and Julia Morelli. He was raised and educated in Havre, as was his wife, Margaret Elizabeth (Jacob). He graduated from Havre High School in 1935. Emil retired in St. Paul, Minn., as assistant regional commissioner of t...

ROCKY BOY - Sharon Vern (Sutherland) Zampich, 63, died Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, from injuries she received from a motor vehicle accident north of Great Falls. A wake service will begin at 11 a.m. today and continue through Friday at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Rocky Boy. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church with the Rev. Arden Barden officiating. Burial will follow at Rocky Boy Cemetery. Sharon was born on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation on Sept. 8, 1942, to Angeline and Pete Sutherland. She... Full story

ATLANTA - Jill Rene Gaspard Shaughnessy, 41, of Kennesaw, Ga., died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006, in Atlanta. A funeral Mass will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Paul Catholic Church, 3131 Hyde Park Road, Pensacola, Fla., with the Rev. Doug Halsema officiating. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel with a rosary to be prayed at 5 p.m. Jill was born July 20, 1964, in Havre. Jill graduated from W.S. Woodham High School in 1982 and from the University of Florida in 1987 as a proud Gator. Jill...

HELENA - Marion Sticka Loveland, 85, of Helena died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006, at the Cooney Convalescent Home of natural causes. A memorial service will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in East Helena with the Rev. Robert Miller officiating. A second memorial service will be held at a later date in Havre with interment to follow in Highland Cemetery in Havre. She was born in Havre on February 15, 1920 to Anton and Ida Sticka. She graduated from Havre High School in l938. She was raised on the... Full story

BREAUX BRIDGE, La. - James “Jamey” or “J.T.” Weatherly, 27, of Breaux Bridge, La., died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006, at St. Martin Hospital in Breaux Bridge. Funeral services were scheduled for 11 a.m. today at First Baptist Church of Breaux Bridge. Interment will be in St. Bernard Cemetery No. 2 in Breaux Bridge. Jamey was born in Havre on Aug. 16, 1978. He spent most of his adult life in the Breaux Bridge area. He was a jockey at Evangeline Downs Race Track; he had a real love for horses. He enjoyed Sunday barbecues wi...

BREAUX BRIDGE, La. - James “Jamey” or “J.T.” Weatherly, 27, of Breaux Bridge, La., died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006, at St. Martin Hospital in Breaux Bridge. Funeral services were scheduled for 11 a.m. today at First Baptist Church of Breaux Bridge. Interment will be in St. Bernard Cemetery No. 2 in Breaux Bridge. Jamey was born in Havre on Aug. 16, 1978. He spent most of his adult life in the Breaux Bridge area. He was a jockey at Evangeline Downs Race Track; he had a real love for horses. He enjoyed Sunday barbecues wi... Full story

MESA, Ariz. - Ricky Myles Simonson, 43, of Mesa, Ariz., died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2006, due to heart disease. A memorial will be held at a later date. Ricky was born Oct. 4, 1962, in Libby. The family moved to California in 1962. Ricky loved the ocean and everthing to do with it. In 1979, the family moved back to Montana. Ricky worked at several jobs. Ricky met and married Connie Ahlert, and they moved back to California. They had one daughter and later divorced. Ricky got into the plumbing trade and worked at it ever since....

Wally F. Rathbone, 81, of Havre died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Cremation has taken place. His memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. John Chapman officiating. A private family interment will be held at a later time. A fellowship luncheon will be held immediately after the service in the church Fellowship Hall. Wally was born June 12, 1924, in Harlem to Fay and Cora (Dolven) Rathbone. He lived in Harlem until he completed the... Full story