Obituaries

Howard P. Miller, 76, of Havre died Sunday, Aug. 6, 2006, at the Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Cremation will take place and his memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Messiah Lutheran Church with Pastor Michael Dahle officiating. Military honors will follow outside the church on the front lawn. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the Eagles Club after the memorial service. Howard was born March 19, 1930, in Laurel to Peter and Frieda (Hilderman) Miller. He was raised and educated in Laurel...

ROCKY BOY Gilbert Belgarde, 71, died Monday, Aug. 7, 2006, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. His wake service will began Monday at 4 p. m. at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church at Rocky Boy and his funeral was to begin at 11 a.m. today at the church. Burial will follow at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. Gilbert was born May 3, 1935, to Elizabeth Denny Belgarde and the late Jack Gopher. He was adopted by his stepfather, Louis “Happy Jack” Belgarde. Gilbert was raised by his late grandparents Alex Denny and Louisa Gar...

GREAT FALLS Rhonda Marie Nelson, 41, of Great Falls, a group home manager, died of unknown causes Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2006, at her home. A service will be held at Schnider Funeral Home today at 3 p.m. Rhonda is survived by her mother, Anna E. Ramsay of Havre; sister, Kristina Ramsay of Camas, Wash.; and brother, Robert Rowland of Vancouver, Wash. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements....

Virgil Cross, 86, of Havre died Saturday, Aug. 5, 2006, at Northern Montana Care Center of complications of Alzheimer's disease. A funeral service will be held at 10 a. m. Wednesday at Fifth Avenue Christian Church with burial following in Highland Cemetery. Virgil was born June 8, 1920, to Lizzie and Irl Cross in Warland, where he attended the first two years of elementary school. He moved with his family to Prosser, Wash., where he completed the eighth grade. He graduated from Denton High School in 1939, while living with...

John Jacob Bauer, 80, a retired maintenance worker of Havre died of natural causes at his home Saturday, Aug. 5, 2006. A wake service will start at 3 p.m. today at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church. A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. at the church. His funeral service will be held at 9 a.m. at the church with Father Pete Guthneck officiating. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery in Havre. John was born March 8, 1926, at Culbertson to John and Justine (Houle) Bauer. He attended school in Brockton and graduated from Brockton...

Efthimios “Tim” Gribas, 73, of Havre died Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2006, after a battle with leukemia at the Peace Hospice of Montana Center in Great Falls, surrounded by family. A prayer vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel. Viewing will be held 2 to 4:30 p.m. Friday and from 1 to 4 p. m. Saturday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Tim's funeral Mass will be held at 11 a. m. Monday at St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial will follow at the Cal...

Aden E. Ward, 84, of Chester died at the Chester hospital on the early morning of Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2006. A funeral service will be held at 11 a. m. Saturday at the Chester United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at the Chester Cemetery. Aden was born Jan. 8, 1922 at Chester to Les and Laura (Martell) Ward. Aden grew up on the family homestead south of Chester and received his early education at the Erickson Country School. He finished his schooling in Chester where he graduated from Chester High School in 1941. Aden...

HAYS/HAVRE Martha “First Singer” Buck, 83, a homemaker, died Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2006, at Northern Montana Care center of natural causes. A wake and rosary will be held at 7 p.m. today at St. Paul's Mission in Hays. Her funeral Mass will be held at 11 a. m. Friday at St. Paul's Mission with interment in the St. Paul's Mission Cemetery. Martha Buck was born April 12, 1923, at Fort Belknap to Joseph and Clementine (Woman's Dress) Nez Perce. She was raised and educated in Hays and Haskell Indian School in Lawrence, Kan. She liv...

CHESTER K. Grant Jeppesen, 78, of Chester died early Monday morning, July 31, 2006, at his home. His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chester. Burial will follow at the Chester Cemetery. Grant was born March 25, 1928, at Great Falls to Karl and Lillian (Houske) Jeppesen. He grew up in the Chester community and received his education here, graduating from Chester High School in 1946. He continued his schooling at Bozeman, where he attended college for two years, then returned...

ROCKY BOY Juanita Lee Lopez, 54, of Rocky Boy died Sunday, July 30, 2006, at St. Patrick's Hospital in Missoula due to complications from Parkinson's syndrome. Her wake service began Tuesday at 4 p.m. at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church with her funeral service scheduled for 10 a. m. today, also at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church with Father Pete Guthneck officiating. Burial was to follow at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. Juanita was born Jan. 2, 1952, in Fontana, Calif., to Arnold and Mary (La Fromboise) Lopez. She was raised and educat...

CHESTER K. Grant Jeppesen, 78, of Chester died early Monday morning, July 31, 2006, at his home. His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chester. Burial will follow at the Chester Cemetery. Grant was born March 25, 1928, at Great Falls to Karl and Lillian (Houske) Jeppesen. He grew up in the Chester community and received his education here, graduating from Chester High School in 1946. He continued his schooling at Bozeman, where he attended college for two years, then returned...

TURNER Dean Ransom Van Voast, 82, of Turner died Saturday July 29, 2006, in a farm accident at Turner. The service will be held at 10:30 a. m. Thursday in the Turner High School gymnasium. Dean was born April 21, 1924, in Turner to Jess and Cora (Calvert) Van Voast. Dean graduated from Turner High School in 1942 and remained close friends with many of his classmates. He married his life-long dance partner, Rose Olafson, on Aug. 17, 1947, in Havre, and they danced through life with Rose's twin sister, Ruth, and her husband,...

TURNER Dean Ransom Van Voast, 82, of Turner died Saturday July 29, 2006, in a farm accident at Turner. The service will be held at 10:30 a. m. Thursday in the Turner High School gymnasium. Dean was born April 21, 1924, in Turner to Jess and Cora (Calvert) Van Voast. Dean graduated from Turner High School in 1942 and remained close friends with many of his classmates. He married his life-long dance partner, Rose Olafson, on Aug. 17, 1947, in Havre, and they danced through life with Rose's twin sister, Ruth, and her husband,...

CHINOOK Wilburt Seaman, 76, of Chinook died Thursday, July 27, 2006, at Northern Montana Hospital in Havre after a courageous battle with cancer. A funeral service was scheduled for 10 a.m. today at the Assembly of God Church with burial following in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Wilburt was born Jan. 9, 1930, in Zurich to Edward and Olive (Cline) Seaman. When Wilburt was a young boy, his family bought a farm 10 miles north of Chinook, where he lived and farmed most of his young life. He married Rita Beard on April 12, 1952, in...

ROCKY BOY James Joseph Sangrey, 22, died early Thursday morning, July 27, 2006, in a motor vehicle accident just outside of Box Elder. His wake service will begin at 2 p. m. today with his funeral service 10 a.m Saturday, all at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church with Father Pete Guthneck officiating. Burial will follow at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. James was born Oct. 23, 1983, in Havre to Vincent “Charlie” Eagleman and Dawn Marie Sangrey. He was raised by his grandmother Jeannette Demontiney. James attended schools at Wahpeton Ind...

John A. “Rocky” Rockstroh, 57, of Havre died Tuesday, July 25, 2006, at his home due to health complications of emphysema. Cremation will take place and his graveside memorial service will be 2 p.m. Monday at Calvary Cemetery. Burial will follow. John was born July 14, 1949, in Havre to Patricia Envold. As an infant, he was adopted by Albert and Irene (Beck) Rockstroh. He was raised and educated in Havre and attended schools here. Rocky was employed at the Oxford Bar for seven years. He enjoyed playing poker and pool. He als...

CHINOOK Leo W. “Sonny” Gist, 75, died Tuesday, July 25, 2006, at Sweet Home in Chinook from natural causes. A memorial service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Cremation has taken place. Sonny was born Dec. 30, 1930, in Havre to Leo V. and Pauline H. (Boehmer) Gist. He attended country school, Chinook schools and graduated from Big Sandy High School in 1947. Sonny was involved with the Gist Family Ranch on Bullwhacker Creek, Cow Creek in the Missouri Breaks. Sonny participated in rodeos as sad...

CHESTER Herbert “Herb” Fenger, 88, a longtime Lothairarea farmer, died of natural causes Thursday morning, July 27, 2006, at the Liberty County Nursing Home in Chester. His funeral will be 10 a.m. Monday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chester. Burial will follow at the Chester Cemetery. Herb was born on Jan. 29, 1918. He grew up and received his education in north-central Montana. He married Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Benjamin in 1941. They farmed north of Lothair until 1979, when they retired and purchased a home near Po...

Lloyd K. Clark, 85, of Havre died Wednesday, July 26, 2006, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Cremation has taken place and a graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Highland Cemetery with Pastor Richard Rice officiating. Interment will follow. Lloyd was born Dec. 18, 1920, in Hamilton to LeRoy and Edna (Adair) Clark. He was raised and educated in Hamilton and graduated from high school there. He enlisted in the United States Navy May 12, 1944, and was honorably discharged Feb. 9, 1946. He...

Annunciata Mary (Shortman) Anderson, 79, died at the Martha and Mary's Nursing Home in Poulsbo, Wash., on Wednedsay, July 26, 2006. A viewing and memorial for her will be held Wednesday from 3 to 7 p.m. at the Columbia Funeral Home, 4567 Rainier Ave. South, Seattle, Wash. Call (877) 670-2141. Her graveside funeral will be next Friday at Willamette Memorial Cemetery in Albany, Ore., at 2 p.m. Ann was born to John Baptist Shortman and Josephine TheBoy on April 13, 1927. Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Raymond...

ROCKY BOY James Joseph Sangrey, 22, died early Thursday morning, July 27, 2006, in a motor vehicle accident just outside of Box Elder. His wake service will begin at 2 p. m. today with his funeral service 10 a.m Saturday, all at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church with Father Pete Guthneck officiating. Burial will follow at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. James was born Oct. 23, 1983, in Havre to Vincent “Charlie” Eagleman and Dawn Marie Sangrey. He was raised by his grandmother Jeannette Demontiney. James attended schools at Wahpeton Ind...

John A. “Rocky” Rockstroh, 57, of Havre died Tuesday, July 25, 2006, at his home due to health complications of emphysema. Cremation will take place and his graveside memorial service will be 2 p.m. Monday at Calvary Cemetery. Burial will follow. John was born July 14, 1949, in Havre to Patricia Envold. As an infant, he was adopted by Albert and Irene (Beck) Rockstroh. He was raised and educated in Havre and attended schools here. Rocky was employed at the Oxford Bar for seven years. He enjoyed playing poker and pool. He als...

CHINOOK Leo W. “Sonny” Gist, 75, died Tuesday, July 25, 2006, at Sweet Home in Chinook from natural causes. A memorial service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Cremation has taken place. Sonny was born Dec. 30, 1930, in Havre to Leo V. and Pauline H. (Boehmer) Gist. He attended country school, Chinook schools and graduated from Big Sandy High School in 1947. Sonny was involved with the Gist Family Ranch on Bullwhacker Creek, Cow Creek in the Missouri Breaks. Sonny participated in rodeos as sad...

CHESTER Herbert “Herb” Fenger, 88, a longtime Lothairarea farmer, died of natural causes Thursday morning, July 27, 2006, at the Liberty County Nursing Home in Chester. His funeral will be 10 a.m. Monday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chester. Burial will follow at the Chester Cemetery. Herb was born on Jan. 29, 1918. He grew up and received his education in north-central Montana. He married Mary Elizabeth “Betty” Benjamin in 1941. They farmed north of Lothair until 1979, when they retired and purchased a home near Po...

A memorial for Steven Lee Gooch, 49, of Billings, formerly of Havre, who died Nov. 13 at his home surrounded by his family, will be held at 4 p. m. Saturday at Beaver Creek Park. Gooch is survived by his common-law wife, Helen Elmore; children, Jeffrey Gooch, Linda Gooch and Robin Elmore; mother, Lena Gooch of California; father, John Gooch of Arizona; sisters, SuAnn and Jackie; brothers, Mark Gooch Sr., Wayne Gooch, Danny Gooch and Johnny Gooch; four grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by...