Obituaries

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...

HAYS George R. “Chinky” Doney, 78, died Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, at Fort Belknap Indian Health Center due to natural causes. His funeral Mass was scheduled for today at 10 a.m. at St. Paul's Catholic Church with burial following at Doney Owl Head Mountain Cemetery with military honors. His wake began Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Mission Recreation Center. His rosary was Monday at 7 p.m. at Mission Recreation Center. Chinky was born Sept. 22, 1928, to Dave and Ernestine (Fleury) Doney on Sage Brush Flats in Hays. Chinky attended St....

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...

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...

HAYS George R. “Chinky” Doney, 78, died Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, at Fort Belknap Indian Health Center due to natural causes. His funeral Mass was scheduled for today at 10 a.m. at St. Paul's Catholic Church with burial following at Doney Owl Head Mountain Cemetery with military honors. His wake began Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Mission Recreation Center. His rosary was Monday at 7 p.m. at Mission Recreation Center. Chinky was born Sept. 22, 1928, to Dave and Ernestine (Fleury) Doney on Sage Brush Flats in Hays. Chinky attended St....

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...

Chester Marion Rochowicz, 75, died Monday, Jan. 22, 2007, at Sweet Memorial Nursing Home of natural causes. A memorial Mass will be held in Chester's honor on Saturday at 5 p.m. at St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. A fellowship will be held at the North Central Senior Citizens Center, 2 Second St. W., Havre, immediatley after the service. Chester was born Feb. 3, 1931, in Adena, Ohio, to Zegmout and Mary (Sgymanski) Rochowicz. He graduated from high school and then entered into the U.S. Air...

BRADENTON, FlA. Diane Allen Phelps, 73, of Bradenton, Fla., and a former Box Elder resident, died Monday, Jan. 15, 2007, in Bradenton. A memorial service was held Jan. 20 in Bradenton. Diane was born Feb. 18, 1933, in Minneapolis, Minn. She was raised in both Minnesota and Box Elder. She graduated from Box Elder High School in 1951. She served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Diane married Leonard Ashley Phelps on Feb. 14, 1953, in San Antonio, Texas. Survivors include her husband, Ashley Phelps of Bradenton;... 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...

Hugh DeWinter Jr., 60, of Havre died Sunday, Jan. 21, 2007, at his home of natural causes. Cremation has taken place and Hugh's memorial service will be held at 1 p. m. Friday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel with Pastor Michael O'Hearn officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the V. F.W. Club immediately after the services. Hugh was born Sept. 30, 1946, in Havre to Hugh and Gina (Henstra) DeWinter Sr. He was raised and educated in Big Sandy. In 1966, he entered into the U.S. Navy. He was honorably discharged... Full story

Kenneth E. Christopherson Jr., 74, left his family and friends on January 19, 2007 at St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings. Services will be held at 2 p.m. today at the Smith Downtown Chapel, 925 S. 27 St. with the Rev. Don Dillavou will be officiating. Cremation has taken place. Interment will be held at a later date in Havre. Kenny was born the oldest of five to Mabel and Kenneth Christopherson Sr. On March 9, 1932, in Havre. He was raised in Havre and graduated from Havre High School in 1950. He began his long career with... Full story

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...

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...

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...

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...

BIG SANDY Grace Georges Petronilla (Diacon) Sanford, 71, long-time resident of the Missouri River Breaks on the Sanford Farm, died Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007, in Great Falls due to natural causes. Her funeral Mass service will be held at 10 a. m. Saturday in Saint Margaret Mary's Catholic Church in Big Sandy with burial following at 2 p.m. in the Alice Nash Memorial Cemetery on the Lone Tree Bench. Rosary and vigil services will begin today at 7 p.m. in St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church. Grace was born Aug. 10, 1935, north of...

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

CHEYENNE, Wyo. Howard M. Mellblom, 83, of Cheyenne, Wyo., died Saturday, Dec. 16, 2006, in Cheyenne. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Howard was born Feb. 2, 1923, in Havre to Victor and Thora (Kittelsrud) Mellblom. He attended Northern Montana College in Havre and in 1942 enlisted in the Naval Air Cadet program earning his wings in 1944. He was assigned to fighter training and flew as a member of the Hellcat Squadron VF 151. After World War II, Howard returned to Havre and volunteered for active duty during... 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...

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...

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....