Obituaries

VALLEY SPRINGS, Calif. - Hazel B. Bremer, 83, of Valley Springs, Calif., died Thursday, April 20, 2006, at Mark Twain St. Joseph's Hospital in San Andreas, Calif. A memorial service was held Monday morning at Foothill Lutheran Church in Valley Springs. Visitation in Montana will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Croxford Funeral Home and Crematory in Great Falls. A Montana service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. John Lutheran Church in Fairfield with burial in Sunset Hills Cemetery in Fairfield. Haz...

John “Jack” Conrad Fakler, 64, of Havre died Tuesday, April 18, 2006, at his residence due to cancer. His memorial service will be held at the Veteran's Memorial Cemetery in Helena, the date and time to be announced at a later time. Jack was born Oct. 20, 1941, to John and Clara (Wassman) Fakler in Dickinson, N.D. He was raised and educated in Beach, N.D., and graduated from high school in 1959. He attended business school for one year and then went to work for Sears as a salesman in Glendive, Glasgow and Williston, N.D....

Winnifred Virginia Borchers, 87, died Tuesday, April 18, 2006, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Her funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel with Pastor Tim Zerger officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Winnifred was born Feb. 5, 1919, in Grand Forks, N.D. On July 14, 1947, she married Gordon L. Borchers in Missoula. They had two children. She moved with her husband to Havre in 1956. She was very active for many years in her church and supported...

BIG SANDY - Leah M. Dixon, 89, of Big Sandy died Monday, April 17, 2006, at the Big Sandy Nursing Home of natural causes. Cremation has taken place. A graveside service will be held at a later time. Leah was born in Pleasant Valley area north of Fort Benton to Elizabeth and Howard Meeks. She attended high school in Fort Benton and teacher's college in Dillon. Leah taught in many Chouteau County rural schools. She married Charley Dixon on June 5, 1943, and farmed in the Kenilworth area west of Big Sandy until Charley's death...

BIG SANDY - Leah M. Dixon, 89, of Big Sandy died Monday, April 17, 2006, at the Big Sandy Nursing Home of natural causes. Cremation has taken place. A graveside service will be held at a later time. Leah was born in Pleasant Valley area north of Fort Benton to Elizabeth and Howard Meeks. She attended high school in Fort Benton and teacher's college in Dillon. Leah taught in many Chouteau County rural schools. She married Charley Dixon on June 5, 1943, and farmed in the Kenilworth area west of Big Sandy until Charley's death...

Alfred B. Lathrop, 89, died Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005, at the Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Cremation has taken place and a graveside service will be held 2 p.m. Friday at Highland Cemetery with Pastor Steve Flatau officiating....

Frances Lucille “Peggy” Jones, 89, died Monday, April 17, 2006, at her home of natural causes. Her celebration of life service will be held at 5 p.m. Friday at St. Jude Catholic Church with Pastor Tim Maroney Officiating. After the service there will be a time for sharing memories and food and the Elks Club in Havre. Anyone wishing to attend the Interment of ashes, the memorial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Calvary Cemetery. Peggy was born Dec. 22, 1916, in Lewistown to Thomas and Verne (Cook) Baker. She was r...

KILA - Audie “Jr.” Hood, 48, of Kila died at a his home Sunday, April 9, 2006. A memorial service for Jr. will be held Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home in Kalispell. Jr. was born Oct. 26, 1957, in Shelby to Luci Sorkness and Audie Hood. He attended school in Harlem. Jr. was a logger by trade and a musician at heart. He loved to laugh and make those around him laugh. He was a great joke teller. Jr. married Rhonda Guy at Woodland Park in Kalispell in 1993. Jr. was preceded in death by his parents and a b...

James (Jim) A. Hoines, 67, of Havre, an avid fisherman and beloved father and husband, died peacefully, surrounded by his wife and children, on Friday, April 14, 2006, in Great Falls after a short battle with lung cancer. Visitation will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. His funeral will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Van Orsdel United Methodist Church in Havre. Jim was born April 24, 1938, in Sisseton, S.D., to J. Julius Hoines and Agnes (Karlson) Hoines. He spent his early years on the family...

Elmer J. Casady, otherwise know as the “Sheik,” 84, of Havre died Thursday, April 13, 2006, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Viewing will be held at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home from 1 to 4 p.m. beginning today. His funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Fifth Avenue Christian Church with Pastor Rowlie Hutton officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Elmer was born June 10, 1921, in Winlock, Wash., to Cedric and Charlotte (Burns) Casady. He came to the Havre area at the age o...

TROY - Marjorie Ione Higgins, 82, of Troy died April 7, 2006, at her home. A memorial service was scheduled for 11 a.m. today at the Christ Lutheran Church, 200 West Larch in Libby. A reception was to follow at the Elks Lodge in Libby. She was born April 2, 1923, in Kenmare, N.D., to Engvald Bernard Beck and Ella May Bennett. Marge was raised in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, before moving to Havre. She married Roy Higgins in 1938. They lived in Havre and Great Falls until 1946, when they moved to Bigfork. In 1978, they built a...

SPOKANE, Wash. - Claire Renee Gertson, 95, of Spokane, Wash., died Sunday, March 19, 2006, in Spokane. A funeral service was held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home with the Rev. Jack Barker officiating. Interment was at Greenwood Memorial Terrace. She was born Claire Renee Brendgord on Dec. 18, 1910, in Havre. He was educated in Havre and graduated from Havre High School. She was a member of the Hillyard Senior Citizens Center and loved to play penny bingo. She also enjoyed international rummy and a...

TROY - Marjorie Ione Higgins, 82, of Troy died April 7, 2006, at her home. A memorial service was scheduled for 11 a.m. today at the Christ Lutheran Church, 200 West Larch in Libby. A reception was to follow at the Elks Lodge in Libby. She was born April 2, 1923, in Kenmare, N.D., to Engvald Bernard Beck and Ella May Bennett. Marge was raised in Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, before moving to Havre. She married Roy Higgins in 1938. They lived in Havre and Great Falls until 1946, when they moved to Bigfork. In 1978, they built a...

SPOKANE, Wash. - Claire Renee Gertson, 95, of Spokane, Wash., died Sunday, March 19, 2006, in Spokane. A funeral service was held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at Ball and Dodd Funeral Home with the Rev. Jack Barker officiating. Interment was at Greenwood Memorial Terrace. She was born Claire Renee Brendgord on Dec. 18, 1910, in Havre. He was educated in Havre and graduated from Havre High School. She was a member of the Hillyard Senior Citizens Center and loved to play penny bingo. She also enjoyed international rummy and a...

Fredrick G. “Fred” Nimmick, 90, of Great Falls died on Monday, April 10, 2006, at his home due to natural causes. Visitation will be at Schnider Funeral Home on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. His funeral service will be at Peace Lutheran Church on Friday at 10 a.m., with Pastor Kent Stenzel officiating. Burial of ashes will be in Big Sandy Cemetery on Friday at 4:30 p.m. Fredrick Gust Nimmick was born Sept. 25, 1915, in Fingel, N.D., to Reihold and Anna (Schook) Nimmick. He was raised on a farm outside of Tower City, N...

HAYS - Marjorie Alice Mann, 54, died Monday, April 10, 2006, in Benefis Healthcare at Great Falls due to renal failure. A wake will begin at 5 p.m. today in the Red Whip Center with rosary at 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Red Whip Center with burial following at the Brown Family Cemetery near Three Buttes. Marjorie was born on Feb. 26, 1952, in Fort Belknap Agency to Frank and Edna (Brown) Mann. She was raised and attended schools in Havre. Marjorie lived in Havre before moving to Great Falls in...

CASPER, Wyo. - Beatrice D. (Watson) Cioc, 79, died March 27, 2006, at her home. A memorial service was held April 4 at First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ. She was born Nov. 1, 1926, in Eureka, to Harry (Red) Watson and Myrtle Watson. She was raised and educated in Havre. On Feb. 20, 1948, she married Charles J. Cioc. They moved to Casper, Wyo., in 1956. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and one step-grandson. Survivors include her children, Kristen Zerizef of Casper, Lisa (Ray) Corbitt of Miller,...

ROCKY BOY - Gene Arthur Russette, 69, of Rocky Boy died Sunday, April 9, 2006, at the Big Sandy Nursing Home of heart problems. His wake service will begin today at the Rocky Boy Lutheran Church with his funeral service at 10 a.m. Tuesday, also at the Rocky Boy Lutheran Church with Father Pete Guthneck and Pastor Arden Barden officiating. Burial will follow at the Russette Family Cemetery. Gene was born Jan. 3, 1937, in Rocky Boy to Mike and Helen (Champagne) Russette. He was raised in Rocky Boy and attended schools there and...

ROSEVILLE, Minn. - Albert Gale Linebarger, 79, of Roseville, Minn., died Saturday, March 25, 2006. A funeral service was held March 31 at North Como Presbyterian Church in Roseville. Albert was born May 7, 1926, in Havre. He graduated in business from the University of Montana. He worked at Western Life Insurance in Helena as an underwriter and moved to Roseville in 1960 as the company merged with the St. Paul Co. He served as president of the Twin Cities Home Office Underwriters Association and was on the board of directors...

Marvin Jerome Gunnarson, 75, of Havre died Saturday, April 8, 2006, at his home in Havre. Marvin was born July 12, 1930, in Grafton, N.D. Marvin married Marilyn Joyce Hoag on June 13, 1955, in Moorhead, Minn. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Central Bible Institute, a bachelor of science degree from Moorhead State University, and a master of science degree from Texas A&M. He retired from teaching in Havre. Marvin contributed to the Hi-line community through annual youth retreats, the Resting Place at the Great Norther...

GREAT FALLS - Robert “Bob” Eugene Gillet, 82, of Great Falls died Friday, April 7, 2006, of natural causes in a Great Falls hospital. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Faith Lutheran Church, with burial with military in Highland Cemetery in Great Falls. Bob was born Nov. 22, 1923, in his parents vehicle on the way to a Havre hospital. He was raised and educated in Gildford. He moved to Kalispell in 1941 and then began his career with the U.S. Army as a sharp shooter and cryptographic technician d...

Eugene “Snooks” Aageson, 88, a longtime resident of Havre and Hill County, died Thursday, April 6, 2006, at the Benefis Care Center in Great Falls. His burial will take place at 10 a.m. Maundy Thursday in Highland Cemetery. His memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church. Snooks was born in Hingham to Ella and Asmund Aageson. He helped operate the family farm until 1942, when he married Laura Miller and they purchased their own farm at Fairchild. Snooks was a member of Goldstone Lutheran Church a...

ROCKY BOY - Donna Lee Arkinson, 56, died Friday, March 31, 2006, at Presbyterian Hospital in Oklahoma City, Okla., of cancer. Her wake service began Wednesday evening with her funeral service scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Rocky Boy with Pastor Arden Barden officiating. Burial was to follow at Rocky Boy Cemetery. Donna was born March 30, 1950, in Browning to Edward and Cora (Bullchild) Arkinson. At 19, Donna gave birth to her first son Joseph Derek “Scout” Moran, who was adopted and raise...

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - Charles “Chuck” Donald Beston, 69, died on Monday, March 17, 2006, after a battle with cancer. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. in the American Legion Hall at 1101 Craig Ave. in Ellensburg, Wash. Chuck was born June 10, 1936, in Belcourt, N.D., and grew up in Harlem and Havre, the oldest of 10 children. He served as an Army cook during the Korean War. He maintained his love for cooking throughout his life and enjoyed the pleasure of sharing his talent with others. Although he e...

Laura Aageson, 86, of Havre died Thursday, March 30, 2006, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Viewing was held at Holland & Bonine Funeral Home on Sunday evening for family and friends. A graveside service was scheduled for 10 a.m. today at Highland Cemetery, followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church with the Revs. Brad Ulgenes and Michael O'Hearn officiating. A luncheon was to follow the service at the church. Laura was born Oct. 25, 1919, in Gildford to Lydia and Henry Miller. Laura...