Obituaries

FORT BELKNAP AGENCY Esther Bigby Dumont, 84, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2007, at the Public Health Service Hospital due to natural causes. Her funeral Mass service will be held at 1 p.m. today in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church with burial following in Pony Hill Cemetery. Esther was born Oct. 6, 1921, at Fort Belknap Agency to William and Lillian (No Hand) Bigby. She attended schools at Fort Belknap and Harlem. Esther was the traditional spoon keeper of the Assiniboine Tribe. She made beautiful quilts for family and friends....

Raymond C. Biem, 77, of Havre, retired Eddy's Bread salesman, died Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2007, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Viewing will be held Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. His funeral service will be Wednesday at Immanuel Baptist Church in Havre. Burial with full military honors will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the graveside services. Ray was born Feb. 26, 1929, in Baylor to Severt and Victoria...

Rodney Guy Holden, 58, formerly of Havre, died at his home in Las Vegas, Nev., on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2006, of natural causes. A private service was held in Las Vegas. A family memorial service will be held in Montana this summer where, at Rod's request, his cremated remains will be scattered. Rod was born Dec. 8, 1948, at Valley City, N.D., to Guy and Arlene Holden. He lived in Valley City and Grafton, N.D., before the family moved to Havre in 1952. He attended Havre Public Schools, Northern Montana College and the...

HAVRE Lucille “Lucy” Margaret Wiench Bressler, 103, of Havre died Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007, at Big Sandy Medical Center in Big Sandy of natural causes. The funeral service for Bressler will be held at 11 a. m. Tuesday at St. Gabriel's Catholic Church in Chinook with burial following in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. A reception will follow at the church. The Rev. Jose Valliparambil will officiate. Vigil will be at 7 p.m. Monday at St. Gabriel's Catholic Church. She was born March 4, 1903, to Peter and Hedwig (Gaida) Wiench in Box...

Julie A. Turner, 72, of Havre died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Viewing will be held Wednesday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home from 11 a.m. to 4 p. m. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a. m. Thursday at the St. Jude Catholic Church with Tim Maroney officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Julie was born Sept. 26, 1934, in Havre to Julius and Severina “Marie” (Possenti) Morelli. She was raised and educated in Havre, graduating from Havre High School. After hig...

GREAT FALLS Viv Job, 64, of Great Falls died Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007, after an extraordinary battle against cancer. Visitation will be at O'Connor Funeral Home from 10 a.m. to 7 p. m. Friday, followed by a wake for Viv at 7 p.m. at O'Connor Funeral Home. Viv's funeral liturgy will be held at St. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church on Saturday at 1 p.m. Viv was born in Missoula on Nov. 18, 1942, to Edward and Hilda Loos. She was the middle child of three raised in a working class home. Viv was a graduate from Missoula's Sacred...

Donald “Spud” Janicke, 79, died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007, after a brief struggle with pancreatic cancer. Donald was born July 3, 1926, to Ted and Gladys Janicke in Havre. He graduated from Havre High School in 1944, where he excelled in football, basketball and track. He served in the U.S. Navy on the U.S.S. Vella Gulf during World War II. He attended University of Montana- Northern and transferred to Seattle University on a basketball scholarship, graduating in 1951 with a degree in accounting. He married Margaret Mary Han...

CROOKSTON, Minn. Sharon Rae Barnes, 65, died Sunday, Jan. 28, 2007, at her home in Crookston, Minn., from Graves' disease and cancer, with her husband, Frank, by her side. Sharon Rae Johnson was born Oct. 6, 1941, to Agnes (Rolandson) and Melvin (Slim) Johnson. She was raised on the family farm just south of Oklee, Minn. Sharon was baptized and confirmed at Zion Lutheran Church. She graduated as the salutatorian of the Oklee High School Class of 1959. Sharon's artistic nature and interest in fashion led her to pursue a...

Louise Myers, 71, former coowner of Myers Oil Company, died Monday, Jan. 22, 2007, at her residence in Havre due to natural causes. Her funeral service will be Monday at 10 a.m. in St. Paul's Lutheran Church with burial following in Highland Cemetery. Louise was born on July 17, 1935, to Marvin and Edna (Zabel) Mangels in Havre. She was raised in Havre and graduated from Havre High School in 1954. Louise attended Business School in Great Falls. Louise married Willis Myers on March 26, 1955, in Havre. They farmed in the Flower...

Julie A. Turner, 72, of Havre died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Viewing will be held Wednesday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home from 11 a.m. to 4 p. m. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a. m. Thursday at the St. Jude Catholic Church with Tim Maroney officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Julie was born Sept. 26, 1934, in Havre to Julius and Severina “Marie” (Possenti) Morelli. She was raised and educated in Havre, graduating from Havre High School. After hig...

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....

Julie A. Turner, 72, of Havre died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Viewing will be held Wednesday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home from 11 a.m. to 4 p. m. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a. m. Thursday at the St. Jude Catholic Church with Tim Maroney officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Julie was born Sept. 26, 1934, in Havre to Julius and Severina “Marie” (Possenti) Morelli. She was raised and educated in Havre, graduating from Havre High School. After hig...

Julie A. Turner, 72, of Havre died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Viewing will be held Wednesday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home from 11 a.m. to 4 p. m. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a. m. Thursday at the St. Jude Catholic Church with Tim Maroney officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Julie was born Sept. 26, 1934, in Havre to Julius and Severina “Marie” (Possenti) Morelli. She was raised and educated in Havre, graduating from Havre High School. After hig...

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, immediately after the service. Chester was born Feb. 3, 1931, in Adina, Ohio to Zigmunt and Mary (Szymanski) Rochowicz. He graduated from high school and Kent State University, and then...

Maynard L. Norenberg, 70, of Shelby died Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, due to natural causes. A vigil service will be held at 7 p. m. Tuesday at the Whitted Funeral Chapel in Shelby. His funeral Mass will be held at 11 a. m., Wednesday at St. William Catholic Church in Shelby with burial to follow in Mountain View Cemetery. Maynard was born on June 22, 1936 to Ray and Cecelia (Richter) Norenberg in Havre. In 1943, his family moved to Ferdig, where he attended school. In 1948, they moved to Oilmont, where he graduated from high schoo...

SANTA MONICA, Calif. Marian Schaller, 87, of Santa Monica, Calif., and formerly of Havre, died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, in Santa Monica of natural causes. Cremation has taken place. Her memorial Mass will be held at 11 a. m. Tuesday at St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the service. Marian was born April 12, 1919, at Goldstone to Andrew and Elizabeth (Heck) Schaller. She graduated from Havre High School in 1942...

MALTA Mike J. Hofer, 54, a local farmer and immaculate carpenter, died of cancer peacefully at his home with his family by his side. His funeral service was scheduled for 11 a.m. today, at the East Malta Colony with burial in the Colony Cemetery. Mike J. Hofer was born July 12, 1952, in Grass Range to John and Susie (Hofer) Hofer. He was raised in Grass Range and moved to Turner in 1961. He attended Turner Public Schools for eight years. In 1979, he moved to East Malta where he resided until his death. Mike had a great sense...