Obituaries

BIGFORK - Arnold O. Lund, 88, of Bigfork and formerly of Havre, died Thursday, Aug. 18, 2005, surrounded by the love of his family at Brendan House in Kalispell. Cremation has taken place. A service will be held at Messiah Lutheran Church in Havre at 2 p.m. Saturday with a luncheon following. Arnold was born on Aug. 29, 1916, to Olaf and Lena Lund at Simpson. Arnold Lund and Ethel Boice were married on June 12, 1946. Arnold served in the Army Air Corps in the beginning of World War II. He then transitioned into work for Boein... Full story

HAYS - Theresa Cuts The Rope Werk, 75, "Yo Who Tha" (Hiding Woman), died Aug. 19, 2005, at the Werk family ranch near Hays. A funeral Mass was held Monday at 10 a.m. in Saint Paul's Catholic Church with burial following at Mission Cemetery. Wake and rosary began Sunday at 7 p.m. at Harold and Theresa Werk's residence. Theresa was born on Aug. 10, 1930, to Frank and Matilda (White Plume) Cuts the Rope at Hays. She attended school at St. Paul's Mission School for 12 years. She married Harold "Bazoo" Werk Sr. on Nov. 24, 1951,...

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. - John Robert Rominger, longtime Havre teacher, died Monday, Aug. 22, 2005, at RTA Hospice & Palliative Care in Casa Grande, Ariz., after a long struggle with health problems. A memorial service will be held at the Casa Grande United Methodist church at 11 a.m. Friday. Private burial will be held at a later date at Highland Cemetery in Havre. John was born Jan. 23, 1924, in Floweree to William Preston and Adelene Pearl (Rankin) Rominger. He attended schools in Montana and New Hampshire and completed his edu...

BILLINGS - Mary Lou Reeder, 75, died Thursday, Aug. 18, 2005, after years of declining health. Her body has been cremated and a memorial service will be held Saturday at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Billings. A time of sharing and singing hymns will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at the church. Mary Lou was born July 7, 1930, in Mitchell, S.D., to Herbert Bird Watson and Ella Lucile Grout Watson. She was active in 4-H and made her commitment to the Christian faith at her church in Mitchell. She attended rural schools and... Full story

BIGFORK - Arnold O. Lund, 88, of Bigfork and formerly of Havre, died Thursday, Aug. 18, 2005, surrounded by the love of his family at Brendan House in Kalispell. Cremation has taken place. A service will be held at Messiah Lutheran Church in Havre at 2 p.m. Saturday with a luncheon following. Arnold was born on Aug. 29, 1916, to Olaf and Lena Lund at Simpson. Arnold Lund and Ethel Boice were married on June 12, 1946. Arnold served in the Army Air Corps in the beginning of World War II. He then transitioned into work for Boein...

FORT BELKNAP - Michael Lee "Bruce" Yellow Robe, 39, a firefighter and construction worker, drowned in the Milk River on Friday, Aug. 19, 2005. A wake, rosary will be held at 7 p.m. today at the Red Whip Recreation Center at Fort Belknap. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Red Whip Recreation Center, with burial in the Highway Church Cemetery. Bruce was born July 30, 1966, at Fort Belknap to Rose L. Yellow Robe and Ralph Wayne. Bruce was also known as "Bread Truck." He had four children with Lenora...

GREAT FALLS/BOX ELDER - Leslie G. Wright Sr., 55, died Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2005, at Benefis West after being disconnected from life support. A wake service will be held at 6 p.m. today with the funeral 10:30 a.m. Saturday, all at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church with the Rev. Nyquist officiating. Burial will follow at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. Leslie was born May 24, 1950, in Fort Belknap to Charles and Julia (Peeper) Wright. He was raised and educated in Rocky Boy. He worked as a laborer for many years. He loved his family and...

Tom Peter Wipf, 20, of Havre died in a farm truck accident in the Shelby area Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2005. His funeral service was scheduled for Thursday at the Hilldale Colony north of Havre. Tom was born Sept. 12, 1984, to Peter and Mary (Kleinsasser) Wipf in Havre. He was raised and educated at the Hilldale Colony. He enjoyed farming, especially the dairy industry. He was a very kindhearted young man who loved his parents and family. Tom enjoyed music and traveling to see the country. At the time of his death, he was...

Bill S. Nicholson, 74, a retired car man for the Burlington Northern Railway in Havre, died of natural causes Thursday, Aug. 18, 2005, at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service for family and friends will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at First Lutheran Church. Bill was born in Birch Tree, Mo., on April 14, 1931. He graduated from Birch Tree High School in 1947. He then worked in construction before moving to Chinook in 1949, where he married and had two children. In 1953, he joined the...

Elizabeth Ann Maffit, 83, former longtime Havre resident, died Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2005, in Clancy. A funeral service will be held at First Lutheran Church in Havre at 2 p.m. on Monday. Burial and graveside services will be at Highland Cemetery. Liz was born Aug. 11, 1922, to Carter B. and Sylvia J. (Olness) Phelps in Homestead. After graduating from Medicine Lake High School in 1939, she moved to Havre, where she attend and received her registered nursing degree from the Sacred Heart Hospital's Nursing Program in 1943....

BIG SANDY - Ann Boettcher, 72, longtime Big Sandy resident, died Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2005, of complications of cancer. A celebration-of-life service will be held at Christ Lutheran Church in Big Sandy at 11 a.m. Saturday. Ann was born Feb. 18, 1933, to Earl James Pilkenton and Eva Ruth Klink at Glendale Research Hospital in California. Ann grew up and attended elementary, middle and high school in Glendale, Calif., graduating in 1950. After high school, she attended junior college for two years and then went to the University... Full story

Clifford Gaylord Haugen, 83, of Havre died Monday, Aug. 15, 2005, at Northern Montana Hospital, surrounded by his family. Public visitation will take place at Holland & Bonine Funeral Home in Havre from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday. His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Brad Ulgenes officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the service at the graveside. Memorials in Cli... Full story

Donald K. "Don" Vaupel, 88, of Havre, long-time area businessman and pharmacist, died of natural causes Monday, Aug. 15, 2005, at Northern Montana Hospital. Crema-tion has taken place. At the request of Don and the family, there will be no funeral service, but friends and acquaintances are invited to the Mediterra-- nean Room Vineyard at the Duck Inn in Havre for an informal gathering from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday. All who knew him are encouraged to stop by and celebrate a wonderful life. Don was born in Malta on April 19, 1917.... Full story

Donald K. "Don" Vaupel, 88, of Havre, long-time area businessman and pharmacist, died of natural causes Monday, Aug. 15, 2005, at Northern Montana Hospital. Crema-tion has taken place. At the request of Don and the family, there will be no funeral service, but friends and acquaintances are invited to the Mediterra-- nean Room Vineyard at the Duck Inn in Havre for an informal gathering from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday. All who knew him are encouraged to stop by and celebrate a wonderful life. Don was born in Malta on April 19, 1917.... Full story

Karen Jo Meyers, 53, whose real name, Ka Say Way Skum Ka Po, loosely translated means Jingle Sitter, died Saturday, Aug. 13, 2005, at her home in Box Elder due to diabetic complications. A wake began at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church at Rocky Boy on Sunday and ends today. The funeral services will be held at the Lutheran Church in Rocky Boy 10 a.m. Wednesday, conducted by Kenny Writing Bird of Rocky Boy along with the Rev. Pete Guthnick and the Rev. Barden. Interment will follow at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. Following interment,...

Margaret L. "Marge" LaRocque, 58, of Havre died Sunday, Aug. 14, 2005, of lung cancer at Peace Hospice in Great Falls surrounded by her family and friends. Viewing will be Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Her funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship will be held at the Gallery Restaurant at the Holiday Village Shopping Center immediately after the services at the graveside. Marge was...

Orville Howard Goodrich, 88, of Havre died Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2005, of natural causes at Sweet Memorial Nursing Home in Chinook. Graveside services were in Kansas City, Mo., on Saturday. Orville was born June 16, 1917, in Wichita, Kan., to Bingham and Gracia (Wilhoite) Goodrich. Orville was raised in Kansas City and graduated from NorthEast High School. Upon graduation, Orville enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He was a World War II veteran and served as a radarman, mostly in the Pacific. In 1941, he married Rose Hines in Kansas... Full story

CHINOOK - Monica Miller, 98, longtime resident of Chinook, died Monday, Aug. 8, 2005, of natural causes at Northern Montana Care Center in Havre. A funeral service will be held on Monday at 11 a.m. at the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Chinook. Monica was born on July 4, 1907, in Tomah, Wis., to the late Hugh and Maude (Gordon) Mathers. Monica came to Montana at the age of 14 to join her parents at the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, and remained there until she graduated from Harlem High School. She attended college in...

MOSES LAKE, Wash. - Martha Martina Ohland, 89, longtime Moses Lake, Wash., resident, died Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2005, at SunBridge Care and Rehabilitation Center. Private family services will be held at Kayser's Chapel of Memories. Martha was born Nov. 17, 1915 in Charboneau, N.D., to the late Martina and Philander Yates. She graduated from Havre High School in 1933. Martha married her high school sweetheart, Hermie Ohland, in 1935. They then moved to Walla Walla, Wash. In 1941, they relocated to Ritzville, Wash., and settled...

MOSES LAKE, Wash. - Martha Martina Ohland, 89, longtime Moses Lake, Wash., resident, died Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2005, at SunBridge Care and Rehabilitation Center. Private family services will be held at Kayser's Chapel of Memories. Martha was born Nov. 17, 1915 in Charboneau, N.D., to the late Martina and Philander Yates. She graduated from Havre High School in 1933. Martha married her high school sweetheart, Hermie Ohland, in 1935. They then moved to Walla Walla, Wash. In 1941, they relocated to Ritzville, Wash., and settled...

MOSES LAKE, Wash. - Martha Martina Ohland, 89, longtime Moses Lake, Wash., resident, died Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2005, at SunBridge Care and Rehabilitation Center. Private family services will be held at Kayser's Chapel of Memories. Martha was born Nov. 17, 1915 in Charboneau, N.D., to the late Martina and Philander Yates. She graduated from Havre High School in 1933. Martha married her high school sweetheart, Hermie Ohland, in 1935. They then moved to Walla Walla, Wash. In 1941, they relocated to Ritzville, Wash., and settled...

June Volbright, 83, of Havre died Thursday, Aug. 4, 2005, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Crema-tion has taken place. Burial will be held prior to the service at 10 a.m. at the Highland Cemetery. Her memorial service with Eastern Star presentation will be 10:30 a.m. Aug. 15 at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Zoe Coutts officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held immediately after the memorial service in the church fellowship hall. June was born April 30, 1922, in Malta to Albert E. and Alma...

FORT BELKNAP - Hazel Marie Vandell, "Changeable," 79, of Fort Belknap died Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2005, at her home of natural causes. A rosary will be held at 7 p.m. Friday in the Hays-Lodge Pole High School. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Hays-Lodge Pole High School. Burial will follow in the St. Paul's Mission Cemetery. Hazel was born to Arthur and Clara (BadRoad) Skinner on March 22, 1926, at Hays. Hazel was raised in Hays. She attended school in Hays and at Chemawa Indian School in Salem, Ore. Hazel...

Francis Alec "Johnnycake" Stiffarm Sr., 66, whose Indian name Thay Wus means Weasel-Bear, owner and operator of Budget Trimmers Tree Service in Havre, died Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2005, at the Fort Belknap Hospital. His cause of death has not yet been determined. His memorial service will be 3 p.m. Friday at the Holland & Bonine Chapel. Interment of the cremated remains will be held at a later time. A fellowship will be held at the North Central Senior Citizens Center immediately after the memorial service. Frank was born Jan. 23,...

LIBBY - Clayton "Clayt" Irwin Mejie, 83, of Libby, formerly of Hogeland, died Monday, July 25, 2005, at a Libby care center of natural causes. A memorial service was held Saturday morning at American Lutheran Church in Turner with the Revs. Rowlie Hutton and Jack Siemens officiating. Inurnment with military honors was held at Wing Cemetery. Clayt was born Jan. 25, 1922, in a squatter's shack in Tweet to Lottie Mae (Davis) Ward and Ernest Mejie. From the time he was 3, Clayt lived with his Aunt Rose and Uncle Clayt on the... Full story