Obituaries

JOPLIN - Frances Louise “Francy” Fraser, 70, of Joplin died Sunday, Jan. 8, 2006, at Benefis East Medical Center in Great Falls. Vigil prayers will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Sacred Heart Church in Inverness. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the church. Burial will follow at Inverness Cemetery. Francy was born May 17, 1935, in Havre to George and Margaret (Schwan) Richter. Francy grew up in the Inverness community and received her early education there. She finished her schooling in Joplin, graduating from...

SHELBY - Ramona 'Mona K' Katherine Mayer Irvin, 68, of Shelby died Thursday, Jan. 5, 2006, at Marias Medical Center due to a lengthy illness. A family gathering will be held at a later date. Mona K was born Jan. 30, 1937, at Glasgow to Mark and Josephine (Emily) Mayer. She was raised in Havre, where she graduated from Central High School in 1955. She married Dwayne Irvin on Sept. 19, 1964, in Conrad. Along with being a homemaker, she had worked as a waitress at various places in Shelby. She was a member of First Baptist...

Richard Patrick Ihnot, 51, died in Pampanga, Philippines, on Monday, Dec. 12, 2005. His service was held at St. Jude Catholic Church last Tuesday. Burial was in Highland Cemetery. Richard was born Sept. 18, 1954, to John and Phyllis (Walsh) Ihnot in Glasgow. He attended St. Joseph's Catholic School, Monroe Public School, Butte Junior High School, Nashua High School and Glasgow High School. He live in Kalispell with his wife, Violy Agustin Ihnot. Together they ran Handyman and Lady, a service business. During the time he lived...

ROCKY BOY - Geoffery James Descharme, 15, of Wheatfields, Ariz., died Friday, Dec. 30, 2005, from injuries he suffered in a vehicle accident. A wake service was to begin Sunday afternoon with his funeral service Monday at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Rocky Boy. Burial was to follow at the Descharme Family Cemetery. Geoffery was born June 14, 1990, in Missoula to Georgiana Descharme. He lived in Missoula with his mother until they moved in 1993 to Wheatfields. There Geoffery attended Tsaile Public School. He was in the eig...

Eva B. Adams, 90, of Havre died Friday, Jan. 6, 2006, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Cremation has taken place. Her memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Jude Parish Center. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Havre. A fellowship luncheon will be held at St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the service at the cemetery. Eva was born March 1, 1915, on her beloved ranch two miles north of Havre to Louis and Emma Hary. Eva lived her entire life in Havre, graduating from Havre...

ROCKY BOY - Geoffery James Descharme, 15, of Wheatfields, Ariz., died Friday, Dec. 30, 2005, from injuries he suffered in a vehicle accident. A wake service was set to begin Sunday afternoon with his funeral service to be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Rocky Boy. Burial was to follow at the Descharme Family Cemetery. Geoffery was born June 14, 1990, in Missoula to Georgiana Descharme. He lived in Missoula with his mother until they moved in 1993 to Wheatfields. There Geoffery attended Tsaile...

HOGELAND - Hilda D. Beck, 96, died Thursday, Jan. 5, 2006, at Northern Montana Care Center due to natural causes. A funeral service was scheduled for 11 a.m. today in the Hogeland American Lutheran Church with burial following in Silver Bow Cemetery. A luncheon was to follow at the church. Hilda was born on July 23, 1909 in New Leipzig, N.D., to George and Dorothea (Schmidt) Wiedmer. She attended schools in North Dakota. On the first day of school, she did not know the English language, only German. Hilda came to Hogeland in...

Eva B. Adams, 90, died Friday, Jan. 6, 2006., at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Jude Parish Center. A full obituary will follow....

SHELBY - Dianne Lynne Abernathy, 65, a retired secretary from Cut Bank, died due to cancer at her home Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2006, surrounded by her family. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Cut Bank Community Bible Church. She was born April 2, 1940, to George and Inger (Yates) Renaker in Glasgow. She was raised in Havre, where she graduated from high school in 1958. While in business school in Spokane, Wash., she met Bill Abernathy. They were married May 1, 1961, in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. They moved...

KALISPELL - Richard “Dick” McCoy Sherrill, 71, formerly of Havre, died Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. At his request, a private family service will be held in Havre. Dick was born Aug. 8, 1934, in Chattanooga, Tenn., to George and Cecil Sherrill. He was raised in Chattanooga, where he attended public schools through the eighth grade. He attended a tech school in Miami, Fla., and received his GED during his time in the U.S. Air Force. He married Perregrina “Perry” Fisher on Oct. 22,...

KALISPELL - Richard “Dick” McCoy Sherrill, 71, formerly of Havre, died Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. At his request, a private family service will be held in Havre. Dick was born Aug. 8, 1934, in Chattanooga, Tenn., to George and Cecil Sherrill. He was raised in Chattanooga, where he attended public schools through the eighth grade. He attended a tech school in Miami, Fla., and received his GED during his time in the U.S. Air Force. He married Perregrina “Perry” Fisher on Oct. 22,...

KALISPELL - Richard “Dick” McCoy Sherrill, 71, formerly of Havre, died Saturday, Dec. 31, 2005, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. At his request, a private family service will be held in Havre. Dick was born Aug. 8, 1934, in Chattanooga, Tenn., to George and Cecil Sherrill. He was raised in Chattanooga, where he attended public schools through the eighth grade. He attended a tech school in Miami, Fla., and received his GED during his time in the U.S. Air Force. He married Perregrina “Perry” Fisher on Oct. 22,...

CHESTER - Frank Schwan, 83, died peacefully at the Chester rest home Thursday, Dec. 29, 2005. Frank was cremated per his request. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Assembly of God Church in Chester. Frank was born June 5, 1922, on the family homestead in the Goldstone community north of Rudyard to Anton and Juliana Schwan. Frank received his formal education at Central country school near the farm. In his late teens, he worked at the Civilian Conservation Corps Camp in northwestern Montana, where he...

Evelyn Agnes Morse, 80, of Havre died of natural causes Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006, at Northern Montana Care Center surrounded by her family and friends. Her funeral Mass will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Jude's Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held after the graveside service at St. Jude Parish Center. Evelyn was born Jan. 12, 1925, in Dunlo, Pa., to Peter and Annie (Koris) Drobnak. She was raised and educated in Dunlo, where she...

CHESTER - Frank Schwan, 83, died peacefully at the Chester rest home Thursday, Dec. 29, 2005. Frank was cremated per his request. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Assembly of God Church in Chester. Frank was born June 5, 1922, on the family homestead in the Goldstone community north of Rudyard to Anton and Juliana Schwan. Frank received his formal education at Central country school near the farm. In his late teens, he worked at the Civilian Conservation Corps Camp in northwestern Montana, where he...

Evelyn Agnes Morse, 80, of Havre died of natural causes Sunday, Jan. 1, 2006, at Northern Montana Care Center surrounded by her family and friends. Her funeral Mass will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Jude's Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held after the graveside service at St. Jude Parish Center. Evelyn was born Jan. 12, 1925, in Dunlo, Pa., to Peter and Annie (Koris) Drobnak. She was raised and educated in Dunlo, where she...

Norma Stromberg, 79, of Havre died Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Cremation has taken place and her memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel with Tim Maroney officiating. A private family burial will be held at a later time. A fellowship luncheon will be held immediately after the service and the location will be announced at the service. Norma, the only child of Fred and Agnes (Stremcha) Vavra, was born Dec. 26, 1926, in Havre. She...

FORT BELKNAP - Marcus Joseph LongKnife, 41, died of natural causes at his residence in Havre on Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2005. Marcus was born Dec. 18, 1964, to Beverly “Hills” LongKnife Gardipee and Bill Behan at Fort Belknap Agency. Marcus grew up in Hays and attended the Hays school. He also attended college in Fort Belknap and Missoula. He worked various jobs as a laborer, Montana firefighter and certified carpenter. He recently lived and worked in Havre doing odd jobs. Marcus joined the Army in 1982. Marcus liked to f...

TURNER - Leon M. Cederberg, 77, of Great Falls and formerly of Turner, died of natural causes Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2005, at the Peace Hospice Facility in Great Falls. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Turner American Lutheran Church with burial following in the Turner Cemetery. Leon was born on June 8, 1928, in Glasgow to Aben and Jewell (Adams) Cederberg. He attended schools in Turner, Kalispell and graduated from Turner High School in 1946. He married Nellie Staples in Chinook on Nov. 22, 1951. Leon...

FORT BELKNAP - Archie G. Wagner, 57, died Friday, Dec. 23, 2005, at Fort Belknap Health Care Center from an apparent heart attack. A gathering of family and friends will be held at 5 p.m. today in the Two Kill Parish. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Wagner residence with burial following in the Wagner Family Cemetery. Archie was born Jan. 27, 1948, in Akron, Ohio, to Paul, Sr. and Evelyn (Cooper) Wagner. He was raised in Woodinville, Wash., moving to Lodge Pole in 1981 to live in the open and beautif...

HARLEM - Robert “Bob” Rasmussen, 81, longtime Blaine County farmer, died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2005, at Sweet Memorial Nursing Home after a brief illness. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Harlem High School gymnasium with a reception at the Harlem VFW Meeting Room. Cremation has taken place by arrangements of Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook. Bob was born Feb. 28, 1924, at the family homestead south west of Harlem to Arthur and Peg (Lux) Rasmussen. He graduated from Harlem High School in 1942. D...

FORT BENTON - Carol Jean “CJ” Kleinjan, 68, of Fort Benton, died Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2005, at home surrounded by her loving family after a short battle with cancer. A celebration of her life will take place at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Community Bible Church, 1600 Main St. in Fort Benton, with a reception to follow at the Golden Age Center. Cremation has taken place. Carol was born Dec. 19, 1937, at Rugby, N.D., to Charles and Clara (Nelson) Vaughn. She was raised in and around Minot, N.D. Her first job was working at Gimballs i...

BILLINGS - Neil Eugene Keller, 64, died Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2005, in Billings of natural causes. A prayer vigil service will be held in Billings at 7 p.m. today in St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral with his funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Thursday in Havre at the St. Jude's Catholic Church with the Rev. Jose Valliparambil officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the funeral. Burial will be held 2 p.m. at the Cottonwood Cemetery north of Havre. Neil was born May 23, 1941, in Havre to...

JOPLIN - John Iver Fusk, 85, died Friday, Dec. 23, 2005, when he was struck by a railroad train while walking into Joplin. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Bethel Lutheran Church in Joplin. Burial will follow in the Joplin Cemetery. John was born May 23, 1920, on the family homestead in the Alma community north of Joplin to Peter and Olianna (Gotsvosli) Fusk. John grew up on the farm and received his formal education at the nearby Tingdahl country school. John helped on the family farm for a few years,...

NEWBERG, Ore. - Samantha Dianne Durham died three hours and 16 minutes after her birth Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, at Newberg, Ore., to Angela and Thomas Paul Durham of Newberg. A funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Dec. 15 at Valley View Cemetery in Newberg. A memorial service was held Dec. 18 at the Church of Christ in Newberg. Survivors include her parents, Angela and Thomas Paul Durham; brothers, Thomas and Alex Durham; paternal grandparents, Mike Formway, Barbie Formway and Mary Durham; and maternal grandparents, Ernest and...