Obituaries

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...

CHINOOK - Georgia Lewis Ijams, 91, died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005, at Northern Montana Hospital due to natural causes. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Presbyterian Church in Chinook. Georgia was born Jan. 20, 1914, in Portland, Ore., to Frank and Etta (Blaydon) Lewis. The family moved to Montana in 1915 and lived in Valier, Park City, Hardin, Miles City and moved to Chinook in 1930. Georgia graduated from Chinook High School in 1931 and received a four-year scholarship to Northern Montana College. Georgi...

KALISPELL - Richard Patrick Ihnot, 51, died Monday, Dec. 12, 2005, in Pampanga, in the Philippines. His cause of death is under investigation. A funeral service for Richard will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday 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 at St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the graveside service. Richard was born Sept. 18, 1954, in Glasgow to John and Phyllis Ihnot. He attended schools in Butte, Nashua...

GREAT FALLS - Edward Lawrence Donohue, 74, of Great Falls died Monday, Dec. 19, 2005, in Maplewood, Minn. A funeral Mass was held at St. Ann's Cathedral and the rite of committal was held at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Great Falls. Ed was born in Havre in 1931. He graduated from Havre High School in 1949 and attended Northern Montana College. He graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman in 1953 with a bachelor of science degree in architectural engineering. He joined the U.S. Army in 1953 and was stationed in Alaska as...

CHINOOK - Georgia Lewis Ijams, 91, died Thursday, Dec. 22, 2005, at Northern Montana Hospital due to natural causes. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Presbyterian Church in Chinook. Georgia was born Jan. 20, 1914, in Portland, Ore., to Frank and Etta (Blaydon) Lewis. The family moved to Montana in 1915 and lived in Valier, Park City, Hardin, Miles City and moved to Chinook in 1930. Georgia graduated from Chinook High School in 1931 and received a four-year scholarship to Northern Montana College. Georgi...

KALISPELL - Richard Patrick Ihnot, 51, died Monday, Dec. 12, 2005, in Pampanga, in the Philippines. His cause of death is under investigation. A funeral service for Richard will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday 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 at St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the graveside service. Richard was born Sept. 18, 1954, in Glasgow to John and Phyllis Ihnot. He attended schools in Butte, Nashua...

GREAT FALLS - Edward Lawrence Donohue, 74, of Great Falls died Monday, Dec. 19, 2005, in Maplewood, Minn. A funeral Mass was held at St. Ann's Cathedral and the rite of committal was held at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Great Falls. Ed was born in Havre in 1931. He graduated from Havre High School in 1949 and attended Northern Montana College. He graduated from Montana State University in Bozeman in 1953 with a bachelor of science degree in architectural engineering. He joined the U.S. Army in 1953 and was stationed in Alaska as...

Frances Helen Schafer, 87, a lifetime resident of Havre, died of natural causes Monday, Dec. 26, 2005, at Northern Montana Care Center. Her rosary will be at St. Jude's Catholic Church at 7 p.m. Thursday with a funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10 a.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 at the St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the graveside service. Frances was born Sept. 21, 1918, to Ed and Anna...

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...

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 - Leo “Baby Boy” Brockie Jr., whose Gros Ventre name Naw-Wos means “My Bear,” 68, died Friday, Dec. 16, 2005, at Benefis East Hospital in Great Falls of natural causes. A wake service will be held at 7 p.m. today in Red Whip Center at Fort Belknap Agency. A funeral Mass will be at held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Harlem High School gymnasium. Burial will follow in Fort Belknap Agency Cemetery. Leo was born Sept. 17, 1937, to Leo and Alma (Skinner) Brockie at Fort Belknap Agency. He was a 1955 graduate of Har...

HARLEM - Leo “Baby Boy” Brockie Jr., whose Gros Ventre name Naw-Wos means “My Bear,” 68, died Friday, Dec. 16, 2005, at Benefis East Hospital in Great Falls of natural causes. A wake service will be held at 7 p.m. today in Red Whip Center at Fort Belknap Agency. A funeral Mass will be at held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Harlem High School gymnasium. Burial will follow in Fort Belknap Agency Cemetery. Leo was born Sept. 17, 1937, to Leo and Alma (Skinner) Brockie at Fort Belknap Agency. He was a 1955 graduate of Har...

Clifford Lee Kinholt, 76, of Havre died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005, from complications likely due to asbestosis and lung disease. His funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Fifth Avenue Christian Church with the Rev. Rowlie Hutton officiating. A viewing will be held at the church beginning at 10 a.m. A luncheon will follow immediately after the service at the Fifth Avenue Christian Church. A private burial service will be held at Calvary Cemetery. Clifford was born March 30, 1929, in Havre to Emil and Jean Kinholt. He...

HARLEM - Leo “Baby Boy” Brockie Jr., whose Gros Ventre name Naw-Wos means “My Bear,” 68, died Friday, Dec. 16, 2005, at Benefis East Hospital in Great Falls of natural causes. A wake service will be held at 7 p.m. today in Red Whip Center at Fort Belknap Agency. A funeral Mass will be at held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Harlem High School gymnasium. Burial will follow in Fort Belknap Agency Cemetery. Leo was born Sept. 17, 1937, to Leo and Alma (Skinner) Brockie at Fort Belknap Agency. He was a 1955 graduate of Har...

Clifford Lee Kinholt, 76, of Havre died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2005, from complications likely due to asbestosis and lung disease. His funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Fifth Avenue Christian Church with the Rev. Rowlie Hutton officiating. A viewing will be held at the church beginning at 10 a.m. A luncheon will follow immediately after the service at the Fifth Avenue Christian Church. A private burial service will be held at Calvary Cemetery. Clifford was born March 30, 1929, in Havre to Emil and Jean Kinholt. He...

HARLEM - Leo “Baby Boy” Brockie Jr., whose Gros Ventre name Naw-Wos means “My Bear,” 68, died Friday, Dec. 16, 2005, at Benefis East Hospital in Great Falls of natural causes. A wake service will be held at 7 p.m. today in Red Whip Center at Fort Belknap Agency. A funeral Mass will be at held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Harlem High School gymnasium. Burial will follow in Fort Belknap Agency Cemetery. Leo was born Sept. 17, 1937, to Leo and Alma (Skinner) Brockie at Fort Belknap Agency. He was a 1955 graduate of Har...

BIG SANDY - Alvin F. Swanson, 88, of Big Sandy, died, Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005, at his home from natural causes. Visitation will be held from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday at Benton Funeral Home and on Monday one hour prior to the services at the church. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Christ Lutheran Church in Big Sandy, with the Rev. Jeff Stoopes officiating. Burial will be in the Big Sandy Cemetery. He was born on the family farm on April 10, 1917, to Ferdinand and Alma (Blixt) Swanson. His mother died the foll...

RUDYARD - Lillian (Sanvik) DeMartin, 88, died Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005, at the nursing home in Chester. Her funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Rudyard. A graveside service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Highland Cemetery in Havre. Lillian was born Aug. 11, 1917, on the family homestead 21 miles north of Gildford to Ole and Lena (Berge) Sanvik. In 1928, the Sanviks moved to Rudyard, where Lillian graduated from high school. She married Howard DeMartin on June 29, 1935. They lived on...

CASCADE - Russell Chinadle, 66, of Cascade and former Havre resident, died Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2005, at Peace Hospice of cancer. A gathering of friends will be held at the Dearborn Inn at 3 p.m. Saturday. A family burial of ashes will be held at a later date. Cremation has taken place. Russell was born March 18, 1939, and raised in Hingham. He joined the U.S. Army in 1958. He was a bar owner prior to becoming a U.S. Postal worker, where he delivered mail to the Rocky Boy Reservation for 28 years. He formed many lifelong...

Jennifer Lindsay Welch, 26, of Havre died Friday, Dec. 9, 2005, of leukodystrophy at Northern Montana Care Center. A memorial service for Jennifer will be held at 2:30 p.m. today at Northern Montana Care Center. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Friday at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian burial will be Saturday in White Sulphur Springs at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church at 10 a.m. with a coffee hour to follow. A graveside committal will follow at Mayn Cemetery. Jennifer was born Dec. 17, 1978, to John W....

SPOKANE, Wash. - Earl Lewis Stillar, 86, of Spokane, Wash., died Sunday, Dec. 11, 2005, at Spokane. Visitation will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday at Riplinger Funeral Home. A service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Riplinger Funeral Home, 4305 N. Division in Spokane. Interment will follow at Greenwood Memorial Terrace Cemetery in Spokane. Earl was born June 5, 1919, in Havre. He graduated from Havre High School in 1937. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a signalman. He was later employed at the Great...

Mary Ann Dion, 81, of Havre died Saturday, Dec. 3, 2005, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Cremation has taken place. A graveside memorial service will be held at a later time at the Gethsemane Cemetery in Federal Way, Wash. Mary was born March 16, 1924, in Dodge, N.D., to Joseph and Magdalena (Kletzel) Bleile. As a young child, she moved with her family to Helena for a short time. They returned to Dickenson, N.D., where Mary Ann was educated. She lived with her brother in Anaconda when she was a teenager. She...

EUGENE, Ore. - James LeRoy Baltrusch, 74, of Eugene, Ore., died Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2005, from complications due to multiple sclerosis. A funeral was held Saturday afternoon at Musgrove Funeral Home. Burial was scheduled for 1 p.m. today at Willamette National Cemetery. James was born Jan. 22, 1931, at Havre to Otto Baltrusch Sr. and Mary (Echelard) Baltrusch. He grew up in Havre and served in the Navy during the Korean War from 1950-54. James married Jeanette Ellison in Conrad on Nov. 4, 1956. He owned and operated a constructi...

Lillian Mae (Clink) Owens, 89, of Rudyard died Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2005, at Sweet Memorial Nursing Home in Chinook. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Rudyard. A luncheon will follow. Lillian's ashes will be buried later this summer at the Highland Cemetery in Havre. Lillian was born Oct. 8, 1916, at Hingham to Elwin and Cassie (Geesy) Clink. Lillian grew up on the family farm in the Minneota community north of Rudyard. She received her early education at country schools, then g...

CHINOOK - John Thomas McMaster, 80, of Chinook died Tuesday Dec. 6, 2005, at Northern Montana Hospital after a long battle with cancer. A rosary and vigil service will be Friday at St. Gabriel's Catholic Church at 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Gabriel's Catholic Church in Chinook. Burial will follow at Kuper Memorial Cemetery with military honors. A luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the graveside service. John was born in St. John, N.D., on June 6, 1925, to George and Bertha...