Obituaries

GREAT FALLS - Gary Aleck Schnurr, 59, of Great Falls, died of complications of a stroke Monday, Sept. 5, 2005, at his sister's home near Flathead Lake. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Sept. 17 at O'Connor Memorial Chapel in Great Falls. Gary was born June 19, 1946, at Billings to Aleck Schnurr and Margaret Degenhart Schnurr. He was raised and attended schools in Billings and Havre. He graduated from Havre Central High School in 1964. After graduation, Gary enlisted in the U.S. Navy. he served four years, spending...

Dixie Christina Vickhammer-Gloyne, 71, died Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2005, at the Village Health Care Center in Missoula after a yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Fifth Avenue Christian Church with burial following in the Highland Cemetery in Havre. Dixie was born in Dodson on March 13, 1934, to Christopher and Lila (Johnson) Vickhammer. She grew up on the Vickhammer homestead north of Wagner. On April 19, 1953, she married Carl Green in Malta. Dixie and her daughters...

MANITO, Ill. - Catherine Marie Sondag, 91, of Manito died at 4:55 a.m. Monday, Sept. 5, 2005, at Pekin Hospital in Pekin, Ill. A funeral Mass was held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Manito. Interment was to be at St. Frederick's Catholic Cemetery in Manito. Catherine was born July 22, 1914, in Sykeston, N.D., to John and Emma Wild Hammes She married Magnus N. Sondag on April 6, 1931, in Sykeston. He preceded her in death on June 14, 1981. She was preceded in death by her husband; son,...

GREAT FALLS - Gary Aleck Schnurr, 59, of Great Falls, died of complications of a stroke Monday, Sept. 5, 2005, at his sister's home near Flathead Lake. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Sept. 17 at O'Connor Memorial Chapel in Great Falls. Gary was born June 19, 1946, at Billings to Aleck Schnurr and Margaret Degenhart Schnurr. He was raised and attended schools in Billings and Havre. He graduated from Havre Central High School in 1964. After graduation, Gary enlisted in the U.S. Navy. he served four years, spending...

Dixie Christina Vickhammer-Gloyne, 71, died Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2005, at the Village Health Care Center in Missoula after a yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Fifth Avenue Christian Church with burial following in the Highland Cemetery in Havre. Dixie was born in Dodson on March 13, 1934, to Christopher and Lila (Johnson) Vickhammer. She grew up on the Vickhammer homestead north of Wagner. On April 19, 1953, she married Carl Green in Malta. Dixie and her daughters...

CHESTER - Mary Lois (Suckow) Wolery Packard, 83, of Chester, died Sunday, Sept. 4, 2005, at her apartment. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Chester Alliance Church. Burial will follow at Grace Cemetery. Mary Lois was born Jan. 26, 1922, on the family homestead in the Sage community north of Inverness to Alfred and Louie (Phifer) Suckow. In her childhood years she received the nickname, "Mo," which stuck with her throughout the years. Mary received her early education at the Packer and Oreana country...

Elsa Randine Hjulstad, 93, of Whitefish and formerly of Box Elder, died of natural causes Sunday, Sept. 4, 2005, at Colonial Manor in Whitefish. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls. Her pastor and friend, the Rev. Rich Jesperson, will conduct the service. She was born May 3, 1912, in Trondheim, Norway, to Minnie and Arne Nypan. At the turn of the 20th century, her father immigrated to the United States. In Minnesota, he met Minnie Olson and...

Frederick "Fred" Erving Rice, 84, of Havre, died on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2005, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. A memorial service will be held today at 3 p.m. at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Robert Grosch officiating. Burial of the ashes will take place at a later date. Following the service, there will be a luncheon at St. Jude Parish Center. Fred was born Sept. 19, 1921 to Walter and Carrie Rice at Big Sandy. He attended Rice School. Fred served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939...

Anne Marie (McGillis) Henry, 82, died Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. A wake service began with a rosary service at 7 p.m. Friday at the Box Elder High School. Her funeral service was scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Jude's Catholic Church with the Rev. Pete Guthneck officiating. Cremation will take place and a private graveside service at Highland Cemetery will be held at a later time. Anne was born Jan. 18, 1923, to John and Phyllis (Salois) McGillis in Dupuyer at Little...

Anne Marie (McGillis) Henry, 82, died Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. A wake service began with a rosary service at 7 p.m. Friday at the Box Elder High School. Her funeral service was scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Jude's Catholic Church with the Rev. Pete Guthneck officiating. Cremation will take place and a private graveside service at Highland Cemetery will be held at a later time. Anne was born Jan. 18, 1923, to John and Phyllis (Salois) McGillis in Dupuyer at Little...

Frederick "Fred" Erving Rice, 84, of Havre, died on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2005, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. A memorial service will be held today at 3 p.m. at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Robert Grosch officiating. Burial of the ashes will take place at a later date. Following the service, there will be a luncheon at St. Jude Parish Center. Fred was born Sept. 19, 1921 to Walter and Carrie Rice at Big Sandy. He attended Rice School. Fred served in the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1939...

Anne Marie (McGillis) Henry, 82, died Thursday, Sept. 1, 2005, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. A wake service began with a rosary service at 7 p.m. Friday at the Box Elder High School. Her funeral service was scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Jude's Catholic Church with the Rev. Pete Guthneck officiating. Cremation will take place and a private graveside service at Highland Cemetery will be held at a later time. Anne was born Jan. 18, 1923, to John and Phyllis (Salois) McGillis in Dupuyer at Little...

BOWMAN, N.D. - H.O. "Boots" Erickson, 76, of Bowman, N.D., formerly of Havre, died Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005, at Southwest Healthcare Services Hospital in Bowman. A funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Bowman Lutheran Church with the Rev. Galen Strand officiating. Burial will follow at Bowman Cemetery. There will be a family service at 7 p.m. Sunday at Krebsbach Funeral Service Chapel Survivors include his wife, Viola Homiston of Bowman; daughters, Elizabeth (Michael) Sampsel of Tucson, Ariz., and Timberly...

BOWMAN, N.D. - H.O. "Boots" Erickson, 76, of Bowman, N.D., formerly of Havre, died Wednesday, Aug. 31, 2005, at Southwest Healthcare Services Hospital in Bowman. A funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Bowman Lutheran Church with the Rev. Galen Strand officiating. Burial will follow at Bowman Cemetery. There will be a family service at 7 p.m. Sunday at Krebsbach Funeral Service Chapel Survivors include his wife, Viola Homiston of Bowman; daughters, Elizabeth (Michael) Sampsel of Tucson, Ariz., and Timberly...

Carole Lucille Norman, 77, longtime resident of Havre, died Monday Aug. 29, 2005, at her home of natural causes. A memorial celebration will be held at noon Saturday at the Fifth Avenue Christian Church with burial to follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the Eagles immediately after the services at the graveside. Carole was born Aug. 12, 1928, to Lloyd and Viola (Heiman) Wilber in Lewistown. She was one of five children and was later joined by 14 half-brothers and half-sisters. Carole was...

Carole Lucille Norman, 77, longtime resident of Havre, died Monday Aug. 29, 2005, at her home of natural causes. A memorial celebration will be held at noon Saturday at the Fifth Avenue Christian Church with burial to follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the Eagles immediately after the services at the graveside. Carole was born Aug. 12, 1928, to Lloyd and Viola (Heiman) Wilber in Lewistown. She was one of five children and was later joined by 14 half-brothers and half-sisters. Carole was...

Cyndy Rae Flynn Woodward, 38, of Havre died Thursday, Aug. 25, 2005, at her home in Havre. Her cause of death is still under investigation. Her memorial service was scheduled for 1 p.m. today at the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home Chapel in Libby. Cyndy was born April 22, 1967, in Pendleton, Ore. She was raised and educated in Libby and graduated from Libby High School in 1985. She enjoyed outdoor activities, especially riding horses, and fishing was a great pastime, though enjoying her catch for dinner was even better. Cyndy was...

Anne M. Mueller, 85, died Sunday, Aug. 28, 2005, at her residence in Havre of natural causes. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Jude's Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial will be held in Yachats, Ore. Anne was born Oct. 13, 1919, in Portland, Ore., to Frank and Marie (Frederick) Lang. She was raised and educated in Portland, attending St. Clare's grade school and St. Mary's Academy. Anne married Jose Torres in April of 1940 in Portland. He died in 1942. Anne then married Joh...

BILLINGS - Merlyn Henry Miller, 57, died of heart failure on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2005, while hiking the West Rosebud drainage in the Beartooth Mountains with his son, Nick. Visitation will begin at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Michelotti-Sawyers, 1001 Alderson St. A funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 537 Grand Ave. in Billings. A reception and celebration of Merlyn's life will follow the funeral at the MSU-Billings downtown campus, at the corner of Third Avenue North and Broadway. Merlyn was bor...

PLAINS - Donald Cole, 75, of Plains, died Monday, Aug. 22, 2005. A memorial service was scheduled for 11 a.m. today at the Church of God in Plains. Don was born on Feb. 19, 1930, in Great Falls to Earl Lester and Helen O. (Hoglund) Cole. During his early years, Don lived in several towns in Montana, Idaho and Washington. He graduated from Thompson Fall High School in 1948. Following the death of his father after Don's graduation, the family moved to Plains, where Don began working as a logger. He logged in the Thompson River...

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...

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...

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...