Obituaries

GILDFORD - Earl T. McConnell, 85, of Gildford died Sunday, June 19, 2005, of natural causes at a private care home near Havre. Per his request, his body will be cremated. A memorial service is planned for the near future. Earl was born June 2, 1920, in Pennsyl-vania. He received his education there and excelled in track-and-field during his high school years. He served in the U.S. military during World War II and the Korean conflict. Following his discharge, he lived in Arizona and New Mexico, where he worked in construction....

GILDFORD - Earl T. McConnell, 85, of Gildford died Sunday, June 19, 2005, of natural causes at a private care home near Havre. Per his request, his body will be cremated. A memorial service is planned for the near future. Earl was born June 2, 1920, in Pennsyl-vania. He received his education there and excelled in track-and-field during his high school years. He served in the U.S. military during World War II and the Korean conflict. Following his discharge, he lived in Arizona and New Mexico, where he worked in construction....

ROCKY BOY - Eugene Joseph LaMere, 63, of Rocky Boy, a retired heavy equipment operator who served in the Army from 1966 to 1968, died of natural causes Thursday, June 16, 2005, at Northern Montana Hospital. A wake was held Friday at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church. A funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church with burial by the honor guard in the Rocky Boy Cemetery with military honors. Eugene was born on June 15, 1942, to Josephine and Victor LaMere Sr. at Fort Belknap. After basic training...

ROCKY ROCKY - Patricia Ann (Houle) Azure, 72, of Box Elder died Sunday, June 20, 2005, at Benefis East Hospital in Great Falls. A rosary will be held at 7 p.m today at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home in Havre. The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Rocky Boy with the Rev. Pete Guthneck officiating. A graveside service will follow at the Highland Cemetery. Patricia was born Dec. 8, 1932, at Fort Belknap to Joe and Mary (Russette) Houle. She was preceded in death by her mother and father,...

HARLEM - Ronald L. Mackey, 70, of Florence and Harlem died at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula on Sunday, June 12, 2005, from complications of lymnhonma cancer. A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Monday at the Harlem Presbyterian Church....

HARLEM - Lewis C. Gilbert, 90, well-known farmer and rancher, of Harlem died Sunday, June 12, 2005, at his home in the loving arms of his wife and children. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. in the Harlem High School gym Friday. Viewing will be Thursday afternoon and evening at Edwards Funeral Home in Chinook and at 11 a.m. Friday. Lewis was born Jan. 12, 1915, in Trenton, Neb., to Millard and Emma Gilbert. His family followed the harvest work from state to state, which eventually led them to the sugar beet fields of...

HARLEM - Ronald L. Mackey, 70, of Florence and Harlem died at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula on Sunday, June 12, 2005, from complications of lymnhonma cancer. A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Monday at the Harlem Presbyterian Church....

HARLEM - Lewis C. Gilbert, 90, well-known farmer and rancher, of Harlem died Sunday, June 12, 2005, at his home in the loving arms of his wife and children. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. in the Harlem High School gym Friday. Viewing will be Thursday afternoon and evening at Edwards Funeral Home in Chinook and at 11 a.m. Friday. Lewis was born Jan. 12, 1915, in Trenton, Neb., to Millard and Emma Gilbert. His family followed the harvest work from state to state, which eventually led them to the sugar beet fields of...

HARLEM - Ronald L. Mackey, 70, of Florence and Harlem died at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula on Sunday, June 12, 2005, from complications of lymnhonma cancer. A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Monday at the Harlem Presbyterian Church....

HARLEM - Lewis C. Gilbert, 90, well-known farmer and rancher, of Harlem died Sunday, June 12, 2005, at his home in the loving arms of his wife and children. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. in the Harlem High School gym Friday. Viewing will be Thursday afternoon and evening at Edwards Funeral Home in Chinook and at 11 a.m. Friday. Lewis was born Jan. 12, 1915, in Trenton, Neb., to Millard and Emma Gilbert. His family followed the harvest work from state to state, which eventually led them to the sugar beet fields of...

HARLEM - Ronald L. Mackey, 70, of Florence and Harlem died at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula on Sunday, June 12, 2005, from complications of lymnhonma cancer. A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Monday at the Harlem Presbyterian Church....

HARLEM - Lewis C. Gilbert, 90, well-known farmer and rancher, of Harlem died Sunday, June 12, 2005, at his home in the loving arms of his wife and children. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. in the Harlem High School gym Friday. Viewing will be Thursday afternoon and evening at Edwards Funeral Home in Chinook and at 11 a.m. Friday. Lewis was born Jan. 12, 1915, in Trenton, Neb., to Millard and Emma Gilbert. His family followed the harvest work from state to state, which eventually led them to the sugar beet fields of...

LEWISTOWN - Lillian K. Gehlen, 94, of Lewistown and formerly of Havre, died Sunday, June 12, 2005, at the Central Montana Skilled Nursing Center of natural causes with her loving family at her bedside. She was born July 22, 1910, in Havre to William E. and Mary Ann (Lamey) Ryan. She received her education in Havre, graduating from Havre High School. On April 17, 1937, she was united in marriage to Raymond G. Gehlen Sr. They made their home and raised their children in Havre. Before having their children, she was employed as a...

CHESTER - Clifford Lybeck, 84, of Chester died Saturday, June 11, 2005, at the Liberty County Hospital in Chester. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chester. Burial with military rites will follow at the Chester Cemetery. Cliff was born Nov. 27, 1920, at Great Falls to Karen Koll and Hans Christian Lybeck. Cliff grew up on the family homestead 38 miles north of Chester and received his formal education at country schools near the farm. In the few years that followed, he wor...

LEWISTOWN - Lillian K. Gehlen, 94, of Lewistown and formerly of Havre, died Sunday, June 12, 2005, at the Central Montana Skilled Nursing Center of natural causes with her loving family at her bedside. She was born July 22, 1910, in Havre to William E. and Mary Ann (Lamey) Ryan. She received her education in Havre, graduating from Havre High School. On April 17, 1937, she was united in marriage to Raymond G. Gehlen Sr. They made their home and raised their children in Havre. Before having their children, she was employed as a...

BIG SANDY - Walter F. Robertson, 80, of Big Sandy died Saturday, June 11, 2005, at his residence in Big Sandy due to cancer. A prayer vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, with his funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Wednesday, both at St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church in Big Sandy with the Rev. Pete Guthneck officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at the Big Sandy Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the services at the graveside. Walter was born May 3, 1925, in Big San...

RUDYARD - Schuyler A. "Shy" Horel, 89, of Rudyard died Thursday, June 9, 2005, at a medical facility in Chester. Crema-tion is planned. A private service will be held at a later date. Shy was born Jan. 15, 1916, at Council Bluffs, Iowa, and grew up at Augusta, Wis. Following his education, he moved to Fort Peck, where he worked on the construction of the Fork Peck Dam. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served 3 years in the South Pacific during World War II. He received his honorable discharge, then...

Jeff Moriarty Larson, 36, of Billings died Thursday, June 2, 2005. A memorial service for Jeff will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Dahl Funeral Chapel, 10 Yellowstone Ave., Billings. Jeff was born Feb. 21, 1969. He grew up in Billings and spent many weekends in the mountains at his aunt's cabin. This taught him to appreciate the fragility of nature. An avid reader, Jeff could discuss a variety of topics. After graduating from Billings West High School, he went on to obtain a bachelor of science degree in diesel technology...

Jeff Moriarty Larson, 36, of Billings died Thursday, June 2, 2005. A memorial service for Jeff will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Dahl Funeral Chapel, 10 Yellowstone Ave., Billings. Jeff was born Feb. 21, 1969. He grew up in Billings and spent many weekends in the mountains at his aunt's cabin. This taught him to appreciate the fragility of nature. An avid reader, Jeff could discuss a variety of topics. After graduating from Billings West High School, he went on to obtain a bachelor of science degree in diesel technology...

PARK CITY - Joe Hutton, 81, of Park City died Wednesday, May 25, 2005, after a long battle with emphysema. A memorial celebration will be held at Turner School at 2 p.m. Saturday. Joe was born on May 11, 1924, in Dodson. He served in the Navy and was a World War II veteran, before meeting his wife, Maxine. He then resided in Turner for most of his life, where he was a master mechanic. He also spent many years in Loring and in Big Coulee near Ryegate. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Guy and Muriel Hutton; wife,...

MISSOULA - June I. McCrea, 85, of Missoula and formerly of Big Sandy, died Friday, June 3, 2005, at her home in Missoula of natural causes surrounded by her family. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the O'Connor Memorial Chapel of Great Falls. Cremation has taken place. June was born March 22, 1920, to Julie and Otto Benson in Plaza, N.D. She grew up and attended schools in North Dakota. She moved to Great Falls when she was 18. She graduated from Great Falls Cosmetology School and went to manage her...

MISSOULA - June I. McCrea, 85, of Missoula and formerly of Big Sandy, died Friday, June 3, 2005, at her home in Missoula of natural causes surrounded by her family. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the O'Connor Memorial Chapel of Great Falls. Cremation has taken place. June was born March 22, 1920, to Julie and Otto Benson in Plaza, N.D. She grew up and attended schools in North Dakota. She moved to Great Falls when she was 18. She graduated from Great Falls Cosmetology School and went to manage her...

BIG SANDY - Mary Whitlatch Marten, 76, formerly of Chinook, died Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at the Big Sandy Medical Center due to natural causes. A funeral Mass will be Monday at 11 a.m. in St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church in Big Sandy with burial following at 3 p.m. in Kuper Memorial Cemetery at Chinook. Rosary will be recited Sunday at 7 p.m. in St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church. Mary was born Aug. 26, 1928, in Chinook to Barney and Adeline (Kuper) Hermes. She was raised in Chinook and attended Chinook schools. Mary...

Dean Russell Clayborn, 59, of Havre died Monday, May 30, 2005, at the Clayborn farm from a tractor accident. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Friday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the Vets Club immediately after the service. Interment of the cremated remains will be held at the Clayborn farm. Dean was born in Havre on Aug. 4, 1945, to Margaret (Flatness) and Harold Clayborn. Dean graduated from Havre High School in 1965. On Aug. 6, 1966, he married Lorraine Vosen. They...

Dean Russell Clayborn, 59, of Havre died Monday, May 30, 2005, at the Clayborn farm from a tractor accident. A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Friday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the Vets Club immediately after the service. Interment of the cremated remains will be held at the Clayborn farm. Dean was born in Havre on Aug. 4, 1945, to Margaret (Flatness) and Harold Clayborn. Dean graduated from Havre High School in 1965. On Aug. 6, 1966, he married Lorraine Vosen. They...