Obituaries

CHESTER - Robin Estelle O'Neil, 50, of Chester died Monday, June 27, 2005, at the Liberty County Hospital in Chester due to cancer. Her memorial services will be 11 a.m. Friday at the Chester Assembly of God Church. It was Robin's request that all family and friends planning to attend her funeral dress in bright, colorful, spring attire. Robin was born July 4, 1954, at Great Falls to Douglas and Josephine (Plank) Gunderson. She grew up on the family farm north of Chester and received her early schooling at the Osler Country S...

CHINOOK - Marilyn Alice Roth, 73, died Tuesday, June 21, 2005, at Northern Montana Care Center, after suffering from a short illness. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. next Tuesday in the Zion Lutheran Church with burial following in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Marilyn was born June 26, 1931, on the family farm in Sutton, N.D., to William Jacob Rahlf and Alice Dorothea Leininger Rahlf. In 1942, the Rahlf family moved from the Sutton farm to a farm in Binford, N.D. This farm, where Marilyn had many childhood memories,...

CHESTER - Robin E. (Gunderson) O'Neil, 50, died Monday, June 27, 2005, at the Liberty County Hospital in Chester from metastatic cancer. Cremation is planned. Her memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Chester Assembly of God Church. A luncheon will follow at Our Savior's Fellowship Hall. Robin requested that family and friends attending her service dress in bright, colorful attire. Robin is survived by her husband, Kevin; son, Joshua; and siblings, Dale, Judy, Leonard and Dennis Gunderson. Undesignated...

A graveside service for Earl McConnell, 85, of Gildford, who died June 19, 2005, in Havre, will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday by the Rev. Eddie Fallo at the Gildford Cemetery. Earl's wife, Jeane (Kaiser) McConnell, died in 1999. Earl and Jeane were both cremated, so their ashes will be buried together at Earl's committal service. Arrangements are by Rockman Funeral Chapel, Chester....

MALTA - John H. Low, 59, of Malta, maintenance supervisor for the Malta Public Schools, died Wednesday, June 22, 2005, at the Phillips County Hospital from injuries received in a fall. A funeral service will be 2 p.m. Monday at the Malta High School. Interment will be in the Malta Cemetery. John was born March 1, 1946, in Bayard, Neb., to Harold and Edna (Willie) Low. He was raised in Nebraska and graduated from the Bridgeport High School in 1964. John worked a wide variety of jobs during his lifetime. He attended Dakota...

MALTA - John H. Low, 59, of Malta, maintenance supervisor for the Malta Public Schools, died Wednesday, June 22, 2005, at the Phillips County Hospital from injuries received in a fall. A funeral service will be 2 p.m. Monday at the Malta High School. Interment will be in the Malta Cemetery. John was born March 1, 1946, in Bayard, Neb., to Harold and Edna (Willie) Low. He was raised in Nebraska and graduated from the Bridgeport High School in 1964. John worked a wide variety of jobs during his lifetime. He attended Dakota...

Leonard Owen Wavrick, 62, of Havre died Saturday, June 18, 2005, due to an accidental fall while working in the evening in his shop. A funeral service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. in the First Lutheran Church with a reception following at the Elks Lodge. Burial with military honors will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Alice Nash Memorial Cemetery on the Lone Tree Bench. Leonard was born on March 11, 1942, in Bigfork to Steve and Edith (Volkman) Wavrick. He graduated from Havre High School and attended Northern Montana College...

GILDFORD - Percy Nordrum, 80, retired Gildford farmer, died Monday, June 20, 2005, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Percy's memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Fifth Avenue Christian Church with Ila McClenahan officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the Vets Club immediately after the memorial service. Percy was born July 16, 1924, to Emil and Alma (Sandver) Nordrum in Barnesville, Minn. Percy attended rural schools in Minnesota. As a young man, Percy traveled through Montana...

Leonard Owen Wavrick, 62, of Havre died Saturday, June 18, 2005, due to an accidental fall while working in the evening in his shop. A funeral service will be held Friday at 11 a.m. in the First Lutheran Church with a reception following at the Elks Lodge. Burial with military honors will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Alice Nash Memorial Cemetery on the Lone Tree Bench. Leonard was born on March 11, 1942, in Bigfork to Steve and Edith (Volkman) Wavrick. He graduated from Havre High School and attended Northern Montana College...

GILDFORD - Percy Nordrum, 80, retired Gildford farmer, died Monday, June 20, 2005, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Percy's memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Fifth Avenue Christian Church with Ila McClenahan officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the Vets Club immediately after the memorial service. Percy was born July 16, 1924, to Emil and Alma (Sandver) Nordrum in Barnesville, Minn. Percy attended rural schools in Minnesota. As a young man, Percy traveled through Montana...

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...

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,...

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...

FORT BENTON - Katherine T. Larkin, 72, of Fort Benton died Wednesday, June 1, 2005, at Missouri River Medical Center of natural causes. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Fort Benton United Methodist Church with the Rev. Howard P. Hunter officiating. She was born Sept. 7, 1932, at Great Falls to Andreas and Helena (Miller) Trunk. She attended and graduated from Big Sandy High School. Katherine attended Northern Montana College in Havre and University of Montana in Missoula. She received her teaching...

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...