Obituaries

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...

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...

CHESTER - Jeanne Elizabeth Hull, 86, of Chester died Thursday, June 9, 2005, at the Liberty County Nursing Home. A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. today at St. Mary's Church in Chester. A funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Burial with military rites will follow at the Chester Cemetery. Jeanne was born April 8, 1916, on the family homestead nine miles south of Chester to Louis and Elise (Hamel) Gagnon. Jeanne received her early education at the Erickson School near the farm, then finished her...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Ardelle C. Hurlburt, 74, of Havre and former Havre city judge, died Wednesday, May 25, 2005, at her residence in Havre. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Zoe Coutts officiating. A private family graveside service will be held. A fellowship luncheon will be held immediately after the memorial service at the First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall. Ardelle was born in Victor, Colo., on Dec. 31, 1930, to Earl and Flora (Smith) Chambers. She attended schools in...

Patricia "Pat" Carlson, 73, of Marysville, Wash., died at her home in Marysville on Wednesday, May 25, 2005. There will be no services at her request. Patty was born Aug. 30, 1931, in Spokane, Wash., to Otho and Ethel (Crocker) Williams. Her heart was in Montana, where she spent her earlier years. She married Arlo Carlson in Havre, where they lived until 1964, when they moved to Everett, Wash., to be closer to family. Preceding Patty in death were her parents and her husband. Survivors include her daughter, Pamela (Corky)...

Joshua Allen Bennett, 30, died Monday, May 23, 2005, at his residence in Havre. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. today at St. Paul's Lutheran Church with the Rev. Ebel officiating. Graveside service to follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will follow at St. Paul's Lutheran Church following the memorial service. Joshua was born June 1, 1974, in Havre to Gary and Sandy Bennett. He attended special education classes at the Havre Public Schools. He graduated from CM Russell High School in Great Falls in...

BILLINGS - Gary W. "Mick" Morris, 66, of Billings died Friday, May 20, 2005, at a Billings hospital. A memorial service will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. in the Chinook United Methodist Church. Mick was born to Willis Morris and Beatrice (Drewniak) Morris on May 29, 1938, in Havre. He graduated from Chinook High School in 1956 and served honorably in the U.S. Navy from January 1957 to January 1961. Mick married Betty Shelstad on May 19, 1961, in Chinook. Mick worked for Hilde Construction. In 1973, he moved to Gillette, Wyo., and...

CHINOOK - Lorraine Johnson, 77, of Chinook died Tuesday, May 17, 2005, at Northern Montana Hospital due to natural causes. A memorial graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Lorraine was born on Feb. 3, 1928, in Lowell, Mass., to John and Mary (O'Neal) Magee. She was raised in Lowell and graduated from Lowell High School. Lorraine married Jack Johnson on Sept. 22, 1946, in Lowell. Lorraine worked as a clerk for a number of years in a local grocery store. Survivors include her husband, Jack...

HARLEM - Benjamin D. "Tuffy" Hofer, 38, of Harlem, a ranch hand, died Tuesday, May 17, 2005, at his home due to a heart attack. A wake service will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Log Church at Fort Belknap Agency. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Harlem High School Little Gymnasium with burial following in the Harlem Cemetery. Benjamin was born Oct. 1, 1966, at Fort Belknap to Darius K. and Katie (Stahl) Hofer. He lived at the North Harlem Colony, where he also graduated from school. When he...

Michael H. Wolf, 87, died Tuesday, May 17, 2005, at a hospice facility in Hamilton of natural causes. Michael's funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Fifth Avenue Christian Church in Havre, with the Rev. Rowlie Hutton offi- ciating. Burial with full military honors will follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the VFW Club immediately after the services at the graveside. Michael was born Sept. 23, 1917, at his family home in Liberty County. He was raised and educated in Liberty...