Obituaries

STEVENSVILLE Fern Erma Garding, 81, of Stevensville died Saturday, March 3, 2007, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. Rosary will be recited at the Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville on Thursday at 7 p.m. A second rosary will be recited at the Holland and Bonine Funeral Home in Havre on Friday at 7 p. m. Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Jude's Catholic Church in Havre on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. followed by graveside services at Highland Cemetery. A luncheon will be at St. Jude's Social Hall in Havre. Fern was b...

Carol Jean “Kay” Manaras, 85, of Havre died Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007, at her residence of natural causes. Cremation has taken place and her memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the St. Mark's Episcopal Church with Gail Wheatley officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the services at the graveside. Kay was born March 17, 1921, in Helena to Clarence and Vera (Sinclair) Hanscen. She was raised and educated in Helena and graduated from Helena High School. Kay moved to Havre to...

CHINOOK/HARLEM John Kinzel, 84, a retired Harlem farmer and mechanic, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007, from natural causes at the Northern Montana Care Center in Havre. Memorial services will be held Monday at 2 p. m. in Zion Lutheran Church in Chinook with burial following in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. John was born June 22, 1922, at Kimball, Neb., to George and Amelia (Hartwig) Kinzel, one of 11 children. The family moved from Nebraska to Wyoming and later to Montana, eventually settling on the family farm near Harlem... Full story

Carol Jean “Kay” Manaras, 85, of Havre died Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2007, at her residence of natural causes. Cremation has taken place and her memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the St. Mark's Episcopal Church with Gail Wheatley officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the services at the graveside. Kay was born March 17, 1921, in Helena to Clarence and Vera (Sinclair) Hanscen. She was raised and educated in Helena and graduated from Helena High School. Kay moved to Havre to...

CHINOOK/HARLEM John Kinzel, 84, a retired Harlem farmer and mechanic, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007, from natural causes at the Northern Montana Care Center in Havre. Memorial services will be held Monday at 2 p. m. in Zion Lutheran Church in Chinook with burial following in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. John was born June 22, 1922, at Kimball, Neb., to George and Amelia (Hartwig) Kinzel, one of 11 children. The family moved from Nebraska to Wyoming and later to Montana, eventually settling on the family farm near Harlem...

HOGELAND Scott Waring Billmayer, 52, died Monday, Feb. 26, 2007, at his home in Bigfork after a short illness. He fought a valiant battle against pancreatic cancer. His funeral service will be Friday at 1 p. m. at the American Lutheran Church in Hogeland. Private family interment will precede the funeral. A luncheon will follow the service at the church. Scott was born on Dec. 1, 1954, to Frank and Jeanette (Kelly) Billmayer. Scott , the youngest of four sons, attended grade school in Hogeland. The Billmayer family later... Full story

HOGELAND Scott Waring Billmayer, 52, died Monday, Feb. 26, 2007, at his home in Bigfork after a short illness. He fought a valiant battle against pancreatic cancer. His funeral service will be Friday at 1 p. m. at the American Lutheran Church in Hogeland. Private family interment will precede the funeral. A luncheon will follow the service at the church. Scott was born on Dec. 1, 1954, to Frank and Jeanette (Kelly) Billmayer. Scott , the youngest of four sons, attended grade school in Hogeland. The Billmayer family later...

BIG SANDY Marjorie Maxine Bushy, 83, of Big Sandy died Monday, Feb. 26, 2007, at a local hospital of natural causes. A memorial service will be held Thursday at 3 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in Big Sandy. Burial will take place at a later date. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Croxford Funeral Home and Crematory. Maxine was born Dec. 1, 1923 in Balaton, Minn., to Bessie and Charles Claypool. They later moved to Hinsdale and Dodson. Maxine attended Montana State University in Bozeman for a year, and...

BIG SANDY Marjorie Maxine Bushy, 83, of Big Sandy died Monday, Feb. 26, 2007, at a local hospital of natural causes. A memorial service will be held Thursday at 3 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church in Big Sandy. Burial will take place at a later date. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Croxford Funeral Home and Crematory. Maxine was born Dec. 1, 1923 in Balaton, Minn., to Bessie and Charles Claypool. They later moved to Hinsdale and Dodson. Maxine attended Montana State University in Bozeman for a year, and...

Richard Edward Winter, 87, of Havre died Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. His funeral service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. A private family burial will be held. Richard was born May 3, 1919, in Cannon Ball, N.D., to Fredrick and Pauline (Schultz) Winter. He was raised and educated in Graceville, Minn. He moved with his parents to Montana when he was a teenager and they settled in Harlem. Richard worked in the coa...

BIG SANDY/MILES CITY Glen Nepil, 59, of Miles City died Friday, Feb. 23, 2007, at his home in Miles City following a courageous battle against brain cancer. A prayer service was held Monday evening at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. His funeral services will be held at 1p. m. today at Grace Bible Church in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Custer County Cemetery in Miles City. A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 2, 2007, at 1:00 p.m. at the High School Auditorium in Big Sandy, Montana. Glen... Full story

Richard Edward Winter, 87, of Havre died Sunday, Feb. 25, 2007, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. His funeral service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. A private family burial will be held. Richard was born May 3, 1919, in Cannon Ball, N.D., to Fredrick and Pauline (Schultz) Winter. He was raised and educated in Graceville, Minn. He moved with his parents to Montana when he was a teenager and they settled in Harlem. Richard worked in the coa...

BIG SANDY/MILES CITY Glen Nepil, 59, of Miles City died Friday, Feb. 23, 2007, at his home in Miles City following a courageous battle against brain cancer. A prayer service was held Monday evening at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. His funeral services will be held at 1p. m. today at Grace Bible Church in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Custer County Cemetery in Miles City. A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 2, 2007, at 1:00 p.m. at the High School Auditorium in Big Sandy, Montana. Glen...

Sheldon Ray Wilson, 35, of Havre died Friday, Feb. 23, 2007, at a Great Falls Hospital from a self-inflicted gun shot wound. Cremation has taken place and his memorial service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Fifth Avenue Christian Church with Chad Leathermon officiating. Burial will follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the Vets Club immediately after the services at the graveside. Sheldon was born May 12, 1971, in Havre to Phyllis Wilson and Larry Azure. He was raised and educated in Havre and... Full story

VERADALE, Wash. Bridget H. Ryan, 82, died of natural causes on Jan. 20, 2007, in Veradale, Wash. Bridget was born Feb. 3, 1925, to Murt and Eina Crow in Bainville. The family moved to Glasgow in 1927, where she attended school and graduated in 1943. While in Glasgow, Bridget worked at Sinclair Produce Co., Glasgow Flour Mill and Glasgow Livestock Sales as a bookkeeper. In 1952, Bridget transferred to Havre with the livestock sales company and also worked at the Great Falls livestock yard owned by the same company. In 1965,... Full story

CHINOOK William Edward (Ed) Williamson, 94, longtime resident of Chinook, died Monday, Feb. 19, 2007, in Bozeman due to natural causes. Cremation has taken place and memorial service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Lloyd Sweet Auditorium at Chinook High School. A lunch will be held at the Chinook Senior Citizens Center immediately after the service. Ed was born on July 30, 1912, on the family ranch located approximately 50 miles south of Chinook in the Reidel Community to Albert and Lena (Olsen) Williamson. He attended...

CHINOOK William Edward (Ed) Williamson, 94, longtime resident of Chinook, died Monday, Feb. 19, 2007, in Bozeman due to natural causes. Cremation has taken place and memorial service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. in the Lloyd Sweet Auditorium at Chinook High School. A lunch will be held at the Chinook Senior Citizens Center immediately after the service. Ed was born on July 30, 1912, on the family ranch located approximately 50 miles south of Chinook in the Reidel Community to Albert and Lena (Olsen) Williamson. He attended... Full story

LODGE POLE Peggy Jo Jackson, 56, of Lodge Pole died Sunday, Feb. 18, 2007, in Billings due to natural causes. Her funeral service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. in Chief Nosey Center with burial following in the Big Warm Cemetery. A wake will begin on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Chief Nosey Center. Peggy Jo was born Nov. 15, 1950, at Fort Belknap Agency to Theodore and Ruby (Has Eagle) Messerly. Peggy Jo was raised and attended school in Lodge Pole and attended College of Great Falls. She was a Head Start teacher's aide for five...

KREMLIN Edwin J. Haugen, 89, retired Kremlin farmer, died Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007, at the Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Viewing will be held today from 1 p. m. to 4 p. m. and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cremation will take place and his memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Van Orsdel United Methodist Church with Pastor Richard Rice officiating. Military rites will be held outside the church following the service. A fellowship luncheon will be held immediately after the military honors...

DODSON Lazure J. Ereaux, 77, rancher and longtime Dodson resident, died of natural causes on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2007, at Benefis Peace Hospice in Great Falls. His funeral service will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the Dodson High School Gymnasium with burial following in the Ereaux Family Cemetery west of Dodson. A feed at the Dodson School will follow the burial. Lazure was born on Nov. 17, 1929, in Salem, Ore., to Lazure Sr. And Alice (Hall) Ereaux. Lazure was employed in various occupations, a teamster, farmer/rancher,... Full story

BIG SANDY Vernon Vincent Richter, 88, longtime resident of Big Sandy and retired pharmacist, died Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007, at the Big Sandy Medical Center of natural causes. Cremation will take place and his memorial service will be 11 a. m. Monday at the Christ Lutheran Church with Pastor Jeff Stoopes officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the services. A private family interment will be held at a later time. Vernon was born Jan. 24, 1919, in Vandalia to Alexander LeRoy and Adeline...

Bernice “Bea” S. Hughes, 91, a homemaker of Havre, died of natural causes Friday, Feb. 16, 2007, at Northern Montana Care Center. Her visitation will be from 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. today at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home with her funeral service 10:30 a. m. Tuesday at First Lutheran Church with Pastors Brad Ulgenes and Michael O'Hearn officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the services at the graveside. Bea was born July 19, 1915, in Hin...

Lisa Rae Stuckey, 30, died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007, from injuries she sustained in a motor vehicle accident south of Loma. Lisa's funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Fifth Avenue Christian Church with Pastor Rowlie Hutton officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery in Havre. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately following the graveside service. Lisa was born Dec. 2, 1976, in Havre to Leland and Peggy (Becker) Nicholson. She was raised and educated in Havre, graduating from Havre...

HAYS Caroline Germaine Nez Perce, 76, died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2007, at Billings Deaconess Hospital due to complications from diabetes. Her funeral Mass was scheduled for 11 a.m. today in St. Paul's Catholic Church with burial following in the Mission Cemetery. A wake began Sunday afternoon at the Mission Recreation Center with rosary recited at 7 p. m. Caroline was born on September 25, 1930 at Fort Belknap Agency, Montana, to Joseph Nez Perce and Annie (Snow) Nez Perce. Caroline grew up in the old Hays area with her Uncle...

Leonard A. Motari, 83, of Great Falls, a former longtime general agent for Pioneer Mutual Life Insurance Co. In Havre, died of natural causes Friday, Feb. 2, 2007, at his home. A vigil will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at O'Connor Funeral Home in Great Falls. His funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, followed by burial at Highland Cemetery in Great Falls. A memorial service will be held in Havre at a later date. Leonard was born June 24, 1923, in Great Falls to Mary Ellen and Joseph Motari. As a young man, Leonard...