Obituaries

FORT BELKNAP Merrilyn (Black Tongue) Ricker, 36, died Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, at her residence in Havre from a drug overdose. Her funeral Mass will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Red Whip Center with burial following at the Crazy Boy Family Cemetery south of Snake Butte. There will be a feed at the Red Whip Center following the burial. Wake service will begin at 5 p.m. today at the Red Whip Center with rosary recited at 7 p.m. Merrilyn was born to Caroline (Mountain) Crazy Boy and Ervin Black Tongue on Nov. 17, 1970, in...

CHINOOK Terry C. Goodbar, 96, of Chinook died Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, at Sweet Memorial Nursing Home due to natural causes. His funeral service will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with burial following in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Terry was born Dec. 1, 1910, in Indiana to Walter and Tesora (Terry) Goodbar. He attended school south of Chinook and worked on the family farm for a number of years. Terry moved to Chinook and worked in the Sanitation Department for the City of Chinook for 17 years. Terry...

HAYS George R. “Chinky” Doney, 78, died Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, at Fort Belknap Indian Health Center due to natural causes. His funeral Mass was scheduled for today at 10 a.m. at St. Paul's Catholic Church with burial following at Doney Owl Head Mountain Cemetery with military honors. His wake began Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Mission Recreation Center. His rosary was Monday at 7 p.m. at Mission Recreation Center. Chinky was born Sept. 22, 1928, to Dave and Ernestine (Fleury) Doney on Sage Brush Flats in Hays. Chinky attended St....

MALTA Sheila Mae Simanton, 76, retired owner of the Malta Mercantile, died Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007 at Phillips County Hospital of cancer. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a. m. Saturday at Malta Lutheran Church. Interment will be in the Malta Cemetery. Sheila was born Aug. 5, 1930, in Malta to Lochiel “Shingles” and Gladys (Tieden) Edwards. She graduated from the Malta High School in 1948 and attended Colorado Women's College. She returned to Malta and worked at the Malta Mercantile. She married Dwayne Simanton on Nov...

FORT BELKNAP Merrilyn (Black Tongue) Ricker, 36, died Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, at her residence in Havre from a drug overdose. Her funeral Mass will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Red Whip Center with burial following at the Crazy Boy Family Cemetery south of Snake Butte. There will be a feed at the Red Whip Center following the burial. Wake service will begin at 5 p.m. today at the Red Whip Center with rosary recited at 7 p.m. Merrilyn was born to Caroline (Mountain) Crazy Boy and Ervin Black Tongue on Nov. 17, 1970, in...

CHINOOK Terry C. Goodbar, 96, of Chinook died Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, at Sweet Memorial Nursing Home due to natural causes. His funeral service will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with burial following in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Terry was born Dec. 1, 1910, in Indiana to Walter and Tesora (Terry) Goodbar. He attended school south of Chinook and worked on the family farm for a number of years. Terry moved to Chinook and worked in the Sanitation Department for the City of Chinook for 17 years. Terry...

LIBBY Lester Lewis (Les) Skramstad, 70, a longtime resident of the Kootenai Valley, died Sunday morning, Jan. 21, 2007, at his home in Libby following a long battle with mesothelioma. Despite the devastating physical affects of his illness, Les remained a tireless and outspoken advocate for those affected by the disease. His funeral service will be Monday at 3:00 p.m. at the Libby Christian Church; a brief interment service will follow at the City of Libby Cemetery. Friends may call at the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home from 1...

BRADENTON, FlA. Diane Allen Phelps, 73, of Bradenton, Fla., and a former Box Elder resident, died Monday, Jan. 15, 2007, in Bradenton. A memorial service was held Jan. 20 in Bradenton. Diane was born Feb. 18, 1933, in Minneapolis, Minn. She was raised in both Minnesota and Box Elder. She graduated from Box Elder High School in 1951. She served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Diane married Leonard Ashley Phelps on Feb. 14, 1953, in San Antonio, Texas. Survivors include her husband, Ashley Phelps of Bradenton;...

Edgar A. Dobrenz, 80, died Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2007, at the Veteran's Hospital in Helena of natural causes. Cremation will take place and his memorial service will be 1 p. m. Tuesday January 30, 2007 at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home with Pastor Brad Ulgenes officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship will follow the graveside service at the Eagles Club. Edgar was born May 24, 1926, in Sheboygan, Wis., to August and Frances (Le Barron) Dobrenz. He was raised and educated in...

Kenneth E. Christopherson Jr., 74, left his family and friends on January 19, 2007 at St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings. Services will be held at 2 p.m. today at the Smith Downtown Chapel, 925 S. 27 St. with the Rev. Don Dillavou will be officiating. Cremation has taken place. Interment will be held at a later date in Havre. Kenny was born the oldest of five to Mabel and Kenneth Christopherson Sr. On March 9, 1932, in Havre. He was raised in Havre and graduated from Havre High School in 1950. He began his long career with...

Marion Rose Ekness, 76, died of cancer in Phoenix on Monday, Jan. 15, 2007. The memorial service for Marion will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at First Lutheran Church in Havre. She was born in Blaine County and lived the past 26 years in Havre. Marion was a loving wife, mother and grandmother as well as a caring sister and friend. She loved to be with her grandchildren, they brought so much joy and love into her life. She also enjoyed making gifts for them and always encouraged them in their endeavors. She worked as a nurse for...

SUNBURST Bonnie L. Dyrdahl, 73, a retired office manager from Sunburst, died Friday, Jan. 19, 2007, at the Marias Medical Center due to cancer. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Sunburst Cemetery. Bonnie was born June 30, 1933, at Big Sandy to Augustus and Alice (Flatness) Hobbs. The family moved to Box Elder in 1943, where she graduated from high school in 1951. Bonnie then moved to Shelby and married James Dyrdahl on Sept. 24, 1955 at Choteau. They moved from the family farm near Devon to Sunburst...

BOX ELDER Thomas Mitchell Koop Jr., 48, died Jan. 12, 2007, in Bakersville, Calif. His cause of death has not yet been determined. Thomas' wake service will be 4 p. m. Friday with his funeral service 10 a.m. Saturday, all at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church with Father Pete Guthneck officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Thomas was born March 20, 1958, in Los Angeles, Calif., to Thomas and Josephine (LaMere) Koop Sr. He was raised and educated in Dinuba, Calif. He entered into the United States Navy and was...

CHINOOK Skyler James Randles, the infant son of Amber Fitzpatrick and Anthony Randles of Chinook, died Friday, Jan. 12, 2007, due to complication from birth. His funeral service will be held at 10 a. m. Saturday at the St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the service. Skyler James was born Jan. 12, 2007, at the Northern Montana Hospital. He was a beautiful baby boy, who left imprints on his family's hearts. Skyler was...

CHINOOK Skyler James Randles, the infant son of Amber Fitzpatrick and Anthony Randles of Chinook, died Friday, Jan. 12, 2007, due to complication from birth. His funeral service will be held at 10 a. m. Saturday at the St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the service. Skyler James was born Jan. 12, 2007, at the Northern Montana Hospital. He was a beautiful baby boy, who left imprints on his family's hearts. Skyler was...

Lydia Verploegen 92, of Havre died Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2007, at Northern Montana Hospital after a short illness. A viewing will be held from 10 a. m. to 4 p.m. Friday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Her prayer vigil service will be held at 7 p. m. Friday at the St. Jude Catholic Church with her funeral Mass 10 a.m. Saturday at the St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial will follow north of Havre at the Cottonwood Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center i...

Marie Gibson, 78, of Havre died Wednesday Jan. 10, 2007, at the Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Cremation has taken place and her memorial service will be 2 p.m. Friday at the St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center immeidatley after the service. Interment will be held at the Hillcrest Mausoleum at a later time. Marie was born Feb. 21, 1928, in Havre to Jim and Babe (Stamey) Cowan. She had very fond memories of her childho...

MALTA Raymond Joseph Demarais, 69, of Malta died Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007. He was an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in Belcourt, N.D. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Adams Memorial Chapel in Malta. Visitation will be Monday at 6 p. m. at the Adams Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in the Malta Cemetery. Raymond was born in Malta on Feb. 11, 1936, to Joseph and Philomene (McGillis) Demarais. Raymond went to school in Malta, then attended Indian boarding schools in Wahpeton, N....

Joan M. Britt, 81, of Havre died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, at a Havre care center of natural causes. Cremation will take place. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Northern Montana Care Center with Ila McClenahan officiating. Interment of the cremated remains will be held at the Fort Harrison Veterans Cemetery in Helena on March 20. Joan was born June 7, 1925, at Helena to Frank Joseph and Agnes (Lorance) Lang. She was raised and educated in Helena, attending St. Helena School and the Ursuline Sisters...

BOX ELDER Edward G. Berger, 76, of Box Elder died Monday, Jan. 8, 2007, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. A viewing will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. today at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel. Cremation will follow. At Ed's request, no services will be held. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Ed was born July 31, 1930, at Cleveland to Edward R. and Elizabeth (Sandanie) Berger. The family lived in Havre, where Ed attended St. Jude Catholic School. Ed married Darlene...

MALTA Raymond Joseph Demarais, 69, of Malta died Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007. He was an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in Belcourt, N.D. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Adams Memorial Chapel in Malta. Visitation will be Monday at 6 p. m. at the Adams Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in the Malta Cemetery. Raymond was born in Malta on Feb. 11, 1936, to Joseph and Philomene (McGillis) Demarais. Raymond went to school in Malta, then attended Indian boarding schools in Wahpeton, N....

Joan M. Britt, 81, of Havre died Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007, at a Havre care center of natural causes. Cremation will take place. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Northern Montana Care Center with Ila McClenahan officiating. Interment of the cremated remains will be held at the Fort Harrison Veterans Cemetery in Helena on March 20. Joan was born June 7, 1925, at Helena to Frank Joseph and Agnes (Lorance) Lang. She was raised and educated in Helena, attending St. Helena School and the Ursuline Sisters...

BOX ELDER Edward G. Berger, 76, of Box Elder died Monday, Jan. 8, 2007, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. A viewing will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. today at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel. Cremation will follow. At Ed's request, no services will be held. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Ed was born July 31, 1930, at Cleveland to Edward R. and Elizabeth (Sandanie) Berger. The family lived in Havre, where Ed attended St. Jude Catholic School. Ed married Darlene...

MALTA Raymond Joseph Demarais, 69, of Malta died Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007. He was an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians in Belcourt, N.D. The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Adams Memorial Chapel in Malta. Visitation will be Monday at 6 p. m. at the Adams Memorial Chapel. Burial will be in the Malta Cemetery. Raymond was born in Malta on Feb. 11, 1936, to Joseph and Philomene (McGillis) Demarais. Raymond went to school in Malta, then attended Indian boarding schools in Wahpeton, N....

Lorraine Marie Daniel, 72, of Havre died Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a. m. Monday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home with Tim Maroney officiating. Burial will follow at the Calvary section of Hill County Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held immediately after the graveside service at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Lorraine was born Nov. 5, 1934, in Havre to William and Julia (Baldwin) Daniel. She was raised and educated in Havre....