Obituaries

George Kato, 78, of Great Falls, a retired warehouse manager, died of natural causes Monday, Feb. 7, 2005, at a Great Falls hospital. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Great Falls. A rite of committal will be 11 a.m. Monday in Calvary Cemetery in Havre. A vigil will be 7 p.m. Friday at the O'Connor Memorial Chapel in Great Falls. Visitation is 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at the O'Connor Funeral Home. George was born Jan. 3, 1927, in Havre and was...

CHINOOK/LIBBY - John Melvin Norberg Jr., 67, died Friday, Feb. 4, 2005, of heart failure in Kalispell. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Christ Lutheran Church in Libby. A luncheon will follow in Libby. A burial service will be held at 11 a.m. aturday at Kuper Memorial Cemetery in Chinook. He was born July, 28, 1937, in Chinook to John Melvin and Myrtle (Swenson) Norberg. He received his early education in Chinook and graduated from Chinook High School in 1957. He served in the National Guard of Montana...

HARLOWTON - Earl Wesley Kardell, 69, died Saturday, Feb. 5, 2005, at Wheatland Memorial Hospital in Harlowton due to cancer. No services planned at this time. Earl was born in Havre on Oct. 9, 1935, to Frank W. and Mildred L. Kardell. He attended Havre public schools through high school and then was employed by Great Northern Railway. In 1955, Earl enlisted in the U.S. Army and served honorably for three years. Upon his discharge, Earl returned to Havre and worked for the railroad for 10 years. He then moved to Lewistown....

CHINOOK/LIBBY - John Melvin Norberg Jr., 67, died Friday, Feb. 4, 2005, of heart failure in Kalispell. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Christ Lutheran Church in Libby. A luncheon will follow in Libby. A burial service will be held at 11 a.m. aturday at Kuper Memorial Cemetery in Chinook. He was born July, 28, 1937, in Chinook to John Melvin and Myrtle (Swenson) Norberg. He received his early education in Chinook and graduated from Chinook High School in 1957. He served in the National Guard of Montana...

HARLOWTON - Earl Wesley Kardell, 69, died Saturday, Feb. 5, 2005, at Wheatland Memorial Hospital in Harlowton due to cancer. No services planned at this time. Earl was born in Havre on Oct. 9, 1935, to Frank W. and Mildred L. Kardell. He attended Havre public schools through high school and then was employed by Great Northern Railway. In 1955, Earl enlisted in the U.S. Army and served honorably for three years. Upon his discharge, Earl returned to Havre and worked for the railroad for 10 years. He then moved to Lewistown....

Ethel Charlotte Ward, 94, died Thursday, Feb. 3, 2005, at the Northern Montana Care Center. A memorial service was scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel with Ila McClenahan officiating. A fellowship luncheon was to follow at the VFW Club immediately after the memorial service. A graveside service will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Fairview Cemetery in Fairview, N.D. Ethel was born May 27, 1910, in Germantown, Minn., to Charles Peter and Anna Marie (Olson) Cook. She attended school in various places in...

J. Marie Havskjold, 96, of Minot, N.D., died Thursday, Feb. 3, 2005, at a Minot nursing home. A funeral service was held Saturday at 2 p.m. in St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Minot. Interment will be later in the spring in Highland Park Cemetery in Havre. Julia Marie was born Feb. 26, 1908, on the family homestead near Larson, N.D. to the Rev. Adolf and Ida Marie (Isakson) Buckneberg. She grew up helping in the church by playing the organ, working with the choir, and occasionally teaching her dad's confirmation classes. She...

Robert W. "Wayne" Dafoe, 86, of Chester died Thursday, Feb. 3, 2005, at Liberty County Nursing Home in Chester. A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Chester Alliance Church. A graveside service with military rites will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Whitlash Cemetery. Wayne was born April 11, 1918, at Ithaca, Mich., to Ernest and Nellie (Peck) Dafoe. After receiving his formal education, Wayne began working in the tool-and-dye division at the Buick factory in Flint. He later completed a course in auto body repair at a...

BIG SANDY - Errol Ben "Skip" Fisher, 58, of Box Elder died Sunday, Jan. 30, 2005, at Billings. No services are planned. Skip grew up in Big Sandy and graduated from Big Sandy High School in 1964. Some of his fondest memories as a teenager were hunting and fishing trips with his father. Skip will be remembered for his hill climbing days and his successful career as a car salesman. He sold cars across the state and owned his own car dealership. Skip was a jack of all trades and enjoyed making doll houses, sail boats and model c...

GREAT FALLS - Aleck F. Schnurr, 86, former Havre resident, died Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2005, at a Great Falls rest home of natural causes. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Great Falls. A private family burial service will take place later at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Helena. Aleck was born June 7, 1918, to Joseph and Elizabeth Schnurr in Billings. He was raised in Billings and attended school there. In 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed off...

GREAT FALLS - Phil A. Yates, 84, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005, at a Great Falls hospital of natural causes. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Croxford and Sons in Great Falls with burial in Highland Cemetery. Phil was born April 28, 1920, in Fargo, N.D., to Martina and Philander Yates. He moved to Havre as a child. Following graduation from Havre High School, he served in the U.S. Army. He returned home after his discharge and began a lifetime career in banking. For years, Phil was president of Citizens B...

GREAT FALLS - Aleck F. Schnurr, 86, former Havre resident, died Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2005, at a Great Falls rest home of natural causes. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Great Falls. A private family burial service will take place later at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Helena. Aleck was born June 7, 1918, to Joseph and Elizabeth Schnurr in Billings. He was raised in Billings and attended school there. In 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed off...

GREAT FALLS - Phil A. Yates, 84, died Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2005, at a Great Falls hospital of natural causes. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Croxford and Sons in Great Falls with burial in Highland Cemetery. Phil was born April 28, 1920, in Fargo, N.D., to Martina and Philander Yates. He moved to Havre as a child. Following graduation from Havre High School, he served in the U.S. Army. He returned home after his discharge and began a lifetime career in banking. For years, Phil was president of Citizens B...

GREAT FALLS - Aleck F. Schnurr, 86, former Havre resident, died Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2005, at a Great Falls rest home of natural causes. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Great Falls. A private family burial service will take place later at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Helena. Aleck was born June 7, 1918, to Joseph and Elizabeth Schnurr in Billings. He was raised in Billings and attended school there. In 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and was stationed off...

CHINOOK - Esther M. Sheets, 84, died Sunday, Jan. 30, 2005, at the Billings Grand Park Assisted Living, where she had been a resi- dent since October of 2003. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in the American Lutheran Church with interment at the Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Esther was born March 23, 1920, to George and Inga (Johnson) Kelly in Crosby, N.D. She was raised on the family farm until leaving in 1940. Esther married Ernest Lee Sheets on July 5, 1940, in Havre. Esther was a hard worker all of her life....

Albert "Bert" F. Roberts, 66, died Monday, Jan. 31, 2005, in Kennewick, Wash., due to cancer. A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the Fifth Avenue Christian Church with burial following in Highland Cemetery. Bert was born April 24, 1938, to Albert H. "Bill" and Myrtle (Henderson) Roberts in Havre. He was raised in Havre and was active with the Havre Boxing Club for a number of years. Bert fought in the National Golden Gloves Tournament in Chicago in 1957. Bert married Lila Wood in Havre on November 15, 1958. He work...

CHINOOK - Esther M. Sheets, 84, died Sunday, Jan. 30, 2005, at the Billings Grand Park Assisted Living, where she had been a resi- dent since October of 2003. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in the American Lutheran Church with interment at the Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Esther was born March 23, 1920, to George and Inga (Johnson) Kelly in Crosby, N.D. She was raised on the family farm until leaving in 1940. Esther married Ernest Lee Sheets on July 5, 1940, in Havre. Esther was a hard worker all of her life....

Albert "Bert" F. Roberts, 66, died Monday, Jan. 31, 2005, in Kennewick, Wash., due to cancer. A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at the Fifth Avenue Christian Church with burial following in Highland Cemetery. Bert was born April 24, 1938, to Albert H. "Bill" and Myrtle (Henderson) Roberts in Havre. He was raised in Havre and was active with the Havre Boxing Club for a number of years. Bert fought in the National Golden Gloves Tournament in Chicago in 1957. Bert married Lila Wood in Havre on November 15, 1958. He work...

Marjorie Wilson, 74, died Jan. 27, 2005, at Sweet Memorial Nursing Home in Chinook due to natural causes. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005, at 11 a.m. in St. Jude's Catholic Church with burial following in Highland Cemetery. Marjorie was born on April 23, 1930, in Havre to Alex and Mary (Donahue) Stewart. She was raised on the family farm west of Box Elder and she attended school there. Marjorie attended Northern Montana College, taking secretarial courses. Margie married Alvin "Bud" Wilson on Nov. 10,...

MINOT, N.D. - Clyde J. Pounds, of Minot, N.D., died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005, at a Minot hospital. A funeral was held Monday morning at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home in Minot. Clyde was born April 6, 1928, in Minot to Henry and Alice (Walker) Pounds. He was raised and educated at Minot and attended Minot Model High School. Clyde enlisted in the U.S. Navy on April 6, 1946, and served during World War II. He was awarded the World War II Victory Medal and was honorably discharged on Feb. 9, 1948. He worked as an apprentice brick l...

Marjorie Wilson, 74, died Jan. 27, 2005, at Sweet Memorial Nursing Home in Chinook due to natural causes. A funeral service will be held Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005, at 11 a.m. in St. Jude's Catholic Church with burial following in Highland Cemetery. Marjorie was born on April 23, 1930, in Havre to Alex and Mary (Donahue) Stewart. She was raised on the family farm west of Box Elder and she attended school there. Marjorie attended Northern Montana College, taking secretarial courses. Margie married Alvin "Bud" Wilson on Nov. 10,...

MINOT, N.D. - Clyde J. Pounds, of Minot, N.D., died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2005, at a Minot hospital. A funeral was held Monday morning at Thompson-Larson Funeral Home in Minot. Clyde was born April 6, 1928, in Minot to Henry and Alice (Walker) Pounds. He was raised and educated at Minot and attended Minot Model High School. Clyde enlisted in the U.S. Navy on April 6, 1946, and served during World War II. He was awarded the World War II Victory Medal and was honorably discharged on Feb. 9, 1948. He worked as an apprentice brick l...

Nicholas Sean Porter, 23, of Missoula, a student at the University of Montana, died Monday, Jan. 17, 2005, from injuries suffered in a fall on the university campus. A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. Saturday at First Lutheran Church in Havre with the Revs. Brad Ulgenes and Catherine Card officiating. Nick was born in Missoula on Nov. 8, 1981. He attended school in Missoula and Kremlin before coming to Havre in the third grade. He graduated from Havre High School in 2000. Nick went on to study music at the University...

obituary ROCKY BOY - Lucille Elizabeth (Chapican) Yellow Robe, 63, died Monday, Jan. 10, 2005, at Benefis Care Center East in Great Falls as the result of a massive brain aneurism she sustained Jan. 2 at her home. Lucille had indicated her desire to be an organ donor, and her family supported her request. A wake was scheduled for noon Tuesday at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church at Rocky Boy with the burial at the Rocky Boy Cemetery at 1 p.m. today. Her funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Our Saviour's Lutheran...

ROCKY BOY - Joseph Lawrence LaMere, 75, died Thursday, Dec. 30, 2004, at his home in Spokane, Wash., of natural causes. A wake service was held Jan. 4, with his funeral service at 10 a.m. Jan. 5, both at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church at Rocky Boy. Burial followed at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. Joseph was born July 2, 1929, in Rocky Boy to William and Josephine (Smith) LaMere. He attended schools in Rocky Boy and Great Falls. He married Margaret Renteria on Aug. 30, 1968, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. The couple lived in Yakima,...