Obituaries

ROCKY BOY - Jon Ralph “Cubby” Morsette, 52, of Rocky Boy, whose name Nah-nah-tea wak-yak-win means Heat Wave Goes Out, died Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, at his home of cancer. A wake began Monday at Rocky Boy Catholic Church with rosary at 7 p.m. The funeral was scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Rocky Boy Catholic Church with burial at Rocky Boy Cemetery. Cubby was born June 12, 1953, to Nadine and John Morsette in Fort Belknap. He lived in Rocky Boy his entire life. Cubby graduated from Box Elder High School in 1971. He r...

FARIBAULT, Minn. - Dale Striker, age 89, of Faribault, Minn., died Saturday, Feb. 18, 2006, at his home. A funeral service will be held Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at the Celebration of Life Assembly in Faribault with the Rev. Craig Breimhorst, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Faribault, officiating. Interment will be held at the Meadow Ridge Memorial Park in Faribault. Visitation will be held at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home in Faribault on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and Wednesday at the church for one hour prior to the...

Lorraine D. Nordrum, 78, of Havre died Friday, Feb. 17, 2006, at Northern Montana Care Center after a lengthy illness. Cremation has taken place. Her memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Messiah Lutheran Church with Rev. Michael Dahle officiating. A time of fellowship will be held at the church immediately after the memorial service. Lorraine was born Oct. 31, 1927, in Racine, Wis., to Henry and Margaret Olson. She lived in California, then was informed that Arnold Nordrum had returned from Korea, so she... Full story

POST FALLS, Idaho - Curtis O. Hanson, 82, of Post Falls, Idaho, died Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2006, at his home following a lengthy illness. Follow-ing cremation, his ashes will be interred with those of his wife, daughter and son at the Hillcrest Lawn Mausoleum in Great Falls. No services are planned at his request, but a revelry and celebration of his life characteristically suggested by him will be announced at a later date. He was born May 20, 1923, in Malta to Claude and Emma Hanson. He spent his youth on the Hi-Line, attending...

LOMPOC, Calif. - Francis A. “Sam” Burchard, 80, of Lompoc, Calif., died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006, at a Lompoc care facility. A family graveside service will be held at a later date in Highland Cemetery in Havre with burial of his ashes at his parents' grave site. Sam was born Sept. 7, 1923, in Havre to Charles and Anna (DuBois) Burchard. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II on the USS Bunker Hill. Sam moved from Glasgow to Santa Maria, Calif., in 1965 to work with the civil service at a Vandenberg Air Force B... Full story

BREMERTON, Wash. - Frances Leona Bitz, 79, died Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006, in Bremerton. A memorial service will be held Friday at the Vintage in Bremerton. A graveside service will be held at Highland Cemetery in Havre in the spring. Frances was born Nov. 14, 1926, at Havre to Christ and Leona (Kramlich) Gomke. She attended school at Kremlin. She married Elmer Norstrom. They had two sons and later divorced. In 1965, she married Daniel D. Bitz. They divorced. Fran started her employment at the Elks Club in Havre. She also worked...

BREMERTON, Wash. - Frances Leona Bitz, 79, died Sunday, Feb. 12, 2006, in Bremerton. A memorial service will be held Friday at the Vintage in Bremerton, A graveside service will be held at Highland Cemetery in Havre in the spring. Frances was born Nov. 14, 1926, at Havre to Christ and Leona (Kramlich) Gomke. She attended school at Kremlin. She married Elmer Norstrom. They had two sons and later divorced. In 1965, she married Daniel D. Bitz. They divorced. Fran started her employment at the Elks Club in Havre. She also worked...

MALTA - Tim N. Carlson, 54, a lineman, of Malta died Saturday, February 11, 2006 at the hospital in Malta of cancer. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Adams Memorial Chapel. Timothy Nels Carlson was born in Malta to Sam and Jenny Carlson on Dec. 17, 1951. He attended school in Malta and graduated in 1970. After graduating, he worked for Big Flat Electric until 1974, than he worked for various line companies until he settled down with his friends and brothers at Red Rock Power in 1990. He married Rita M... Full story

STEVENSVILLE - Gary Wayne Ashmore, 57, of Stevensville died Friday, Feb. 10, 2006, in a car accident while on a fishing trip at Lake Roosevelt, Wash. Friends are invited to toast Gary with his own special blend on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Mary's Family Center, 400 Mission Street, Stevensville. Gary was born on June 15, 1948 to Leslie “Bud” and Vera Ashmore in Ulen, Minn. His early years were spent on the family farm, milking cows. One of his favorite stories was when he was left in charge of the farm chores while...

MALTA - Tim N. Carlson, 54, a lineman, of Malta died Saturday, February 11, 2006 at the hospital in Malta of cancer. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Adams Memorial Chapel. Timothy Nels Carlson was born in Malta to Sam and Jenny Carlson on Dec. 17, 1951. He attended school in Malta and graduated in 1970. After graduating, he worked for Big Flat Electric until 1974, than he worked for various line companies until he settled down with his friends and brothers at Red Rock Power in 1990. He married Rita M...

STEVENSVILLE - Gary Wayne Ashmore, 57, of Stevensville died Friday, Feb. 10, 2006, in a car accident while on a fishing trip at Lake Roosevelt, Wash. Friends are invited to toast Gary with his own special blend on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Mary's Family Center, 400 Mission Street, Stevensville. Gary was born on June 15, 1948 to Leslie “Bud” and Vera Ashmore in Ulen, Minn. His early years were spent on the family farm, milking cows. One of his favorite stories was when he was left in charge of the farm chores while... Full story

ROCKY BOY - Sharon Vern (Sutherland) Zampich, 63, died Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, from injuries she received from a motor vehicle accident north of Great Falls. A wake service will begin at 11 a.m. today and continue through Friday at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Rocky Boy. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the church with the Rev. Arden Barden officiating. Burial will follow at Rocky Boy Cemetery. Sharon was born on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation on Sept. 8, 1942, to Angeline and Pete Sutherland. She...

ATLANTA - Jill Rene Gaspard Shaughnessy, 41, of Kennesaw, Ga., died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006, in Atlanta. A funeral Mass will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Paul Catholic Church, 3131 Hyde Park Road, Pensacola, Fla., with the Rev. Doug Halsema officiating. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel with a rosary to be prayed at 5 p.m. Jill was born July 20, 1964, in Havre. Jill graduated from W.S. Woodham High School in 1982 and from the University of Florida in 1987 as a proud Gator. Jill... Full story

HELENA - Marion Sticka Loveland, 85, of Helena died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006, at the Cooney Convalescent Home of natural causes. A memorial service will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in East Helena with the Rev. Robert Miller officiating. A second memorial service will be held at a later date in Havre with interment to follow in Highland Cemetery in Havre. She was born in Havre on February 15, 1920 to Anton and Ida Sticka. She graduated from Havre High School in l938. She was raised on the...

Edward James Blazek, 88, of Big Sandy died Friday, Feb. 3, 2006, at Big Sandy Medical Center of complications of pneumonia. Viewing will be 9 a.m. Friday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel. His funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Big Sandy United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at the Big Sandy Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held immediately after the graveside service at the church. He was born on March 28, 1917, in Wildrose, N.D., to John Josef “J.J.” Blazek and Marie Emma Vicha. E... Full story

HELENA - Marion Sticka Loveland, 85, of Helena died Sunday, Feb. 5, 2006, at the Cooney Convalescent Home of natural causes. A memorial service will be held Monday at 11 a.m. at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in East Helena with the Rev. Robert Miller officiating. A second memorial service will be held at a later date in Havre with interment to follow in Highland Cemetery in Havre. She was born in Havre on February 15, 1920 to Anton and Ida Sticka. She graduated from Havre High School in l938. She was raised on the...

Edward James Blazek, 88, of Big Sandy died Friday, Feb. 3, 2006, at Big Sandy Medical Center of complications of pneumonia. Viewing will be 9 a.m. Friday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel. His funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Big Sandy United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at the Big Sandy Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held immediately after the graveside service at the church. He was born on March 28, 1917, in Wildrose, N.D., to John Josef “J.J.” Blazek and Marie Emma Vicha. E... Full story

MESA, Ariz. - Ricky Myles Simonson, 43, of Mesa, Ariz., died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2006, due to heart disease. A memorial will be held at a later date. Ricky was born Oct. 4, 1962, in Libby. The family moved to California in 1962. Ricky loved the ocean and everthing to do with it. In 1979, the family moved back to Montana. Ricky worked at several jobs. Ricky met and married Connie Ahlert, and they moved back to California. They had one daughter and later divorced. Ricky got into the plumbing trade and worked at it ever since....

Wally F. Rathbone, 81, of Havre died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Cremation has taken place. His memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. John Chapman officiating. A private family interment will be held at a later time. A fellowship luncheon will be held immediately after the service in the church Fellowship Hall. Wally was born June 12, 1924, in Harlem to Fay and Cora (Dolven) Rathbone. He lived in Harlem until he completed the...

Alice Livingston, 88, of Havre died Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Cremation has taken place. Her memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mark's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Gail Wheatley officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the memorial service. Alice was born Dec. 27, 1917, in Glasgow to Victor and Mabel (Johnson) Archambeault. She was raised and educated in Glasgow. She graduated from high school in 1935. She then moved to...

Charles “Trent” Hiatt, 49, of Havre died Saturday, Feb. 4, 2006, at Northern Montana Care Center due to complications from cancer. His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Richard Rice officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held in the back room of the Oxford Bar immediately after the service at the graveside. Trent was born April 28, 1956, in Havre to Charles and Alice (Smith) H...

Ruth Hentschel, 92, a Havre resident since coming to America with her family in 1952, died in her sleep Saturday, Feb. 4, 2006, while staying in loving care with her daughter, Inga Goebel. A prayer vigil and rosary will be held at 7 p.m. today in the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel, with her funeral Mass at 2 p.m. Tuesday at St. Jude Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held immediately after the graveside service at St. Jude Parish...

BREAUX BRIDGE, La. - James “Jamey” or “J.T.” Weatherly, 27, of Breaux Bridge, La., died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006, at St. Martin Hospital in Breaux Bridge. Funeral services were scheduled for 11 a.m. today at First Baptist Church of Breaux Bridge. Interment will be in St. Bernard Cemetery No. 2 in Breaux Bridge. Jamey was born in Havre on Aug. 16, 1978. He spent most of his adult life in the Breaux Bridge area. He was a jockey at Evangeline Downs Race Track; he had a real love for horses. He enjoyed Sunday barbecues wi... Full story

MESA, Ariz. - Ricky Myles Simonson, 43, of Mesa, Ariz., died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2006, due to heart disease. A memorial will be held at a later date. Ricky was born Oct. 4, 1962, in Libby. The family moved to California in 1962. Ricky loved the ocean and everthing to do with it. In 1979, the family moved back to Montana. Ricky worked at several jobs. Ricky met and married Connie Ahlert, and they moved back to California. They had one daughter and later divorced. Ricky got into the plumbing trade and worked at it ever since.... Full story

HELENA - Marjorie Marra, 88, of Helena died Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2006, at her home of natural causes. A prayer vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel with her funeral service 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Jude Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the graveside services. Marjorie was born Feb. 25, 1917, in Avondale to Enga and Ole Stomsvik. When... Full story