Obituaries

SHELBY - Myron Samuel "Sam" Marra, 87, of Shelby, a retired pharmacy owner and businessman, died of natural causes Saturday, Sept. 27, 2003, at a Great Falls hospital. A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. William Catholic Church in Shelby. A funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Sam was born in 1916 in Havre to Joseph and Rosa (Lavatore) Marra. He attended St. Jude's Elementary School and Havre High School. After high school, he attended Northern Montana College for 2 years. In 1940, he receiv...

LORING - Dustin Michael Hofer, 2, died at a Denver, Colo., hospital after an accident. A funeral service was scheduled for 12:30 p.m. today at the Loring Colony with burial at the Loring Colony Cemetery. Dustin was born on Nov. 1, 2000, to John and Anita (Stahl) Hofer. He loved to play and climb. His favorite saying was "I have a good idea!" He loved to go milking with his Grandpa Mike. Dustin is survived by his parents, John and Anita (Stahl) Hofer; brother, Jordan; maternal grandparents, John and Sarah Stahl of Gildford;... Full story

BELGRADE - Joseph James Newbauer, 27, of Belgrade died in a motor vehicle accident on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2003. A rosary was held Monday evening in Belgrade. The funeral was held Tuesday morning at Valley of the Flowers in Belgrade. Joe was born on May 1, 1976, in Granada Hills, Calif., to Dan and Hollie Newbauer. He was carpenter and partner in a flooring business. Joe was an avid fisherman and loved skiing, snowboarding and hunting. He is survived by his fiance, Aurellia Nicholson of Bozeman; daughters, Gracie, 4, and... Full story

Phyllis Mae Leonard, 67, died Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003, at her home after a long battle with cancer. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Van Orsdel United Methoidist Church with the Rev. VaunDalee DeLong officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held immediately following the service at the church. Phyllis was born Sept. 19, 1936, in Ronan to Clarence and Louise (Works) Bilile. She was raised and educated in Ronan and graduated from Ronan High School. She moved to Havre to...

Charles F. Shaffer, 90, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003, at a Havre hospital due to natural causes. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at a later date. Charles was born to Charles Wesley and Susie (Andrus) Shaffer on Sept. 10, 1913, in Lebanon, Kan. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a custodian at Northern Montana College until retiring. Survivors include his daughter, Sue Beston of Havre; sister. Nina Wales of Van Nuys, Calif.; three grandchildren; and eight...

SUNBURST - Gordon Ross Puckett, 63, a long-time educator and insurance agent from Sunburst, died at his home on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2003, due to natural causes. Visitation was Sunday afternoon with a prayer service Sunday evening at the Whitted Funeral Chapel. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Sunburst Elementary gymnasium with burial following in the Sunburst Cemetery. He was born Jan. 4, 1940, at Scobey to Edwin and Norma (Jacobson) Puckett. Gordon grew up in Peerless, where he graduated from high school...

CHINOOK - Garrett Maurice Campbell McHenry, 23, of Chinook died in a single vehicle accident east of Chinook on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2003. A funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday at Lloyd Sweet Auditorium in Chinook High School with burial in the Kuper Memorial Cemetery with military honors to follow. Garrett was born July 5, 1980, in LaMesa, Calif., to Leta Campbell. Garrett attended schools in Great Falls and Chinook, and graduated from Chinook High School in 1999. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 23, 1999,...

CHINOOK - Garrett Maurice Campbell McHenry, 23, of Chinook died in a single vehicle accident east of Chinook on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2003. A funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday at Lloyd Sweet Auditorium in Chinook High School with burial in the Kuper Memorial Cemetery with military honors to follow. Garrett was born July 5, 1980, in LaMesa, Calif., to Leta Campbell. Garrett attended schools in Great Falls and Chinook, and graduated from Chinook High School in 1999. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 23, 1999,...

SUNBURST - Gordon Ross Puckett, 63, a long-time educator and insurance agent from Sunburst, died at his home on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2003, due to natural causes. Visitation was Sunday afternoon with a prayer service Sunday evening at the Whitted Funeral Chapel. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Sunburst Elementary gymnasium with burial following in the Sunburst Cemetery. He was born Jan. 4, 1940, at Scobey to Edwin and Norma (Jacobson) Puckett. Gordon grew up in Peerless, where he graduated from high school...

FORT BELKNAP AGENCY - Ronald Thomas Ohlerking, 78, died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2003, at the Montana Veteran's Home in Columbia Falls of natural causes. A funeral Mass was scheduled for 11 a.m. today in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church with burial following in Harlem Cemetery with military honors by Fort Belknap American Legion. Rosary was Sunday evening in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook. Ronald was born at home in Lodge Pole on April 9, 1925, to Frank and Annie (Flack) Ohlerki... Full story

CHINOOK - Garrett Maurice Campbell McHenry, 23, of Chinook died in a single vehicle accident east of Chinook on Saturday, Sept. 20, 2003. A funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. Thursday at Lloyd Sweet Auditorium in Chinook High School with burial in the Kuper Memorial Cemetery with military honors to follow. Garrett was born July 5, 1980, in LaMesa, Calif., to Leta Campbell. Garrett attended schools in Great Falls and Chinook, and graduated from Chinook High School in 1999. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on June 23, 1999,...

FORT BELKNAP AGENCY - Ronald Thomas Ohlerking, 78, died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2003, at the Montana Veteran's Home in Columbia Falls of natural causes. A funeral Mass was scheduled for 11 a.m. today in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church with burial following in Harlem Cemetery with military honors by Fort Belknap American Legion. Rosary was Sunday evening in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook. Ronald was born at home in Lodge Pole on April 9, 1925, to Frank and Annie (Flack) Ohlerki...

JOPLIN - Kenneth Eugene Miller, 81, died Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2003, after collapsing in his home. No funeral services are planned. Cremation has taken place. Kenneth was born July 4, 1922, as an only child to Roy and Maude (Rolph) Miller in Salem, Ore. He came to Montana in his youth and attended a country school north of Joplin. He finished his formal education in Joplin, graduating from Joplin High School in 1941. In the few years that followed, Kenny serviced engines for the Great Northern Railway, then began farming with...

HARLEM - Evalyn Floe (Frisvold) Cowell, 72, who farmed and ranched near Harlem, died Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2003, at a Havre hospital due to natural causes. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Harlem High School little gymnasium with burial following in the Harlem Cemetery. Evalyn was born in Sidney on Nov. 3, 1930, to John and Nellie (Knauts) Frisvold. Since her father worked for the Great Northern Railway and moved frequently, she lived at various times in Richey, Hobson and Hogeland. By 1942, she was...

RUDYARD - Gertrude "Gertie" Margaret VanWechel, 97, died Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2003, at a Great Falls nursing home. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Calvary Evangelical Church in Rudyard. Following the burial at the Rudyard Cemetery, a coffee hour will be held at the church. Gertrude was born in Iola, Wis., to Thomas and Bessie Narestad on Jan. 6, 1906. Her father came to Montana to homestead in late 1912 and the rest of the family came in the spring of 1913. They lived 15 miles northwest of Rudyard....

ROCKY BOY - Wilma Stanley, Wah-wi-to-ch, 74, of Rocky Boy died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003, of natural causes at a Great Falls Hospital. A wake service began Sunday evening at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church with the Rev. Ray Nyquist officiating. The committal rite will follow at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. Wilma was born on Oct. 24, 2003 to Jack and Molly (Gopher) Myers in Conrad. She was a great-grandniece of Chief Rocky Boy. She attended schools in... Full story

CHINOOK - Margaret M. McKinnie, 86, died Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, at a Havre hospital after complications from a fall. A rosary was to be recited Sunday evening in St. Gabriel's Catholic Church with funeral Mass at 11 a.m. today in St. Gabriel's Catholic Church. Burial was to follow in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Margaret was born in Havre on Dec. 8, 1916, to pioneer parents Edward and Anna (O'Connor) Bough. She attended St. Joe Country School north of Havre, Havre High School and the Ursiline Academy in Great Falls. Margaret...

ROCKY BOY - Wilma Stanley, Wah-wi-to-ch, 74, of Rocky Boy died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2003, of natural causes at a Great Falls Hospital. A wake service began Sunday evening at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church with the Rev. Ray Nyquist officiating. The committal rite will follow at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. Wilma was born on Oct. 24, 2003 to Jack and Molly (Gopher) Myers in Conrad. She was a great-grandniece of Chief Rocky Boy. She attended schools in...

CHINOOK - Margaret M. McKinnie, 86, died Friday, Sept. 5, 2003, at a Havre hospital after complications from a fall. A rosary was to be recited Sunday evening in St. Gabriel's Catholic Church with funeral Mass at 11 a.m. today in St. Gabriel's Catholic Church. Burial was to follow in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Margaret was born in Havre on Dec. 8, 1916, to pioneer parents Edward and Anna (O'Connor) Bough. She attended St. Joe Country School north of Havre, Havre High School and the Ursiline Academy in Great Falls. Margaret...

FORT BELKNAP AGENCY - Thomas "Tom" L. Cochran, Wus Nee A Ni (Running Bear), Sr., 66, died Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2003, at a Havre hospital. A wake service began Saturday evening at the Thomas Cochran residence and a rosary was held Sunday evening. A funeral Mass was scheduled for 11 a.m. today at the residence. Burial was to follow in the Cochran Family Cemetery. Tom was born at Fort Belknap Hospital on April 27, 1937, to William "Willie" and Henrietta (Main) Cochran. Tom was raised in Hays and for a short time in Seattle, Wash....

FORT BELKNAP - Arnold L. Tincher, 72, a Korean War veteran and miner, died of cancer Saturday, Aug. 30, 2003, at his residence at 3 Mile south of Fort Belknap Agency with all his family at his bed side. A wake service was held Monday evening at the Tincher residence at 3 Mile south of Fort Belknap. A funeral Mass was celebrated at 11 a.m. today at St Thomas Church in Lodge Pole with burial in the Lodge Pole Cemetery. Arnold was born June 7, 1931, in Crag, W.V., to Buery and Alta (Fleichman) Tincher. He was raised and... Full story

LOHMAN - Betty Nemetz, 77, of Lohman died early Thursday morning, Aug. 28, 2003, at a Great Falls hospital following surgery after a brief illness. A funeral service will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. in the Lloyd Sweet Auditorium at the Chinook High School. Burial will follow in the Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Betty was born on June 30, 1926, on the family farm in Paradise Valley east of Chinook to P.O. and Besse (Overcast) Butler. Her younger years were spent with her parents, along with sisters Rosaleen, Emma and brother J.T. and...

Hylas G. Johnson, 84, died Saturday, Aug. 30, 2003, at a Great Falls hospital of natural causes. A funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the First Lutheran Church in Havre with the Rev. Brad Ulgenes officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship served by the ladies of the First Lutheran Church and Eagles Auxiliary will be held at the church immediately following the services at the graveside. Hylas was born on Sept. 19, 1918, to Henry and Bernice (Johnson) Johnson north of Havre. He attended... Full story

RUDYARD - Doris E. Ludwig Een, 71, of Rudyard died Friday, Aug. 29, 2003, at a Chester nursing home due to cancer. A vigil prayer service was held Monday evening at Our Lady of Ransom Church in Hingham. A funeral Mass was scheduled for 11 a.m. today at the church with burial to follow at Rudyard Cemetery. A luncheon was planned at the Rudyard Catholic Youth Center. Doris was born on Sept. 23, 1931, at Goldstone north of Rudyard to Anna Schwartz and Ernest Shipman. She received her early education at the Goldstone Country...

Joseph John Cech, 93, died Friday, Aug. 29, 2003, at a his home in Havre of natural causes. Cremation has taken place. A prayer vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. today and a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Jude Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center immediately following the graveside services. Joe was born on April 12, 1910, in Browerville, Minn., to August and Annie (Stanafka)...