Obituaries

CHESTER - Paul B. Overlie, 63, of Chester died at his home Sunday, July 27, 2003, of an apparent heart attack. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chester. Burial of ashes will be in the Chester Cemetery. Overlie was a well-known farm implement parts salesman and manager in the Chester and Hi-Line communities. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Robert. Survivors include his wife, Dorothie of Chester; sons, Paul Jr. of Chester, Darren of Havre, and Mitchell of...

HINGHAM - Pearl Viola Richter, 67, longtime Hingham resident, died Thursday, July 24, 2003, at her home in Bigfork. A funeral Mass was scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Church in Hingham. Cremation will follow the services. Pearl was born on Dec. 30, 1935, at Hinsdale to Martin and Leila (Hull) Brown. She was raised on a ranch at Thoene, a small community north of Hinsdale. She received her early education at Hinsdale, then transferred to Joplin, where she graduated from high school in 1953. She... Full story

LaMarr Knox Reynolds, 79, died Thursday, July 24, 2003, at a Havre care facility of natural causes. A graveside service will be held at the Oakmont Memorial Park Cemetery, 2099 Reliez Valley Road, Lafayette, Calif., at a later date. Cremation has taken place. LaMarr was born Feb. 27, 1924, in Sacramento, Calif., to Xen V. and Gladys B. (Drook) Reynolds. He attended Fremont High School in Oakland, Calif., graduating in 1943. While attending high school, LaMarr was in a program that allowed him to attend school for four hours... Full story

CHOTEAU - Edna Gunderson, 76, died surrounded by her loved ones on July 18, 2003, in a nursing home of natural causes. A celebration of her life will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Choteau. Cremation has taken place with burial of ashes in the Choteau Cemetery. Edna was born to Freida and Ernest Arensmeyer on July 1, 1927, in Choteau, where she was raised with many brothers and sisters whom she dearly loved. Edna married Harold Gunderson in 1947 and they had five children. She attended Montana State...

Helen J. Wilkins, 88, died Thursday, July 17, 2003, at a Havre care center of natural causes. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. today at the First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Catherine Card officiating. Burial of the cremated remains will follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship will be held at the church immediately after the services at the graveside. Helen was born March 22, 1915, to Henry and Bernice (Johnson) Johnson in Havre. She attended school at Cottonwood and graduated... Full story

MALTA- - Lila L. Robinson, 73, died Frday, July 18, 2003, at a Malta care center of natural causes. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Malta Lutheran Church. Burial will be in the Malta Cemetery. Lila was born July 23, 1929, at Havre to Vern and Charlotte (Bridal) Brader. She was raised in Havre and graduated from Havre High School. She moved to Las Vegas and worked at the Boulder Dam for several years as a secretary. She returned to Havre in 1959 and worked for the Ruby Bank System prior to marrying...

ROCKY BOY - Lance Sheldon Parker Sr., Thunder Child, 33, died Sunday, July 20, 2003, in a motor vehicle accident. A wake service began Sunday evening at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church with the funeral Mass beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday, also at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church with the Rev. Pete Guthneck officiating. Burial will follow at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. Lance was born Sept. 18, 1969, in Havre to Edmond and Laverne (Allery) Parker. He moved to Kansas with his family when he was a young child. He graduated from high school...

CHOTEAU - Edna Gunderson, 76, died surrounded by her loved ones on July 18, 2003, in a nursing home of natural causes. A celebration of her life will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Choteau. Cremation has taken place with burial of ashes in the Choteau Cemetery. Edna was born to Freida and Ernest Arensmeyer on July 1, 1927, in Choteau, where she was raised with many brothers and sisters whom she dearly loved. Edna married Harold Gunderson in 1947 and they had five children. She attended Montana State... Full story

Helen J. Wilkins, 88, died Thursday, July 17, 2003, at a Havre care center of natural causes. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. today at the First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Catherine Card officiating. Burial of the cremated remains will follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship will be held at the church immediately after the services at the graveside. Helen was born March 22, 1915, to Henry and Bernice (Johnson) Johnson in Havre. She attended school at Cottonwood and graduated...

BILLINGS - Margaret Sullivan, 90, died Wednesday, July 16, 2003, at a Billings retirement center. At Margaret's request, no services will be held. Her remains will be placed with her grandson Randy Reinecke's on a ranch in Wyoming. Margaret was born on Aug. 22, 1912, in Chinook to Scottish immigrants Angus and Kathleen Morrison. She spent her first 20-some years in Chinook. She married William Crabbe when she was 21. After a few years, they moved across the Western part of the country with his job with the U&I Sugar Company....

BILLINGS - Catherine Grace Armstrong, 73, of Billings, died peacefully on Saturday, July 12, 2003, at her home due to natural causes. A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary. Additional funeral services 10 a.m. Friday at the First Lutheran Church in Havre with interment at Highland Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at First Lutheran Church immediately following graveside services. Grace was born on Jan. 15, 1930, to Joseph and Ellen Schend in Havre. She was raised in south Havre. Grace...

SUNBURST - Marilyn Faye (Bebee) Barrows, age 49 of Sunburst, died at her home Sunday, July 13, 2003, after a lengthy battle with cancer. A memorial service was scheduled for 2 p.m. today at the Sunburst Methodist Church. She was born May 18, 1954, at Malta to Frank and Loretta (Henderson) Bebee. She grew up and graduated from high school in Malta in 1972. Marilyn married Brian Barrows July 9, 1994, at Malta. Marilyn worked as a bank teller at the First National Bank in Powell, Wyo., and the First State Bank in Malta. She...

BILLINGS - Catherine Grace Armstrong, 73, of Billings, died peacefully on Saturday, July 12, 2003, at her home due to natural causes. A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary. Additional funeral services 10 a.m. Friday at the First Lutheran Church in Havre with interment at Highland Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at First Lutheran Church immediately following graveside services. Grace was born on Jan. 15, 1930, to Joseph and Ellen Schend in Havre. She was raised in south Havre. Grace... Full story

North Havre resident Reginald Lloyd Spensley, a retired custodian for Northern Montana College, died Wednesday, July 9, 2003, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. He was 71. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Glacier Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Kalispell with full military graveside honors. Reginald was born Dec. 2, 1931, to Lloyd B. and Greta Mae (Aitchison) Spensley in Livingston, Calif. He attended school in Turlock, Calif. In 1951 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Korean War....

North Havre resident Reginald Lloyd Spensley, a retired custodian for Northern Montana College, died Wednesday, July 9, 2003, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. He was 71. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Glacier Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Kalispell with full military graveside honors. Reginald was born Dec. 2, 1931, to Lloyd B. and Greta Mae (Aitchison) Spensley in Livingston, Calif. He attended school in Turlock, Calif. In 1951 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served in the Korean War.... Full story

Laceen Elizabeth Ophus of Big Sandy died Sunday, July 6, 2003, in a horse riding accident south of Havre in the Bear Paw Mountains. She was 19. A service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday in the Big Sandy High School gymnasium with the Rev. Pete Guthneck officiating. Those who wish are welcome to ride horses in the funeral procession from the high school to the reception afterward at St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church, Big Sandy. Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the church and one hour before the service at the sc...

ROCKY BOY'S INDIAN RESERVATION - Dean Blake Anderson, 42, was pronounced dead on arrival Monday at Northern Montana Hospital as a result of an accidental drowning. A wake service for Blake, whose Native American name is Eagle Child, began Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church at Rocky Boy. A Native American funeral service will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church with burial to follow at Rocky Boy Cemetery. Blake was born April 20, 1961, in Blackfoot, Idaho, to Henry and Nancy (Raining Bird)... Full story

Laceen Elizabeth Ophus of Big Sandy died Sunday, July 6, 2003, in a horse riding accident south of Havre in the Bear Paw Mountains. She was 19. A service will be held at 1 p.m. Friday in the Big Sandy High School gymnasium with the Rev. Pete Guthneck officiating. Those who wish are welcome to ride horses in the funeral procession from the high school to the reception afterward at St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church, Big Sandy. Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the church and one hour before the service at the sc...

ROCKY BOY'S INDIAN RESERVATION - Dean Blake Anderson, 42, was pronounced dead on arrival Monday at Northern Montana Hospital as a result of an accidental drowning. A wake service for Blake, whose Native American name is Eagle Child, began Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church at Rocky Boy. A Native American funeral service will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Our Savior's Lutheran Church with burial to follow at Rocky Boy Cemetery. Blake was born April 20, 1961, in Blackfoot, Idaho, to Henry and Nancy (Raining Bird)...

LODGE POLE - Dora First Chief Helgeson, "Cheen-Jaw-Na-Hoonga-Weya," meaning Chief Calf Woman, 89, died Tuesday, July 1, 2003, at her residence west of Lodge Pole. A wake, rosary and pipe ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. today in the Medicine Bear Lodge at Lodge Pole. The funeral Mass will be on Thursday at Medicine Bear Lodge with burial following in the Lodge Pole Cemetery. Arrangements are be Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook. Dora was born to Sam and Charlotte (Black Bull) First Chief on Feb. 13, 1914, in Lodge Pole. She...

Willis L. Hanson, 75, of Havre died Wednesday, July 2, 2003, at a Havre hospital of natural causes. A funeral service will be 10 a.m. Monday at the Van Orsdel United Methodist Church with the Rev. Rowlie Hutton officiating. Burial with full military honors will be at the Highland Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the Methodist Church immediately after services at the graveside. Willis was born on Sept. 7, 1927, in Gildford to Arnold and Sylvia (Meyers) Hanson. He attended Gildford Public Schools. He enlisted in the U.S. Nav... Full story

PLENTYWOOD - Britt Chandler, 81, died Monday, June 30, 2003, at his home surrounded by his family. A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Plentywood. with the Rev. Bob Sewvello officiating. Burial will be at Plentywood Cemetery. A public gathering will be held at 7 p.m. today at Fulkerson Memorial Chapel in Plentywood. Britt was born in Plentywood to John Britton Chandler II and Ellen Parsley on Feb. 3, 1922. On Aug. 21, 1945, he married Elizabeth Lodahl of Dagmar. When he was 17, he...

RITZVILLE, Wash. - Agnes Monson Slonaker, 88, died Monday, June 30, 2003, at a Ritzville care center. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Emanuel Lutheran Church at Ritzville. Graveside services will be held at the Highland Cemetery at Havre on Monday at 1 p.m. Viewing was today at Danekas Chapel in Ritzville. She was born in Chinook on Aug. 28, 1914, to Martin and Gina (Halingstad) Monson. Agnes graduated from Chinook High School in 1932. She married Fred T. Slonaker on Aug. 19, 1938, at Havre. They lived... Full story

LODGE POLE - Dora First Chief Helgeson, "Cheen-Jaw-Na-Hoonga-Weya," meaning Chief Calf Woman, 89, died Tuesday, July 1, 2003, at her residence west of Lodge Pole. A wake, rosary and pipe ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. today in the Medicine Bear Lodge at Lodge Pole. The funeral Mass will be on Thursday at Medicine Bear Lodge with burial following in the Lodge Pole Cemetery. Arrangements are be Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook. Dora was born to Sam and Charlotte (Black Bull) First Chief on Feb. 13, 1914, in Lodge Pole. She...

BIG SANDY - Eugene D. "Gene" Reichelt, 78, of Great Falls, a former Big Sandy farmer and business- man, died Saturday, June 28, 2003, at a Great Falls hospital of natural causes. Visitation was today at Schnider Funeral Home in Great Falls. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Christ Lutheran Church in Big Sandy, with burial with military honors in Big Sandy Cemetery. A luncheon will follow at the church. Gene was born on April 21, 1925, at Verona to Benjamin and Jennie (Larson) Reichelt. he attended school at Verona... Full story