Obituaries

John "Wilbur" Swenson, 83, retired school administrator, principal and teacher, died Thursday, Oct. 2, 2003, at a Havre care facility of natural causes. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the First Lutheran Church in Havre with the Revs. Brad Ulgenes and Catherine Card officiating. A fellowship reception will follow the service. Cremation has taken place. There will be a private family interment. Wilbur was born on Sept. 6, 1920, to John D. and Clara A. (Hammer) Swenson in Flaxville. He grew up in...

GREAT FALLS - Joseph F. Gruber, 86, died Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2003, at a Great Falls hospital of natural causes. A funeral was held Monday morning at Holy Family Catholic Church with burial in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Joseph was born on Feb. 20, 1917, at Gildford. He grew up and attended schools in Kremlin and Havre. He attended diesel mechanic school for General Motors in Oakland, Calif., and later in Lansing, Mich. Joseph served in the U.S. Navy as a chief torpedo man for four years during World War II. He served in the North P...

John "Wilbur" Swenson, 83, retired school administrator, principal and teacher, died Thursday, Oct. 2, 2003, at a Havre care facility of natural causes. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the First Lutheran Church in Havre with the Revs. Brad Ulgenes and Catherine Card officiating. A fellowship reception will follow the service. Cremation has taken place. There will be a private family interment. Wilbur was born on Sept. 6, 1920, to John D. and Clara A. (Hammer) Swenson in Flaxville. He grew up in...

GREAT FALLS - Joseph F. Gruber, 86, died Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2003, at a Great Falls hospital of natural causes. A funeral was held Monday morning at Holy Family Catholic Church with burial in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Joseph was born on Feb. 20, 1917, at Gildford. He grew up and attended schools in Kremlin and Havre. He attended diesel mechanic school for General Motors in Oakland, Calif., and later in Lansing, Mich. Joseph served in the U.S. Navy as a chief torpedo man for four years during World War II. He served in the North P...

JOPLIN - Herbert Joseph "Herb" Poetzl, 95, died Friday, Oct. 3, 2003, at a Chester nursing home. A funeral service was scheduled for 2 p.m. today at the Rockman Funeral Chapel in Chester with the Rev. Pete Erickson of Our Savior's Lutheran Church officiating. Burial was to follow in the family plot at the Joplin Cemetery. Herb was born on March 25, 1908, at Winona, Minn., to Joseph and Bertha (Kellerman) Poetzl. His parents moved to Springdale, Wash., when he was still an infant and moved to Montana in the winter of 1912....

GREAT FALLS - Joseph F. Gruber, 86, died Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2003, at a Great Falls hospital of natural causes. A funeral was held Monday morning at Holy Family Catholic Church with burial in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Joseph was born on Feb. 20, 1917, at Gildford. He grew up and attended schools in Kremlin and Havre. He attended diesel mechanic school for General Motors in Oakland, Calif., and later in Lansing, Mich. Joseph served in the U.S. Navy as a chief torpedo man for four years during World War II. He served in the North P...

WOLF POINT - Katharine Mary "Kat" Byrd, 18, of Wolf Point died in Missoula on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2003, as a result of a motor vehicle accident. A funeral service was scheduled for 2:30 p.m. today at Immaculate Conception Church with the Rev. Steve Zabrocki officiating. Interment will be held at Highland Cemetery in Havre at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. Katharine "Kat" was born Aug. 16, 1985, in Shelby to Donald and Annette (Codden) Byrd. She was raised in Wolf Point and attended schools there. She joined her sister Rachael as a student...

JOPLIN - Herbert Joseph "Herb" Poetzl, 95, died Friday, Oct. 3, 2003, at a Chester nursing home. A funeral service was scheduled for 2 p.m. today at the Rockman Funeral Chapel in Chester with the Rev. Pete Erickson of Our Savior's Lutheran Church officiating. Burial was to follow in the family plot at the Joplin Cemetery. Herb was born on March 25, 1908, at Winona, Minn., to Joseph and Bertha (Kellerman) Poetzl. His parents moved to Springdale, Wash., when he was still an infant and moved to Montana in the winter of 1912.... Full story

WOLF POINT - Katharine Mary "Kat" Byrd, 18, of Wolf Point died in Missoula on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2003, as a result of a motor vehicle accident. A funeral service was scheduled for 2:30 p.m. today at Immaculate Conception Church with the Rev. Steve Zabrocki officiating. Interment will be held at Highland Cemetery in Havre at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. Katharine "Kat" was born Aug. 16, 1985, in Shelby to Donald and Annette (Codden) Byrd. She was raised in Wolf Point and attended schools there. She joined her sister Rachael as a student...

Lawrence Eugene Normandy Sr., 56, died Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2003, at his home of cancer. Cremation will take place. At his request, there will be no services. Lawrence was born on Sept. 24, 1947, south of Havre to Donald and Alice (Ackanow) Normandy Sr. He was raised and educated in the Havre area. He entered into the U.S. Army in 1966, he was honorably discharged in 1967. He married Sarita Hiatt in 1967 and the couple later divorced. Lawrence enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, watching football and dancing. He was preceded... Full story

ROCKY BOY - Joseph Alloysius Descharme, 56, died Sept. 29, 2003, at a hospital in Flagstaff, Ariz., due to leukemia. A wake service will begin this afternoon at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church and the funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church with the Rev. Pete Guthneck officiating. Burial will follow at the Descharme Family Cemetery. Joseph was born on Sept. 29, 1944 at Fort Belknap to James and Anna Rose (Sangrey) Descharme. He was raised in Rocky Boy and Helena. He spent most of his school...

Charles Franklin Shaffer, 90, died on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003, due to emphysema. A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Havre. A luncheon will follow at the church. Charles was born on Sept. 10, 1913, to Charles Wesley and Susie (Andrus) Shaffer in Lebanon, Kan. He moved with his family to Montana in 1918, where they homesteaded north of Havre. He worked various jobs, retiring from Northern Montana College as a custodian. He served in the U.S. Army during...

INVERNESS - Mildred May "Millie" (Casady) Adams, 87, who suffered from cancer, died Sunday, Sept. 28, 2003, at a Havre care center. A graveside service with burial of ashes will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Inverness Cemetery. Mildred was born on Oct. 25, 1915, at Casady, north of Chinook, to Ledden and Stella (Wiseman) Casady. She grew up on the family homestead and received her formal education at a country school near the farm. She taught Sunday school to area children in the hayloft of the family barn. In the...

Charles Franklin Shaffer, 90, died on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003, due to emphysema. A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Havre. A luncheon will follow at the church. Charles was born on Sept. 10, 1913, to Charles Wesley and Susie (Andrus) Shaffer in Lebanon, Kan. He moved with his family to Montana in 1918, where they homesteaded north of Havre. He worked various jobs, retiring from Northern Montana College as a custodian. He served in the U.S. Army during...

INVERNESS - Mildred May "Millie" (Casady) Adams, 87, who suffered from cancer, died Sunday, Sept. 28, 2003, at a Havre care center. A graveside service with burial of ashes will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Inverness Cemetery. Mildred was born on Oct. 25, 1915, at Casady, north of Chinook, to Ledden and Stella (Wiseman) Casady. She grew up on the family homestead and received her formal education at a country school near the farm. She taught Sunday school to area children in the hayloft of the family barn. In the...

Charles Franklin Shaffer, 90, died on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003, due to emphysema. A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 9 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Havre. A luncheon will follow at the church. Charles was born on Sept. 10, 1913, to Charles Wesley and Susie (Andrus) Shaffer in Lebanon, Kan. He moved with his family to Montana in 1918, where they homesteaded north of Havre. He worked various jobs, retiring from Northern Montana College as a custodian. He served in the U.S. Army during...

INVERNESS - Mildred May "Millie" (Casady) Adams, 87, who suffered from cancer, died Sunday, Sept. 28, 2003, at a Havre care center. A graveside service with burial of ashes will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Inverness Cemetery. Mildred was born on Oct. 25, 1915, at Casady, north of Chinook, to Ledden and Stella (Wiseman) Casady. She grew up on the family homestead and received her formal education at a country school near the farm. She taught Sunday school to area children in the hayloft of the family barn. In the...

HAYS - Marvin M. "Fatty" Morin, 67, an artist and sculptor, died Thursday, Sept, 25, 2003, at a Billings hospital of natural causes. A wake, rosary was held Sunday evening at the St. Paul's Mission Recreation Center. A Mass was scheduled for 11 a.m. today at St. Paul's Mission Church with interment in the St. Paul's Mission Cemetery. Marvin was born on May 31, 1936, at Fort Belknap to Michael and Marie (Doney) Morin. Following high school, Marvin entered the U.S. Army on Nov. 20, 1953. He was honorably discharged on Nov. 19,...

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... Full story

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;...

INVERNESS - Mildred May "Millie" (Casady) Adams, 87, who suffered from cancer, died Sunday, Sept. 28, 2003, at a Havre care center. A graveside service with burial of ashes will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Inverness Cemetery. Mildred was born on Oct. 25, 1915, at Casady, north of Chinook, to Ledden and Stella (Wiseman) Casady. She grew up on the family homestead and received her formal education at a country school near the farm. She taught Sunday school to area children in the hayloft of the family barn. In the...

HAYS - Marvin M. "Fatty" Morin, 67, an artist and sculptor, died Thursday, Sept, 25, 2003, at a Billings hospital of natural causes. A wake, rosary was held Sunday evening at the St. Paul's Mission Recreation Center. A Mass was scheduled for 11 a.m. today at St. Paul's Mission Church with interment in the St. Paul's Mission Cemetery. Marvin was born on May 31, 1936, at Fort Belknap to Michael and Marie (Doney) Morin. Following high school, Marvin entered the U.S. Army on Nov. 20, 1953. He was honorably discharged on Nov. 19,... Full story

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;...

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...