Obituaries

EARL K. POPPLER Obituary JOPLIN - Earl K. "Bud" Poppler, who worked in the grain elevator business and farmed in the Joplin community for many years, died of natural causes on Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2004, at the Liberty County Hospital in Chester. He was 91. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Bethel Lutheran Church in Joplin. Burial will follow at the Joplin Cemetery. He was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtle, in 2002, his parents, and four sisters, Lucille Thorson and Sarah, Joyce and Laura Poppler. Bud is...

SUN CITY, Ariz. - Mary Elizabeth Hoffman, 83, died Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004, at the Home of Loving Hands in Glendale, Ariz., of natural causes. A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Monday at the Hillcrest Lawn Chapel in Great Falls with the Rev. Robert D. Grosch officiating. Entombment will follow at the Hillcrest Mausoleum. Mary Liz was born June 20, 1920, to Jack and Mae (Sheedy) Hennessy in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. When she was 9, she moved with her family to Conrad, where her father and uncle operated the Hennessy Lumber Co....

George N. Wolf, 65, of Mesa, Ariz., and formerly of Havre, died Jan. 26, 2004, at Odyssey Hospice after a brief illness. A memorial service will be held tonight at 7 p.m. at Bunkers University Chapel in Mesa. Interment of ashes will be at the Hill County Cemetery in Havre. George was born Jan. 19, 1939, in Drake, N.D., to Anton and Anna Marie (Schafer) Wolf. He was reared and educated in the Drake area. He married Gail Gange on Oct. 13, 1959, in Karlsruhe, N.D. They lived in Minot, N.D., and Havre, and for the past 17 years...

INVERNESS - Adolph Edward Eggen, 86, a retired Inverness-area farmer, died on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2004, at a Chester nursing home of natural causes. Private family graveside services are being planned. Adolph was born March 12, 1917, on the family homestead south of Inverness. He was one of five children born to Harold and Nelsina (Otterness) Eggen. He was educated in Inverness, where he graduated from high school in 1937. In his younger years, Adolph enjoyed playing in a local band throughout the Hi-Line. His pride and joy...

HINGHAM - Robert Joseph "Bob" Blake Sr. died Sunday, Jan. 25, 2004, at the Chester rest home. He was 97. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service with burial of ashes is planned for later this spring at the Highland Cemetery in Havre. Bob was was born Sept. 3, 1906, at Maybass, N.D. He was the youngest of five sons born to Frank and Mary (Diermer) Blake. Bob's mother died when he was 8 years old, so he was raised by the Monroe family. He received his formal education at a country school near Fairfax, N.D., then began...

KALISPELL - Robert Lewis "Bob" Anderson of Kalispell died Jan. 20, 2004, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center after having suffered a cerebral hemorrhage. A funeral service was held Saturday in Kalispell. Bob was born on July 14, 1919, in Havre to Lewis and Bernice Anderson. He graduated from Havre High School, Northern Montana College, and Kinman Business School. On June 2, 1943, he married Lola B. McAuley. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last year. Bob served in the Army and was stationed in France and...

Richard L. Smith, 64, died at his home of cancer on Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004. He was under the care of Bear Paw Hospice. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Fifth Avenue Christian Church with the Rev. Rowlie Hutton and John Musgrove officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately following the service. Richard was born July 20, 1939, to Marvin and Gladys (Patrick) Smith. He was raised in Havre and attended schools in Box Elder until the fifth grade and then was a student at Havre...

Odin H. "Dean" Blockhus, 89, died on Jan. 19, 2004, at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls. A graveside service will be held at the Big Sandy Cemetery on Saturday at 1 p.m. A reception will follow at the Masonic Lodge. Dean was born March 19, 1914, in Big Sandy to Ole and Maria Blockhus. He attended school in Big Sandy, where he was active in sports. He graduated in 1923. In 1936 he married Jennie Turner and they had one daughter, Sherry. They later divorced. Dean was in the U.S. Navy and served in both WW II and the...

Leon "John" Cowdery, 58, died Saturday Jan. 17, 2004, at a Havre hospital of liver failure. A Vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Holland and Bonine Funeral Chapel for family and close friends. A funeral Mass will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the St. Jude Parrish Center with the Rev. Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial will be at Highland Cemetery in Havre following the Mass. A fellowship reception will be held at the parrish center following the graveside service. John was born Jan. 25, 1945, in Long...

ROCKY BOY's INDIAN RESERVATION - Duane Patrick Belcourt, 58, died on Monday, Jan. 19, 2004, of cancer. A wake service will be held at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church today with a Rosary at 7 p.m. The funeral service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Rocky Boy Catholic Church with burial at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. The Rev. Pete Guthneck will officiate, with Kenny Writing Bird to sing a going-away song in Duane's honor. Duane, whose Indian name was Ki-iw-wah Kah-wi-che-kot or Eagle with Him, was born on May 7, 1945, to Levi Be...

GREAT FALLS - Esther (Christopherson) Derbyshire, 87, of Great Falls, formerly of Havre, a former cook, died of natural causes Saturday at a Great Falls hospice. At her request, no services are planned. Cremation will take place under the direction of O'Connor Funeral Home. Esther was preced- ed in death by her husband, Howard Derbyshire in 1993; son, Tracy Derbyshire; daughter, Shirley Christianson; and two grandsons. Survivors include daughters, Bev Gahagan of Black Eagle and Kathy Larson of Billings; sons, Jim Derbyshire...

Jerald A. Amor, 62, died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2004, at a Havre care facility of natural causes. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at the Edwards Funeral Home at 11 a.m. Saturday. Burial will follow at the Kuper Memorial Cemetery in Chinook. Jerald was born on Sept. 30, 1941, to Harlen and Esther (Robley) Amor in Williston, N.D. The family moved to Havre in 1953. Jerald graduated from Havre High School in 1958. He enlisted in the Montana National Guard and attended college at Northern Montana College,...

POLSON - Frederick "Fred" H. Mielke, 85, of Polson, died at a Missoula hospital on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004, from natural causes. A memorial service, with military honors and Masonic rites was scheduled for Monday afternoon at the Polson Community Church with the Rev. Richard Widerholdt officiating. Inurnment will be held at the Richland Memorial Park in Sidney. Fred was born on Oct. 14, 1918, in Sidney to George and Maude (Harrison) Mielke. He grew up and attended schools in Sidney and graduated from Sidney High School. Fred...

KALISPELL - Ethel B. Lund, 82, died while surrounded by family on Sunday, Jan. 11, 2004, at a Kalispell home. Cremation has taken place at Buffalo Hills Crematory, Kalispell. A memorial service will be held at Saint Matthews in Kalispell on Wednesday. Graveside services will be held in Havre in the spring. Ethel was born on June 26, 1921, to Celestine (Polly) and Norris Boice in South Shore, S.D. She was born in her grandfather's house and named after her grandmother. Arnold Lund and Ethel were married on June 12, 1946. They...

OROFINO, Idaho - Vonna L. Collins, 58, died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004, at a Great Falls hospital. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Cremation has taken place. Vonna was born on July 21, 1945, in Williston, N.D. She grew up and attended schools in Williston, Glendive and Helena. She married Rex Wayne Gardner in 1969 in Glendive. They later divorced. Vonna worked for Potlatch in Headquarters, Idaho. Later, she worked in health care as a certified nursing assistant until her disability. Vonna was a member of Eagles....

WILLISTON, N.D. - Edward Roy Teskey, 78, a longtime Williston resident, died Thursday, Jan. 8, 2004, at a Williston, N.D., medical center. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church with the Rev. John Guthrie officiating. Cremation will follow and burial of the urn will take place in Kalispell at a later date. A vigil prayer service for Edward will be 7 p.m. today at St. Joseph's Catholic Church with the Rev. Raymond Aydt leading the Rosary. The public is invited to...

CHINOOK - Hobert Conley Dale Richmond, 88, died Friday, Jan. 9, 2004, at a Malta rest home due to natural causes. A funeral service was scheduled for 2 p.m. today in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was to follow with military honors in the Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Hobe was born in Milan, Mo., on Aug. 6, 1915, to Peter and Maudie Mae (Haynes) Richmond. His parents moved to Montana in November of that year and homesteaded north of Chinook. Hobe attended country school until his fifth-grade year, when the family moved...

SHERIDAN, Wyo. - Mary K. Anthony, 70, of Sheridan, Wyo., died Sunday, Dec. 21, 2003, at a Sheridan residence. A funeral service was held Friday, Dec. 26, 2003, at Champion Ferries Funeral Home with the Rev. Doug Goodwin officiating. Burial was to be in the Elk's Section of Sheridan Municipal Cemetery. Mary was born on Dec. 12, 1933, in Granite Falls, Minn., to Neal and Jennie Nelson. She grew up and attended schools in Granite Falls. She graduated from Granite Falls High School in 1952. She married Earl Anthony in Granite...

MISSOULA - Bernard W. Thomas, 88, formerly of Chinook, a retired Montana District Court judge, died on Jan. 6, 2004, at a Missoula hospital of natural causes. A parish vigil service will be at 7 p.m. on Friday at Pope John XXIII Catholic Community with the Rev. Matthew Huber officiating. A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the church with the Rev. Frank McCormick celebrant. Burial will follow at the Old St. Mary's Cemetery in Missoula. Bernard was born in Terry on Jan. 26, 1915, to Prairie County homesteaders Iva...

RUDYARD - Morris Nels Smith, 94, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004, at a Havre care center. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Rudyard. Burial is to follow at Rudyard Cemetery. Morris was born on Dec. 11, 1909, at Havre to Soren and Anna (Bohm) Smith. Morris grew up on his father's homestead north of Rudyard and attended the Oreana Country School. He entered the ninth grade in Rudyard, but quit to help out with the farming operations. Morris married Esther Goldberg on June 21,...

Gregory John Dorsha, 84, died of natural causes at a Havre care center on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004. Cremation is planned per his wishes. A private family service will be held. Greg was born on Sept. 28, 1919, at Buena Vista, Wis., to John and Ida (Newby) Dorsha. He grew up in Wisconsin and received his education there. He graduated from Stevens Point High School in 1938. He continued his education at Central State Tech College in Stevens Point, where he earned a bachelor of science degree. Gregory was inducted in to the U.S. A...

MISSOULA - Bernard W. Thomas, 88, formerly of Chinook, a retired Montana District Court judge, died on Jan. 6, 2004, at a Missoula hospital of natural causes. A parish vigil service will be at 7 p.m. on Friday at Pope John XXIII Catholic Community with the Rev. Matthew Huber officiating. A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the church with the Rev. Frank McCormick celebrant. Burial will follow at the Old St. Mary's Cemetery in Missoula. Bernard was born in Terry on Jan. 26, 1915, to Prairie County homesteaders Iva...

RUDYARD - Morris Nels Smith, 94, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004, at a Havre care center. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Rudyard. Burial is to follow at Rudyard Cemetery. Morris was born on Dec. 11, 1909, at Havre to Soren and Anna (Bohm) Smith. Morris grew up on his father's homestead north of Rudyard and attended the Oreana Country School. He entered the ninth grade in Rudyard, but quit to help out with the farming operations. Morris married Esther Goldberg on June 21,...

Stacey Lynn Peterson, 33, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004, at her home in Havre. The cause of death has not yet been determined. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Van Orsdel United Methodist Church with the Rev. VaunDalee Delong officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the Eagles Club in Havre. Stacey was born on March 31, 1970, to Rod and Lillian (Felton) Stuker in Terry. When she was a young girl, the family moved to Havre where Stacey attended Havre Public Schools....

Dale Lewis Constable, 65, died Christmas Day at his winter home in Lake Medina, Texas. A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. Friday at the Fifth Avenue Christian Church. Constable was born on Dec. 5, 1938, in Pasadena, Calif. At a young age, Dale moved with his parents to Nampa, Idaho, where he attended school. While working as a juvenile parole agent in California, Dale met his wife of 28 years, Marcia Divish. They retired in 1988 and moved to Kalispell where they operated a bed and breakfast. Recently, they moved to...