Obituaries

HannaH (Witt) Vukasin, 90, a former longtime Great Falls resident, died of heart failure at Northern Montana Hospital on Saturday, March 18, 2006. Crema-tion has taken place and a memorial service will be held at the Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel in Great Falls at 1 p.m. Saturday. Hannah was born June 25, 1915, in Pittsburg, Pa., to Julius and Anna Witt. When Hannah was a child, her family settled in Montana. Hannah met Mark Vukasin, her husband and lifetime companion of 62 years, and they were married July 29, 1935, in... Full story

MALTA - Elizabeth Ann Murdock Schlieve, 70, of Malta, a former elementary teacher, died Thursday, March 16, 2006, at the Phillips County Hospital of natural causes. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. today at the Adams Memorial Chapel in Malta. Interment of the ashes will be in the Malta Cemetery. Cremation has taken place. Betty was born in Malta on Sept. 2, 1935, to Robert and Jean Murdock of Whitewater. She was a graduate of Whitewater High School and Northern Montana College. Betty married Robert Schlieve in 1955....

HannaH (Witt) Vukasin, 90, a former longtime Great Falls resident, died of heart failure at Northern Montana Hospital on Saturday, March 18, 2006. Crema-tion has taken place and a memorial service will be held at the Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel in Great Falls at 1 p.m. Saturday. Hannah was born June 25, 1915, in Pittsburg, Pa., to Julius and Anna Witt. When Hannah was a child, her family settled in Montana. Hannah met Mark Vukasin, her husband and lifetime companion of 62 years, and they were married July 29, 1935, in... Full story

MALTA - Elizabeth Ann Murdock Schlieve, 70, of Malta, a former elementary teacher, died Thursday, March 16, 2006, at the Phillips County Hospital of natural causes. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. today at the Adams Memorial Chapel in Malta. Interment of the ashes will be in the Malta Cemetery. Cremation has taken place. Betty was born in Malta on Sept. 2, 1935, to Robert and Jean Murdock of Whitewater. She was a graduate of Whitewater High School and Northern Montana College. Betty married Robert Schlieve in 1955.... Full story

Alice Marie (Lien) Heimdahl, 93, of Havre, a beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, died peacefully at her home of natural causes on Saturday, March 11, 2006, surrounded by her family. A private prayer service was held Saturday in the chapel of Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 8, at the Harvey Anderson Funeral Home Chapel in Willmar, Minn., with the Rev. Jim Notebaart officiating. Interment will follow at the Fairview Cemetery. A reception and celebration of Alice's...

BIG SANDY - Inez Lucille Halter, 85, longtime Big Sandy resident, died Monday, March 6, 2006, at Big Sandy Medical Center. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Christ Lutheran Church in Big Sandy. An additional memorial service will be Saturday at 3 p.m. in Fifth Avenue Christian Church of Havre. Inez was born to Francis and Florence (Smith) Huestis in De Smit, S.D., on Sept. 3, 1920. The family lived on a farm and Francis owned a pool hall. When Inez was 5 years old, her father sold their farm and pool... Full story

HELENA - Rosella Marie DeBray (Putra), 99, of Helena died Sunday evening, March 12, 2006, with family members present. A service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Hagler-Anderson Chapel in Helena. An interment service will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Rosella was born June 3, 1906, at Havre in the Bear Paw Mountains to Francis and Amelia Schwartz. She worked on the family ranch until she married Exoria Putra who preceded her in death in 1948. She moved to Helena and married William DeBray in 1961 and enjoyed many y...

BIG SANDY - Inez Lucille Halter, 85, longtime Big Sandy resident, died Monday, March 6, 2006, at Big Sandy Medical Center A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Christ Lutheran Church in Big Sandy. Inez was born to Francis and Florence (Smith) Huestis in De Smit, S.D., on Sept. 3, 1920. The family lived on a farm and Francis owned a pool hall. When Inez was 5 years old, her father sold their farm and pool hall and the family prepared to move to join his mother in Montana. Several family members came down...

HELENA - Rosella Marie DeBray (Putra), 99, of Helena died Sunday evening, March 12, 2006, with family members present. A service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Hagler-Anderson Chapel in Helena. An interment service will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Rosella was born June 3, 1906, at Havre in the Bear Paw Mountains to Francis and Amelia Schwartz. She worked on the family ranch until she married Exoria Putra who preceded her in death in 1948. She moved to Helena and married William DeBray in 1961 and enjoyed many y...

ROCKY BOY - Verna Louise Collins, 81, of Rocky Boy died Thursday March 9, 2006, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Her wake service began Friday evening with a rosary service at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church. Her funeral service was scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church with the Rev. Pete Guthneck officiating. Burial was to follow at Highland Cemetery. Louise was born Aug. 28, 1924, in Nespelem, Wash., to Margaret (Hill) and Cyrus Pursley. She was raised and educated in Nespelem. She mar... Full story

MALTA - Thelma Stevens, 88, a homemaker of Malta, died Thursday, March 9, 2006, at Phillips County Hospital of natural causes. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Adams Funeral Chapel with burial to follow at Malta Cemetery. She graduated from Malta High School in 1935. Thelma married George W. Stevens on Oct. 25, 1936, in Malta. In 1937, they moved to Lewistown, returned to Malta, then moved to Whitefish. In 1949, they moved to Coram, then Dillon in 1970. He retired in 1977 and they moved back to Malta 1978.... Full story

MOSES LAKE, Wash. - Herman “Hermie” William Ohland, 91, longtime Moses Lake resident and former resident of Havre and Ritzville, Wash., died Wednesday, March 8, 2006, at Samaritan Hospital. A private family service will be held at Kayser's Chapel of Memories in Washington. Hermie was born May 11, 1914, in Great Falls to Grace and Henry Ohland. Hermie graduated from Havre High School in 1932 and married his high school sweetheart, Martha Yates, in 1935. They then moved to Walla Walla, Wash. In 1941, they relocated to R... Full story

ROCKY BOY - Verna Louise Collins, 81, of Rocky Boy died Thursday March 9, 2006, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Her wake service began Friday evening with a rosary service at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church. Her funeral service was scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church with the Rev. Pete Guthneck officiating. Burial was to follow at Highland Cemetery. Louise was born Aug. 28, 1924, in Nespelem, Wash., to Margaret (Hill) and Cyrus Pursley. She was raised and educated in Nespelem. She mar... Full story

LEWISTOWN - Havre native Amanda Soper, 25, of Lewistown died of complications from diabetes Friday, March 3, 2006, at Central Montana Medical Center in Lewistown. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at First Presbyterian Church in Havre. A celebration of her life was held Wednesday at the Lewistown Moose Lodge. Amanda was born and raised in Havre. She graduated from Fergus County High School in Lewistown and attended Montana State University-Northern. Amanda loved to bake chocolate chip cookies, spending time...

Margaret Clayborn-Golie, 87, of Havre died peacefully Tuesday, March 7, 2006, with her son and daughter-in-law at her side at Benefis East in Great Falls. Crem-ation has taken place under the direction of O'Conner Funeral Home. A memorial will be scheduled at a later date. Margaret was born April 7, 1918, in Box Elder to Holiver and Luvisa Flatness. She was raised in the Bear Paw Mountains and graduated from Box Elder High School in 1937. She married Harold Sam Clayborn and they had four sons. She had a dairy farm and later r... Full story

HIGHLAND, Utah - Marion S. (Gearheart) Peterson, 80, died peacefully at the University of Utah Medical Center on Friday, March 3, 2006. A graveside interment service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Kuper Memorial Cemetery in Chinook. A funeral service will be held Wednesday at 1 p.m. in the Avonmore Chapel, 5848 W. 11000 N., Highland, a few miles east of I-15 on Highway 92. Friends and family may call from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Marion was born in Chinook on May 10, 1925, to William and Nellie Johnson. She lived in...

Dwayne L. “Kretch” Kretchmer, 81, of Havre died peacefully Friday, March 3, 2006, at his residence of natural causes. A prayer vigil will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Jude Catholic Church. After the prayer vigil, a social gathering will be held at the Elks Club. Dwayne's funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Jude Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at St. Jude Parish Center i...

Dwayne L. “Kretch” Kretchmer, 81, of Havre died peacefully Friday, March 3, 2006, at his residence of natural causes. A prayer vigil will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Jude Catholic Church. After the prayer vigil, a social gathering will be held at the Elks Club. Dwayne's funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Jude Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at St. Jude Parish Center i...

Dwayne L. “Kretch” Kretchmer, 81, of Havre died peacefully Friday, March 3, 2006, at his residence of natural causes. A prayer vigil will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Jude Catholic Church. After the prayer vigil, a social gathering will be held at the Elks Club. Dwayne's funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Jude Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at St. Jude Parish Center i...

Alfred Clinton Bradbury, 81, of Havre died Wednesday, March 1, 2006, at his home of cancer. A public viewing will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Monday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. His funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. today at Fifth Avenue Christian Church with the Rev. Rowlie Hutton officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the church immediately following the graveside services. Alfred was born Dec. 10, 1924, in Havre to Henry and Pearl (Slyter) Bradbury. He grew up and liv...

Alfred Clinton Bradbury, 81, of Havre died Wednesday, March 1, 2006, at his home of cancer. A public viewing will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Monday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. His funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Fifth Avenue Christian Church with the Rev. Rowlie Hutton officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the church immediately following the graveside services. Alfred was born Dec. 10, 1924, in Havre to Henry and Pearl (Slyter) Bradbury. He grew up and... Full story

HINGHAM/HAVRE - Joyce M. Garner Lipp, 86, of Havre died Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2006, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Her funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Charlie Moody officiating. Burial will follow at the Highland Cemetery. Joyce was born March 29, 1919, to Charles and Gertrude (Lankford) Garner. She attended grade school and high school in Brady and entered nurses training at Sacred Heart School of Nursing in Havre in 1939. She graduated as... Full story

Jerry Dusek, 89, a Havre-area retired farmer, died of natural causes Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2006, at a Helena nursing home. A memorial service is planned for 2 p.m. Saturday at First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Brad Ulgenes officiating. Burial will take place in the Highland Cemetery, followed by a luncheon at the church. He was born Sept. 21, 1916, in Hingham to Fred and Pauline (Rypal) Dusek and spent all but his last five years in Hill County, where he farmed and worked in construction and carpentry. He attended school in...

HELENA - Myrna Alene Torgerson, 66, died Saturday, Feb. 25, 2006, after a long courageous battle with cancer. Visitation will be from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday at the Retz Funeral Home. A memorial service is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1610 Sixth Ave. A reception will follow at the Vets Club in East Helena. An interment service and dedication of her grave will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Forestvale Cemetery. Myrna was born in Harlem to Maude and Eldon Hulse on April 20,...

FLORENCE - Kenneth Joseph “Kenny” Kane, 89, of Florence, died Monday, Feb. 6, 2006, at his home. A service was held Saturday at King's Christian Church north of Lolo with burial at the Florence-Carlton Cemetery. Kenny was born March 6, 1916, in Hinsdale to Leonard Patrick and Elinor Josephine (Anderson) Kane. He lived in Glasgow, where his parents homesteaded. He moved to Scobey during his early school years. He graduated from Conrad High School in 1934. He then attended Dickinson State Teachers College in 1935 in Dickin...