Obituaries

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...

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... Full story

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,... Full story

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,... Full story

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

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...

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...

PHOENIX - Marion E. Bailey, 94, of Phoenix, Ariz., died on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2003, of natural causes. Marion requested to be cremated and that there would be no services. His ashes will be scattered in the ocean by his wish. Marion was born June 24, 1909, to Wilbur and Lena Bailey in Alton, Ill. Marion has resided in Havre, Polson, Mesa, Ariz., Newcastle, Ind., and just recently returned to Phoenix. Survivors include his son, Harry (Diane) Bailey of Phoenix; stepdaughter, Mary Lee (Jim) Koble of Missoula; brother, Bill;...

GILDFORD - Alma Wilhelmina (Kaiser) Robinson, 96, died on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2003, in a Chester nursing home. Funeral services will be on Monday at 11 a.m. at the Osoyoos Christian Center in Osoyoos, British Columbia, followed by burial at the Osoyoos Cemetery. Alma was born to William and Helena (Westendorf) Kaiser on Jan. 1, 1907, at Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada. She received her formal education at a country school near Wetaskiwin; then obtained nursing skills at a local hospital in the few years that followed. Alma... Full story

Donna Louise Magis, 39, died Sunday, Sept. 14, 2003, at a Havre hospital due to complications after a long illness. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at St. Jude Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial will follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held immediately following the graveside services at the St. Jude Parish Center. Donna was born on Oct. 10, 1963, to Donald and Louise (Webb) Kenny in Havre. She was raised in Havre and graduated from Havre High...

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....

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.... Full story

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...

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... Full story

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....

WHITLASH - Edward "Ed" Hofer, 63, died Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003, at his farm home of a heart attack. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday at the Whitlash Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Ernest Doyle and the Rev. John Maatta officiating. Following burial at the Whitlash Cemetery, a luncheon will be held at the Whitlash Community Hall. Ed was born in Raley, Alberta, Canada, to Jacob and Elizabeth Hofer on May 20, 1940. He received his early education at Sterling, Alberta. Most of his secondary education was completed...

CARSON CITY, Nev. - Dr. Robert L. Brown, 71, formerly of Gildford, died on Friday, July 25, 2003, in Carson City. Brown was born in Havre on Feb. 23, 1932, to Loren and Carrie Brown of Gildford. He was raise on the family farm south of Gildford and attended Pride of the Prairie School south of town and then Gildford Public School. He was active in sports and music. He graduated from Gildford High School in 1950. After high school he went to college and got his degree in education and taught music for two years. He decided to... Full story

PORTLAND, Ore. - Robert Earl Armstrong, 55, of Portland, Ore., died Sunday, Aug. 31, 2003. Bob was born on Jan. 24, 1948, in Havre to Herb and Mary Armstrong. He was raised and educated in Havre. He graduated from Havre High School in 1966. After graduation, Bob served as a firefighter in the U.S. Air Force in Germany. Subsequently he worked as firefighter/EMT for the Havre Fire Department. He eventually decided on a sales career, which took him to places such as New Orleans, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Lake Tahoe, San Antonio a...

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...