Obituaries

HARLEM - Norman Franklin Azure Sr., 88, died Friday, Aug. 22, 2003, at a Havre hospital. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday in the Harlem High School gymnasium. Burial will be in the Pony Hill Cemetery. Vigil services will be today at 7 p.m. in the Red Whip Center in Fort Belknap. Norman was born on July 16, 1915, to Alex and Mary Azure. He spent most of his life in the Harlem area. He worked at numerous jobs but most enjoyed ranch work with Knute Kulbeck and working with horses. Norman had been a No. 1...

Heather Michelle "Speedy" Mowen, 25, died Thursday morning, Aug. 21, 2003, due to injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. Funeral services will be 3 p.m. today at the St. Paul Lutheran Church with the Rev. Alfred Ebel officiating. Burial will follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately following the graveside services. Heather was born on Aug. 30, 1977, in Havre to Tom and Betty (McFadden) Mowen. She was raised and educated in Havre and graduated from Havre High...

Michael James Brady, 58, died Friday, Aug. 22, 2003, at a Havre hospital due to liver failure. Cremation will take place and a memorial service will be held 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Fifth Avenue Christian Church with the Rev. Rowlie Hutton officiating. A fellowship will be held at the church immediately following the service. Michael was born on Nov. 6, 1944, in Miles City to Daniel and Milldred (Dorr) Brady. Mike was raised and educated in Miles City and graduated from Sacred Heart High School there. He entered into the U.S....

HARLEM - Norman Franklin Azure Sr., 88, died Friday, Aug. 22, 2003, at a Havre hospital. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday in the Harlem High School gymnasium. Burial will be in the Pony Hill Cemetery. Vigil services will be today at 7 p.m. in the Red Whip Center in Fort Belknap. Norman was born on July 16, 1915, to Alex and Mary Azure. He spent most of his life in the Harlem area. He worked at numerous jobs but most enjoyed ranch work with Knute Kulbeck and working with horses. Norman had been a No. 1...

DENTON, Texas - Phoebe Voves Sokoloski, 87 of Denton, Texas, died Monday, Aug. 11, 2003 at a Denton medical center. Family services will be held at a later date. She was born on Jan. 23, 1916 in, Tonasket, Wash., to Albert and Stella Bower Schendel. She married Emil Voves in July 1944 in Kalispell. He preceded her in death on Nov. 28, 1978. She married Joseph Sokoloski on Feb. 5, 1982, in Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii. He preceded her in death on July 30, 1998. She was a retired nurse from St. John Lutheran Hospital in Libby. She is...

ABERDEEN, Wash. - Joe Leo, 93, of Aberdeen, died on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at Aberdeen. Cremation has taken place. A graveside service will be held in Havre at a later date. He was born on Nov. 19, 1909, at Zodar, Austria. He came to Wagner in 1928 to make his home with his father, James Leo, and stepmother, Cecil Leo. He served in the U.S. Army and was discharged in December 1945. He made his home in Aberdeen and worked as a logger in the timber business. He was preceded in death by his father; stepmother; and sister,...

THE DALLES, Ore. - Bradley "Dick" Thomas Corcoran, 67, a resident of The Dalles, died on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003. Mass of Christian burial was held Monday at St. Peter's Catholic Church with the Rev. Todd Unger officiating. Interment was at The Dalles Odd Fellows Cemetery on Cherry Heights. He was born on Oct. 21, 1935, in Harlem to Joseph and Delia (Corchane) Corcoran. He was raised in Box Elder and graduated from high school in Box Elder in 1952. He entered the U.S. Army after high school and was discharged in 1954. He...

Earl Joseph Ayers, 82, of Billings died Monday, Aug. 18, 2003, at a Billings rest home. A vigil service was held Tuesday evening at Dahl Chapel. A funeral Mass was scheduled to be celebrated at 11 a.m. today at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Committal will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. He was born on March 22, 1921, to Earl and Anna (Reinholtz) Ayers in Glendive. He graduated from Dawson County High School in Glendive in 1939. Earl sang and acted in the high school plays. He won the statewide competition in clarinet in high...

Earl Joseph Ayers, 82, of Billings died Monday, Aug. 18, 2003, at a Billings rest home. A vigil service was held Tuesday evening at Dahl Chapel. A funeral Mass was scheduled to be celebrated at 11 a.m. today at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Committal will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. He was born on March 22, 1921, to Earl and Anna (Reinholtz) Ayers in Glendive. He graduated from Dawson County High School in Glendive in 1939. Earl sang and acted in the high school plays. He won the statewide competition in clarinet in high...

HOGELAND - Irvin Eugene "Irvie" Anderson, 66, died Friday, Aug. 15, 2003, in Whitefish with his family at his side after a long battle with cancer. A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday in Saint Thomas Catholic Church. A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in the Harlem High School gymnasium with burial with military honors in the Harlem Cemetery. Irvie was born on Feb. 19, 1937, in Havre to Clause and Ann (O'Leary) Anderson. He graduated from Harlem High School in 1956, enrolled at Northern Montana...

DENTON, Texas - Phoebe Voves Sokoloski, 87 of Denton, Texas, died Monday, Aug. 11, 2003 at a Denton medical center. Family services will be held at a later date. She was born on Jan. 23, 1916 in, Tonasket, Wash., to Albert and Stella Bower Schendel. She married Emil Voves in July 1944 in Kalispell. He preceded her in death on Nov. 28, 1978. She married Joseph Sokoloski on Feb. 5, 1982, in Wailuku, Maui, Hawaii. He preceded her in death on July 30, 1998. She was a retired nurse from St. John Lutheran Hospital in Libby. She is...

ABERDEEN, Wash. - Joe Leo, 93, of Aberdeen, died on Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at Aberdeen. Cremation has taken place. A graveside service will be held in Havre at a later date. He was born on Nov. 19, 1909, at Zodar, Austria. He came to Wagner in 1928 to make his home with his father, James Leo, and stepmother, Cecil Leo. He served in the U.S. Army and was discharged in December 1945. He made his home in Aberdeen and worked as a logger in the timber business. He was preceded in death by his father; stepmother; and sister,...

THE DALLES, Ore. - Bradley "Dick" Thomas Corcoran, 67, a resident of The Dalles, died on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2003. Mass of Christian burial was held Monday at St. Peter's Catholic Church with the Rev. Todd Unger officiating. Interment was at The Dalles Odd Fellows Cemetery on Cherry Heights. He was born on Oct. 21, 1935, in Harlem to Joseph and Delia (Corchane) Corcoran. He was raised in Box Elder and graduated from high school in Box Elder in 1952. He entered the U.S. Army after high school and was discharged in 1954. He...

Earl Joseph Ayers, 82, of Billings died Monday, Aug. 18, 2003, at a Billings rest home. A vigil service was held Tuesday evening at Dahl Chapel. A funeral Mass was scheduled to be celebrated at 11 a.m. today at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Committal will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. He was born on March 22, 1921, to Earl and Anna (Reinholtz) Ayers in Glendive. He graduated from Dawson County High School in Glendive in 1939. Earl sang and acted in the high school plays. He won the statewide competition in clarinet in high...

CHINOOK - Joseph Wayne Wright, 92, died Saturday, Aug. 16, 2003, of complications of pneumonia and congestive heart failure at a Havre hospital. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Burial will be in the Kuper Memorial Cemetery and a reception will follow at the Senior Citizens Center. Viewing will be Friday evening at the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. J. Wayne Wright was born on Aug. 16, 1911, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, to Scott and Julia...

Wes Walters, 66, of Havre died Sunday, Aug. 10, 2003, in Mesa, Ariz. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Messiah Lutheran Church in Havre. Wes was born to Lester and Lucille Walters in Big Lake, Minn., on May 25, 1937. He graduated from Patrick Henry High School in Minneapolis. Wes had a great railroad career with the former N.P.R.R. and the present BNSF. His profession took him from Minneapolis to Laurel and Great Falls to Mandan, N.D. and Havre. He was respected by his friends and coworkers. Wes was precede...

HARLEM - Lucille Mildred Mayer, 94, died on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2003, at a Havre care center of natural causes. A memorial service is pending. Cremation has taken place with entombment at the Portland Memorial Mausoleum in Portland, Ore. Lucille was born on June 10, 1909, in Harlem to Ole and Viola (Cecil) Nelson. She graduated from Harlem High School in 1927 and worked in the local the- ater, grocery store and Montana Power office. Lucille married Jack Mayer on Oct. 30, 1929 in Chinook. They celebrated over 50 years of...

Richard Thomas LaSalle, 70, died Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2003, at a Havre hospital from diabetic complications. The funeral service will be 2 p.m. today at the Van Orsdel United Methodist Church with the Rev. VaunDalee DeLong officiating. A reception will be held at the Eagles Club immediately after the funeral service. A private graveside service will take place at a later date. Richard was born in Havre to William "Bill" and Mabel (Wallace) LaSalle. He was raised in the Bears Paw Mountains and attended country school on Beaver C...

HARLEM - James Joseph Epler, 63, died of an intestinal rupture at his home Thursday evening, Aug. 7, 2003. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the Harlem High School gymnasium with burial following in the Harlem Cemetery. Cremation has taken place at his request. Jim was born on Oct. 17, 1939, in Glasgow to Keith and Cathleen (Ramey) Epler. He graduated from Harlem High School and attended Northern Montana College in Havre. Jim married Marcella Poore of Zurich on Sept. 9, 1961. He worked for Knute Kulbeck...

Ronald E. Purkett, 76, died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2003, at a Lewistown nursing home of natural causes. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Montana Mental health Nursing Care Center in Lewistown. Interment with military honors by VFW Post No. 497 will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Calvary Cemetery at Havre. Ronald was born on Sept. 2, 1926, at Troy to Sam and Bernice (Herrington) Purkett. He receive his education at Havre. Ronald served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a seiemograph operator on oil rigs....

Roy A. Leamer, 77, retired machinist from the Burlington Northern Railway, died Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2003, at a Havre care facility of natural causes. A graveside service with full military honors will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at Highland Cemetery with Ila McClenahan officiating. Roy was born Nov. 30, 1925, to Vernon and Minnie (Binger) Leamer in Spokane, Wash. He attended schools in the Spokane area and completed his education at Roger's High School. In 1943 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving in the South Pacific. While in...

GILLETTE, Wyo. - Nick Ray Ashby, 35, of Gillette, Wyo., died Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2003, at a Campbell County hospital. A funeral service will be 2 p.m. Thursday at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church of Gillette with the Rev. Chad Brucklacher officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church. Nick Ashby was born on Aug. 31, 1967, in Havre to Rita Doney, and later adopted by George Ashby Sr. He was raised and educated in Gillette, Wyo. Nick's love for competitive motocross led him to founding Powder Basin...

ROCKY BOY - Arnold Richard Windy Boy, 43, died Sunday, Aug. 3, 2003, at a veterans hospital in Helena. A wake service began Tuesday morning with the funeral services set to begin at 11 a.m. today, all at the Rocky Boy Senior Center with Marvin Russette officiating. Burial was to follow at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. Arnold was born April 18, 1960, at Fort Belknap to Roger and Rosie (Gopher) Windy Boy Sr. He attended schools in Box Elder and played football in high school. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1979 and was honorably...

CHESTER - Paul Bernard Overlie, 63, of Chester died at his home Sunday, July 27, 2003, of natural causes. A memorial service was scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chester with a reception luncheon to follow. Cremation has already taken place under the direction of Rockman Funeral Chapel of Chester. Paul was born on Jan. 23, 1940, in Terry to Olav and Elaine Overlie. The family moved to Bozeman when he was 12 and he attended junior high and high school there. After his enlistment in the Air Force...

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - Alvin R. Keith, 80, a Navy veteran and former Great Falls, Havre and Chester resident, died Saturday at his home in Grand Forks, N.D. Visitation was Tuesday at Gregory J. Norman Funeral Chapel followed by a prayer service. Cremation has taken place. A military grave- side service is planned for 10 a.m. Saturday at Highland Cemetery at Havre. A luncheon will follow at the Vets Club. Alvin Russell Keith was born on April 26, 1923, to DeVall W. and Hazel V. (Staudacher) Keith at Great Falls. His family moved...