Obituaries

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...

Richard Thomas LaSalle, 70, died Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2003, at a Havre hospital from diabetic complications. Viewing will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Holland and Bonine Funeral Home. The funeral service will be 2 p.m. Monday 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)...

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...

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...

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. Saturday 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....

Alyce E. Beavens, 89, died Friday, Aug. 1, 2003, at a Havre hospital of natural causes. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Eagles Manor with the Rev. Catherine Card officiating. A funeral service and burial will be held at the Miller- Woodlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park in Bremerton, Wash. Alyce was born June 1, 1914, to Martin and Karen (Johannas) Jensen in Barr. She grew up north of Hinsdale and attended a country school. She married William Beavens on Oct. 1, 1948, in Tacoma, Wash. She moved to Havre in...

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...

Alyce E. Beavens, 89, died Friday, Aug. 1, 2003, at a Havre hospital of natural causes. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Eagles Manor with the Rev. Catherine Card officiating. A funeral service and burial will be held at the Miller- Woodlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park in Bremerton, Wash. Alyce was born June 1, 1914, to Martin and Karen (Johannas) Jensen in Barr. She grew up north of Hinsdale and attended a country school. She married William Beavens on Oct. 1, 1948, in Tacoma, Wash. She moved to Havre in...

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...

Alyce E. Beavens, 89, died Friday, Aug. 1, 2003, at a Havre hospital of natural causes. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Eagles Manor with the Rev. Catherine Card officiating. A funeral service and burial will be held at the Miller- Woodlawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park in Bremerton, Wash. Alyce was born June 1, 1914, to Martin and Karen (Johannas) Jensen in Barr. She grew up north of Hinsdale and attended a country school. She married William Beavens on Oct. 1, 1948, in Tacoma, Wash. She moved to Havre in...

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...

HINGHAM - Pearl Viola Richter, 67, longtime Hingham resident, died Thursday, July 24, 2003, at her home in Bigfork. A funeral Mass was scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Church in Hingham. Cremation will follow the services. Pearl was born on Dec. 30, 1935, at Hinsdale to Martin and Leila (Hull) Brown. She was raised on a ranch at Thoene, a small community north of Hinsdale. She received her early education at Hinsdale, then transferred to Joplin, where she graduated from high school in 1953. She...

LaMarr Knox Reynolds, 79, died Thursday, July 24, 2003, at a Havre care facility of natural causes. A graveside service will be held at the Oakmont Memorial Park Cemetery, 2099 Reliez Valley Road, Lafayette, Calif., at a later date. Cremation has taken place. LaMarr was born Feb. 27, 1924, in Sacramento, Calif., to Xen V. and Gladys B. (Drook) Reynolds. He attended Fremont High School in Oakland, Calif., graduating in 1943. While attending high school, LaMarr was in a program that allowed him to attend school for four hours...

CHESTER - Paul B. Overlie, 63, of Chester died at his home Sunday, July 27, 2003, of an apparent heart attack. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Friday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chester. Burial of ashes will be in the Chester Cemetery. Overlie was a well-known farm implement parts salesman and manager in the Chester and Hi-Line communities. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Robert. Survivors include his wife, Dorothie of Chester; sons, Paul Jr. of Chester, Darren of Havre, and Mitchell of...

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...

HINGHAM - Pearl Viola Richter, 67, longtime Hingham resident, died Thursday, July 24, 2003, at her home in Bigfork. A funeral Mass was scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Church in Hingham. Cremation will follow the services. Pearl was born on Dec. 30, 1935, at Hinsdale to Martin and Leila (Hull) Brown. She was raised on a ranch at Thoene, a small community north of Hinsdale. She received her early education at Hinsdale, then transferred to Joplin, where she graduated from high school in 1953. She...

LaMarr Knox Reynolds, 79, died Thursday, July 24, 2003, at a Havre care facility of natural causes. A graveside service will be held at the Oakmont Memorial Park Cemetery, 2099 Reliez Valley Road, Lafayette, Calif., at a later date. Cremation has taken place. LaMarr was born Feb. 27, 1924, in Sacramento, Calif., to Xen V. and Gladys B. (Drook) Reynolds. He attended Fremont High School in Oakland, Calif., graduating in 1943. While attending high school, LaMarr was in a program that allowed him to attend school for four hours...

Helen J. Wilkins, 88, died Thursday, July 17, 2003, at a Havre care center of natural causes. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. today at the First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Catherine Card officiating. Burial of the cremated remains will follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship will be held at the church immediately after the services at the graveside. Helen was born March 22, 1915, to Henry and Bernice (Johnson) Johnson in Havre. She attended school at Cottonwood and graduated...

MALTA- - Lila L. Robinson, 73, died Frday, July 18, 2003, at a Malta care center of natural causes. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Malta Lutheran Church. Burial will be in the Malta Cemetery. Lila was born July 23, 1929, at Havre to Vern and Charlotte (Bridal) Brader. She was raised in Havre and graduated from Havre High School. She moved to Las Vegas and worked at the Boulder Dam for several years as a secretary. She returned to Havre in 1959 and worked for the Ruby Bank System prior to marrying...

ROCKY BOY - Lance Sheldon Parker Sr., Thunder Child, 33, died Sunday, July 20, 2003, in a motor vehicle accident. A wake service began Sunday evening at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church with the funeral Mass beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday, also at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church with the Rev. Pete Guthneck officiating. Burial will follow at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. Lance was born Sept. 18, 1969, in Havre to Edmond and Laverne (Allery) Parker. He moved to Kansas with his family when he was a young child. He graduated from high school...