Obituaries

ROCKY BOY - Truman Joseph Collins, 65, died Thursday, May 15, 2003, of natural causes in his home. A rosary and wake service was held Tuesday evening at the St. Mary's Catholic Church at Rocky Boy. A funeral Mass was scheduled for 10 a.m. today at the St. Mary's Catholic Church with a committal rite to follow the Mass at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. Truman was born Sept. 18, 1937, in Browning to Jess and Adeline Collins Sr. He spent his childhood in and around Rocky Boy and Browning where he attended school. He also attended...

Joshua Dale Gormley, 17, died April 24, 2003. Funeral services were May 1 at the Olinger Chapel at the Crown Hill Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, Colo. Joshua was born Feb. 4, 1986, in Wolf Point to Keriba Jean Gormley. When Joshua was three years old, he loved to go with his grandmother Patty and family to the Optimist Park in Highland Park. A beautiful tree will be planted in the Optimist Park the end of this month with a plaque dedicating this tree to him. Joshua liked baseball hats, sandals and beaded necklaces. He loved to...

Amelia Marie Foster, a resident of Newberry Springs, Calif., for 26 years, died May 8, 2003. Services were held May 13 at 3 p.m. at the Mead Mortuary Chapel. Amelia was born on Oct. 20, 1933, in Saucillo, Chihuahua, Mexico. She was a homemaker all her life. Amelia married Duane Foster on May 18, 1959, in Las Vegas, Nev. Amelia was preceded in death by her husband, Duane Foster; and a daughter, Christina Foster. Survivors include her sons, Tom (Jacque) Foster of Fairhaven, Mass., Mike Foster of Derwood, Md., Jim Foster of...

William P. Wagner, 77, of Havre, who was a parts manager at Eaves Equipment and Big Bud/Meissner Tractor, died May 15, 2003, at a Havre hospital. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Monday at the St. Jude's Catholic Church, with graveside services to follow at the Highland Cemetery. William was born in Carrington, N.D., to William P. Wagner and Ethel Mathews on Sept. 19, 1925. He graduated from Dakota Business College in Fargo, N.D. William married Irene Sondag on Sept. 25, 1950, in Sykeston, N.D. In 1954, they moved to...

Joshua Dale Gormley, 17, died April 24, 2003. Funeral services were May 1 at the Olinger Chapel at the Crown Hill Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, Colo. Joshua was born Feb. 4, 1986, in Wolf Point to Keriba Jean Gormley. When Joshua was three years old, he loved to go with his grandmother Patty and family to the Optimist Park in Highland Park. A beautiful tree will be planted in the Optimist Park the end of this month with a plaque dedicating this tree to him. Joshua liked baseball hats, sandals and beaded necklaces. He loved to...

William P. Wagner, 77, of Havre, who was a parts manager at Eaves Equipment and Big Bud/Meissner Tractor, died May 15, 2003, at a Havre hospital. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Monday at the St. Jude's Catholic Church, with graveside services to follow at the Highland Cemetery. William was born in Carrington, N.D., to William P. Wagner and Ethel Mathews on Sept. 19, 1925. He graduated from Dakota Business College in Fargo, N.D. William married Irene Sondag on Sept. 25, 1950, in Sykeston, N.D. In 1954, they moved to...

KALISPELL - Kathleen M. "Kathy" Krantz, 75, of Kalispell died Thursday, May 8, 2003, at Kalispell. She requested that there be no services after cremation. Kathy was born to Donald and Claire Tennant on July 27, 1927, in Duluth, Minn. She was raised in the Twin Cities and enjoyed her childhood summers visiting the family farm in Aiken, Minn. Her father was a blacksmith with the Great Northern Railway and transferred to Havre in 1946. Kathy was a skilled seamstress with Buttrey's in Havre and also lived and worked in Great...

INVERNESS - James McMillan "Jim" Fraser, 72, died on Saturday, May 10, 2003, at a Great Falls medical center of cancer. Vigil prayers will be Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Inverness. Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. on Friday at the church, with burial following at the Inverness Cemetery. Jim was born on the family farm at Cascade to Donald and Theresa (Borys) Fraser on Aug. 14, 1930. At age 9, his family moved to a farm south of Inverness. He attended country schools through seventh grade, then...

Becky Lynn Buerkle, 32, died from cancer in Havre on Tuesday, May 13, 2003, while surrounded by those who loved her. A graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Highland Cemetery. All of her family and friends are invited to attend. A fellowship will follow at the Vets Club. Becky was born in Great Falls on Aug. 8, 1970, to Helen (Adams) and Bernie Sterner. She attended schools in Cascade, Rudyard and Havre. Her daughter, Mandy Fialkosky, was born Nov. 12, 1985. She married Bill Buerkle in Havre on April 16,...

RUDYARD/PHOENIX, Ariz. - Roger Russell Solum, 41, of Phoenix, Ariz., died Thursday, May 8, 2003, at a Phoenix hospital from complications from hepatitis and kidney failure. A funeral service was held today in Phoenix. A local service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Calvary Evangelical Church in Rudyard with burial to follow at the Rudyard Cemetery. Russ was born on April 4, 1962, to Orville and Mary Ellen (Patrick) Solum at Chester. He grew up on the family farm and received his education in Rudyard. He graduated from...

William N. "Smitty" Smith, 83, died Wednesday, May 7, 2003, at a Great Falls hospital from cancer. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mark's Episcopal Church with the Rev. David Carter officiating. Following the memorial service is a full mili- tary honor and Masonic funeral at Highland Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the VFW Club. Shriners are asked to wear fez at the service Smitty was born April 21, 1920, to Les and Mae Smith in Rumsey, Ky. He came to Montana at the age of 16 after joining the...

Verla Eileen Pursley, 87, died May 6, 2003, at a Havre hospital of natural causes. Viewing will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Holland and Bonine Funeral Chapel. The funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Friday at St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church in Big Sandy, with the Rev. Pete Guthneck officiating. Burial will follow at the Big Sandy Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church immediately following the services at the graveside. Verla was born Jan. 25, 1916, in Tampico, Ill., to William and...

HELENA - Meredith Ann Molkjer, 54, a record management specialist, died May 6, 2003, at a Great Falls hospital of natural causes. Cremation has taken place. The celebration of her life service will be on July 24 before her ashes are laid to rest on her father's farm south of Chinook. Meredith was born in Havre to Eloise (Farrell) and Nels Molkjer on Nov. 18, 1948. She graduated from Harlem High School in 1966 and from Northern Montana College with an associates of agriculture and a bachelors degree in business technology in...

KENNEWICK, Wash. - Alberta "Berty" Crites, 84, of Kennewick, died Friday, April 25, 2003, at Kennewick. Services have been held. She was born on Oct. 31, 1918, at Zurich to O.B. and Lola Streeter. In 1938, she married Vern Crites. They retired in 1981 to Kennewick after more than 40 years in construction work. She was preceded in death by parents; husband, Vern, in 1997; and great-granddaughter, Anne, in 1999. Survivors include her children, Betty, Jack and Orin; brother, Marion; seven grandchildren; three...

CHINOOK - Robert N. Barton, 75, died Saturday, May 3, 2003, at his home due to natural causes. A funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday in the American Lutheran Church. Burial will follow in the Kuper Memorial Cemetery with military honors. Robert was born in Blackboys, Sussex, England, on Dec. 20, 1927, to George and Dora (Shaw) Barton. He attended elementary and high school in England. Robert came to New York and then Montana in 1948. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Robert attended Northern Montana College...

Verla Eileen Pursley, 87, died May 6, 2003, at a Havre hospital of natural causes. Viewing will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Holland and Bonine Funeral Chapel. The funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Friday at St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church in Big Sandy, with the Rev. Pete Guthneck officiating. Burial will follow at the Big Sandy Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church immediately following the services at the graveside. Verla was born Jan. 25, 1916, in Tampico, Ill., to William and...

KENNEWICK, Wash. - Alberta "Berty" Crites, 84, of Kennewick, died Friday, April 25, 2003, at Kennewick. Services have been held. She was born on Oct. 31, 1918, at Zurich to O.B. and Lola Streeter. In 1938, she married Vern Crites. They retired in 1981 to Kennewick after more than 40 years in construction work. She was preceded in death by parents; husband, Vern, in 1997; and great-granddaughter, Anne, in 1999. Survivors include her children, Betty, Jack and Orin; brother, Marion; seven grandchildren; three...

CHINOOK - Robert N. Barton, 75, died Saturday, May 3, 2003, at his home due to natural causes. A funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday in the American Lutheran Church. Burial will follow in the Kuper Memorial Cemetery with military honors. Robert was born in Blackboys, Sussex, England, on Dec. 20, 1927, to George and Dora (Shaw) Barton. He attended elementary and high school in England. Robert came to New York and then Montana in 1948. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Robert attended Northern Montana College...

John Lars Britton, 84, died Tuesday, April 29, 2003, in North Bend, Ore., after a long illness. A memorial service will be held in Montana at a date to be determined. John was born in Phillip, S.D., to George and Helma Britton on Oct. 18, 1918. John received his bachelors degree in 1955 from the University of Montana. He taught in Alberton until 1958. He received his masters degree from the University of Montana in 1960. John was the superintendent of schools in Corvallis from 1960-1966. He worked for the Forest Service -...

MOORE - N. Catherine Bricker, 88, longtime Moore area resident, died Friday, May 2, 2003, at a nursing center. Funeral services will be at the Creel Funeral Chapel on Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Moore. Burial will be at the Moore Cemetery. Catherine was born in Missoula to George and Ida (Richardson) Walford on Oct. 25, 1914. She received her schooling in Missoula. Catherine was married to David Eugene Bricker in Missoula on March 25, 1939. They celebrated 61 years of marriage before his death in April 2000. They farmed in the...

ROCKY BOY - Clifford Watson Stump, 79, died April 29, 2003, at his home in Rocky Boy after a battle with cancer. A wake service was to begin Tuesday afternoon at Rocky Boy Lutheran Church. A traditional Indian service was to begin at 10 a.m. today, also at the church. Burial will follow the service at Rocky Boy Cemetery. Clifford was born April 1, 1924, to Pat Peeper and Blanket Mighty Voice in Billings. Cliff was raised by his stepfather, John Stump Sr. Cliff attended schools in Rocky Boy, where he grew up. He entered the...

Glenda Caroline St. Dennis, 41, died unexpectedly Saturday, April 26, 2003, at her residence in Havre. Cremation has taken place. There will be a private gathering of friends and family at a later time. Glenda was born Feb. 17, 1962, to Arthur and Charlotee (Bray) Thelander in Bellingham,Wash. She grew up in Bellinghamand Cordova, Alaska, and attended schools there. After school Glenda went to work on commercial fishing boats, in canneries, and as a horse wrangler. Glenda married Joe St. Dennis in 1995 in Havre after the...

Glenda Caroline St. Dennis, 41, died unexpectedly Saturday, April 26, 2003, at her residence in Havre. Cremation has taken place. There will be a private gathering of friends and family at a later time. Glenda was born Feb. 17, 1962, to Arthur and Charlotee (Bray) Thelander in Bellingham,Wash. She grew up in Bellinghamand Cordova, Alaska, and attended schools there. After school Glenda went to work on commercial fishing boats, in canneries, and as a horse wrangler. Glenda married Joe St. Dennis in 1995 in Havre after the...

CHINOOK - Lyle M. Montgomery, 42, died unexpectedly on April 8, 2003, in Reno, Nev. A memorial service will be Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Presbyterian Church in Chinook. Lyle was born in Havre to Ralph and Vanda (Werk) Montgomery on Dec. 15, 1960. He was raised in Chinook and graduated from Chinook High School in 1980. Lyle graduated from Northern Montana College with a degree in engineering technology, and was a 1995 graduate of a pharmacy school in Laramie, Wyo. Lyle was a pharmacy manager for Safeway at Hawthorne, Nev.,...

MISSOULA - Cyril F. "Cy" Honzel, 83, of Missoula died Sunday, April 27, 2003, at St. Patrick Hospital of natural causes. Visitation will be held on today from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Garden City Funeral Home with Vigil services following at 7:30 p.m. Mass will be celebrated Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anthony's Parish with a reception following at the Elks Club. Private interment will take place at St. Mary's Cemetery. Cy was born Jan. 22, 1920, in Prairie du Chien, Wis., the only child of Frank R. and Gabrielle (Merrell) Honzel...