Obituaries

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... 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... Full story

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... Full story

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...

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.... Full story

DENVER - Henry L. "Pete" Hoffman, 80, of Denver died Saturday, Aug. 30, 2003, after a battle with cancer. Burial has taken place. He was born in Havre to Levi Hoffman and Christine Bostrack Hoffman. His father, who nicknamed him Pete, died in an accident in 1930. His mother taught him the meaning of hard work and dedication to God during the difficult depression era. Pete graduated from Havre High School in 1941. He served in the Navy during World War II. After the war, he graduated from Denver University with a degree in bus...

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

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...

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...

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...

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....

GREENSBORO, Md. - William N. Walls, 74, died Thursday, Sept. 4, 2003, at his home in Greensboro, Md., surrounded by his family. Visitation will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at Fleegle-Helfenbein Funeral Home in Greensboro. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Greensboro Baptist Church. Interment will be at Ridgely Cemetery. Walls was born on Nov. 6, 1928, in Trainer, Pa., to Norman and Eileen (Radcliff) Walls. He lived in Ridgely as a child and in Greensboro since 1978. He had suffered from rheumatoid ar... Full story

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...

CHINOOK - Elmer M. Zarn, 79, died Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003, at a Havre care center due to natural causes. A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Zion Lutheran Church with burial following in the Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Zarn was born on March 17, 1924, in Fargo, N.D., to Walter and Margit (Thorson) Zarn. He was raised on a farm near Watford City, N.D., by his stepfather. In 1942 Elmer moved to Chinook with a friend who had relatives there. He married Aileen Gorman on April 16, 1945, in Chinook. He worked in the...

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...

RUDYARD - Doris E. Ludwig Een, 71, of Rudyard died Friday, Aug. 29, 2003, at a Chester nursing home due to cancer. A vigil prayer service was held Monday evening at Our Lady of Ransom Church in Hingham. A funeral Mass was scheduled for 11 a.m. today at the church with burial to follow at Rudyard Cemetery. A luncheon was planned at the Rudyard Catholic Youth Center. Doris was born on Sept. 23, 1931, at Goldstone north of Rudyard to Anna Schwartz and Ernest Shipman. She received her early education at the Goldstone Country... Full story

Joseph John Cech, 93, died Friday, Aug. 29, 2003, at a his home in Havre of natural causes. Cremation has taken place. A prayer vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. today and a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Jude Catholic Church with the Rev. Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center immediately following the graveside services. Joe was born on April 12, 1910, in Browerville, Minn., to August and Annie (Stanafka)...