Obituaries

Audrey Irene McKnight, 77, of Havre died Sunday, May 25, 2003, at her home of natural causes. A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Friday at the First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Cathrine Card officiating. Burial will follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship will be held at the First Lutheran Church immediately after the graveside services. Audrey was born Nov. 16, 1925, to Gunval and Julia (Bjorlokken) Torkelson in Strandquist, Nelson Park Township, Minn. Audrey grew up in Karlstad, Minn. and graduated from Karlstad High...

RUDYARD - Ben Alfred Bradbury Jr., 66, died peacefully in his sleep at his home on Monday, May 26, 2003. It was Ben's wish to be cremated without fanfare. In remembrance of his life, the family has planned a small gathering from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday at the home of Alfred Bradbury, 717 17th St. in Havre. Ben was born in Havre to Beulah Wilcox and Ben Bradbury Sr. on Dec. 19, 1936. He received his formal education there and graduated from Rudyard High School in 1955. In the few years that followed, he worked on the family... Full story

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Vernon "Lee" Holler II, 31, died unexpectedly on May 16, 2003, in Sacramento, Calif. A memorial service was held May 18 at the Chapel 1 at Travis Air Force Base in California. Lee was born June 30, 1971, in Livingston. Lee graduated from Park County High School in Livingston in 1989. He enlisted in the Air Force in July 1989 and received training as a Pneudraulics Systems mechanic, which sent him to many parts of the world. Before his death, he worked as a Civil Service employee for the DOD at Travis Air...

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...

GLASGOW - Cecil Dykstra, 74, died May 17, 2003, at a Glasgow hospital of natural causes. A funeral service was May 19 at the First United Methodist Church in Glasgow, with the Rev. David Hodsdon officiating. Burial was in the Highland Cemetery in Glasgow. Cecil was born in Glasgow to Cecil Dowa and Reba Crouch Dykstra on Oct. 1, 1928. He attended 12 years of school at the old Glasgow High School. He served in the 101st Airborne Army Paratroop Battalion and played trombone in the U.S. Army band stationed in Fort Bennings, Ga.... Full story

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...

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,...

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... Full story

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...

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... Full story

BILLINGS - Kenneth Charles Scharfe, 82, of Billings, formerly of Havre, died peacefully on Friday, May 9, 2003, after a long battle with cancer. A funeral service will be held Tuesday at 1 p.m. at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1108 West 24th St., in Billings with the Rev. Carol Marhol officiating. A committal service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Highland Cemetery in Havre with the Rev. Brad Ulgeness officiating. Kenneth was born in Laredo on June 13, 1920, to Otto and Bessie Scharfe. They moved to...

FORT BELKNAP - Agnes E. "Ippy" Laurence, 47, died Thursday, May 8, 2003, at a Great Falls hospital due to respiratory failure. A funeral service was scheduled for 2 p.m. today at the Red Whip Recreation Center with burial following in Pony Hill Cemetery. A wake service was held Sunday evening in the Red Whip Center. Ippy was raised by her late grandparents, Millard and Rose Weasel. She understood the Assiniboine language fluently, since her grandmother did not speak English. Ippy attended schools at Fort Belknap and in Oklaho...

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... Full story

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...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Kari Ann Thurman, 41, died Saturday, May 3, 2003, in Sacramento, Calif., due to a massive stroke. Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Holland and Bonine Funeral Chapel in Havre, with the Rev. Zoe Coutts officiating. A private family interment will be held at a later date. Kari was born March 8, 1962, in Madera, Calif. She moved to Cut Bank at an early age and attended schools there. She then moved to Havre with her family and attended Lanae's College of Beauty... Full story

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...

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...

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 -... Full story

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...

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.,...

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.,... Full story

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... Full story

Erna Rosena Evins, 77, died April 27, 2003, in a Chicago-area hospital. Visitation will be held Sunday beginning at 1 p.m. at Schmaedeke Funeral Home in Lake Forest, Ill. A memorial service will follow at 3:30 p.m. A memorial service will be held in Havre at a later date. Erna was born on a farm south of Laredo to Fred and Roselia Philippi. She moved into town in 1936 and graduated from Havre High School. She was a bookkeeper at the Havre Daily News before moving away from the Havre area. She was a resident of the Chicago...