Obituaries

JOPLIN - Marlin C. "Sonny" Spicher, 58, died Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2003, after a seven-year battle with leukemia. Cremation has taken place. There will be a memorial service at a later date. He was born Dec. 25, 1944. Sonny farmed at Joplin and Hingham until his illness forced him to retire a few years ago. He was a true family man whose whole life was wrapped around his family and his faith. Sonny became a snowbird and wintered in Nevada, where he was at the time of his death. He was preceded in death by his parents. Sonny...

HAVRE - John Askvold Jr., 85, a World War II veteran and retired Pharmacist, died Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2003, at a Havre hospital. Memorial services will take place at a later date. Cremation has taken place. Adams Funeral Home and Hi-Line Crematory are in charge of arrangements....

CHESTER - Robert Owen "Bob" Aitken, 69, died Monday, Jan. 27, 2003, at a Chester hospital due to cancer. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Friday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chester. Burial is to follow at the Chester Cemetery. Bob was born on July 9, 1933, at Conrad to Forrest and Inez (Palmbush) Aitken. He grew up in Conrad and received his education there. During his school years, he was active in FFA and 4-H. He graduated from Conrad High School in 1951. Bob began working as mechanic at the Ford dealership in Conrad...

JOLIET - Philip 'Phil' Staudinger, 84, of Joliet died Saturday, Jan. 25, 2003. Cremation has taken place. Memorial graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Rockvale Cemetery. He was born April 30, 1918, at Richardton, N.D., to George and Rose Staudinger. He moved to Edgar in the spring of 1935. Phil was married to Mary Buechler on July 23, 1940. They lived in Carbon County their entire married life. Phil enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren, enjoyed animals, farming, ranching, having...

Sheree Lee Antley, 46, a licensed practical nurse, died Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2003, at her home of natural causes. A funeral service will be in Chipley, Fla. A memorial service will be at a later date at the Immanuel Baptist Church in Havre. Sheree was born on Oct. 9, 1956, to Jerry and Bobbie (Dixon) Livingston in Miami, Fla. She graduated from Lively Vocational-Technical College in Bremen, Ga., as a licensed practical nurse. In 1993 Sheree married Brad Antley in Florida. They moved to Havre in 1995 to be near his family....

CHESTER - June Amy Kelley, 89, died Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2003, at a Chester nursing home. A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chester. June was born in Lamont, Iowa, to Ray and Amy (Lewis) Toole on Oct. 30, 1913. She grew up and received her early education in Iowa. At age 10, she moved with her family to Bozeman, where she finished her formal schooling. June married Marion F. Kelley in Bozeman on Nov. 27, 1930. They made their home in Bozeman, where she was a homemaker and mother of...

Donna R. Van Wechel, 66, died Tuesday Jan. 14, 2003, at her residence of natural causes. The funeral service is 10 a.m. Tuesday at the First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Brad Ulgenes officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Park Cemetery. A luncheon following the committal rite will be held at her daughter's residence. Donna was born Sept. 23, 1936, to Oscar and Hazel (Wallum) Goldberg in Havre. Her family farmed north of Inverness. She attended school in Inverness, and when her family moved to Havre each winter, she atte...

Aaron David Swallow, retired owner of Rocky Mountain Packing Co., died Friday, Jan. 17, 2003, at a Great Falls hospital after a short illness. He was 84. Cremation has taken place. A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Highland Park Cemetery with the Rev. Rowlie Hutton officiating. Aaron was born March 17, 1918, to James F. and Anna Catherine (Brinney) Swallow at Malmo, Minn. The family made many moves in his early years. Aaron met his future wife, Mamie R. Schwenke, in the Swan River Valley in 1934. They were...

Carol Snoddy of Helena died on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2003, at her home after a battle with colon cancer. A church service will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Helena. There will be a private family interment of cremains in Havre at a later date. Carol was born on Feb. 27, 1938, to Guy and Muriel Maberry in Great Falls. She graduated from Havre High School in 1956. In 1956, she met David Snoddy, and they were married June 28, 1957. They owned Valley Machinery, Hi-Lane Auto Center, and the C&D...

POLSON - Deborah Jean Hobbs, 39, died Thursday, Jan. 16, 2003, at a Kalispell medical center from an automobile accident. A memorial service will be on Saturday at 11 a.m. at the Polson Middle School. Deborah was born in Burns, Ore., to Charles and Donna (Beuthe) Grice on May 11, 1963. She was raised in western Montana, attending elementary school in Townsend. She earned her GED in Great Falls and attended the May Technical Medical College where she studied to become a medical secretary. She also completed the reserve deputy...

Donna R. Van Wechel, 66, died Tuesday Jan. 14, 2003, at her residence of natural causes. The funeral service is 10 a.m. Tuesday at the First Lutheran Church with the Rev. Brad Ulgenes officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Park Cemetery. A luncheon following the committal rite will be held at her daughter's residence. Donna was born Sept. 23, 1936, to Oscar and Hazel (Wallum) Goldberg in Havre. Her family farmed north of Inverness. She attended school in Inverness, and when her family moved to Havre each winter, she atte...

Aaron David Swallow, retired owner of Rocky Mountain Packing Co., died Friday, Jan. 17, 2003, at a Great Falls hospital after a short illness. He was 84. Cremation has taken place. A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Highland Park Cemetery with the Rev. Rowlie Hutton officiating. Aaron was born March 17, 1918, to James F. and Anna Catherine (Brinney) Swallow at Malmo, Minn. The family made many moves in his early years. Aaron met his future wife, Mamie R. Schwenke, in the Swan River Valley in 1934. They were...

Carol Snoddy of Helena died on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2003, at her home. A church service will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Helena. There will be a private family interment of cremains in Havre at a later date. Carol was born on Feb. 27, 1938, to Guy and Muriel Maberry in Great Falls. She graduated from Havre High School in 1956. In 1956, she met David Snoddym and they were married June 28, 1957. They owned Valley Machinery, Hi-Lane Auto Center, and the C&D professional building in Havre. In 1964, she...

Carol Snoddy of Helena died on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2003, at her home. A church service will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Helena. There will be a private family interment of cremains in Havre at a later date. Carol was born on Feb. 27, 1938, to Guy and Muriel Maberry in Great Falls. She graduated from Havre High School in 1956. In 1956, she met David Snoddym and they were married June 28, 1957. They owned Valley Machinery, Hi-Lane Auto Center, and the C&D professional building in Havre. In 1964, she...

DUNSEITH, N.D. - Lawrence A. Struck, 86, died Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2003, in a Rugby, N.D., hospital. A funeral service will be held Friday at 2 p.m. in Peace Lutheran Church in Dunseith. There will be no visitation. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery in Dunseith. Lawrence was born in Rudyard to Frank and Bertha (Reber) Struck on Dec. 11, 1916. Lawrence married Eva McNair in Regina, Saskatchewan, on Sept. 14, 1946. Eva passed away on June 6, 1983. He married Florence Williams on Sept. 22, 1984, in Great Falls. Survivors...

DUNSEITH, N.D. - Lawrence A. Struck, 86, died Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2003, in a Rugby, N.D., hospital. A funeral service will be held Friday at 2 p.m. in Peace Lutheran Church in Dunseith. There will be no visitation. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery in Dunseith. Lawrence was born in Rudyard to Frank and Bertha (Reber) Struck on Dec. 11, 1916. Lawrence married Eva McNair in Regina, Saskatchewan, on Sept. 14, 1946. Eva passed away on June 6, 1983. He married Florence Williams on Sept. 22, 1984, in Great Falls. Survivors...

JOPLIN - David Eugene Alley, 53, died on Friday, Jan. 10, 2003, in his home where he collapsed getting ready to attend a basketball game. A memorial service will be Thursday at 1 p.m. at Bethel Lutheran Church in Joplin. David was born in Havre on March 17, 1949, to Bert W. Alley and Kathryn "Kay" VanDessel. He grew up at Joplin and received his education there, graduating from Joplin High School in 1967. During his school years he excelled in sports and still holds the shot put record at JHS. He continued his education at...

WHITEFISH - Lucille LaDonna Kickbusch, 70, a Whitefish resident, died on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2003, at a Whitefish hospital of natural causes. A funeral service was at 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home with the Rev. David V. Kauffman officiating. Burial followed at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls. Lucille was born in Havre to Frank and Mildred Kardell on June 23, 1932. She was raised at the family home north of Havre. Lucille married Roy Kickbusch in Havre on April 27, 1949. They moved to Hungry Horse in 1955 and later...

CHESTER - Clifford Clinton "Cliff" Leighton, 90, retired John Deere salesman and former manager of Chester Implement, died Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2003, at a Chester nursing home. The funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chester. Burial will be at the Chester Cemetery. Cliff was born on Dec. 8, 1912, at Mount Hope, Wis., to Clinton A. and Cecelia (Holman) Leighton. The family moved to Montana in 1919. Cliff received his education in Havre and graduated from Havre high School in 1931. He...

CHINOOK - James L. Gilmore, 38, of Chinook died Friday, Jan. 3, 2002, at a Great Falls hospital due to complications from surgery and cancer. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with burial with military honors in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. today in the funeral home chapel. Jim was born on Jan. 9, 1964, in Havre to Meredith and Madeleine (Lariviere) Gilmore. He was raised in Chinook and attended school in Chinook and in Bigfork. Jim served...

BLAIR, Neb. - Nona Alfreda Bentsen Vammen, 91, of Blair, Neb., died Sunday, Dec. 29, 2002, at a Blair nursing home. A memorial service was held Wednesday at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home chapel in Blair with the Rev. Kenneth A. Jensen presiding. Graveside services and inurnment are to be held at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church Cemetery in McCabe at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday with the Rev. Stephen Odegaard officiating. Nona was born on Sept. 11, 1911, to Ole and Anna (Andersen) Olsen on her parents' homestead outside of McCabe. She...

CHESTER - Clifford Clinton "Cliff" Leighton, 90, retired John Deere salesman and former manager of Chester Implement, died Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2003, at a Chester nursing home. The funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chester. Burial will be at the Chester Cemetery. Cliff was born on Dec. 8, 1912, at Mount Hope, Wis., to Clinton A. and Cecelia (Holman) Leighton. The family moved to Montana in 1919. Cliff received his education in Havre and graduated from Havre high School in 1931. He...

CHINOOK - James L. Gilmore, 38, of Chinook died Friday, Jan. 3, 2002, at a Great Falls hospital due to complications from surgery and cancer. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel with burial with military honors in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. today in the funeral home chapel. Jim was born on Jan. 9, 1964, in Havre to Meredith and Madeleine (Lariviere) Gilmore. He was raised in Chinook and attended school in Chinook and in Bigfork. Jim served...

BLAIR, Neb. - Nona Alfreda Bentsen Vammen, 91, of Blair, Neb., died Sunday, Dec. 29, 2002, at a Blair nursing home. A memorial service was held Wednesday at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home chapel in Blair with the Rev. Kenneth A. Jensen presiding. Graveside services and inurnment are to be held at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church Cemetery in McCabe at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday with the Rev. Stephen Odegaard officiating. Nona was born on Sept. 11, 1911, to Ole and Anna (Andersen) Olsen on her parents' homestead outside of McCabe. She...

BLAIR, Neb. - Nona Alfreda Bentsen Vammen, 91, of Blair, Neb., died Sunday, Dec. 29, 2002, at a Blair nursing home. A memorial service was held Wednesday at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Home chapel in Blair with the Rev. Kenneth A. Jensen presiding. Graveside services and inurnment are to be held at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church Cemetery in McCabe at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday with the Rev. Stephen Odegaard officiating. Nona was born on Sept. 11, 1911, to Ole and Anna (Andersen) Olsen on her parents' homestead outside of McCabe. She...