Obituaries

Vivian Clarke Nalivka, 89, died peacefully in her sleep at her home in the early morning hours of Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009. Her funeral service will be 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 30, 2009, at Holland & Bonine Funeral Home, with Pastor Byron Keith officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the Eagles Club immediately after the services at the graveside. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Vivian was born May 12, 1920, in Volt, Mont., to Blenda...

Robert Ernest Klabzuba, noted philanthropist and oilman, passed away at his Westover, Texas, home Friday, Nov. 20, 2009. A celebration of life was held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009, at First United Methodist Church, 800 W. 5th St., Fort Worth, Texas. Pallbearers: Rob Park, Scott Park, Josh Korman, John Stevens, Robert R. Klabzuba, John Stephen Klabzuba, Joe Paul Klabzuba, Jim Klabzuba and Chip Webb. Honorary pallbearers: Ralph Brite, Fielding Clayton, Neal Hawthorne, Sid Johnson, Paul Massad, Bill Paxton, Byron Searcy,...

Kenneth Charles Wood, 67, of Copeland Kan., died Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, at Western Plains Medical Complex, Dodge City, Kan. The son of Curtis and Freda (Beecher) Wood, he was born Oct. 18, 1942, in Havre, Mont. He served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He and Rhea Jo Hollingworth were married Nov. 29, 1969, in Great Falls, Mont. They moved from Hooker, Okla., to Copeland in 1997. He was a member of the Copeland American Legion Post No. 369. He worked for ADM Grain Elevator as an operations...

Dwight G Young , 63 , Modern Shoe Shop owner, died Nov. 17, 2009. Survivors include brother, Terry (Linda) Young of Helena and sister, Bonita (James) Griggs of Havre. Services are Monday at 1 p.m. at Conrad Lutheran Church....

Mona Belle Opperud, 80, a retired clerk, died Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, at Northern Montana Care Center in Havre, of natural causes. Memorial services will be held 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20, 2009, at First Presbyterian Church in Havre with Pastor John Bruington officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately following the graveside services. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland and Bonine Funeral Home. Mona Belle was born July 9, 1929, in...

Mona Belle Opperud, 80, a retired clerk, died Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009, at Northern Montana Care Center in Havre, of natural causes. Memorial services will be held 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20, 2009, at First Presbyterian Church in Havre with Pastor John Bruington officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately following the graveside services. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland and Bonine Funeral Home. Mona Belle was born July 9, 1929, in... Full story

Benjamin B. Spinler, 71, a lifelong Hingham area farmer who loved to bowl and golf, died after collapsing at his home Sunday evening. A memorial Mass will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Church in Hingham. A reception will follow. Cremation and arrangements are by Rockman Funeral Chapel in Chester. Ben was born Oct. 3, 1938, in Havre to Joseph and Frances (Pester) Spinler. He grew up on the family farm near Hingham and graduated from Hingham High School in 1956. He married Marjorie E. Durkee on Sept. 9,...

Della Frances Jess, 86, who owned a farm south of Havre, died of natural causes at Northern Montana Hospital on Nov. 15, 2009. A funeral service celebration of her life will be held Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, at 11 a.m. in the Assembly of God Church with burial following in Highland Cemetery. A fellowship dinner will be held after the services. Memorials may be sent to the Glacier Bible Camp, c/o District Office, 2147 Overland Ave., Suite 100, Billings, MT 59102. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook. Della was... Full story

Benjamin B. Spinler, 71, a lifelong Hingham area farmer who loved to bowl and golf, died after collapsing at his home Sunday evening. A memorial Mass will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Church in Hingham. A reception will follow. Cremation and arrangements are by Rockman Funeral Chapel in Chester. Ben was born Oct. 3, 1938, in Havre to Joseph and Frances (Pester) Spinler. He grew up on the family farm near Hingham and graduated from Hingham High School in 1956. He married Marjorie E. Durkee on Sept. 9,... Full story

Della Frances Jess, 86, who owned a farm south of Havre, died of natural causes at Northern Montana Hospital on Nov. 15, 2009. A funeral service celebration of her life will be held Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009, at 11 a.m. in the Assembly of God Church with burial following in Highland Cemetery. A fellowship dinner will be held after the services. Memorials may be sent to the Glacier Bible Camp, c/o District Office, 2147 Overland Ave., Suite 100, Billings, MT 59102. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook. Della was...

Berrit Ethan Litzinger, 34 weeks gestation, died Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, at Northern Montana Hospital. His graveside service will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at Highland Cemetery in Havre with Father Dale Yurkovic officiating. Berrit was the long awaited son of Rob Litzinger and Mary Harrison. He is now an angel in heaven. He is survived by his parents, Rob Litzinger and Mary Harrison both of Havre, Mont.; big brother, Dodge Harrison of Havre, Mont.; maternal grandparents, Jennifer and Wade Harrison of Havre, Mont.;...

Otto H. Silvan, 86, passed away peacefully, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, at his son Wayne's home in Big Sandy, after a courageous battle with cancer. His funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 18, 2009, at the United Methodist Church in Big Sandy, Mont., with Pastor Marvin Eldridge officiating. Burial will follow with full military honors at the Big Sandy Cemetery, and a fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the graveside service. Memorial contributions in Otto's honor may be made to the... Full story

Marguerite Stromberg, 92, of Missoula, died Nov. 13, 2009, at St. Patrick Hospital of natural causes. Marguerite was born July 21, 1917 south of Chinook, Mont., to parents Charles and Fern (Myers) Wallace. She graduated from Havre High School in 1935. She married Edwin C. Stromberg and was a homemaker, mother and grandmother. She really enjoyed watching the Utah Jazz and her favorite player, John Stockton. Marguerite also enjoyed all her family sports events, Grizzly football, her pinocle and Mexican Train friends at Grizzly...

Berrit Ethan Litzinger, 34 weeks gestation, died Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, at Northern Montana Hospital. His graveside service will be 11 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009, at Highland Cemetery in Havre with Father Dale Yurkovic officiating. Berrit was the long awaited son of Rob Litzinger and Mary Harrison. He is now an angel in heaven. He is survived by his parents, Rob Litzinger and Mary Harrison both of Havre, Mont.; big brother, Dodge Harrison of Havre, Mont.; maternal grandparents, Jennifer and Wade Harrison of Havre, Mont.;... Full story

Beatrice M. Barton Whitehead, Medical Technologist, 67, died at her Sun City, CA home of unknown primary cancer on Oct. 18, 2009. A memorial service will be held next summer in Choteau, Mont....

Dazzle Dean (Mott) Moore, 79, died peacefully Nov. 11 at Northern Montana Care Center in Havre. A memorial service will be held at Northern Montana Care Center on Monday, Nov. 16 at 2:30 p.m. Funeral services will be Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 at 11 a.m. at A L Bennett Funeral Home in Fredericksburg, Va, with interment at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Memorial services will be held at a later date in Fort Belknap. The family requests donations to her favorite charities; American Cancer Society, Alzheimer's Foundation, and Habitat...

Emma Gladys Wright, 98, passed away Wednesday Nov. 11, 2009, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Cremation has taken place and her memorial service will be 1 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 17, 2009, at the St. Mark's Episcopal Church with a second memorial service at 2:30 p.m. at Northern Montana Care Center Ponderosa Room. Her graveside and burial will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Highland Cemetery. A reception will be held after the graveside service at 930 2nd Ave. Memorials in Emma's honor may be made to the NMCC...

Emma Gladys Wright, 98, passed away Wednesday Nov. 11, 2009, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Cremation has taken place and her memorial service will be 1 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 17, 2009, at the St. Mark's Episcopal Church with a second memorial service at 2:30 p.m. at Northern Montana Care Center Ponderosa Room. Her graveside and burial will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Highland Cemetery. A reception will be held after the graveside service at 930 2nd Ave. Memorials in Emma's honor may be made to the NMCC...

Marion R. Martin, 86, of Havre died of natural causes Tuesday, Nov. 10, in Park Forest, Ill. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Heartland Memorial Funeral Home in Park Forest. His funeral service will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Havre Saturday, Nov. 21, at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery and then a luncheon will be held at the church. Marion was born May 23, 1923, in Rock Lake, N.D., to Dougal and Maude (Olafson) Martin, farming north of Rock Lake. He graduated from Sarles High School... Full story

Marion R. Martin, 86, of Havre died of natural causes Tuesday, Nov. 10, in Park Forest, Ill. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Heartland Memorial Funeral Home in Park Forest. His funeral service will be held at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Havre Saturday, Nov. 21, at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery and then a luncheon will be held at the church. Marion was born May 23, 1923, in Rock Lake, N.D., to Dougal and Maude (Olafson) Martin, farming north of Rock Lake. He graduated from Sarles High School...

Eugene R. Hall, 73, a long time Eureka resident, died Nov. 6, 2009, at his home in Eureka, Mont., from natural causes. He was born June 6, 1936, in New Deal, Mont., to Albert and Martha Loken Hall while Albert was working on the Fort Peck Dam. The family moved to Sinclair Creek, three miles north of Eureka, in 1937. Gene grew up there on a ranch. He attended Glen Lake School through eighth grade. Then he attended Lincoln County High School where he graduated with the class of 1954. Gene worked for an uncle in North Dakota on...

Joseph Helm, 57, born Thomas Joseph Helmbrecht, passed away in Guangzhou, China, Oct. 12, 2009. Joseph was born in Havre July 11, 1952, to Vern and Toby Helmbrecht. After graduating from St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic School and Havre High School, he attended Northern Montana College, the University of Montana and San Francisco State University where he received his bachelor of arts degree in music in 1979. Joseph also received a master's in music history from San Francisco State in 1985. In the 1970s, Joseph worked for the U.S....

Rubin Buchholz, 81, a longtime Havre resident, died of cancer Saturday Nov. 7, 2009, at Northern Montana Care Center. His memorial service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009, at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel with Pastor Michael Dahle officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held immediately after the graveside services at the V.F.W. Memorial contributions in Rubin's honor may be made to the Montana Chapter of the American Cancer Society.... Full story

Joseph John Waldner, 78, died Friday, Oct. 30, 2009, at his home at the East End Colony of natural causes. Funeral services were held at the East End Colony site on Sunday afternoon. Burial followed. Arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Joseph was born July 30, 1931, in Mcgrath, Alberta Canada to John and Sarah (Kleinsasser) Waldner. Joseph is survived by his wife, Rebecca Waldner of the East End Colony in Havre, Mont.; three sons, Joe Waldner, Eli Waldner and John Waldner, all of the East End...

Robert L. Davey, 82, passed away at the family home southeast of Havre on Oct. 30, 2009, due to natural causes. Funeral services will be Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009, at 11 a.m. in the First Lutheran Church with burial following in Highland Cemetery with military honors. Fellowship and lunch will follow at the Havre Eagles Club. Memorials may be sent to the Care and Comfort Home, 1204 Cleveland Ave., Havre, MT 59501 or the Havre Food Bank. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook. Bob was born to James and Pauline...