Obituaries

Gayle "Jethro" Gendrow Gayle "Jethro" Gendrow, 65, of Havre, passed away Nov. 29, 2010, at Northern Montana Care Center in Havre. Gayle's memorial service will be held 11 a. m. Friday, Dec. 3, 2010, at Holland & Bonine Funeral Home with Sister Margaret Mary O'Doherty officiating. A private burial will take place at a later date. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Gayle was born March 6, 1945, in Missoula, Mont., to Walter and Barbara (Manley) Gendrow. Gayle was the third of four...

Mark Ramon Widdis, 87, a Rudyard farmer, died Nov. 22, at Northern Montana Hospital, in Havre from pneumonia. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Wednesday at Calvary Church in Rudyard with burial in Rudyard Cemetery. There will be a viewing at the Rockman Funeral Chapel in Chester on Monday and Tuesday. Memorials may be given to the Care & Comfort Home in Havre or donor's choice. Mark was born July 30, 1923, at Woodpecker, B.C., Canada. He was the one of three children born to Robert and Elizabeth (Bair) Widdis. He grew up and r...

Lynn A. Walker, 69, died Thursday, Nov. 25, 2010, a Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Cremation has taken place, and a memorial service honoring Lynn's life will be held at a later time. A full obituary will follow Lynn A. Walker, 69, died Thursday, Nov. 25, 2010, a Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Cremation has taken place, and a memorial service honoring Lynn's life will be held at a later time. A full obituary will follow...

Mark Ramon Widdis, 87, a Canadian army veteran who lived and farmed at Rudyard since 1948, died from pneumonia at Northern Montana Hospital in Havre on Monday. His funeral will be 1 p. m., Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2010, at the Calvary Church in Rudyard. Burial will be in Rudyard Cemetery, and a luncheon will follow at the church. Arrangements are by Rockman Funeral Chapel in Chester. Memorials may be given to the Care and Comfort Home in Havre or to a charity of the donor's choice. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Crystle...

Ben Kampf of Kalispell passed away peacefully with a smile on his face and his loving family by his side, Nov. 22, at Kalispell Health Center, as the result of an accident. Ben was born Aug. 25, 1923, in a sod house on the family homestead near Laredo, Mont. He was the 10th of 13 children born to German-Russian immigrant parents, Samuel and Christina Boschee Kampf. He attended country elementary school in Laredo and Havre High School. He was an all-state running back as a member of the Havre Blue Ponies who won the 1941, Clas...

Robert "Bob" Toner, 93, and June (Wilson) Toner, 80, husband and wife of 61 years who farmed in the Rudyard community throughout their married life, passed away this fall within two weeks of each other. A joint memorial aervice will be 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Rudyard. Burial of ashes will follow in Rudyard Cemetery. A memorial dinner and dance will be held that same evening at the Inverness Supper Club. Arrangements are by Rockman Funeral Chapel in Chester. The couple is survived by three... Full story

Our generous, caring, fun-loving and loved husband, father and grandpa, Victor J. Bjornberg, passed on to his next place on Oct. 30, 2010, at the age of 82. Vic was born in spring 1928, May 7, in Omaha, Neb., to Nanna (Nylander) Bjornberg, a Swedish immigrant restaurant owner, and Swedish-American Victor Alex Bjornberg, a machinist at the Omaha Amour Meats Packing Plant. His work ethic, precision and pursuit of quality was inspired and instilled by his parents' example and that of his older sister, Virginia. His fun-loving sp...

Bruce E. Bernardi, 51, was released from the pain of this life on Nov. 21, 2010, with his sister Gina at his side. He was born Aug. 23, 1959, in Butte, Mont., to Peggy (Grimm) Bernardi. He lived all over Montana, attending school throughout, attending his last high school in Havre. At age 19, after moving to Bakersfield, Calif., Bruce was injured in a automobile accident, which left him a quadriplegic up until the time of his death. Bruce had a very charismatic personality, sometimes providing his own entertainment. He was a...

Ellen (Anderson) McMahan, 55, passed away at home from kidney failure on Nov. 11, 2010. A memorial celebration for family and friends will be Sunday, Nov. 28, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Eagles Club in Havre. Ellen was born March 5, 1955, to Ralph W. and Wilma (Roper) Anderson. She was raised on a dairy farm east of Havre and enjoyed the horses and all the little animals, until they got big. She also enjoyed reading, cross-stitching, sewing and spending time with her family. She went through the Havre school system, graduating fr...

Charles Gopher, 77, died Sunday Nov. 21, 2010 at the Benefis West ER due to natural causes. His wake service will begin Monday at 4 p.m. with his traditional service 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010, all at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church. Burial will follow at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Charles was born Sept. 8, 1933, in Rocky Boy, to Joe and Sitting Pretty (Ochino) Gopher. He was raised and educated and graduated from high school. He received his...

Jim Bishop, 82, formerly of Havre, Mont., died Monday, Nov. 15, 2010, in Yuma, Ariz. Services will be held at a later time. Jim Bishop, 82, formerly of Havre, Mont., died Monday, Nov. 15, 2010, in Yuma, Ariz. Services will be held at a later time....

The memorial service for Elizabeth Wold, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 20, has been canceled. The memorial service for Elizabeth Wold, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 20, has been canceled....

Peter James Cole, 55, died at his home of natural causes. Cremation has taken place, and his memorial Mass will be 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 22, 2010, at the St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church with Father Joe Diekhans officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the St. Jude Thaddeus Parish Center immediately after the services at graveside. Memorial contributions in Peter's honor may be made to the St. Jude Thaddeus School or St. Jude Thaddeus Church. Peter was born June 19, 1955, in...

Jim Bishop, 82, formerly of Havre, Mont., died Monday, Nov. 15, 2010, in Yuma, Ariz.. Services will be held at a later time. Jim Bishop, 82, formerly of Havre, Mont., died Monday, Nov. 15, 2010, in Yuma, Ariz.. Services will be held at a later time....

Rose Christensen, 87, died at her home in Ronan, Mont., on Nov. 14, 2010. She was born to Wilbur LaFrance and Marie (Ledeau) LaFrance on Oct. 22, 1923, in Thorne, N.D. Rose graduated from high school in Marysville, N.D., in 1939. She married James W. Christensen on March 18, 1962 in Fort Benton. In her younger years, she was a waitress. When the family moved to Kalispell, she was a bookkeeper for the B&B for many years, but the career she was most proud of was homemaker. She treasured every moment she spent with her... Full story

Misao Kume Harada Misao Kume Harada, 87, passed away at Kalispell Regional Hospital in Kalispell, Mont., on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010. Misao was born June 19, 1923, in Wolf Point, Mont., to Magoshiro Kume and Hatsuye Nakagawa. She attended schools in Williston, N.D. and graduated from Escondido High School in California in 1941. In 1942, during World War II, Misao and her sister, Yoshina (Flossie), were placed in a Japanese internment camp in Poston Ariz., and were there for three years. She was allowed to leave the camp early...

Vera Mae Leens of Mesa, Ariz., passed away on Nov. 11, 2010, at the age of 90, as a result of congestive heart failure. Vera had lived the majority of her life in Havre, Mont., and since 1975 had made her residence in Mesa. Born on July 4, 1920, Vera was one of seven children. Of her siblings, she is only survived by one sister, Mary Powell of Salt Lake City, Utah. Her husband, Emil Leens, passed away in 1976. She is survived by her three children, Larry Leens of Mantua, N.J., and Allan Leens and Linda Strong, both of Havre,...

Linda Marie (Damschen) Savage Linda Marie (Damschen) Savage, 63, passed away at her home in Redcliff, Alberta, Canada, on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010. Linda was born April 14, 1947, in Havre, Mont., to Roy and Irene Damschen. She attended schools in Havre and graduated from Havre High School in 1965. She moved to Rapid City, S.D., making it her home for many years until she met and married John Savage on Aug 5, 1985. They then moved to Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, and lived in the area until her death. Linda loved animals. She... Full story

John Shennum Jr., 83 went to be with the Lord on Oct. 11, 2010, at his home with his children at his side. Memorial services were held on Oct. 16, 2010, at the Messiah Lutheran Church with Pastor Charlie Moody officiating. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook. John was born on Aug. 24, 1927, in Scobey to John and Adella (Judkins) Shennum. He was the sixth of seven children. He attended the Shennum Rural School for his first two years and continued his education in Scobey Public Schools. He was raised on the... Full story

Gladys Ruth Peters beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and dear child of God, passed away peacefully at Liberty Heights skilled nursing facility in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Oct. 26, 2010. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Taylor Peters, who passed away Jan. 14, 2007. She is survived by her sisters, Mabel (Hamon) Prim and Lois (Hamon) Richardson; her brothers, Alva Hamon and Harold Hamon; her children, Gordon Denis (Marilyn), Donald D. (Jamie), Rebecca Peters Weatherwax (Gary Albertson),...

Elizabeth "Liz" Simko Wold, 94, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2010, at the Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Cremation has taken place, and her memorial service will be 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, at Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel, with burial at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held immediately after the graveside services at St. Jude Thaddeus Parish Center. Memorials in Liz's honor may be made to a charity of one's choice. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine...

Clara Belle Armstrong Lowen, 88, died Saturday morning, Nov. 6, 2010,at Northern Montana Care Center. Her service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Fifth Avenue Christian Church with Pastor Rowlie Hutton presiding. A fellowship gathering will be conducted immediately following the memorial service. Clara was born Dec. 23, 1921, in Comanche, Mont., to Francis W. Armstrong and Gladys F. (Zimmerman) Armstrong. She started first grade at the Comanche School in 1927, and later attended school north of Havre, where she... Full story

A good man has left us. Patrick John Conroy, our dear husband, brother, father, grandfather and uncle passed peacefully surrounded by his loving wife Helen and six children. Patrick John Conroy was born in Harlowton, Mont. on Jan. 11, 1931 to Clem and Edna Conroy. He graduated from Judith Gap High School, excelling in academics, music and sports. He attended college at both Rocky Mountain College as well as Carroll College, where he received a degree in education. He later obtained a Masters Degree in Administration from the...

Wanita Rae Vavages-Mill, 50, proud member of the Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation, went to be with her Creator on Monday, Nov. 1, 2010, at the Benefis Hospital emergency from complications with dialysis. Her wake and rosary service will begin today, with her funeral 10 a.m., Thursday, at the Rocky Boy Lutheran Church. Burial will be held at the Denny Family Cemetery in Rocky Boy. Arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Wanita was born to Leonard Vavages and Minnie Finebow-Northwind on...

Katheryn 'Kay' Syth Katheryn M. (Waymire) Syth, 87, a longtime resident of Great Falls, died of advanced Alzheimer's disease on Oct. 18, 2010, at her daughter's home in Havre. A private family graveside service was held at Highland Cemetery in Great Falls. Kay, the youngest of eight children born to Albert and Kitty Waymire, was born on March 10, 1923. She was raised on the homestead southwest of Geyser and was educated in Geyser. She married Walter Culbertson on Nov. 30, 1940. They had two children. They later divorced....