Obituaries

Elouise (Cleary) Schroeder peacefully passed away Dec. 8, 2009, with her children at her side. Elouise (Ellie), was born Aug. 5, 1929, in Havre, Mont., to Richard Cleary and Beulah (Carruthers) Cleary. She was the eldest of three children; her sister Betty and brother Richard.Throughout her childhood she had very close ties to her church, the people in her community and to her school classmates. Youth in a small town during the Depression created bonds of a generation that continued throughout her life. Friends, families and... Full story

William H. Tweedy, 82, of Cut Bank, a Cut Bank farmer and Air Force Korean War veteran, died Thursday of natural causes at a Great Falls hospital. No services are planned. Cremation has taken place under the direction of O'Connor Funeral Home. Survivors include his wife, Irma Tweedy of Cut Bank; and his son, William Tweedy of Cut Bank. William was born Oct. 26, 1927, in Shelby. He grew up and attended school in Thompson Falls. William received a bachelor of science degree in agriculture from Montana State College in Bozeman...

Leonard Rodney Eckberg died Tuesday, Dec. 8, in Auburn, Ala., after a long illness. He was able to spend the last months of his life near his greatest source of pride, his son, Jon. Rod was born May 15, 1947, and spent his early years in Nashua, Mont., moving with his family to Havre in 1961. He graduated from Havre High School and Northern Montana College where he was active in theater and was one of the founding members of the Northern Montana Repertory Theater. Rod was preceded in death by his mother and stepfather, Marge...

Adam Schweitzer of Helena died of natural causes, Dec. 4, 2009, at the age of 89. A viewing will be held Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, at 6 p.m., at the Retz Funeral Home Chapel, followed by a vigil service at 7 p.m. The funeral service will be held Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, at 11 a.m., at the Cathedral of St. Helena, followed by a luncheon in the Brondel Center of the Cathedral. Arrangements are under the care of Retz Funeral Home in Helena. Mr. Schweitzer was born May 15, 1920, in Goldstone, Mont., the seventh of nine children, to...

Grace Vera Heeter, 101, died of natural causes at Northern Montana Health Care Center Dec. 5, 2009. A memorial service will be held at the Ark Church at 325 2nd St. Saturday at 11 a.m. Grace was born in Denver, Colo., March 15, 1908, to Alice and Clarence Tooley. She moved to Hastings, Neb. She worked in a defense factory as a "Rosie the Riveter." She married Earl Johnston, and they moved to Mountain View, Mo., where they farmed. Their daughter, Shirley Ann, was born there before they moved to Havre in the early '40s to work... Full story

Adam Schweitzer of Helena died of natural causes, Dec. 4, 2009, at the age of 89. A viewing will be held Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, at 6 p.m., at the Retz Funeral Home Chapel, followed by a vigil service at 7 p.m. The funeral service will be held Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, at 11 a.m., at the Cathedral of St. Helena, followed by a luncheon in the Brondel Center of the Cathedral. Arrangements are under the care of Retz Funeral Home in Helena. Mr. Schweitzer was born May 15, 1920, in Goldstone, Mont., the seventh of nine children, to...

Jean A. Callies, 89, died Monday, Dec. 7, 2009, at her daughter's home in Havre of natural causes. Her funeral service will be 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, at Holland & Bonine Funeral Home, with Pastor Marvin Eldridge officiating. A private family burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Jean's honor may be made to the Havre- Hill County Library, 402 3rd St., Havre, MT 59501, or to the Intermountain Children's Home, 500 S. Lamborn, Helena, MT 59601. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to H...

Jean A. Callies, 89, died Monday, Dec. 7, 2009, at her daughter's home in Havre of natural causes. Her funeral service will be 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, at Holland & Bonine Funeral Home, with Pastor Marvin Eldridge officiating. A private family burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Jean's honor may be made to the Havre- Hill County Library, 402 3rd St., Havre, MT 59501, or to the Intermountain Children's Home, 500 S. Lamborn, Helena, MT 59601. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to H... Full story

Our graceful Joselyn left us on Dec. 3, 2009. A funeral will be held 1 p.m Wednesday, Dec. 9, at the 5th Avenue Christian Church in Havre, Mont. A reception will be held at the 5th Avenue Christian Church following a graveside service at the Highland Cemetery. Services have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home of Havre. Joselyn was born March 28, 1976, in Atlanta, Ga., to her loving mother Norrie and adoring father John Alexander. She was a wonderful and talented daughter. She grew up in Havre, Mont., with her...

Our graceful Joselyn left us on Dec. 3, 2009. A funeral will be held 1 p.m Wednesday, Dec. 9, at the 5th Avenue Christian Church in Havre, Mont. A reception will be held at the 5th Avenue Christian Church following a graveside service at the Highland Cemetery. Services have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home of Havre. Joselyn was born March 28, 1976, in Atlanta, Ga., to her loving mother Norrie and adoring father John Alexander. She was a wonderful and talented daughter. She grew up in Havre, Mont., with her...

James Paul Russette Sr., 75, of Rocky Boy, died Dec. 2, 2009, in Great Falls, Mont. A wake is under way at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 9 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, at the church with burial to follow at Rocky Boy Cemetery. He was born Nov. 9, 1934, in Fort Belknap, Mont., to Mike and Helen (Champagne) Russette. He served his country in the U.S. Air Force from 1952 until he was honorably discharged in 1954. He met and later married Bernice Ruth Meyers in 1964 at the Rocky Boy Ca...

James Paul Russette Sr., 75, of Rocky Boy, died Dec. 2, 2009, in Great Falls, Mont. A wake is under way at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 9 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, at the church with burial to follow at Rocky Boy Cemetery. He was born Nov. 9, 1934, in Fort Belknap, Mont., to Mike and Helen (Champagne) Russette. He served his country in the U.S. Air Force from 1952 until he was honorably discharged in 1954. He met and later married Bernice Ruth Meyers in 1964 at the Rocky Boy Ca... Full story

Isla F. Cottrell, 77, of Great Falls, a former guidance counsellor, died Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, at a local hospital of natural causes. Visit-ation will be held at Schnider Funeral Home on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Her funeral will be held at Sunrise Presbyterian Church on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009, at 11 a.m. Burial will take place in Geraldine Cemetery. Survivors include a daughter, Roba Strandell of Great Falls; a stepdaughter, Arlene Penhall of Cornville, Ariz.; sons, Brad Doney of Lewistown and Brent...

Arnold C. Peterson, 99, of Havre, died at his home, Dec. 1, 2009. Funeral services will be 2:30 p.m., at First Lutheran Church in Havre, with Pastor Brad Ulgenes officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Highland Cemetery in Havre. Memorial donations may be made in Arnold's honor to a charity of the donor's choice, the Senior Citizens Center of Havre or First Lutheran Church. Services have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home of Havre, Mont. Arnold was born Nov. 5, 1910, to Helbert H.J. and Eva (Helland)...

Donald August Danell, 82, formely of Havre, Mont., died of natural causes, Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009, at his residence in Lewistown, Mont. A visitation will be held at the Holland & Funeral Home in Havre, Mont., from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, with a funeral service at 11 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 7, at the St. Paul Lutheran Church in Havre, Mont., with Pastor Mark Schultz officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the graveside services. Donald was born...

Isla F. Cottrell, 77, of Great Falls, a former guidance counsellor, died Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, at a local hospital of natural causes. Visit-ation will be held at Schnider Funeral Home on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009, from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Her funeral will be held at Sunrise Presbyterian Church on Friday, Dec. 4, 2009, at 11 a.m. Burial will take place in Geraldine Cemetery. Survivors include a daughter, Roba Strandell of Great Falls; a stepdaughter, Arlene Penhall of Cornville, Ariz.; sons, Brad Doney of Lewistown and Brent... Full story

Arnold C. Peterson, 99, of Havre, died at his home, Dec. 1, 2009. Funeral services will be 2:30 p.m., at First Lutheran Church in Havre, with Pastor Brad Ulgenes officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Highland Cemetery in Havre. Memorial donations may be made in Arnold's honor to a charity of the donor's choice, the Senior Citizens Center of Havre or First Lutheran Church. Services have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home of Havre, Mont. Arnold was born Nov. 5, 1910, to Helbert H.J. and Eva (Helland)...

Lynda J. Hoover, 70, a manager with Malta Opportunities Inc., died of cancer Sunday, Nov. 29, at the Phillips County Hospital. Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 3, at the Malta Assembly of God Church, with interment in the Malta Cemetery. Kirkwood Funeral Home of Malta in charge of arrangements....

Minor Robert Rudolph McKnight, 82, died Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, at Northern Montana Hospital of heart failure. A public viewing will be held Monday, Dec. 7, 2009, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home, with his funeral service 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009, at the First Lutheran Church with Pastor Michael O'Hearn officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the graveside services. Memorial contributions in...

Myrtle Viola Roberts of Havre, Mont., passed away Nov. 28, 2009, in Rathdrum, Idaho, at the age of 89. She was born Feb. 12, 1920, in Chinook, Mont., a daughter to Cary and Martha Henderson. Myrtle and Albert H. Roberts were married 51 years residing in Havre with their eight children. She is preceded in death by her husband, Albert (Bill); daughter, Billie Kay (Jones); son, Albert F.; granddaughter, Janet R. Roberts; grandsons, Billy Roberts and Shane Hofer; parents, brothers and sisters. She is survived by sons, Edward G.... Full story

Barbara Jane Hellebust, 86, of Havre, Mont., died Monday, Nov. 30, 2009, at Sweet Memorial Home in Chinook, Mont. A memorial service will be held Saturday, Dec. 5, at 11 a.m., at Holland Bonine Funeral Chapel with Pastor Michael Dahle officiating. Memorials in Barbara's honor may be made to the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home, P.O. Box 1149, Chinook, MT 59523. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home, Havre. Barbara was born on June 10, 1923, in Flint, Mich., to parents, Herald and Eva... Full story

Lynda J. Hoover, 70, a manager with Malta Opportunities Inc., died of cancer Sunday, Nov. 29, at the Phillips County Hospital. Funeral services will be 2 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 3, at the Malta Assembly of God Church, with interment in the Malta Cemetery. Kirkwood Funeral Home of Malta in charge of arrangements.... Full story

Minor Robert Rudolph McKnight, 82, died Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009, at Northern Montana Hospital of heart failure. A public viewing will be held Monday, Dec. 7, 2009, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home, with his funeral service 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2009, at the First Lutheran Church with Pastor Michael O'Hearn officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the graveside services. Memorial contributions in...

Alice Ethel (Hall) Nivens, 82, left this world on Nov. 26, 2009, at Northern Montana Care Center in Havre. Memorial funeral services will be Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, at 1 p.m. in the Chinook Assembly of God Church with burial following in the Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook. Alice was born on Feb. 5, 1927, to Calvin James and Ethel (Kimsey) Hall in Chinook, Mt. She attended grade school in Pleasantview and graduated from Chinook High School in 1947. She worked at the Grill Claf... Full story

Alice Ethel (Hall) Nivens, 82, left this world on Nov. 26, 2009, at Northern Montana Care Center in Havre. Memorial funeral services will be Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, at 1 p.m. in the Chinook Assembly of God Church with burial following in the Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook. Alice was born on Feb. 5, 1927, to Calvin James and Ethel (Kimsey) Hall in Chinook, Mt. She attended grade school in Pleasantview and graduated from Chinook High School in 1947. She worked at the Grill Claf... Full story