Obituaries

Cheryl Lynn Braun Carlson, 57, left this world Dec. 22, in Spokane, Wash., following complications from heart surgery. Her memorial service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, at the First Lutheran Church, with Pastor Brad Ulgenes officiating. A fellowship luncheon will follow at the church immediately after the service. A private family burial will be held at a later time. Memorials in Cheryl's honor may be made to Special Olympics of Havre, to the Montana MDA, 2070 Overland Ave., No. 101 Billings, MT 59102-7429 or to a memorial of... Full story

Inge (Luft) Van Eck, 65, who worked many years as a church secretary and enjoyed cooking, knitting, crosswords and reading, died from complications of a stroke on Tuesday at Northern Montana Hospital in Havre. A memorial service will be 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 29, at the Alliance Church in Chester. Arrangements and cremation are by Rockman Funeral Chapel of Chester. Survivors are her husband of 45 years, Adrianus “Ed” Van Eck of Hingham; two daughters, Patricia Hansen of Havre and Christina Van Eck of Hingham; six gra...

Darlene Rae (Whitson) Seagraves was born July 23, 1932, in Havre, Mont. She was one of two daughters born to Russell and Mary (Brookshire) Whitson and became affectionately known as “Babe” to her family. After receiving her formal education at Simpson School, north of Havre, Darlene enrolled at the International Bible College in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. She enjoyed working with children, so she learned skills to teach Sunday School classes. During her time at the bible college she met her husband-to-be, Paul Carl Sea... Full story

Phyllis “Diller” A. Lyons, 49, died Monday, Dec. 21, 2009, at the Benefis East Campus in Great Falls, Mont., due to complications from lupus. Cremation has taken place, and her memorial service will be 11 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009, at Fifth Avenue Christian Church, with Rowlie Hutton officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Memorials in Phyllis' honor may be made to the Lupus Foundation of America, 2000 L St. N.W., Suite 710, Washington, DC 20036. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bon... Full story

Betty Jane (Henderson) Head, 88, died Sunday morning at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Her funeral service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009, at Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel, with Pastor John Chapman officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Memorials in Betty's honor may be made to the First Baptist Church. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the Eagles Club immediately after the graveside service. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Betty...

Betty Jane (Henderson) Head, 88, died Sunday morning at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Her funeral service will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2009, at Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel, with Pastor John Chapman officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Memorials in Betty's honor may be made to the First Baptist Church. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the Eagles Club immediately after the graveside service. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Betty... Full story

Mabel Adeline Johnson, 90, of Hogeland, a homemaker, went to be with the Lord on Dec. 12, 2009, at the family home in Hogeland of natural causes. Funeral services will be Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009, at 1 p.m. in the Hogeland American Lutheran Church, with burial following in the Wing Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the Hogeland American Lutheran Church or the Hogeland Fire Department. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook. Adeline was born on July 10, 1919, to Charles and Ellen (Elfstrom) Dahlquist in Twete,...

Jerod Doyle, 34, died on Dec. 15, 2009, at Billings Clinic due to an accident at the Laurel Airport in Laurel, Mont. Jerod was born on May 4, 1975, in Havre to Patrick and Gail (Russell) Doyle. He was raised in the Turner area and graduated from high school in 1993. Jerod attended college at MSU-Billings from 1993 to 1995. He then moved to Havre to work in his father's aircraft maintenance shop from 1995 to 1997. There he worked to acquire his A&P mechanic's license. In 1997, Jerod moved to Minot, N.D., and worked as an...

Olivia J. Savage 67, died Dec. 11, 2009, at her son's home from complications of multiple health problems. A family viewing was held Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, at Aclesa Funeral Chapel in Boise. A memorial service was held Dec. 15, 2009, at Linder Road Church of Christ in Merdian, Idaho. Cremation has taken place and burial will take place at a later date. Olivia was born Nov. 12, 1942, in Water Valley, Miss., to Henry Albert and Jettie Edna (Shepherd) House. Olivia was the youngest child of eight siblings. She attened... Full story

Mabel Adeline Johnson, 90, of Hogeland, a homemaker, went to be with the Lord on Dec. 12, 2009, at the family home in Hogeland of natural causes. Funeral services will be Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009, at 1 p.m. in the Hogeland American Lutheran Church, with burial following in the Wing Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the Hogeland American Lutheran Church or the Hogeland Fire Department. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook. Adeline was born on July 10, 1919, to Charles and Ellen (Elfstrom) Dahlquist in Twete,...

Mabel Adeline Johnson, 90, of Hogeland, a homemaker, went to be with the Lord on Dec. 12, 2009, at the family home in Hogeland of natural causes. Funeral services will be Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009, at 1 p.m. in the Hogeland American Lutheran Church, with burial following in the Wing Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the Hogeland American Lutheran Church or the Hogeland Fire Department. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook. Adeline was born on July 10, 1919, to Charles and Ellen (Elfstrom) Dahlquist in Twete,... Full story

Tim H. Sanford, 78, a longtime farmer/rancher in Blaine County, passed away Dec. 13, 2009, at Great Falls due to natural causes. A funeral Mass will be Friday, Dec. 18, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church with burial following at Alice Nash Memorial Cemetery on the Lone Tree Bench. Arrange- ments are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook....

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...

Mabel Adeline Johnson, 90, of Hogeland, a homemaker, went to be with the Lord on Dec. 12, 2009, at the family home in Hogeland of natural causes. Funeral services will be Saturday, Dec. 19, 2009, at 1 p.m. in the Hogeland American Lutheran Church, with burial following in the Wing Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the Hogeland American Lutheran Church or the Hogeland Fire Department. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook. Adeline was born on July 10, 1919, to Charles and Ellen (Elfstrom) Dahlquist in Twete,...

Tim H. Sanford, 78, a longtime farmer/rancher in Blaine County, passed away Dec. 13, 2009, at Great Falls due to natural causes. A funeral Mass will be Friday, Dec. 18, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. in St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church with burial following at Alice Nash Memorial Cemetery on the Lone Tree Bench. Arrange- ments are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.... Full story

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...

Bertha Wilma Bitz, 93, of Great Falls, died peacefully of natural causes on Dec. 12, 2009, at Northern Montana Care Center in Havre, Mont. Bertha was born to Fred and Margaret Kiemele on their homestead west of Laredo, Mont., on May 18, l916. Her primary education was at the Pleasentview School a short distant from the farm, with secondary education in Box Elder. Upon her marriage to Daniel Bitz in 1936, the couple settled in Box Elder, where Daniel was a barber, and they farmed northwest of Box Elder. In l963, their...

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... Full story

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...

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...

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...

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

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....