Obituaries

Geoffrey Mix Johnson, 59, of Lone Tree Bench, Mont., died of natural causes with his family at his bedside, Saturday afternoon, Oct. 31, 2009, at a Great Falls hospital. There will be a gathering of family and friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday at O'Connor Funeral Home in Great Falls. Geoff wanted his ashes returned to the earth on the family ranch next spring after calving season, and a date will be set in the future with public notification. Geoff was born in Great Falls on Dec. 11, 1949, the second son of Dr. Alexander Charle...

Helen Annie (Bitterman) Nash, 85, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, wife, sister and aunt passed away Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009. Helen was born in Havre, Mont., Dec. 9, 1923, to Adolph and Annie Amelia Bitterman. She attended school in Havre. In Great Falls, Mont., Jan. 25, 1942, she married Marlin Albert Nash who preceded her in death. They lived and worked in Havre before moving to Ephrata, Wash., in 1954. Marlin owned and operated Nash Janitorial Service in Ephrata for nearly 40 years. They attended Ephrata...

Funeral services for Audrey Rae Mrnak, 77, of Glendive, Mont., will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, at the Evangelical Church in Glendive with Pastor Jim O'Connor officiating. Interment will follow in the family lot in Dawson Memorial Cemetery at Glendive. Visitation will be 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. The visitation and prayer service are both at the church at 118 W. Borden St. in Glendive. Audrey left this world to be with her Lord Oct. 27, 2009, at the Eastern Montana Veterans Home...

Helen Annie (Bitterman) Nash, 85, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, wife, sister and aunt passed away Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009. Helen was born in Havre, Mont., Dec. 9, 1923, to Adolph and Annie Amelia Bitterman. She attended school in Havre. In Great Falls, Mont., Jan. 25, 1942, she married Marlin Albert Nash who preceded her in death. They lived and worked in Havre before moving to Ephrata, Wash., in 1954. Marlin owned and operated Nash Janitorial Service in Ephrata for nearly 40 years. They attended Ephrata...

Funeral services for Audrey Rae Mrnak, 77, of Glendive, Mont., will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, at the Evangelical Church in Glendive with Pastor Jim O'Connor officiating. Interment will follow in the family lot in Dawson Memorial Cemetery at Glendive. Visitation will be 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. The visitation and prayer service are both at the church at 118 W. Borden St. in Glendive. Audrey left this world to be with her Lord Oct. 27, 2009, at the Eastern Montana Veterans Home...

Helen Annie (Bitterman) Nash, 85, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, wife, sister and aunt passed away Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009. Helen was born in Havre, Mont., Dec. 9, 1923, to Adolph and Annie Amelia Bitterman. She attended school in Havre. In Great Falls, Mont., Jan. 25, 1942, she married Marlin Albert Nash who preceded her in death. They lived and worked in Havre before moving to Ephrata, Wash., in 1954. Marlin owned and operated Nash Janitorial Service in Ephrata for nearly 40 years. They attended Ephrata...

Funeral services for Audrey Rae Mrnak, 77, of Glendive, Mont., will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, at the Evangelical Church in Glendive with Pastor Jim O'Connor officiating. Interment will follow in the family lot in Dawson Memorial Cemetery at Glendive. Visitation will be 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. The visitation and prayer service are both at the church at 118 W. Borden St. in Glendive. Audrey left this world to be with her Lord Oct. 27, 2009, at the Eastern Montana Veterans Home...

Marjorie Marie Galland, 55 died Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, in Bozeman, Mont., of a heart attack, while hiking at Palisade Falls. Cremation has taken place and her memorial service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, at the St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Dale Yurkovic officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the service. Memorial contributions in Marge's honor may be made to the Susan G. Komen Montana Foundation, 825 Helena Ave., Helena, MT 59601. Services and...

Marjorie Marie Galland, 55 died Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, in Bozeman, Mont., of a heart attack, while hiking at Palisade Falls. Cremation has taken place and her memorial service will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009, at the St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Dale Yurkovic officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the service. Memorial contributions in Marge's honor may be made to the Susan G. Komen Montana Foundation, 825 Helena Ave., Helena, MT 59601. Services and...

Baby Mary Olene Cochran, 1 month old infant daughter of Donald Keith Cochran and Eleven Rae Lewis, passed away Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, at her home in Havre. Wake services began Tuesday and continued through today. Her funeral Service was 10 a.m. today, Oct. 21, 2009, at William and Mona Cochran 3 Mile Ranch in Fort Belknap, with burial at the Cochran Family Cemetery. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Mary was born July 30, 2009, in Havre, Mont. Our little angel “Mary n O” lef...

Funeral services for Omer Nelson will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, at the Evangelical Church of North America. Burial with military honors will follow in Harlem Cemetery....

JOHn JacK “RED” VYLASEK obituary John Jack “Red” Vylasek, 93, died Thursday Oct. 15, 2009, at Northern Montana Care Center. Cremation has taken place and at his request no services are planned. Red was born May 4, 1916, in Chicago to Mary and Stephen Vylasek. The family moved north of Havre, where they homesteaded and eventually moved to town and lived on the north side. Red left home at the age of 15 and spent several years working in California before entering the Navy in 1943. After his discharge, he started an auto de...

Ethel Velma McSloy, 86, a former Hill County resident, passed away Oct. 17, 2009, at the Sweet Memorial Rest Home in Chinook. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, at 11 a.m. in Fifth Avenue Christian Church, with burial following in the Highland Cemetery. Memorials can be made to an organization of a person's choice. Arrangements a r e by Edwa r d s Fune ral Home of Chinook. Ethel was born to John and Huldah (Bjertness) Staples at the homes tead i n Cottonwood. She attended grade school at Cottonwood and hi...

Funeral services for Omer Nelson will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009, at the Evangelical Church of North America. Burial with military honors will follow in Harlem Cemetery....

JOHn JacK “RED” VYLASEK obituary John Jack “Red” Vylasek, 93, died Thursday Oct. 15, 2009, at Northern Montana Care Center. Cremation has taken place and at his request no services are planned. Red was born May 4, 1916, in Chicago to Mary and Stephen Vylasek. The family moved north of Havre, where they homesteaded and eventually moved to town and lived on the north side. Red left home at the age of 15 and spent several years working in California before entering the Navy in 1943. After his discharge, he started an auto de...

Ethel Velma McSloy, 86, a former Hill County resident, passed away Oct. 17, 2009, at the Sweet Memorial Rest Home in Chinook. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Oct. 23, 2009, at 11 a.m. in Fifth Avenue Christian Church, with burial following in the Highland Cemetery. Memorials can be made to an organization of a person's choice. Arrangements a r e by Edwa r d s Fune ral Home of Chinook. Ethel was born to John and Huldah (Bjertness) Staples at the homes tead i n Cottonwood. She attended grade school at Cottonwood and hi...

Rita Jean (LaSalle) Blank, 60, loving mother and caring person by nature, bookkeeper by trade, passed away on Oct. 12, 2009, following a vigilant fight against cancer. A memorial service will be held in Havre, location and time to be announced at a later date. Rita Jean (Jeannie) was born July 1, 1949, to Richard and Rita (Cole) LaSalle. She was raised in Opheim and Havre where she graduated from Havre High School. She also lived in Great Falls. For the last 20 years she resided in Medford, Ore., where she was married to Jim...

Dorothy Molyneaux, 81, died of natural causes Monday evening, Oct. 12, 2009, at Northern Montana Care Center. Her viewing will be held on Sunday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Her funeral service will be 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 19, 2009, at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel, with Pastor John Chapman officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Havre after the services at the graveside. Services and arrangements have been...

Marlee Sunshine Tena, 6, passed away Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009, at St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings, Mont. He was born June 21, 2003, in Billings, the son of Angel Tena Sr. And Marlena (Big Day) Tena. Marlee grew up in Billings and enjoyed martial arts and wrestling with his brothers. He spent time playing video games, doing gymnastics and playing hide-andseek. He attended Big Sky Elementary School as a kindergartner and was very excited about being in school. He is survived by his father, Angel Tena Sr.; and his mother...

Patricia M. (Finley) Lehnerz, 65, formerly a Montana resident, died of cancer Sept. 8, 2009, at a hospital in Phoenix. Memorial services will be Saturday, Oct. 17, 2009, at 11 a.m. in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel, Chinook....

William J. Phillips, 50, a carpenter and hard rock driller, died in Billings, Wednesday, Oct. 7. His funeral Mass was Monday at St. Mary's Catholic Church. A vigil service was Sunday. Burial will be in the Malta Cemetery. Condolences may be left at www.kirkwoodfuneralhome. com. Memorials may be made to Epilepsy Foundation Northwest, 2311 N. 45th St. #134, Seattle, WA 98103....

Fred Cicel Springer, 74, who farmed south of Kremlin for 49 years, passed away Friday, Oct 9, 2009, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Cremation has taken place and the celebration of his life will be 11 a.m. Friday at the Fifth Avenue Christian Church with Rowlie Hutton officiating. Memorial contributions in Fred's honor may be made to the Hi-Line Sletten Cancer Center or to your favorite charity. Services and arrangements were entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Fred was born April 30, 1935, in Havre,...

Therese (Terry) Rice, 82, passed away Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, at Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Her memorial service will be 9 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church. Burial will follow at the Highland Cemetery. Memorials in Therese's honor may be made to the Eagles Manor or to a charity of your choice. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Terry was born to Jay and Corrine Scanlon on June 7, 1927, in Oswego, N.Y. She moved to Montana at the age of 21 and...

James M. Caves, 79, an Army veteran and rancher, died Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Phillips County Hospital of natural causes. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, at the Saco Lutheran Church. There was a Remembrance Service at 7 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 4, at the Kirkwood Funeral Home in Malta. Interment will be in the Grandview Cemetery with military honors....

Caleb Mitchell Schmidt, 6 days, of Great Falls, died on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009, at his home due to a heart defect. His funeral service was held at St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic Church Saturday, Oct. 3, 2009, at 10 a.m., with Father Paul McCain officiating. Interment followed in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Schnider Funeral Home handled arrangements. Caleb was born at 12:29 p.m. Sept. 23, 2009, at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls to Nellie Margaret Schmidt. "Caleb, your small but beautiful heart was damaged. And yet you touched...