Obituaries

Rolly Francis Kaufman, 89, a retired rancher and Pearl Harbor survivor of WWII, died peacefully at the home of his son, Gary in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Sunday, July 15, 2007, of natural causes. Funeral services will be 11 a. m., Monday, July 23, at the Adams Memorial Chapel in Malta. Interment will be in the Malta Cemetery with military honors. Rolly was born at Black Coulee on May 5, 1918, to Dean O. and Elsie Kaufman. He attended elementary and high school at Malta, graduating in 1936. While at Malta he was captain of the Mal... Full story

Clarence G. Pursley of Havre, 89, died on July 17, 2007, at a Havre Hospital of natural causes. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 23, 2007, at the St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Big Sandy with the Rev. Pete Guthneck officiating. Burial will be at the Big Sandy Cemetery. A luncheon will follow the burial at St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church. Clarence was born on Feb. 23, 1918, at Lostwood, N.D., the son of Joseph and Mary Pursley. At 9 years of age, he moved with his mother and five siblings in...

Ruth W. Christofferson, 93, a retired L.P.N. and a resident of Havre, died Sunday, July 15, 2007, at a Libby Hospital of complications from surgery. The funeral service will be at 2 p. m. Friday, July 20, 2007, at the Assembly of God Church with Pastor Steve Flatau and Norman Christofferson officiating. Her burial will follow at the Highland Cemetery. A luncheon be held at the church immediately after the services at the graveside. Ruth was born on July 6, 1914, at Black Diamond, Alberta, the daughter of Norman and Nellie...

Former Hill County Sheriff, Howard C. Taylor, 83, died Friday, July 13, 2007, in Apache Junction of heart failure. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 27 at Messiah Lutheran Church at 417 20th Street. Pastor Michael Dahle will conduct the service. Howard was cremated and will be interred at the cemetery in Kalispell. Howard was born Feb. 11, 1924 in Seymour, Ind., to Homer and Clara Taylor. He grew up and attended schools in the Litchville, N.D. area, where he farmed with his father as a young man. He...

Anne (Hawrylak) Stark, age 84, died of natural causes at her farm home north of Rudyard the evening of Saturday, July 14, 2007. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a. m. Friday at Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Church in Hingham. Following burial at the Rudyard Cemetery, a memorial luncheon will be held at the Rudyard Youth Center. Anne was born on March 30, 1923, at Maple Creek, Saskatchewan. She was one of six children born of Polish ancestry to Steve Hawrylak and Maria Sadownik. She grew up and received her education at Maple Creek,... Full story

Betty Lou Nelson, 83, a longtime Havre resident died peacefully of natural causes at Northern Montana Hospital on Tuesday, July 10, 2007. An informal celebration of Betty's life will be held at her home at 1229 Cleveland Avenue on Friday at 11:30 a.m. Betty was born on July 19, 1923, in Waubay S.D., the youngest daughter of nineteen children, to John and Lucinda Reed. Betty was raised and schooled in South Dakota. She married Olaf Raymond Nelson in 1947, and they subsequently moved to Montana in 1949. They made their home in... Full story

June Phyllis (Kezar) Johnson, 87, died of natural causes on Monday, July 16, 2007 at Northern Montana Care Center. Her services will be held at 10 a. m. Monday at the Fifth Avenue Christian Church with Pastor Rowlie Hutton officiating. A private family burial will be held at a later date. June was born Jan. 30, 1920, to Lee and Signa (Granell) Kezar in Havre. She was raised in Havre and Kremlin and graduated from Kremlin High School in 1939. She met Norman Johnson at a dance in Kremlin and they were married on June 3, 1939,... Full story

Myrtle Grace Wilson, 103, died Tuesday, July 10, 2007, of natural causes at the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home. Memorial services will be Thursday at 11 a.m. in the American Lutheran Church with burial following in the Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Myrtle was born Jan. 10, 1904 to Knute O. and Marie (Wold) Severson on the family farm near Brantford, N.D., one of eight children. She grew up on the farm and attended school in that area. In 1924 she married Francis A. Anderson, to this union three children were born. In 1929 the family... Full story

Lucille Frances (Schlack) Stack, 87, died on Saturday, July 7, 2007, of natural causes at the nursing home in Big Sandy. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 14, at the Christ Lutheran Church in Big Sandy. Graveside services will be 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Highland Cemetery in Great Falls. Stack was born in Fort Benton to Big Sandy farmers Fred & Jennie (Enochson) Schlack on September 25, 1919. She was the eldest of three children. Stack received her education through eigth grade at the Mount Vernon Country...

Amos First Raised, Sr., 90, a retired farmer and rancher, died Tuesday, July 10, of natural causes at the Hi-Line Retirement Center in Malta. Wake and Rosary service was at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 12, at the Red Whip Community Center in Fort Belknap. Mass was scheduled for 10 a.m. today at the Red Whip with burial to follow in the Horn Family Cemetery, east of Fort Belknap. First Raised was born in Fort Belknap to Henry and Alice (Gone High) First Raised, Sr. On February 2, 1917. His Indian Name was Apa-eyanga, which means...

Victor Verkuehlen, 93, of Lakeside died Thursday, June 21, 2007. There will be a memorial service on Monday at 11 a.m. at the Lakeside Community Chapel. Victor was born Nov. 7, 1913, in North Dakota and attended high school in Niagara, N.D. He married Ida Crawford in May of 1941. Victor moved to Havre in 1950 and managed a grain elevator. He bought a Minneapolis Moline Dealership in 1952, and purchased the Shanty Motel in 1959, then sold it in 1968. In 1970, he managed Beaver Creek Park in the Bear Paw Mountains south of...

Gwen MacDonald, 92, died Sunday, July 1, 2007, of natural causes in Sacramento. No services are planned. Gwen was born June 4, 1915, in Big Sandy. She led a long and full life. Gwen is preceded in death by her sons, John and Conley. She is survived by her children, Carol (Bob) Erbacher, Mike (Jody) MacDonald, Jean MacDonald and David (Mariann) MacDonald; 10 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. Memorials in the name of Gwen's son, Conley may be sent to the leukemia cancer society. Arraingments are being made by Sierra... Full story

Michael J. Payne, 61, retired tool and die maker for Boeing, died Thursday, July 5, 2007, at his home in Zortman of a heart attack. At Michael's request there will be no services. Michael was born Sept. 30, 1945, in Burbank, Calif., the son of Taswell and Susie (Huss) Payne. His father was employed in the aerospace industry, and Michael was raised and educated in California, Florida and other states. He graduated high school in California and attended college for tool and die making there. Michael was inducted in the Army in...

Orland Fletcher Nelson, 65, of Havre, Montana, passed away Wednesday, July 4, 2007, at the Northern Montana Care Center in Havre. His graveside service will be celebrated Monday afternoon, July 9, 2007, at 1 p.m. at the Big Lake Cemetery in Homestead by Pastor Johnette Grefe. Interment will follow. Friends may gather at the cemetery for the half-hour preceding the service. A Celebration of Orland's life will also be held in Havre Montana at the Havre Eagles Club on Thursday, July 12, 2007 at 5 p.m. Orland Fletcher Nelson was... Full story

LILLIAN “LIL” KULBECK obituary Lillian Emma (Durand) Kulbeck, 88, died peacefully at the home of her son, Phillip, in Billings on Friday, June 29, 2007. It was Lillian's wish to be cremated. A memorial service will be held at the Big Sandy Lutheran Church at 2 p.m. Friday. Burial of ashes will follow at the Big Sandy Cemetery. Lillian was born Aug. 6, 1918, in Sheridan, Wyo. She was one of four children born to Arnold and Lucienne (Zoutte) Durand. Lillian grew up and received her education in Bozeman, graduating from hig...

Stanley George Chamberlain Sr., 83, longtime Chouteau County resident, died Thursday, July 5, 2007, of natural causes at the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home in Chinook. A public viewing will be held on Tuesday from 5 to 7 p. m. at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. His graveside service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Big Sandy Cemetery with a fellowship luncheon to follow at St. Margaret Mary's Catholic Church in Big Sandy. Stan was a native of Minnesota where he worked as a truck driver. Stan served in the Navy during World...

Lauren Keene (dod Aug. 28, 2006) military memorial service. Military memorial services for the interment of the cremains will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, July 2 at Highland Cemetary in Havre. Lauren Curtiss "Jug" Keene died at age 82. He was born in St. Paul, Minn. To Lauren and Marie (Nelson) Keene on March 6, 1924. He enlistd in the U. S. Army Air Corp Eighth Air Force and servid in World Wal II flying 35 combat missions from England over Europe. He received the Purple Heart and the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters. He... Full story

funeral notice Velma M.(Hinebauch) Stuber, 76, died of natural causes on Wednesday, June 27, 2007, at Anacortes, Wash. Funeral services will be Saturday, July 7, 2007, at 10 a.m. at the Fifth Avenue Christian Church with burial following in Highland Cemetery. A complete obituary will follow later. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook....

obituary Betty Don Ross, 79, died Monday, July 2, 2007 of cancer at Northern Montana Hospital in Havre. Funeral services will be at 2 p. m. Friday, July 6, 2007 in the Lloyd Sweet Auditorium of the Chinook High School with burial following in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Betty Don touched the lives of many in wonderful ways through her friendship, her community involvement and her service in organizations within Montana and locally. Ross was born in Lewistown to Donald A. and Betty (Shammel) McMillan on Jan. 12, 1928. She was edu... Full story

Ardyce (Robison) Swank, age 91, a Chester farm wife & homemaker who moved to Great Falls in 2001 to be closer to her daughters, died May 3rd of natural causes at Benefis East Medical Center in Great Falls. A memorial service with burial of ashes will be at 11 a.m.Tuesday at the Chester Cemetery. Swank is survived by two daughters, Meredith Anderson of Great Falls and Sandra Meech of Ridgecrest, Calif.; son, Terry Swank of Chinook; sister, Nadine Larson of Havre; seven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. She was...

William Henry Walls, 55, of Havre died Monday, June 25, 2007, from complications of heart disease. A wake service is scheduled for 7 p.m. today at the Red Whip Center on Fort Belknap. A funeral service is scheduled at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Red Whip Center with Pastor Toney Castillo officiating. The committal rite will be at the Harlem Cemetery following the funeral service. A fellowship reception will be held, following the internment, at the Red Whip Center. “Billy” was born March 31, 1952, in Fort Belknap Agency to Jam...

Lauren Keene (dod Aug. 28, 2006) military memorial service. Military memorial services for the interment of the cremains will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, July 2 at Highland Cemetary in Havre. Lauren Curtiss "Jug" Keene died at age 82. He was born in St. Paul, Minn. To Lauren and Marie (Nelson) Keene on March 6, 1924. He enlistd in the U. S. Army Air Corp Eighth Air Force and servid in World Wal II flying 35 combat missions from England over Europe. He received the Purple Heart and the Air Medal with five Oak Leaf Clusters. He...

obituary Bruce Joseph Brannon, 49, was found dead of natural causes on Saturday, June 30 at his home in Pocatello, Idaho. A memorial graveside service will be at 1 p.m. Friday, July 6 at the Chester Cemetery. A reception for family and friends will follow at St. Mary's Church basement. Brannon was born in Chester on Dec. 8, 1957 to Helen Ogden and Joseph Brannon, Jr. He was the eldest of two sons born to Chester school teachers and grew up in Chester. Brannon received his education in Chester, graduating from Chester High...

obituary Betty Don Ross, 79, died Monday, July 2, 2007 of cancer at Northern Montana Hospital in Havre. Funeral services will be at 2 p. m. Friday, July 6, 2007 in the Lloyd Sweet Auditorium of the Chinook High School with burial following in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Betty Don touched the lives of many in wonderful ways through her friendship, her community involvement and her service in organizations within Montana and locally. Ross was born in Lewistown to Donald A. and Betty (Shammel) McMillan on Jan. 12, 1928. She was edu...

William Henry Walls, 55, of Havre died Monday, June 25, 2007, from complications of heart disease. A wake service is scheduled for 7 p.m. today at the Red Whip Center on Fort Belknap. A funeral service is scheduled at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Red Whip Center with Pastor Toney Castillo officiating. The committal rite will be at the Harlem Cemetery following the funeral service. A fellowship reception will be held, following the internment, at the Red Whip Center. “Billy” was born March 31, 1952, in Fort Belknap Agency to Jam...