Obituaries

Virginia M. Vaughn, 85, of Havre died Friday evening, May 25, 2007, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. Her funeral service will be held at 10 a. m. Friday at First Lutheran Church with Pastor Brad Ulgenes officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship will be held at the church immediately following the graveside service. Virginia was born July 28, 1921, in White Court, Alberta, Canada, to William and Julia (Pogreba) Ury. Her family homesteaded in the Box Elder area. Virginia attended Box...

Jelmer Jay Meyers, 78, of Havre died Thursday, May 24, 2007, at his daughter's home in Havre, surrounded by loving family, after a battle with mesothelioma. His service will be held at Fifth Avenue Christian Church, 2015 Fifth Ave., Havre, at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Jay was born in Conrad on Jan. 17, 1929, to Dave and Ruby Meyers. He attended high school in Conrad, after which he served in the U.S. Navy and fought in the Korean War. Jay married Donna Wesley in 1950 and moved to Lynden, Wash., in 1953. Jay returned to Montana in...

CHINOOK Lawrence E. Hofeldt, 81, of Chinook died at Sweet Memorial Nursing Home on Saturday, May 26, 2007, due to natural causes. His memorial service will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. in Zion Lutheran Church with burial following with military honors in Kuper Memorial Cemetery. Lawrence was born in the Bear Paw Mountains to Henry and Alvinia (Struve) Hofeldt on March 29, 1926. While he spent most of his life in the Bear Paws, he attended schools at Lloyd and Chinook. He entered the U.S. Army in World War II and fought in Germ...

Joseph Lambert Keller, 94, died Thursday morning, May 24, 2007, at Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes. His prayer vigil and rosary service will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at St. Jude Catholic Church with his funeral Mass 10 a. m. Tuesday at the St. Jude Catholic Church with Father Robert D. Grosch officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Highland Cemetery. A fellowship luncheon will be held at St. Jude Parish Center immediately after the services at the graveside. Joseph was born Sept. 13, 1912,...

Sarah Josephine “Blue Sky Girl,” Doney, 80, great-granddaughter of the last Assinniboine chief, Chief Nosey, died at her residence at the family ranch on Beaver Creek east of Lodge Pole on Wednesday, May 23, 2007, due to natural causes. Her wake service will be today at 7 p.m. at the Medicine Bear Lodge with funeral services there Saturday at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at the Doney Family Cemetery at the family ranch. Sarah was born Nov. 30, 1926, to Oscar and Ester (Boy Chief) Gray. She is the last one of a family of eig...

Catherine Ann Bradbury, 80, of Havre died Monday, May 21, 2007, at Northern Montana Care Center. Viewing will be held from 9 a. m. to noon Tuesday at the Holland and Bonine Funeral Home. Her funeral service will be held at 2 p. m. Tuesday at Fifth Avenue Christian Church with burial next to her husband at the Highland Cemetery. A luncheon will be held at the church immediately after the services at the graveside. Catherine was born Dec. 16, 1926, in Havre to John and Rosa (Putra) Thompson. She was raised on the family ranch...

Janice Schmidt, 61, of Havre and formerly of Malta, died Monday, May 21, 2007, after a long battle of cancer, with her husband, Ed Schmidt, by her side. A graveside service will be held at the Malta Cemetery on Friday at 3 p.m. Cremation has taken place. A celebration of Jan's life will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. in her home in Havre. Jan was born Sept. 25, 1945, in Glasgow to Ernie and Millie (Erickson) Gilbertson. She grew up and attended school in Malta and graduated from the Malta High School. Jan then married the true...

Mary M. Burchard Kelley, 71, died Sunday, May 6, 2007, at her home in Spokane. Viewing was held May 11 at 2 p. m. at Heritage Funeral Home followed by a procession to Spokane Memorial Gardens for the graveside service at 3 p.m. Mary was born Nov. 22, 1935, to Anna Mae and Charles Burchard in Havre. She was one of nine children. Growing up in Havre, surrounded by family and friends, Mary learned the strength of family and small town values, which she taught to her four children, Carleen, Kelly, Thomas and Lora. Mary was...

Ryan J. Valdez, 21, of Havre and Rocky Boy died Sunday morning at Benefis East Hospital in Great Falls due to complications from surgery. His wake service began Monday night at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church, with his funeral service scheduled at 10 a.m. today at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church with Father Pete Guthneck officiating. Burial was to follow at the Meyers Family Cemetery. Ryan was born March 28, 1986, to Michelle Badgley, and Henry Valdez Sr. In Havre. He was raised and educated in Havre, attending Havre public...

BARBARA ANN “SWISHER” BESEL obituary KALISPELL Barbara Ann “Swisher” Besel, 59, died Wednesday, May 16, 2007, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell. A celebration of life will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 26, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Big Fork with Rev. Tom Gopp officiating. Urn burial was at C. E. Conrad Cemetery. A reception will follow at 2 p.m. Barbara was born July 12, 1947, in Havre to Everett and Maymie (Julkowski) Swisher. She was raised in Havre, where she attended school. She married Gordon Besel o...

Local educator, Dr. Thelma Anderson, 84, passed away Tuesday, May 15, 2007, at the Northern Montana Hospital after a short illness. Her funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Friday, May 18, 2007, at the First Lutheran Church with Pastor M i c h a e l O ' H e a r n officiating. Burial will follow at the H i g h l a n d Cemetery. Memorial c o n t r i b u - tions in T h e l m a ' s honor may be made to the MSUNorthern Foundation, P.O. Box 1691 Havre, MT 59501. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland and Bonine...

ROCKY BOY Louis Weaselboy, Sr. Pine Bird, 84, died Sunday, May 13, 2007, of natural causes at the Community Medical Center in Missoula, Montana, surrounded by family. Traditional services will be conducted at 10 a.m. today at the Lutheran Church in Rocky Boy with Kenneth Gopher officiating. Burial will follow at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. Louis was born Nov. 11, 1922 in Pryor, Mont., to Barney Weaselboy and Walking A n t e l o p e Fine Bow. He married Lucy Samatt March 27, 1948 and t o g e t h e r they raised their eight...

Harriet B. Smith, 78, died Sunday, May 13, 2007 at the Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. Cremation has taken place. Her burial will be 2 p.m. Friday, may 18, 2007, at the Highland Cemetery. Harriet was born May 27, 1928 in Redstone, Montana to Frank and Amanda (Johnson) Sherry. She was raised and educated in Redstone and her father ran the Newspaper in Redstone for many years. She moved to the Seattle area in the 1950's. It was there that Harriet married Findley Smith in Tukwilla, Washington in 1962. They lived in...

ROCKY BOY Stanley Charles Eagleman, 58, died Tuesday, May 15, 2007, at the Northern Montana Hospital of natural causes. His wake service began Tuesday night at the Eagleman residence on Haystack Loop. Traditional services were Wednesday, May 16 and burial will be at 9 a.m. today at the Eagleman F a m i l y Cemetery in Rocky Boy. Stanley was born Jan. 27, 1949 in Fort Belknap to Paul and Mary Jane Eagleman. He was raised in Rocky Boy and attended schools in Rocky Boy and Box Elder. He attended the University of Montana and...

BRUSSELS, Belgium Elisabeth Baker, died Monday, May 14, 2007, at the home of her sister in England after a long and courageous battle with cancer. She will be missed by the family she loved and the m a n y friends she made during her life. She is preceded in death by her parents, Wilfred and Edith Baker. She is survived by sisters, Marge Holt of Havre and Kathleen Kuralovicz of Glossop, England; nephews, Martin Holt of Havre and Daniel Clarke of Norwich, England; niece, Naomi McNally; and great-nephews, Fyonn and Connall...

Fred J. Weber, 87, died on Friday, May 11, 2007, in his apartment at the Waterford of Helena. A Vigil was held Monday, May 14, 2007, at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church (1502 Shirley Road) at 7 p.m. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Helena on today at 10 a.m. followed by a reception at the Red Lion Colonial Inn. Born Oct. 6, 1919, in Deer Lodge to Victor and Dorothy Weber. Fred attended the University of Montana and later enlisted in ROTC and joined the 1 0 t h M o u n t a i n Division. Fred...

Russell Alden Moyer, 63, died Thursday, May 10, 2007, at his home of natural causes. Cremation has taken place and his memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 16, 2007, at the Holland and B o n i n e F u n e r a l Chapel with R o w l i e Hutton officiating. The military flag will be presented after the service by the U n i f i e d Veteran's Council. Russell was born Feb. 17, 1944, in Pensacola, Fla., to Walter and Alice (Bulcock) Moyer while his father was in the Navy. Russell graduated from Surrattsville Sr. High...

Fred H. Kaul, 92, died Wednesday, May 9, 2007, of natural causes Wednesday morning at a local nursing home. A vigil service was held Sunday, May 13, 2007,m at 7 p.m. at the O'Connor Memorial Chapel. A Funeral Liturgy will be today at 11 a.m. at St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church with burial of cremated remains to follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Fred was born Feb. 17, 1915, in Anamoose, N.D., and when he was 2 months old his parents put everything in a wagon and moved north of H i n s d a l e near the C a n a d i a n line to a...

TURNER Jennilee Fouts, 44, died Monday, May 7, 2007, at the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home after a long illness. Her funeral service was 11 a. m. Saturday, May 12, 2007, at the Turner High School Gymnasium with Pastor C h e r y l Hoops officia t i n g . Burial followed at the T u r n e r Cemetery. A fellowship r e c e p t i o n followed at the committal service at the Turner High School Gym. Jennilee was born Sept. 21, 1962, Leo and Roxie (Newell) Petrie in Havre. She grew up in Turner and attended schools there. Her mother...

Dean Edward Seiler, 80, died Thursday, May 10, 2007, at Northern Montana Hospital following a short illness. His funeral service will be Monday, May 14 at 11 a.m., at the Methodist Church in G l a s g o w . Burial will be at the G l a s g o w Cemetery. Dean was born April 20, 1927 in Flaxville, where he a t t e n d e d g r a d e school. Dean started high school in Washington, D.C., where he, his father, and his brother Harold worked construction, building the Pentagon. They later relocated to Fort Peck where Dean attended and...

Rita Marie (Hewett) Kellenberger, 52, died Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at Kalispell Region Medical Center. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 11 a. m. at Johnson Mortuary Chapel. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 11, 2007 from 9 a. m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday, from 9 a.m. to service time at 11 a. m. Disposition will be cremation. She was born May 5, 1955 in Helena. She was the daughter of Thomas L. and Dorothy F. Hewitt. Rita was raised in the F l a t h e a d and was a graduate of F l a t h e a d High...

GALESBURG, ILL. Jack R. Harding, 78, died Tuesday, May 8, 2007 at OSF St. Mary Medical Center in Galesburg. Memorial services will be held at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 11, 2007 at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Daniel Smith, officiating. No visitation is planned. Jack was born on June 18, 1928 in Havre, the son of John C. and Ethel V. Albright H a r d i n g . He married Fern Pagel on March 14, 1948 in Havre. Jack was a supervisor for the Burlington Northern Railroad for over 30 years, retiring in 1983. After his retir...

HARLEM Jennilee Fouts, 44, of Harlem, died Monday, May 7, 2007 at the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home after a long illness. A funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, May 12, 2007 at the Turner High School Gym with Pastors Cheryl Hoops and Jack Seimenn officiating. Burial will follow at the T u r n e r Cemetery. A fellowship r e c e p t i o n will follow the committal service at the Turner High School Gym. Jennilee was born Sept. 21, 1962 to George L. and Roxie (Newell) Petrie in Havre. She grew up in Turner and attende...

HAYS - Kenneth Lawrence Doney Jr., 45, whose Indian name, Po(x)a Agon Bo, meaning “Lump on Nose,” a former tribal prosecutor and judge, died of complica - tions from cancer and liver disease Monday at a Great Falls hospital. A wake and rosary was at 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at St. Paul's Mission gym. Traditional services are 11 a.m. Friday, May 11, 2007 at the gym, with burial in Eagle Child Cemetery. Kenneth was born July 5, 1961, to Kenneth L. and Georgialee Theresa “Chena” (Long Knife) Doney, in Glasgow. He grew up...

Ardyce Swank, 91, died Thursday, May 3, 2007 at the Benefis East Medical Center in Great Falls of natural causes. Ardyce has been cremated. Her ashes will be buried in the family plot at the Chester Cemetery. A memorial service will be planned at a later date. She was born Ardyce M o n r e e n Robison on Nov. 10, 1915 at Lothair, M o n t a n a . Her parents w e r e Edward M. “ E . M . ” Robison & Clara Ethel Wilson. Ardyce was the second of four girls born to the Robison's. She received her early education at Lothair, the...