All Obituaries

Jeffrey “Jeff” Harold Boschee was born on Sept. 19, 1955, to Harold and Lorraine Boschee, as their second child of four, in Forsyth. He graduated from Forsyth High School in 1973. Jeff started at Eastern Montana College, graduating in 1977 with a degree in high school English and a minor in Theater Arts. He continued to live in Billings, working various jobs, but always remained active in theater, whether at Der Swartzvold out on Pryor Creek or Billings Studio Theatre. He took a...

Ralph E. Smith was born on Aug. 30, 1938, to Donald and Marion Smith, in Kendall, New York. He graduated from Kendall High School. He worked at Dupont and Sears. He and his beloved wife met when they were 14 years old and later married and remained so until Clara’s death in 2022. He is survived by his sister, Shirley McCullough; brother-in-law George Luce II (Nancy); sister-in-law Carol Capone (Sam); brother-in-law William Luce (Nan); and several nieces and nephews. Funeral service...

Joan Arzella Shipley was born into this world on Feb. 19, 1951, to Annie and James Rollins. Four years later, they welcomed Joan’s little sister Sue into the world. When Joan was 9 years old, she discovered her first love, playing the violin.  In 1975, while working at Sambos she met the love of her life, Daniel. Due to unforeseen circumstances, they wouldn’t go on their first date until nine months later. After a short courtship they were married and welcomed their first...

Linda Frances Dow lived a beautiful life of 81 years. She was born in Bremerton, Washington, in 1942, to Mary Amelia (Plovanic) Dow and Harold Francis Dow, who started their family with Linda and Marilyn as Dad worked in the Navy Shipyard in Bremerton during WWII. Our family moved to Bozeman and Lewistown, and settled in Billings in 1953. We were members of St. Patrick’s Parish and all of us kids attended Fratt School and Central Catholic High School. Linda was a “candy...

Donna May Hanson 1932 — 2023 On Dec. 2, she was granted her wish and was welcomed by the Lord into her heavenly home, where she is now pain free and reunited with her dear departed husband, Ralph, and her daughter, Susan. Donna May Harding was born on May 20, 1932, to JC (John) and Ethel Harding on a homestead north of Havre, Montana. She was very much the youngest of six children and grew up with her nieces and nephews as siblings. Her birth certificate still reads “Baby...

Patricia Ann “Trish” Matteson, 74, of Billings, passed away on Nov. 22, 2023. She was born on July 30, 1949, the daughter of John R. Lair and Karen Bengtson, in Redwood Falls, Minnesota. She had two children: son Benjamin (Becky) and daughter Jennifer (Mark); and two siblings, Marcia (Dave) Heningman of Bridger and Steve (Diane) Lair of Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was married to Clyde Timothy “Tim” Matteson. Trish and Tim met in college and had a beautiful 51...

With deepest sorrow, we announce that Brandon James Witt, “B,” age 26, passed suddenly on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, while in the hospital, fighting a brief but courageous battle with leukemia, surrounded by his loved ones. Brandon was born on Feb. 7, 1997, in Billings.   Those who knew Brandon, even just a little, lost a shining light in their lives.    Brandon, our most beloved husband, son, brother, grandson, nephew, family member and friend is survived by...

Dawn Ellen DeHart Lofthouse, 72, of Billings, passed peacefully at her home on Nov. 18, 2023, with her devoted and loving husband, Larry, at her side. She was born on Feb. 22, 1951, in Waukegan, Illinois, to Ed and Adell DeHart. The eldest of five children, she grew up in Helena, Montana, attending Helena High School. Dawn married Larry Lofthouse on Dec. 31, 1969. Her daughter Amber was born in 1974, followed by son Marcus in 1978. Dawn was a stay-at-home mom, the best mom two kids and...

Victor Bachmeier passed away peacefully Saturday, Nov.18, 2023, when his weak heart failed him. We will miss him gracing the head of our Thanksgiving table this year, but we are very thankful for his full 96 years of life. He was born to Ladislaus and Asteria (Wingenbach) Bachmeier, who immigrated from Krasna, Ukraine, in 1908. He was the youngest of 10 children. Dad loved telling the story that when his mom announced that she had to go back to the house while she was helping his dad plow...

Betty Ann Teigen, of Billings, died Nov. 16, 2023. She was born on Nov. 13, 1932, to Charles and Mary Zimmerman, the youngest of eight children. Raised on the family farm at 48th and Grand, Betty was proud of her grandfather’s role in helping to build Zimmerman Trail. She attended Billings schools from The Shiloh School through Senior High School. She graduated from Montana State College (now MSU), majoring in home economics. After graduating, Betty taught home economics in Three Forks...