Obituaries

Mar 17, 2023

Thelma Skaggs

Thelma Skaggs, of Billings, died at St. John’s United on March 17, 2023.

Thelma was born on March 19, 1929, in Shawnee, Oklahoma, to Bill and Hattie Tingler. She had four siblings whom she loved very much. Her sister Irene died of pneumonia at a young age, but Jack, Jessie and Reese were...

Mar 15, 2023

If you knew Christie Arnold, you knew she was magical. Our creative, talented and spirited Christie Lynn (Hansen) Arnold has gone on to glory, meeting up with her mother, her father, and countless dog and cat siblings … family members all.

Christie’s charisma radiated from her megawatt smile and contagious laughter. Anyone who knew her has experienced...

Mar 14, 2023

Charles ‘Charlie’ Hamwey — cherished father, grandfather, brother and friend. God called him to come home and join Him in heaven on March 14, 2023.

Charlie was born on Jan. 17, 1941, in Oneonta, New York. His parents were Charles and Virginia. He was raised on a farm in upstate New York and graduated from Oneonta High...

Mar 13, 2023

Writer, poet, teacher, and artist Martha Allison Cochrane (84), died Monday, March 13, 2023 with her daughters by her side. Martha was born in Detroit Michigan, May 25, 1938, to Archibald and Rosamond Cochrane. In 1944, the Cochrane family moved to Billings, where Martha along with her sisters Rae, Ros, Kathleen, and Jean were raised in a home full...

Mar 13, 2023

Jacqueline A. Emery, 80, passed away peacefully on March 13, 2023, after a brief illness, in Billings, Montana. She was born on Aug. 24, 1942, in Billings and earned a business degree from Montana State University Billings. Jackie was smart, fearless, inspirational, loving and kind. She was an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe, a beloved attendee at Kirk’s...

Mar 13, 2023

Katherine “Kathy” Mitzel passed away peacefully on Monday, March 13, 2023, at home, surrounded by loved ones.

Kathy was born on Dec. 26, 1946, to John and Elizabeth Mitzel in Billings, and raised on the family farm in Worden.

Kathy graduated from Huntley Project High School in Worden. After high school, she attended beauty school...

Mar 12, 2023

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Theo Albert Pentecost, who was born on Feb. 6, 2023, and left this world on March 12, 2023. Theo’s time with us was brief, but his impact on our lives will be everlasting. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Theo...

Mar 8, 2023

Lyle G. Newell went to his heavenly home peacefully on March 8, 2023, surrounded by family.

Lyle was born on Aug. 30, 1948, along with his twin brother Lester. Lyle always swore that he was the older of the two. They spent their years as best of friends, causing trouble, playing baseball and running around Colville, Washington,...

Mar 6, 2023

Durene Ardell Green went to ride in God’s arena on Monday, March 6, 2023.  Durene was born on Oct. 20, 1959, in Miles City, Montana, and she was a sassy spitfire from the start.  Durene learned to gallop her rocking horse before she learned to walk — and riding horses continued to be the mode of transportation she preferred...

Mar 6, 2023

James Gary Koch, of Billings, peacefully passed away on March 6, 2023.

Born in Billings in 1949, Jim attended Huntley Project School until a move took his family to California. He graduated from Montclair High School in 1967. He went on to study at college a bit before enlisting in the Army to serve in Vietnam.

Mar 4, 2023

Margery Mae McCracken Hudson, 89, of Billings, died March 4, 2023, at Avantara Billings Nursing Home in Billings.

She was the seventh child of Fred and Hazel (McCarty) McCracken of Billings. Marge spent her childhood in Billings, attending Garfield Elementary and Lincoln Junior High, and graduating from Billings Senior High, class of 1951.

Marge worked...

Mar 2, 2023

Ruth Elaine McAtee, 93, passed away March 2, 2023, with family by her side. She was born “1-8-30” in Terry, Montana, to Lillian and William T. Reardon, the youngest of six children. She grew up in Terry, was a Terrier cheerleader and graduated in 1948. After graduation, she went to work for a short time in Seattle before marrying...

Mar 1, 2023

A dear baby girl was born in Missoula, Montana, on Oct. 24, 1940. She would grow up to be a kind and giving person who volunteered her time and organizational skills to countless organizations.

She was a prayer warrior and faithfully prayed for people throughout the world. She was an animal lover and had adopted an elephant...

Feb 28, 2023

Terry Dee Sather passed away on Feb. 28, 2023, in Billings, surrounded by family and friends. He is survived by his adoring wife of 51 years (in fact, on March 21, it would have been their 52nd anniversary), Kathleen Faye Sather, and their devoted children and grandchildren: April Sather (Harper and Beckett), Amber Sather and Matt Banbury (August and...

Feb 27, 2023

“A Life Truly Well Lived!!!”

The world lost a truly great man today: a great son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. Vic was a man of many passions: his family and friends, hunting, fishing, golf, camping, reading and country music, among others. A man who never forgot a joke (but maybe the punchline), or how to...

Feb 27, 2023

Celebration of Life for Larry James Kirby, aka Lawrence James, LJ, Kirby, Kirb

July 1, 1972 — February 27, 2023

As everyone who knew Larry, he was known as LJ.

LJ Kirby took his last ride on Monday evening, Feb. 27, 2023, after a brief illness, at...

Feb 27, 2023

Thomas Don Rimmer, 85, of Billings, loving husband, father and papa, passed away peacefully on Feb. 27, 2023, at RiverStone Health Hospice Home, after many years of battling dementia.

Don was born on Nov. 2, 1937, in Hanna, Wyoming, to Thomas and Annie Rimmer. He grew up in Hanna along with his younger brother, Michael. Don graduated...

Feb 24, 2023

Steven “Hoppy” Proctor Hopkins

On Friday, Feb. 24, 2023, Steven “Hoppy” Proctor Hopkins, our beloved husband, father, father-in-law, grandpa, brother, brother-in-law and uncle, passed away after an incredibly brave battle with cancer, six days after his 72nd birthday. Steven was a true sportsman who embraced the outdoor life and lived by a code of respect,...

Feb 24, 2023

Norlene Inez Morgan, 82, passed away suddenly but peacefully on Friday, Feb. 24, 2023. She was born in Ireton, Iowa, on Aug. 29, 1940, at the family farm, with her aunt Francis in attendance. Her parents were Henry and Beatrice Ramhorst. She grew up on the farm with one older brother, Darrel, and two younger sisters, Gail and Lu...

Feb 24, 2023

Jerry Hart Jones died on Feb. 24, 2023, with his family by his side. He was born on Jan. 6, 1936, in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of Earl William Jones and Margaret Catherine Hart.

After graduating high school, he worked as an apprentice and then journeyman printer for area newspapers and print shops.

While in...