Obituaries

Jan 8, 2023

Ralph J. Studer Jr. went to be with his savior Jesus Christ on January 8th, 2023. He was welcomed by his wife of 66 years, Cemie; and his two daughters, Suzanne and Jeanne. Ralph attended Billings Catholic Schools and was devoted to its continued success. He was an instrumental member of BACET. With many years dedicated to the Catholic...

Jan 5, 2023

Barbara A. Marker left this earth way too soon. On Jan. 5, 2023, she entered heaven after a brief illness. Barb was born on Jan. 7, 1962, in Watertown, South Dakota, to Alex and Mary Ellen Hilsendeger. She lived most of her childhood in Columbus, where she graduated from High School in 1980. She later earned her BS from...

Jan 2, 2023

Dr. Arthur Kenneth Fink

(Aaron ben Gershon)

(01-22-1947 — 01-02-2023)

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. Fink spent his life dedicated to his patients, his community and his family.

The majority of his life was spent in the medical field: first as a respiratory therapist, where, outside of his practice,...

Jan 2, 2023

Dorothy Beatrice Hucke, 94, passed away peacefully January 2, 2023 at Sweetwater Retirement Community in Billings, Montana.  She was born to Michael and Pauline Bede on December 2, 1928 in Roundup, Montana. Dorothy’s family lived where her father could find work during the Great Depression (Roundup, Miles City, Conrad, and Great Falls) until age nine when she, her brother,...

2023

Lou Ventrell died on December 30, 2023. He was 102 years old. Born in Brooklyn, New York, on July 7, 1921, he was the son of Frank Ventrell and Barbara Fischlein. He was baptized at St. Barbara’s Catholic Church and educated at Bushwick High School. He was 8 years old at the beginning of the Great Depression, but never...

2023

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...

2023

LeRoy Gross passed away on Oct. 21, 2023, at Langemo Memory Care in Billings. LeRoy was born on May 28, 1932, in Ashley, North Dakota, to Jacob and Lydia (Schock) Gross. He grew up on the family farm in North Dakota and enjoyed both the chores and the adventures. LeRoy met Gertrude Martz in 1954 and they were married...

2023

Beloved son, brother and friend, Thomas John Grismer passed away at home on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023.

Thomas was born in November 1992, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He attended local Billings schools, graduating with the Billings West High School class of 2011.

Always mischievous and looking for adventure, Tom enjoyed hiking, camping, boating and fishing...

2023

Beverly Elise Perrault Lalonde (1931 – 2023)

Beverly Elise Perrault Lalonde passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 4, 2023, Trinity Sunday, in Billings. She was 92 years old.

Beverly was born in White Bear Lake, Minnesota, just north of St. Paul, on May 5, 1931, to James and Bernadette Perrault. Her father’s family...

2023

If you talked to Ruth in the last six months, you know how much she was looking forward to her 70th MSC (MSU) class reunion in Bozeman last weekend. Unfortunately, God had other plans and took her home. She died May 11, 2023, surrounded by family.

Ruth was born in Missoula in 1931 to Swedish immigrants, Otto...

2023

Kay was born two miles west of Lindy, Nebraska, in October 1935. Elementary school was a one-room school south of Lindy. He went to high school at Bloomfield, Nebraska, graduating in 1953. Education continued at the University of Nebraska in Agriculture with a Bachelor of Science degree earned in 1957. Education continued one more year in agriculture graduate work....

2023

On March 19, 2023, Kendra Bruget went to be with her Lord Jesus.

Kendra Kay Wolfe was born to Kenny Wolfe and Betty Jeanne Seidlitz Wolfe on April 4, 1956, in Havre. Kendra, her two brothers, and two sisters grew up on the family farm 12 miles south of Chester. During her years in the Chester school,...

2023

Ann Elizabeth Soulsby-Pawliw was born on Dec. 1, 1946, to loving parents Arthur and Helen Soulsby of Billings. Ann passed away on Feb. 24, 2023, following her battle with pancreatic cancer. She was preceded in death by her brother Arthur Soulsby; her parents, Arthur and Helen Soulsby; her sister-in-law, Adele (Reg) Pawliw-Houston; and Mary and Alex Pawliw. She will...

2023

John David “Dave” Roberts, 55, of Billings, passed away on Feb. 20, 2023.

Dave was born "a little old man" and was always mature beyond his age. He cared for family and friends with great conviction and was first to offer help where needed. Fishing was his idea of fun and now that he’s free of pain,...

Jan 1, 2023

Leighton “Gus or Lee” Gustafson, 87, passed away at Bella Terra on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023.

Lee/Gus was born Sept. 23, 1935, to Rev. Ervil and Helen Gustafson in Willmar, Minnesota. As the son of a small-town minister, he grew up in several midwestern towns, primarily in Nebraska. Lee earned a degree in Business Administration from the...

Dec 29, 2022

Steven Scott Giest was born on May 15, 1954, in Billings. He passed away on Dec. 29, 2022, at his home, the same home he was born in. He was the second born of four boys to Leon and Betty Giest. Steve’s lifetime was full of antics and adventures with his three brothers.

So many classic and...

Dec 27, 2022

Dr. Benjamin Thomas Marchello, known to many of his patients as “Gentle Ben,” passed away on Dec. 27, 2022, from cardiac complications.

He was born on July 7, 1947, to Dr. Albino J. and Virginia Marchello in Shreveport, Louisiana. He graduated from Billings Senior High (proud member, class of 1965), Dartmouth College and the University of Utah...

Dec 26, 2022

Betty May Hofstad, age 86, loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother and friend, passed away the morning of Dec. 26, 2022, at Billings Clinic.

Betty was born in Martin, North Dakota, to John and Martha Weisser on Oct. 7, 1936. She grew up on the family farms and attended rural schools. Eventually, Betty moved to Billings, but continued...

Dec 25, 2022

Mary Donna (Shamanoff) Frisby-Rambold died peacefully at the Vista, St. John’s Lutheran Home, on Dec. 25, 2022.

Donna was born in Lewistown in 1931 to immigrant parents William and Katherine Shamanoff. Donna’s parents, both Macedonian immigrants, landed in Bozeman and ran a popular cafe downtown. Donna and her sister Patty grew up above the cafe in the...

Dec 21, 2022

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Janet Petsch Gartner on Dec. 21, 2022.

Janet was born on Jan. 21, 1945, in Riverton, Wyoming, to parents James “Jim” and Reita Petsch. She was joined by sisters Lois (1947) and Jeannie (1957), completing the family. Janet spoke fondly of her childhood years and the...