Obituaries

May 16, 2022

Phyllis was born at home to Dr. Frank and Loie (Yerger) Crawford in Tabor, Iowa. She was the last of four children, joining her sister Margaret Lee and brothers Jim and Paul (all deceased). Phyllis grew up with a love for music. Her mother was a music teacher and played hymns on the piano daily. Her father was a...

May 16, 2022

Jeanne Marie Woodard peacefully went home to Jesus on May 16, 2022, while surrounded by her loving family, after 83 wonderful years.

Jeanne was born on July 9, 1938, in La Crosse, Wisconsin, to Edward and Rita Pierce. She grew up with her brother Arlen “Ozzie” and her sister Marilyn on French Island.

In 1956,...

May 15, 2022

Sidney Carl “Corky” Dunagan passed away peacefully in Lavina on May 15, 2022.

Sidney Carl “Corky” Dunagan began his adventure on Oct. 24, 1944, in Bessemer, Michigan, the son of William Franklin Dunagan and Jean Berling Dunagan.

Carl Berling, his maternal grandfather, gave him the moniker “Corky” because he was “too goddamn small to be...

May 12, 2022

Fern Johnson, 89, died peacefully March 5, 2022 at her home at the Vista.  She was born Fern Audrey Rishoi on May 21, 1932, to Arnold Rishoi and Ethel (Hendrickson) Rishoi in Jamestown, ND.  In 1934, Fern became a big sister to Arlene Maree. When their family moved to Brookings, SD, the girls enjoyed life on the farm. While...

May 11, 2022

The fish of the Yellowstone River have been breathing a sigh of relief since May 11, 2022, when their greatest enemy passed from this life: Jose Riojas was just a few days short of his 74th birthday when, surrounded by family, he succumbed to kidney failure.

The son of Antonio and Louisa Riojas, Jose was born on...

May 8, 2022

Fern Jordan Stene was born in Miles City, Montana, in May 1934. She was the daughter of William Carl and Helen Neuhardt Jordan. Fern was raised on the family ranch at Brockway, Montana. After graduating from Circle High School in 1951, she moved to Billings to attend cosmetology school. In 1953, she married Andrew Stene, Jr. in Miles City....

May 5, 2022

Robert James McDermott

Robert J. McDermott passed away on May 5, 2022. He had hoped to make it to his 88th birthday, which would have been May 23. Bob was a Montana boy through and through. His parents raised him in northern Montana, where his father started working in an oil refinery, later moving to...

May 3, 2022

Sarah Marie Ostlund escaped her earthly struggles on May 3, 2022, in Billings.

Sarah was born in 1931, in Malta, Montana, the second of Albert and Olga Solberg’s 10 children. Her beautiful red hair matched her beautiful disposition. Growing up on her father’s homestead north of Dodson, she began working at a very young age, helping with...

May 2, 2022

Michael Alan Amen, 60, passed away the evening of May 2, 2022, surrounded by family, at St. Vincent Hospital in Billings, after a brief, courageous battle with cancer.

Mike was born in Billings to Ralph and Beverly Sands Amen on Sept. 17, 1961. After graduating from Billings West High School in 1979, he attended Eastern Montana College...

May 1, 2022

Lori Jane Jans, age 57, passed away on May 1, 2022, in Billings, Montana, after a courageous, 10-year encounter with Parkinson’s disease. Lori was born on Aug. 13, 1964, in Bismarck, North Dakota, to Velman and Berniece Wester. She graduated from Bismarck High School in 1982 and from Bismarck Junior College in 1984 with an associate degree in accounting....

Apr 28, 2022

Robert Lewis Pierce, 67, passed away on April 28, 2022. Bob was born on Sept. 20, 1954, in Billings. He grew up in Billings and graduated from Billings West High School before attending automotive school shortly after. He then worked for Hammond Implement before beginning his career at Conoco, where he worked for 32 years. In his free time,...

Apr 24, 2022

Roger N. Hecker, 89, of Billings, passed peacefully in his sleep on April 24, 2022, at RiverStone Hospice.

Roger was born in his grandparents’ house in Dickinson, North Dakota, on March 26, 1933, to Therese (Kubista) and Casper Hecker. He moved to Laurel at age 12 and, at 18, entered the Army, prior to his last year...

Apr 23, 2022

On Sept. 20, 2001, the world was blessed with a true fighter, social media queen, and a rap goddess. Makiah was a genuine inspiration and left us in awe by overcoming many chronic health issues. She endured 53 surgeries and procedures during her 20 years of life. It was said by many doctors and specialists in the nation that...

Apr 17, 2022

Barbara Oser Potzman was born on Oct. 6, 1954, in Billings, Montana, to William and Raetta Oser. Barbie came out of the chute with spirit, exuberance and confidence. Barbara knew what she liked, what she wanted and, eventually, she knew exactly how to go about accomplishing all of her dreams. When Bill and Rae told her they were buying...

Apr 17, 2022

The world lost a very kind, compassionate, and loving person to everyone. She and Matt’s legacy is their deep Catholic faith, and she inspired her family and everyone she knew to follow that lead.

Margaret Helfrich passed away from lung cancer on April 17, 2022, Easter Sunday (Resurrection Day), at the age of 81. She was born...

Apr 13, 2022

Dolores M. Pilcher passed away April 13, 2022, at her home, surrounded by her family. Mom was born April 10, 1933, in Shelby, MT, to Richard and Catherine Rogers.

Mom is survived by one son, Doug (Doran) Pilcher; three daughters, Michelle (Les) Diede, Maureen Collett and Carleen (Rich) Worley; 13 grandchildren;18 great-grandchildren; her sister, Janet Marino; several...

Apr 11, 2022

Timothy James Thelen, our beloved Dad, Papa, Brother and Friend, of Billings, passed away on April 11, 2022, peacefully into the arms of our Lord Jesus Christ, surrounded by his children, at the age of 67. Tim was born on April 27, 1954, in Billings, to Jim and Jo Thelen. He was the eldest of 11 children and proudly...

Apr 8, 2022

On the morning of April 8th, 2022, Lew Baxter Hines, age 90 peacefully passed away at home, with his daughter by his side.

Lew was born to Sewell and Louise Blackford Hines on May 2nd, 1931, in Billings and graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1949. Lew started college at Whitman University in Walla Walla, Washington....

Apr 8, 2022

Dorothy Terp Hull passed from death into life on April 8, 2022, surrounded by her beloved family. She was born on June 6, 1924, in Minneapolis, and spent most of her childhood in that area. She was always close to her mom, who died a few days beyond her 98th birthday, and was empowered by her to embrace life...

Apr 7, 2022

Dennis, age 68, passed away April 7, 2022, in Stanwood, Washington. Dennis was born on July 13, 1953, in Williston, North Dakota, son of Bernice Anne and Jacob Frank Neigel.

Dennis is preceded in death by his parents and two nephews. Dennis is survived by his three children, Katie McElroy (Montana), Christine Miller (Montana) and Jacson Wall...