Obituaries

Dec 10, 2021

Pauline E. Vernes ‘Polly’

Pauline E. Vernes “Polly” went to be with her Lord on Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, from natural causes, at the age of 95. She was residing at Tendernest Assisted Living. At the end, she was under the care of Stillwater Hospice.

Polly was born on May 31, 1926, to...

Dec 10, 2021

Margaret Ann Kenaston

Margaret Ann Kenaston passed away peacefully on Dec. 10, 2021, at St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings. She was 83 years old.

On Feb. 17, 1938, Margaret and her twin sister, Marjorie, were born to Andrew and Irene (Klungness) Oen in Minot, North Dakota. Margaret grew up in North Dakota, where...

Dec 10, 2021

Lois Marie Bernhardt

Lois Marie Bernhardt, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother, passed away in her home in Billings, on Dec. 10, 2021. She was 88 years old.

Lois was born to Myrthel Lemke (Thorpe) and Fred Lemke on Feb. 25, 1933, in Reeder, North Dakota. She attended school through eighth grade...

Dec 8, 2021

Deborah Jean Hawes, 30, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, in Billings, MT. She was the firstborn daughter to Anthony Hawes and Lisa Clark on October 7, 1991, in Olney, IL.

A fighter from day one, Debbie overcame many obstacles and hardships in her life. She was a strong advocate for equality and justice, and you...

Dec 7, 2021

Robert R. Stern

Robert R. Stern was born on Sept. 2, 1965, to Richard Stern and Sharon (Pinter) Stern in Billings. He passed away on Dec. 7, 2021, at his home in Billings.

For most of his adult life, he worked at Stella’s as the kitchen manager and head cook. He took pride...

Dec 6, 2021

Patricia (Pat) Dryden, 74 of Alliance, Nebraska, passed away on Monday, December 6th, 2021. She was born May 8th, 1947 to Walter E. and Hazel (Nelson) Faustman in Aurora, NE and grew up in Chappell. She married Steve Crawford in Hot Springs, SD in December of 1971 and from this union they were blessed with five daughters. Later in...

Dec 5, 2021

Greg Jones

On the evening of Dec. 5, 2021, Greg Jones, 63, passed away peacefully of natural causes at his residence in Billings.

Greg was born on Nov. 25, 1958, the fifth of nine children to James W. and Mary Ann Jones. As a young boy, Greg enjoyed all sports and excelled at...

Dec 4, 2021

Isabel (Scherr) Heinz

Isabel (Scherr) Heinz, age 93, died on Dec. 4, 2021.

Isabel was born on Oct. 19, 1928, the sixth child of Michael and Johanna Scherr, in Linton, North Dakota.

In the early 1940s, the family moved to Billings and Isabel completed elementary and high school at Fratt and...

Dec 3, 2021

Leonard Wesley Barnard

Oct. 30, 1933 to Dec. 3, 2021

Leonard passed away on Dec. 3, 2021, at Avantara Care Facility, Billings.

He was born to Paul and Marjorie (Dickson) Barnard at the home of Mary Matheson in Pompeys Pillar. The family moved to the farm in Ballantine in 1947. He...

Nov 29, 2021

Carol Kathryn Linde

On the morning of Nov. 29, 2021, Carol Linde passed away of a massive heart attack. Carol was the youngest of four children, born on Dec. 13, 1938, to Jack and Esther Schindler in McClusky, North Dakota.

Growing up on a farm in Central North Dakota, Carol developed a work...

Nov 26, 2021

Marilyn Taylor

Marilyn Taylor was born in Hardin, MT, on November 4, 1934, to Alex and Dorothy Mills. After finishing high school in Hardin, she married Robert Taylor in 1954 and settled in Billings, MT.

Marilyn and Robert were wonderful hosts. Many holiday gatherings were held at their house, and she made the...

Nov 25, 2021

Dorothy Strobel

1921 — 2021

Dorothy Strobel, born on May 20, 1921, has passed away peacefully on Nov. 25, 2021, at her daughter’s home in Ennis, Texas. She lived an incredible 100 and one half years.

She was the seventh of 10 children born to Allen and Francie (Thompson) Kirkwood on...

Nov 22, 2021

Leonard W. Golding, age 83, passed away peacefully at home with loved ones at his side on November 22, 2021. He was born on October 23, 1938, to Ken & Beth (McDonald) Golding in Albany, NY.

After graduating from high school, Len joined the U.S. Air Force and married the love of his life, Patricia Fredette. Len...

Nov 21, 2021

Dolores 'Dode' Donnelly

Dolores 'Dode' Donnelly, lifelong Billings resident, passed away Nov. 21, 2021. She was born March 29, 1935, to Andy and Mary Palmersheim.

She attended Fratt Memorial School and graduated from Billings Central in 1953. That same year she married Daniel Donnelly. Dode and Danny were married for 63 years until his passing...

Nov 21, 2021

Elizabeth “Liz” Melius

Elizabeth “Liz” Melius, 97, of Billings, passed away on Nov. 21, 2021, at Tendernest Assisted Living.

She was born a Depression-era baby on Sept. 29, 1924, in New England, North Dakota, to Dominik and Susie (Geiger) Melius, Russian immigrants. At age 6, she moved with her family to Sidney, and...

Nov 19, 2021

Joanne Shaw Corning

Joanne Shaw Corning passed away peacefully at her home on Nov. 19, 2021, at the age of 90. All who knew her were touched by her genuine warmth, quick laugh, optimism and graciousness.

Joanne Shaw was born in Dillon on March 19, 1931, to Esther “Chris” Christensen and Joseph Warren...

Nov 14, 2021

Susan Joyce (Vetter) Truscott

Susan Joyce (Vetter) Truscott, 63, passed away suddenly in her home on Nov. 14, 2021, from Covid complications. We thank God that her son, James, and her close friend, Andrea, were with her in her final moments on this earth.

Susan was born in Billings on May 6, 1958,...

Nov 14, 2021

Eugene C. McFerran

Our beloved father Gene passed away Sunday, November 14, 2021, at the age of 91, from a leg infection. Gene was born September 30, 1930, in Spokane, WA, to Milton and Elsie McFerran. He spent his childhood in Spokane and Wallace, ID, and summers in Hammond, MT, helping on his grandfather’s ranch....

Nov 14, 2021

Darlene L. Nauman

The lights have gone out for those who knew and loved Darlene. Darlene Louise Nauman passed away on Nov. 14, 2021, at Billings Clinic, due to an injury sustained after a tragic fall in her home. Darlene was born on April 6, 1941, in Plentywood, to parents Lawrence and Fern Bakken. She...

Nov 13, 2021

Richard “Rich” Leo Thein II

Nov. 28, 1968 — Nov. 13, 2021

Richard “Rich” Leo Thein II had unexpectedly passed away on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in his home, at the age of 52.

Rich’s services are at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, at the VFW in Worden, and his Celebration...