Obituaries

Jun 17, 2021

Jeanne Clare Esp Lombardy

Another soul from “The Greatest Generation” entered into eternal life on June 17, 2021. Ours that we called Jeannie, Madje, Mother died of natural causes at the age of 97.

Jeanne Clare Esp Lombardy was born on Sept. 23, 1923, to Tilmer Esp and Clara Egeland Esp in Big...

Jun 16, 2021

Irene M. Kinsell, age 87, died on Wednesday, June 16, 2021, at Morningstar Senior Living community, from causes related to Alzheimer's disease and cancer. Irene was born in 1934 in Chicago, to Bernard and Marie Wardinski. Irene earned her bachelor's degree in health and physical education in 1959 from Illinois State University and her master of education from North...

Jun 14, 2021

Marjory Farver Legare passed away peacefully on June 14, 2021, at St. John's Nursing Home, Billings, Montana. She will be remembered for her smile, conversation, and years of unselfish service.

Marj was born on June 6, 1931, in Scobey, Montana, to Lavilla Bird Borah and Niels Martin Farver. Marj was the oldest of her four siblings: Doris...

Jun 14, 2021

Violet June Ehrlicher, 100, of Billings, passed away on June 14, 2021, at Billings Clinic. She was born on June 4, 1921, in Elizabeth, New Jersey, to John and Ann (Simmons) Decker.

She married Alfred Ehrlicher in 1942. After marrying, Violet and Alfred (Vi & Bud, as they liked to be called) moved to Westfield, New Jersey,...

Jun 13, 2021

Ralph J. Stone passed away on June 13, 2021, in Billings. He was born on May 12, 1926, in Ogden, Utah, the fourth of five children born to M. Spencer Stone and Ivy W. Stone. After growing up in Utah, he joined the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged in 1946 as an electronic Technician's Mate 2C. Uncle Sam...

Jun 7, 2021

On June 7, 2021, our mom Martha Riojas went to be with the lord. She faced every challenge with grace and the faith she had in Jesus. She was truly resilient.

Martha was born to Louisa and Antonio on Feb. 2, 1963. She was brought home to her family in Laurel, Montana, where she was raised. She...

Jun 2, 2021

Donna Ruth Dove Welch was born on a farm outside Missoula on May 9, 1934 to John and Mary Dove. She was the second of three children, with an older sister Inez and younger brother Jack. Her family was in straitened circumstances-she always said, "We were poor, but happy." The valley where they lived allowed her to swim in...

May 31, 2021

Scott Rowen passed away on May 31, 2021, after a long illness with Alzheimer's Disease.

Scott was born on Sept. 4, 1950, in Portland, Oregon, to Dr. Gerald and Mary Helen Rowen. He grew up in Miles City, Montana, and graduated from Custer County High School in 1968. Scott received an appointment to the Military Academy at...

May 31, 2021

Patricia Coe Clark McFadden passed away on Monday, May 31, 2021, at the age of 73. Patricia Lee Coe was born to Obia and Evelyn (Dietz) Coe on March 17, 1948, in Billings. She grew up and went to school in Laurel, and graduated from Laurel High School in 1966. She also attended Billings Business College.

Patty...

May 31, 2021

Juanita Jean Kolczak Rogina earned her wings and went to be with her Mom and Dad on May 31, 2021, at 1:03 p.m.

Juanita was born on November 4, 1955, in Great Falls, Montana, to Jerry and Sweetie Kolczak. She was raised in Landusky and attended school there until the family moved to Malta in 1968 so...

May 30, 2021

Stephanie Newhouse Davis died May 30, 2021, nine months after a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. She passed away at her home in Billings, surrounded by family.

Stephanie Newhouse was born on Feb. 7, 1949, in Shelby, to William Erwin "W.E." Newhouse and Mary Lorann Wells, and was the second of five children. Her father was active in...

May 29, 2021

Diann (Petersen) Spear, born August 13, 1945, passed away peacefully at her home in Billings, on Saturday, May 29, 2021. Diann was born to Arthur and Evelyn Petersen of Skokie, IL. Her early childhood was spent in Skokie living in the house that her grandparents built. When she entered high school, her family moved to Woodstock, IL, where she...

May 25, 2021

Linda Darlene Dormady passed away on May 25, 2021, at the age of 74. She would have been 75 next month.

She was born in Sheridan, Wyoming, to Harry "Jack" and Wilma Belle Burns McCoy. She also resided in Miles City, Great Falls and, currently, Billings.

She is survived by her daughter, Brandi Dormady Chambers...

May 24, 2021

John Frederick Nickisch, age 71, passed away peacefully on May 24, 2021, surrounded by family.

He met the love of his life, Brenda Schultz, in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota, whom he married on May 3, 1968. John was born in Butte on June 24, 1949, to Frederick Jay Nickisch and Mary Margaret Nickisch. He was not only a...

May 24, 2021

It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of Jane Susan Nelson, 68, of Billings. Jane was born on Oct. 17, 1952, to Leonard and Mathilda Nelson in Williston, North Dakota, where she grew up and attended school. After graduating from Williston High School in 1970, Jane moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota, to study nursing...

May 23, 2021

Mary Louise Becklen, 97, passed away early morning on May 23, 2021. Mary was born in Cameron, Missouri, on March 21, 1924. She was born to Harvey and Anna Mae Baker.

Mary graduated from Powell High School in 1942. She then moved to Washington, D.C., and worked for a bank. In 1946, she moved back to Powell,...

May 22, 2021

Helen Hanson, 91, passed away early afternoon on May 22, 2021. Fortunately, her first grandson, Drew and wife Savannah, and dear friend Connie Zimmerman, were present to say goodbye.

Helen was a proud Montanan who was born in Lewistown, Montana, on July 1, 1929. She was born to parents Claire and Thayer Stevens. On June 28, 1947,...

May 22, 2021

Lawrence J. Zika, of Billings, was called to Heaven on Saturday, May 22, 2021.

Born April 18, 1933, to George and Caroline Zika, he grew up in Alexander, North Dakota, where he met and married his sweetheart, Rosella Mae Larson, on Nov. 23, 1956. Together, they traveled the greater Northern Plains region as he worked as a...

May 21, 2021

Robert Morris, 88, of Billings, passed away on May 21, 2021, a resident of Arbor Village Senior Living in Kent, Washington.

Robert "Bob" Norman Morris was born in Beach, North Dakota, on Oct. 5, 1932. Bob was the daughter of Dennison Lee and Arva (Gilmore) Morris. He grew up on his parents' farm and learned from his...

May 20, 2021

David L. Johnson, a longtime Billings lawyer, died on May 20, 2021, at age 83. He was born on Oct. 18, 1937, in Dayton, Ohio, the third son of Clarence and Gladys Johnson. He grew up in Kettering, Ohio, graduating in 1955 from Kettering Fairmont High School.

David earned an undergraduate accounting/business administration degree from the University...