Obituaries

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...

May 17, 2021

Jacqueline Jean Reilly passed away peacefully on May 17, 2021, at the age of 83. She was born on Aug. 19, 1937, in Billings. Her parents were Herman and Mildred Nygaard Walker.

Jacque graduated from Billings Senior High School. She was active in many school activities, plays, church youth group and Rainbow For Girls. She attended Eastern...

May 17, 2021

Donald E. Brocopp passed away at his home on May 17, 2021.

Born in Greeley, Colorado, to Benno Brocopp and Josephine (Domde) Brocopp in 1938, Don lived in a variety of places and, in 1951, settled in Billings. Don graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1957. During this time, Don began a lifelong love for cars...

May 17, 2021

Trent Turnbull, age 89, passed away on May 17, 2021. Trent was born Dec. 18, 1931 in Terry, MT, son of Joseph and Anna Turnbull. He attended Terry High School, University of Montana, then enlisted during the Korean Conflict. He married Dorothy Herman from Terry on May 10, 1952. He was a long-time member Al Bedoo Shrine where he...

May 16, 2021

Elton Neal Fortney was born January 29, 1956, in Billings, to Neal Fortney and Alice Fortney (Drevs) of Broadview. He passed away May 16, 2021.

Elton married Tammy Fortney (Lindt) on November 25, 1981, and adopted his son, Josh Fortney. He grew up on the family farm with three brothers: Dalton Fortney (Jackie), Laren Fortney, Kerry Fortney...

May 16, 2021

Robert "Bob" Roy passed away Sunday, May 16, 2021, surrounded by his family.

He was born on Aug. 19, 1939, to Alex Thomas Roy and Gertrude Lorinda Roy in Roundup. In August of 1959, he joined the U.S. Army, being honorably discharged in 1967.

On Jan. 28, 1977, he married the love of his life,...

May 13, 2021

Kenneth Gullard, age 93, passed away at his home on May 13, 2021, in his sleep. Ken was born on Nov. 13, 1927, son of Harry Gullard and Elizabeth Chestnut Blanton. He attended Senior High School and graduated from University of Montana in Missoula. He married Barbara Nore of Billings in 1950; they had two daughters, Pamela and Barbara....

May 12, 2021

June Mary Noyes (Goodale) lived 27 days shy of a century. She was born on June 8, 1921, in Dickinson, North Dakota.

She passed on May 12, 2021, in Billings, surrounded by loved ones. June earned a nursing degree at Iowa Lutheran. During WWII, she served as an LT in the Nursing Corp. After serving in the...

May 12, 2021

Marilyn Dow McKnire, 77, of Billings, passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2021, at her home.

The daughter of Harold and Mary Dow, Marilyn was born on Oct. 27, 1943, in Bremerton, Washington. She graduated from Billings Central. She married Dennis McKnire at St. Patrick's on Nov. 22, 1961. Marilyn was an excellent cook and seamstress, and enjoyed...

May 2, 2021

Donna was born in Lewistown, Montana, to William and Ellen (Anderson) Benes. The family lived first in a log house in the Judith Mountains and later in a little house on the prairie north of Hilger, Montana. She attended schools in Moulton, Hilger and Christina. Following graduation from Fergus County High School, Donna worked at the Bon Ton and...

May 2, 2021

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. - Our beloved and precious Andrew Richard Carver, 43, passed away in his home, unexpectedly and far too soon, on Sunday, May 2, 2021.

Drew was born March 19, 1978, in Billings, MT. He enjoyed living in many parts of the country during his life, including Los Angeles, Mammoth Lakes, Vermont, and Utah (Los Angeles...

Apr 29, 2021

Richard Dale Johnson, 84, formerly of Minot, ND, passed away March 27, 2021, in a Billings assisted living facility.

Richard (Dick) was born October 19, 1936, in Williston, ND, the son of Jesse and Agatha Johnson. He grew up in a middle-class family, alongside three brothers and two sisters.

Richard went to school through high...

Apr 29, 2021

Our Hearts are broken to announce that on April 29, 2021, we lost a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and loyal friend. After fighting a long battle with depression and the severe pain of pancreatitis, Charles "Chuck" John Ackerman chose to end his own suffering and join his parents and loved ones in heaven.

Chuck is preceded in...

Apr 26, 2021

Ernest Carroll Broch, Jr. departed this life 26 April 2021. He was born 6 February 1928 in Baltimore, Maryland, to Ernest Carroll Broch, Sr. and Gwendolyn Rittenhouse Lair. He graduated from Glen Burnie High School and attended Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland.

Mr. Broch served his country in the Army of the United States...

Apr 24, 2021

On Saturday, April 24, 2021, Phyllis M Burger, loving wife and mother of four children, passed away at the age of 83. Phyllis was born on April 29, 1937, in Bordentown, New Jersey, to Charles and Muriel Hodson.

She was an accountant for Gregory's Department Store for over 20 years, before moving to Billings with the love...

Apr 24, 2021

Nancy Jo Pinnow, of Billings, passed away at her home on Saturday, April 24, 2021. Nancy was the daughter of Gottlieb and Gwendolyn Bonogofsky and was born on Oct. 7, 1950, in Elgin, North Dakota. Nancy was a loving wife and mother to her children and her husband Larry Pinnow (deceased). Nancy was known for putting thoughts of others...

Apr 23, 2021

Alison Gail Davis, age 31, passed away in her home in Billings, on April 23, 2021, from ovarian cancer.

The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 28, at Apostles Evangelical Lutheran Church in Billings, with Pastor Jay Bickelhaupt officiating. Burial will follow at Yellowstone Valley Memorial Park in Billings. Visitation will be...