Obituaries

Jan 18, 2021

Writing an obituary for my husband and lifelong companion was not something I had planned on doing today but here goes. Daryl Beam was born on June 24, 1946, to William R. and Eloise Alcott Beam. Even though he was born in Jackson, Mississippi, his real home was Montana. Daryl's family migrated north with a stint in Denver before...

Jan 16, 2021

David "Dave" Keith Bredy, 86, passed away Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, at his home in Billings, surrounded by love.

He was born on April 25, 1934, in Bismarck, North Dakota, the youngest of 12 children of Carl and Louise (Schonert) Bredy.

Dave had a difficult yet memorable childhood. When he was 16 months old, his...

Jan 15, 2021

Willard E. Baker, 97, passed away, Friday, January 15, 2021 at Avantara in Billings from a recent fall. Officially named after his grandfather, he was lovingly named Willard by his parents, Everett and Molly Baker on January 4, 1924 in Billings. Willard has one sister, Virginia Frank of Billings and two sons, Scott (Linda) of Billings and Mark (Debra)...

Jan 13, 2021

Josefa "Pepita" Reiter, 83, of Billings, died peacefully at home with her family by her side on Jan. 13, 2021.

Josefa was born on Jan. 4, 1938, in Sevilla, Spain. She worked as a seamstress for over 30 years for Hennessey's/Dillards. She enjoyed working with ceramics.

She is survived by her husband, Robert; daughters Mary...

Jan 11, 2021

Richard Hobart Spalding ("Dick" or "Buzz") died at age 87 at the Billings Clinic on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021. A memorial party will be held in August 2021.

Above all else, Dick loved his wife, daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren with all his heart. Those who had the privilege of knowing Dick understand why his loss is felt...

Jan 10, 2021

Joan-Nell Macfadden passed away peacefully on Jan. 10, 2021.

Joan-Nell Bowron "Josie" was born to Frank and Evelyn Bowron on Dec. 1, 1934, in Chicago. She was born alongside a twin (Mounte Ella Bowron), who died shortly after birth so it can be said that right from the beginning, Joan-Nell was small in stature and arrived with...

Jan 10, 2021

On Jan. 10, 2021, we lost a wonderful father, husband, grandfather, friend, and mentor. Chuck Robbins was born to Cagie and Mary Robbins in Lincoln Park, Detroit. Chuck was an only child born into a family built on faith and hard work. Cagie worked on the General Motors assembly line until the day he retired, and Mary worked cleaning...

Jan 9, 2021

Carol was born to Art and Marion Steinmetz in Billings, and passed away from complications of severe dementia. She attended Billings-area schools, and graduated from Eastern Montana College with degrees in Business and Education. Carol worked as a bookkeeper and accountant for several businesses in Billings and Laurel. With a good sense of humor and quick wit, she enjoyed...

Jan 9, 2021

Karolyn Gainan If Karolyn Kane Gainan’s life were a book, the beginning pages would reveal a little girl with a big heart of solid gold who grew up chasing fireflies and running in and out of the bed sheets drying on the country clothes line on the family ranch in the majestic surroundings of Wolf, Wyoming. She attended the...

Jan 9, 2021

Mathias "Matt" Heinert, 77, departed this life on Monday, January 9th from complications of Alzheimers surrounded by his family at the Billings Clinic.

Matt was born in Bismarck, ND on October 5,1928 to Jacob and Margaretha (Judt) Heiner, the 11th in a family of 12 children, 9 of whom survived to adulthood. He was raised on a...

Jan 6, 2021

Ray CollinsRay Collins passed away on July 6, 2011 at the Sapphire Suites of Valley Health Care Center. Ray was born in Butte MT on August 8, 1926 to Dr. A. R. Collins and Erma Lessel Collins. He graduated from Whitehall High School in 1944 and served for 2 years in the U S Navy. He found his future...

Jan 6, 2021

Faye A. Pierce, 90, of Billings, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. She had been taking care of herself, with help from her sons, Bob and Jim, and Synergy Homecare for the past few years of her life. Faye lived her entire life in her home in Billings.

She was the daughter of W.L. and Pearl H....

Jan 5, 2021

Roy Adam Degenhart, 87, of Columbus, formerly of Billings, joined his heavenly father on Jan. 5, 2021, surrounded in loving energy by his children and grandchildren via Zoom.

Our sweet, kind, loving, funny, faith-filled, hardworking and humble Dad was born on April 20, 1933, on the family farm located off the Roundup Road in Billings, to Adam...

Jan 5, 2021

Anetta Metta Reich was born on Nov. 29, 1924. On Jan. 5, 2021, surrounded by her family, she was reunited with her husband, Phillip, into God's house. She also joined her parents, John and Anna Staebler; her sisters, Eleanor, Tillie, Mandy, Edna, Vivian; and her brothers, Solomon, Laymond, Raymond and Duane. She leaves behind her son, Dick and his...

Jan 4, 2021

Robert Wayne Swigart "Bob" passed away at his sister's home in Billings on Jan. 4, 2021. Knowing that his battle with cancer was coming to an end, he chose to leave his home in Maricopa, Arizona, to come back to his "birth" state, Montana. His loving sisters welcomed him with open arms, caring for him and surrounding him with...

Jan 4, 2021

Rick passed away at St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings, on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, at the age of 71. His immediate family was given the gift of being able to see him and say "until we meet again" before he left this world to begin his next adventure.

Rick was an only child, born to Harold and...

Jan 2, 2021

On January 2nd, our family lost our son, brother, dad, and friend to so many. Rick, or Ricky Bob as he was so fondly called by his family and friends, passed away at his home in Red Lodge. Richard Lawrence Kirkness was born November 1st, 1951, in Billings to Neal and Norma Kirkness. Rick graduated from Senior High in...

Jan 1, 2021

Debra Ann Tabbert, 60, of Billings, passed away Friday, Jan. 1, 2021 (surrounded by family), after a two-and-a-half year battle with cancer.

Debbie was born in Salt Lake City on July 5, 1960, to Robert and Mary Dobias. She grew up in Bountiful, Utah, and moved to Fairview. After she graduated from Fairview High School, she went...

2021

Jean Marie Laughlin

How do we begin to write an obituary for our mom? How can we summarize in a few words what she means to us? We can try by setting down details about life. She was born in Billings, Montana, on Feb. 8, 1942, to Helen and Sigurd Nordlund. The oldest of four...

2021

Mary Gale Bembalkar

It is with a heavy heart the family of Mary Gale Aldrich Bembalkar announces her passing on Nov. 29, 2021.

On the morning of Nov. 22, 1945, a tiny baby girl, named Mary Gale was born to the L.R. Aldrich family in Billings. She was the second child in a family of...