Obituaries

Nov 20, 2019

Frank Edward Thomas, age 81, passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 15, 2019, in Billings. He was a longtime resident of Billings, where he lived with his wife, Margaret Thomas, of 33 years.

Frank was born April 21, 1938, in Roscoe, to George and Florence Thomas. In his early years, he married Myra Lorraine Muller and later divorced....

Nov 20, 2019

Frank Edward Thomas, age 81, passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 15, 2019, in Billings. He was a longtime resident of Billings, where he lived with his wife, Margaret Thomas, of 33 years.

Frank was born April 21, 1938, in Roscoe, to George and Florence Thomas. In his early years, he married Myra Lorraine Muller and later divorced....

Nov 19, 2019

Julie Ann Prill entered heaven on Monday, Nov. 18, 2019. Julie was born July 19, 1945, in Billings, to John R. and Rosemary Klein.

On July 25, 1964 she married the love of her life, Thomas W. Prill of Laurel. They were happily married for 54 years. She devoted her life to her home and family. She...

Nov 19, 2019

Mike died peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on Nov. 14, 2019.

He was born on Aug. 18, 1939, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, to Jim and Gwen Eastwood. His family moved to Wheaton, Minnesota, where he grew up and lived through high school. He met his wife of 60 years, Helen (Rinke) while roller-skating in the eighth...

Nov 19, 2019

Merle "Ann" LaCroix went home to be with the Lord on Nov. 14, 2019, at the age of 84. Ann was born on Feb. 10, 1935, in Havre. Family was important to Ann. She came from a big family (with five sisters and four brothers) and she raised seven children. There were always get-togethers and fun times. She loved...

Nov 14, 2019

Jack K. Engleman passed away on Nov. 8, 2019, in Billings. Jack was born on July 31, 1927, to Edwin A. and Lulu Engleman.

Jack attended elementary school in Hamilton and Craig, Colorado, graduating from Craig High School in 1945. He enlisted in the Navy that same year. In December of 1984, Jack married Gay A. Livingston...

Nov 12, 2019

Randall Isham Scott, a beautiful soul for whom Christ died, went to be in God's arms this week at the age of 65. Randy was born on Jan. 5, 1954, in Fort Collins, Colorado, to Dan and Jeanne Scott, the oldest of their six children. Randy spent his younger years in Ranchester, Wyoming, on his parents' ranch. He later...

Nov 12, 2019

John Patrick "Jack" Gaughan, 76, of Billings, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019, surrounded by his loving family.

Jack was born on Dec. 5, 1942, in Butte. He was the third of five children born to William and Margaret Gaughan. Upon graduation from Butte High in 1960, Jack joined the United States...

Nov 10, 2019

Jane Richardson passed away in Reno, Nevada, on Nov. 5, 2019. She was born in Plentywood, Montana, on July 27, 1926, to Benjamin and Marie Hyde. In 1942, the family moved to Billings, where she resided for most of her life. She graduated from Senior High School in 1944 and attended Eastern Montana College, now Montana State University Billings....

Nov 8, 2019

Bradley Leon Edwards was born on Aug. 23, 1959, in Missoula. He was the youngest of five boys born to James and Grace Edwards. In 1964, Brad, along with brothers Mark, Kevin, Kelly and Brian, moved with their parents to Billings and forever called it home. Brad graduated from Billings West High School in 1977 and went on to...

Nov 5, 2019

A. Rex Hafer, 94, died peacefully in Billings, Montana, his "favorite state," on Thursday, October 31, 2019 with family by his side.

Rex was born on January 19, 1925 to A. Rex Sr. and Bessie (Talbot) Hafer in Tonkawa, Oklahoma. In the fourth grade, Rex moved to Newkirk, Oklahoma with his mother, father and little sister. He...

Nov 5, 2019

Jack William McKee, Jr. passed away at home on November 3, 2019, after a courageous battle with cancer. Friends and family will remember Jack for his quick laugh, his generous spirit, and his kindness toward those he loved.

Born in 1946 to Jack and Margaret McKee, Jack spent most of his life in Billings. He attended Broadwater...

Nov 4, 2019

Alice Eileen Damjanovich passed from this life on Sat. November 2, 2019. She was born on September 5, 1932 to Arthur and Julia Brown Maust. Raised in Billings, Alice graduated from Billings Senior and was married to Petar B. Damjanovich on August 30th, 1952. Alice and Pete raised 10 of their 11 children in Billings and then in Ballantine....

Nov 1, 2019

Henry Mervin Doely, Jr. "Hank," 94, entered into eternal rest on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, in Billings, from complications of a fall.

Born on Sept. 19, 1925, in Edmond, North Dakota, to parents, Henry Doely, Sr. and Minnie Sofia Doely. His siblings were Marion Charlotte Petersen (Pete), Evelyn Iola Wilcox (Edward), Ralph Woyen Doely (Bonnie) and Mary...

Oct 27, 2019

Monte D. Gress, 65, of Billings, died peacefully at home after a long battle with cancer, on Oct. 27, 2019.

Monte was born on Aug. 28, 1954, to Benny and Elsie Gress in Billings.

He enjoyed traveling and gardening, but his very favorite pastime was spending time with his pups.

Monte is preceded...

Oct 27, 2019

James Duncan Turner, age 70, of Shepherd, passed away on Oct. 22, 2019. He was born to Jack and Vivian Turner on Jan. 7, 1949.

Jim graduated from Billings West H.S. in 1967 and attended MSU. He worked as a TV cameraman for numerous NBC affiliates, including Q2 in Billings, Great Falls and KTAR in Phoenix -...

Oct 25, 2019

A husband, father, grandfather, oilman, sportsman, athlete and friend to many, John Walker Batts passed away on Oct. 20, 2019, surrounded by his family.

John was born on Dec. 15, 1924, to John E. Batts and Agnes Amelia Batts in Marion, Illinois. During the Depression, the family lived with John's maternal grandmother in Ewing, Illinois, until the...

Oct 21, 2019

Regina "Gina" Mary Scofield, 70, of Billings, Montana, and Lake Havasu City, Arizona, passed away at her Billings home on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2019. Gina was born on May 11, 1949, in Miles City, to Raymond and Evelyn Kelnhofer.

She is survived by her husband, Charles Scofield; sons KT Monson (Lori), Billings, Kevin Monson (Amber), Plentywood; sisters...

Oct 20, 2019

Verlaine Kay Van Atta, 73, of Billings, left us on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2019, from natural causes and surrounded by her loved ones. She entered the arms of her Lord Jesus and her precious mother Ella.

Verlaine was born on April 13, 1946, to Oren and Ella Barnhart in Kalispell. She grew up in Columbia Falls and...

Oct 20, 2019

We mourn the loss of our mother, Evelyn Crossfield Degenhart, who passed away on Oct. 15, 2019, at age 93.

Evelyn was born on March 2, 1926, in Big Timber, the second daughter to Inga Tjaaland Crossfield and Edmund Crossfield, with the help of a midwife. She enjoyed growing up in Big Timber and swimming in the...