Obituaries

Feb 8, 2019

On Feb. 8, 2019, our mother, sister, grandmother and friend passed away peacefully. Ardine Catherine (Snyder) Grayson was born a twin on July 18, 1932, in Glasgow, to Arden Marshal and Mary Teresa Snyder. Her mother passed away three weeks after their birth. The girls were raised by their grandparents in Glasgow because their father worked for the Anaconda...

Feb 4, 2019

Robert James Mjelstad, 81, was called home suddenly on Jan. 30, 2019. He was surrounded by his family and the love of his life of 59 years, Muriel. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, 1108 N. 24th St. West, Billings, followed by interment at Yellowstone Valley Memorial Park....

Jan 30, 2019

Agnes was born on Oct. 29, 1927, to Matt and Monica Barth. She grew up south of Mandan, North Dakota, the oldest of seven children. She graduated from eighth grade in 1941 and, after attending high school for one year, she moved to Bismarck, North Dakota, where she worked at area hospitals and also at Wards in the household...

Jan 28, 2019

William C. Leitz, 77, of Billings, passed away on Jan. 26, 2019, at his home in Billings. Bill was born on July 22, 1941, in Minneapolis, to Florence "Sally" and Walden Leitz.

Bill served in the Marine Corps from 1959 to 1963 as a Corporal in the Military Police. Following his honorable discharge, he joined his father...

Jan 27, 2019

Agnes Brilz-Wagner, 91, formerly of Glendive, Montana, and Dickinson, North Dakota, passed away at St. John's Lutheran Home in Billings on Jan. 27, 2019.

She was born on Oct. 29, 1927, to Matt and Monica (Renner) Barth. She married George Brilz on Sept. 30, 1947, and to this union, seven sons were born. They later divorced and...

Jan 23, 2019

After a full and active life, Alf Archie LeCaptain passed away peacefully on Jan. 21, 2019, in Billings, at the age of 93.

Alf was born June 17, 1925, in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, to Herman and Anita LeCaptain. He was the fourth of their five children, which included Lyle (Uncle Tubby), Veda, Bernhard (Bud), Alf, and Clair Jean...

Jan 23, 2019

Brendan Joseph Murphy, 81, of Winnett, passed away Monday, Jan. 21, 2019, after a courageous battle with an extended illness.

Brendan was born in Helena on July 22, 1937. He was the first child of David and Zita (Raths) Murphy. He was raised in Roundup and joined by two brothers and two sisters.

In his...

Jan 22, 2019

On Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019, Edward Cestnik passed away at the age of 97.

He was born on March 27, 1921, to Vincent and Elizabeth Cestnik in Washoe, Montana. He attended Polytech College from 1940 to 1942. He was a staff sergeant in the Army 550th Night Fighter Squadron as an air operations clerk from 1942 to...

Jan 21, 2019

Ruth K. "Ruthie" Kelley, 84, died January 7, 2019 in Billings, Montana.

Ruthie was born April 21, 1934, in Great Falls, Montana. She was the second child of Emil Krause from Antas, North Dakota, and Magdalene (Lina) Krause from Strasburg, Russia.

She married her loving husband of 62 years, Francis J. "Frank" Kelley, on November...

Jan 15, 2019

Mary K. Kinsfather passed away peacefully in her home, Jan. 9, 2019, with her children by her side. She was a Billings native, born in 1943 to G. Kenneth and Gladys Allen. In 1961, she graduated from Billings Senior High School and married her high school sweetheart, Walt "Sonny" Kinsfather, and began her lifelong dream of being a farmer's...

Jan 15, 2019

Joseph "JR" Keating, an unwaveringly loyal husband, loving father, and a man of God, and of laughter and joy, was called to his place with his wife and the Lord on Jan. 12, 2019. His life was well-lived. He was 87.

Joe was born in Langdon, North Dakota, on June 16, 1931. He was the second child...

Jan 11, 2019

Shirley Marie (Haas) Schultz, born March 30, 1929, died on Jan. 10, 2019 in Bozeman. She was born in Friend, Nebraska, to John J. and Rose Kovar Haas, the sixth of seven children. After completing high school, Shirley taught in a one-room schoolhouse in Nebraska for a number of years. She married Clifford H. Schultz on June 25, 1950,...

Jan 11, 2019

Larry A. Heidt, 77, passed away with family by his side at St. Vincent's hospital on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019.

Larry was born on Jan. 24, 1941, in Red Oak, Iowa. Larry graduated in 1959 from Spanish Fork, Utah, where he went on and did three years at Fresno State and BYU and six years in the...

Jan 10, 2019

Patricia Ann Larson Witzel, loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and a dear friend to many, passed away on Jan. 6, 2019, in Kalispell, after a brief illness.

Patricia was born on Dec. 12, 1934, in Lewistown, to Henry G. and Pearl (Duncan) Larson - the first of seven children. She grew up in the Pleasant Valley community...

Jan 8, 2019

Rickey Dale Hemming, 57, of Billings, passed away on Jan. 1, 2019.

Rick was born on Sept. 25, 1961, in Seattle, to Harold and Esther (Schafer) Hemming. He grew up in Chicago, North Dakota and Billings. Rick enjoyed spending the summers with his younger brother in North Dakota with his grandparents.

He attended Billings schools...

Jan 2, 2019

Our brother and best friend left us on Dec. 28, 2018.

John Korber was born on Oct. 25, 1947, in Billings, to Clifford and Eileene Korber. He grew up in Custer, graduating from Custer High School in 1965. He attended Montana State University before entering the United States Army, where he was stationed in Germany. Upon returning...

Jan 2, 2019

Edward V. Dakolios, 85 passed away peacefully Jan. 2, 2019, in Missoula. He had recently relocated from Billings. He was born to Harry and Elsie Dakolios, the sixth of seven children, on Dec. 20, 1933, in Barber, Montana. He attended school in Ryegate, and graduated high school in 1951. He worked on the Northern Pacific Railroad throughout Eastern Montana....

Dec 28, 2018

Charles D. Duenow, better known as "Button Box Charlie," passed away peacefully on the afternoon of Dec. 24, 2018, after a short battle with lung cancer. Dad was born Sept. 7, 1938, in San Diego, California. He grew up in Glencoe, Minnesota. After graduation, he proudly served in the U.S. Navy for two years. On Oct. 28, 1959, Charlie...

Dec 27, 2018

John Henry Michel, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed into heaven on Dec. 23, 2018, two days before his 97th birthday, at Billings Clinic Hospital, after surgery for a broken hip.

John was born on Dec. 25, 1921, in Billings, to Cornelius and Theresa Lehman Michel. His twin brother died at birth. He had 11 brothers...

Dec 19, 2018

William Samuel Bradley (aka Bill, Willy, Uncle Bill) was born to Phil and Jean Bradley on Feb. 28, 1956, and left this world on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018. Bill reluctantly attended and graduated from Moore High School in 1974! He was a Jack-of-all-trades and master of many, as well as the owner of Uncle Bill's Handyman Service.

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