Obituaries

Sep 21, 2024

Dylan Christopher Forquer, 22, was born on Oct. 5, 2001, in Billings, and passed away on Sept. 21, 2024, in his hometown of Billings.

Dylan graduated with honors from Billings Senior High in 2020 and received his Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies magna cum laude in 2024 from Montana State University. During college, he worked tirelessly...

Sep 20, 2024

The family of Jeanne Augusta Burgoyne is sad to announce that she passed away in Billings, Montana, on Sept. 20, 2024, after a long journey with congestive heart failure.

Jeanne left behind three children, Michelle Burgoyne Afroso, Jeanine Burgoyne, Andre (Heather Dillon) Burgoyne; and two grandchildren, Okailey Afroso and Finnegan Burgoyne. She was preceded in death by...

Sep 20, 2024

Paul G. Odegaard, 94, of Billings, died on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, at St. Vincent’s Hospital, surrounded by family.

Paul was born on Aug. 6, 1930, in Hankinson, North Dakota, the son of E. Julius and Minnie (Milbrandt) Brummond. Upon his parents’ divorce, he lived with his mother and her new husband, Herman Berg. Paul was adopted...

Sep 19, 2024

Catherine “Cathy” Conaway “faced the final curtain” on Sept. 19, 2024.

Cathy was born on April 30, 1947, in Billings, to Russell and Betty Hanstrom, née Anderson. Cathy married Michael Conaway on July 3, 1976.

Cathy had a thirst for learning. She was an avid reader, and visitors to her house could count on hearing...

Sep 19, 2024

Gayle Arlene (French) Wash passed away at home, on her 83rd birthday, in the care of her loving husband, Gordon, of 64 years. Gayle struggled with dementia in recent years and Gordon never left her side.

Gayle was born on Sept. 19, 1941, in Butte. She was the fourth child born to Glen and Inez French, joining...

Sep 19, 2024

Thomas Alan Lutke

February 23, 1951 – September 19, 2024

Only when a tree has fallen can you take the measure of it. It is the same with a man.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh

A quote fitting for Tom who spent his life among trees: Logging them, then planting them, then casting...

Sep 18, 2024

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, surrounded by his family, Roger Joseph O’Brien died from complications of lung cancer in Billings, at the age of 70.

Roger Joseph, who used his middle and patron saint name most of his life, was born to Joseph Albert O’Brien and Betty Jane Rogers in Los Angeles,...

Sep 16, 2024

Linda (Lynda) Diane Patterson Forcella, 76, of Billings, formerly of Sidney, died Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Elko, Nevada. She was born on Aug. 28, 1948, in Los Angeles.

She worked as a cashier/receptionist at Lower Yellowstone Rural Electric. Lynda attended Highland Senior High in Pocatello, Idaho, but graduated from Butte High School in Butte. She also...

Sep 10, 2024

Carl Wolf passed away on Sept. 10, 2024, with his daughters by his side, after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Carl was born on Nov. 17, 1931, in Glenridge, New Jersey. He graduated from the University of Delaware with an engineering degree and from the Wharton School of Business with a master’s degree in finance.

Sep 9, 2024

Kay Joanne Odegaard, 85, of Billings, died on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024, at Tender Nest Assisted Living, surrounded by family.

Kay was born on Nov. 12, 1938, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, the daughter of Melvin and Gertrude (McGrath) Anderson. She grew up in Emerado, North Dakota, and graduated from Emerado High School. Upon graduating, she started...

Sep 8, 2024

James E. Crouch, 91, died at his home in Billings, on Sept. 8, 2024, son of Arnold and Ida (Rash) Crouch. He is survived by his wife Carolyn Crouch. He was born on Jan. 10, 1933, in Indiana.

He retired from the Government General Services Administration (GSA) in April 1988. He began his career with GSA in...

Sep 5, 2024

May you fish the streams of Heaven and embrace the joy of peace!

Our beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather and great-grandfather Rodney Paul Davidson passed away, surrounded by his loving family, on Sept. 5, 2024, at the age of 83. Dad battled major medical issues for the past few years, but did so with a smile and...

Sep 5, 2024

Elden Kristiansen, 93, of Billings, passed away peacefully on Sept. 5, 2024.

Elden was born on Sept. 1, 1931, in Watford City, North Dakota, to Even and Agnes (née Levang) Kristiansen. Elden grew up in Scobey, where he grew up helping in his father’s hardware store. Later in his high school years, the family relocated to Billings,...

Sep 2, 2024

“Sacred Hawk,” as named in the Crow tradition by Mary Hogan-Wallace, was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, on the morning of Oct. 23, 1995. He made his journey to the other side of camp on the morning of Sept. 2, 2024.

LaCroix was the youngest of three children born to Lorena Delrae Plainfeather and Grant Scalpcane, Sr. He...

Sep 1, 2024

A limb has fallen from our family tree. Our beloved son Elijah journeyed on to the other side on Sept. 1, 2024, from a tragic ATV accident.

Elijah Rae’kwon Flores was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, on April 13, 2004, to Hilaria Evans and had the honor of having two fathers: Ricardo Palmer/Christian Evans.

Elijah...

Aug 25, 2024

Shirley Marie Johnson, age 85, of Billings, formerly of Minot, North Dakota, passed away on Aug. 25, 2024, with family by her side, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Shirley was born on Jan. 28, 1939, in Sherwood, North Dakota, the daughter of Estelle and George Southam. She was delivered at home by her dad because they...

Aug 21, 2024

Danielle Phyllis Worriax, age 35, passed away suddenly at Fort Riley, Kansas, on the evening of Aug. 21, 2024.

Named after both parents, Danielle was born Oct. 15, 1988, in Miles City, to Daniel and Phyllis Lantis. She joined two brothers and two sisters. From the beginning, her big blue eyes brought a smile to her entire...

Aug 19, 2024

Scott, 67, of Billings, passed away peacefully in the presence of his loving wife and two daughters in the early morning hours of Monday, Aug. 19, 2024, following his short, yet courageous, battle with cancer.

Scott was born on July 20, 1957, in Great Falls, the fifth child to his parents, James and Joanne Caddell. He was...

Aug 14, 2024

Brad Stewart, 63, of Billings passed away on Aug. 14, 2024, doing what he loved: spending time on the Yellowstone River.

Brad was born in Joplin, Missouri, to George and Lou Ann Stewart on June 14, 1961. His beginnings in Missouri led to him being a lifelong fan of the Kansas City Chiefs. His family briefly lived...

Aug 12, 2024

Charles E. Wolfe, a cherished father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away on Aug. 12, 2024, in Billings, Montana. Born on March 15, 1940 in Newcastle, Wyoming, to Albert and Nellie Wolfe, Charles carried the legacy of the Germanic surname Wolfe — derived from “Wolfgang,” meaning “wolf,” “path,” or “way of life” — with pride.

Charles grew up...