Obituaries

Mar 31, 2019

Marjorie Hansen died peacefully on Saturday, March 23, surrounded by family, at West Park Village in Billings. She was preceded in death by her husband, Christian A. Hansen; her parents, Asa A. and Alice Wolfe; and her brother John Wolfe. She is survived by her children, Karen Elsen (Douglas), Carl Hansen (Ginger Gier), Allen Hansen (Suzidee) and Elizabeth Hansen;...

Mar 30, 2019

Betty Pursell, 83, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on March 16, 2019. Betty was a loving wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was born on May 19, 1935, in Boise, ID, to William and Mirtha Henderson.

Betty graduated from Boise High School in 1953. She attended Boise Junior College for a year. Betty...

Mar 30, 2019

Dale Allen Tullar, 62, died peacefully in his home on March 23, 2019, after a long battle with his health. Dale was born the second of three boys to Jack and Ellen Taylor on Nov. 22, 1956, in Glendale, California.

After the untimely death of his father Jack, Ellen married Richard Tullar, who adopted the three boys...

Mar 29, 2019

David M. Kirby, 65, passed away peacefully in the early morning hours of March 21, 2019, after a short and unexpected illness, with his wife and son at his side.

David was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, and was the youngest of four siblings. While growing up, his father was transferred several times throughout Massachusetts and New...

Mar 26, 2019

Our dear Mom, "Gramma Marge," "Grams," and "GG" left us to join her loving husband, her mother and father, her grandson and many friends waiting for her in heaven early Sunday morning, March 24, 2019, surrounded with the abundant love of her family. She was 89 years young and lived a life of love and dedication to her family...

Mar 26, 2019

Patricia Delores Eastman passed away on March 5, 2019. Patricia's love for her family, her friends, and living a life of faith and deep integrity were second to none. She was a lifelong member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist. Patricia's love for God was a daily expression through serving her church, the Billings community, and through daily...

Mar 25, 2019

Lawrence "Larry" B. Guess, 77, went to join his wife and Heavenly Father on March 23, 2019. In the comfort of his own home, surrounded by his loving family, he passed peacefully after a brief battle with cancer.

Larry was born on July 24, 1941, in Mobile, Alabama, to Corrine Tacon. In his early years, Larry spent...

Mar 23, 2019

Antone F. O'Dea "Tony" was born on Jan. 20, 1925, in Anaconda, to George and Anna (Koch) O'Dea. When his father passed away in the 1930s, he moved with his mother and four brothers to the Koch farm in Sumatra. He graduated from Forsyth High School in 1943. He enlisted in the Army and served for two and a...

Mar 23, 2019

Tony D. Silva, 70, of Billings, formerly of Gallup, New Mexico, passed away unexpectedly on March 23, 2019, at Billings Clinic. Tony was born in Gallup on June 5, 1948, to Joe and Julia (Herrera) Silva. He grew up in Gallup and worked for the City of Gallup in the Sanitation Department for many years.

Tony was...

Mar 21, 2019

The only child of a Swedish mother and Canadian father, William A. "Bill" Mavity passed away peacefully in the morning on March 19, 2019.

He was born to Alexander Finlayson and Kathryn (Swanson) Mavity on Jan. 19, 1925, in Great Falls. He lived most of his life in Montana. While he was a young boy, they moved...

Mar 19, 2019

Longtime Gillette, Wyoming resident John A. Hart, 79, passed on March 19, 2019, in Billings, surrounded by his loved ones.

John was born on Jan. 24, 1940, in Marmarth, North Dakota, to Amos and Ellen Hart, the fifth of six children. He graduated from Upton High School, where he met and fell in love with Mary Anne...

Mar 18, 2019

David M. Doss, 67, of Billings, passed away unexpectedly at his home on March 4, 2019. He was the youngest child born to Scott and Marge Doss, in Seminole, Texas, on June 4, 1951. He was raised in the Billings area and graduated from Billings Central High School in 1969. He was proud to have been a member of...

Mar 16, 2019

On their 39th anniversary, March 8, 2019, with her devoted husband by her side, Kathy passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family.

Kathy was born on June 1, 1951, in Crookston, MN, to Jerome and Bonna Stroot. After proudly graduating nursing school in 1971, Kathy started her lifelong career as a caring, compassionate, hardworking LPN, retiring...

Mar 13, 2019

Francis J. Kelley, 82, of Billings, died March 6, 2019, in Billings.

Frank was born Dec. 23, 1936, in Blackstone, Rhode Island. He was the only child of Francis "Fran" Kelley and Sylvia Kelley from Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

Frank had a love of airplanes and flight starting in his childhood days. He enlisted in the...

Mar 13, 2019

The "Best Ever" wife, mother, grandma and great-grandma Betty Jean Eaton moved to her heavenly home with her family at her side on March 9, 2019. Betty was born to Elizabeth and Leonard Yost on July 6, 1930, in a farmhouse on the outskirts of Billings. When Betty was 13, the family, which included her siblings, Marilyn, Joan and...

Mar 12, 2019

Linda Yakel, age 75, of Billings, left us to be with Jesus on March 2, 2019.

Linda was born on June 7, 1943, in Bremerton, Washington, the daughter of Edwin and Vivian Langfitt.

She was married on Oct. 19, 1984, to her husband of 34 years, Tom Yakel.

All of those who loved...

Mar 12, 2019

Shaylynn Renee Rehling, 26, passed away on March 6, 2019. Shaylynn was born on a beautiful, sunny day in Billings on Dec. 21, 1992. She graduated from Billings Skyview in 2013. Shaylynn participated in Special Olympics, bowling and gymnastics, in which she received many blue ribbons. She loved to dance, sing and play with her laptop. She also loved...

Mar 11, 2019

Magdalene F. Jacobs passed away on March 7, 2019, of pancreatic cancer, surrounded by her loving family. Maggie was born on Oct. 29, 1927, in Aberdeen, South Dakota, to Joseph and Magdalene (Keller) Diebert. She lived in Aberdeen and Glad Valley, South Dakota, prior to moving with her family to Billings in 1937. She worked as a Bell Telephone...

Mar 8, 2019

Dorothy Swandal LaRango died with her family at her side on March 6, 2019, at the age of 96.

She was born on Oct. 16, 1922, in Wilsall, to John and Lola Mae Swandal. She grew up in the Shields Valley on a ranch with her four siblings and a tight-knit extended family of uncles, aunts, and...

Mar 8, 2019

"I was born November 17,1938, in the small cotton town of Rosebud, TX. My birth was at home because there was no room in the hospital. One of my aunts was at my birth.

"Later my family moved to Fort Worth ,TX, where I grew up and graduated from high school. Boy Scouts was an important part...