Obituaries

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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Dec 18, 2018

Ellen Klaus, 88, passed away Monday, Dec. 17, 2018, at West Park Village, where she was a longtime resident.

The daughter of Fred and Mayble Fisher, she was born on May 10, 1930 in Effingham, IL.

Ellen married Earl Klaus in Tulsa, OK, in 1951. He preceded her in death on March 7, 2002.

Dec 12, 2018

Bill Hawk was a man of small stature, but his heart and soul matched Big Sky country. On Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, he said his loving goodbyes to his wife, his son, his grandson, his goddaughter/stepdaughter and other close friends and family. Bill was born on his grandfather's ranch near Chadron, NE, on June 24, 1935, to John William Hawk...

Dec 11, 2018

Violet "Vi" B. Van Sickle went to be with her two loves, Jesus and Harry, after a very short illness. Her beloved husband of 71-1/2 years passed away just eight months ago.

Vi was born on Jan. 18, 1923, to William and Gladys Brand in Minot, North Dakota, where she was raised and educated. Vi married Harry...

Dec 11, 2018

James W. Sirois, 90, of Billings, went to be with the Lord on Dec. 11, 2018. James was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on May 23, 1928, and grew up in Mount Vernon, New York, with Theordore and Mabel Sirois. Jim attended schools in Mount Vernon and later enlisted in the TWEEN Corps of the United States Navy in 1945 when...

Dec 7, 2018

A fun-loving soul left us today. Kaye Anne (Hopkins) Powell of Billings was born on Nov. 25, 1947, and left us on Dec. 5, 2018.

She is survived by her husband, K.D. Powell; her son, Christopher Lee Snow; and three grandchildren, Daniel, Sara and Lynnsey, all of Billings; her brothers Hillier, Robert "Bob" and Darrell; and three...

Dec 6, 2018

Rudolph John Hergenrider, son of Dave and Sophia Hergenrider, born July 1, 1926, in Belfry, passed away on Dec. 3, 2018, in Bridger.

He is preceded in death by his parents; brothers Dave, Alex, Alfred, Johnnie; sisters Olga, Emma, Lydia, Annie; first wife Mary; second wife Clara; and his son, Allan.

He married Mary Wennemar...

Dec 4, 2018

Lois Marie Otto died Dec. 2, 2018, with her family by her side. She was born in Helena on Jan. 20, 1929, and was a descendant of some of Montana's earliest settlers. She was proud of that history, and Lois carried the steadfastness and independence of her pioneer ancestors throughout her long life. She married Wayne Otto in 1948...

Dec 1, 2018

Shirley A. Quanbeck, 86, died at home on Dec. 1, 2018.

Shirley was born on Nov. 11, 1932, to Sverre H. and Genevieve Quanbeck. She attended grade school in Blue Creek and graduated from Shepherd High School. From 1952 to 1956, Shirley served in the U.S. Navy. Following her discharge, she worked at the brickyard in Billings....

Nov 30, 2018

Harold Elmer Zundel, age 77, passed away on Nov. 28, 2018. He is a longtime Laurel resident. He was born on Oct. 29, 1941, in Kulm, ND, and was the 10th child to Edward and Anna (Tiede) Zundel. At 6 months old, the family moved to Laurel, where he grew up and attended school. He was baptized and confirmed...

Nov 29, 2018

Laura Wilson Mellor died on Nov. 27, 2018. Laura was born on Feb. 22, 1920, in Moberly, Missouri, to Anna and William Archer Wilson. She spent her childhood and adolescence in Moberly and graduated from Moberly High School in 1938. She attended Chillicothe Business College in Chillicothe, Missouri, where she met her husband, John Mellor. They were married Sept....

Nov 28, 2018

Rosemary "Rita" Harris, 75, of Billings, died on Nov. 19, 2018 in Lewistown. Rita was born in Carrington, North Dakota, on June 18, 1943, to Anton and Frances Heintz. She was raised on a farm in Sykeston, North Dakota, with six brothers and four sisters. They worked hard with daily chores. Rita graduated from Sykeston High School and later...

Nov 26, 2018

Maurice Remington Colberg, Jr. passed away suddenly on Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018, in Billings. He was born on Dec. 26, 1934, in Minneapolis, first son of Maurice Colberg, Sr. and Odessa Redding Colberg.

His parents moved their family "home" to Billings, which put them nearer their Hardin and Sarpy Creek families in the early 1940s. Maury was...

Nov 25, 2018

LaVern Margaret (Hollinger) Cornish was born in Gladstone, North Dakota, on Sept. 7, 1930. She was the ninth of 10 children born to Hungarian immigrants Ignatz and Theresia (Illich) Hollinger. The family eventually moved to Butte, Montana, where her strong work ethic and resourcefulness learned during the North Dakota Depression and drought began to really shine as she helped...