Obituaries

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.

...

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...