Obituaries

Mar 7, 2017

Dr. Warren Daniel Bowman, Jr. M.D., a much-loved physician, ski patroller, mountaineer, outdoorsman and author, died on March 3, 2017. at his home in Billings. He was 87.

Warren was born on Jan. 4, 1930, in Richmond, Va., the first child of Dr. Warren D. and Olive Smith Bowman. He grew up in Washington, D.C., where his...

Mar 6, 2017

Joan Haiston O'Brien, 92, died Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016. Joan was an original member of the Billings Symphony Orchestra, for which she played the harp for 50 years before retiring in 2001. She loved the sound of the instrument and was often told, "You'll play first chair when you get to heaven." Joan had lived in Westpark Village since...

Mar 4, 2017

Iris Kline, 80, of Billings, passed away on March 4, 2017. She was born on Sept. 2, 1936, to Al and Margret Grensten. Iris grew up and attended school in Judith Gap, along with her two brothers, Allen and Earl Cunnington; and one sister, Sherri Perry.

After high school, she attended business school in Billings, where she...

Mar 2, 2017

LAUREL - Bill Thorndal, 74, of Laurel, died on Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, after an extended hospitalization. Bill was born in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, to Lucille and Herbert Thorndal. His mother contracted polio when he was a small boy and she spent the next 50 years confined to a wheelchair. This contributed to Bill's deep empathy for those facing...

Mar 2, 2017

On Friday, Feb. 24, 2017, Devin Kennedy played his drums for the last time, succumbing to respiratory failure, which cut short his musical life. Devin was born in Billings on June 18, 1987, during a lightning storm, which announced this beautiful soul to the world.

In middle school, Devin found his niche and passion for life when...

Mar 1, 2017

Ronald James Baldi passed away on Feb. 25, 2017.

Ron was born in 1929 in Denver, and adopted by parents Opal and Harry Bernstein. He married Jean Huddleston in 1946, and recently celebrated 71 years of marriage. Jean passed away Feb. 7, 2017, dying within three weeks of one another. As a young man, Ron worked at...

Feb 28, 2017

Ruth M. Maxfield, 82, passed away on Feb. 28, 2017, at Autumn Care Center in Billings.

She was born on Dec. 12, 1934, in Scottsbluff, Neb., to Elizabeth (Wombolt) and George Fox Sr. Ruth married Kinsey Maxfield in Billings on November 7, 1974. She worked as a waitress at Esquire Fine Foods, and was a member of...

Feb 24, 2017

Verne Lester McKinney passed away Monday, Feb. 20, 2017, after a battle with brain cancer. His wife of 14 years, Alice Johnson-McKinney, was at his side, along with close friends Martin and Shirley Schwend, and Frank and Sharon DeRudder.

Verne was the firstborn of four sons to Lester and Cordella McKinney, he was born May 30, 1934...

Feb 21, 2017

Dorothy Jean Huxley Davis, 90, of Billings, passed away from natural causes on Feb. 18, 2017.

She was born on Feb. 20, 1926, in Livingston, the daughter of Reverend Thomas L. Huxley and Anna Huxley. The family later moved to Lewistown, where she received her education, graduating from Fergus County High School in June 1944. Upon graduation,...

Feb 20, 2017

1925 - 2017

Paul Gilbert Olsen - a remarkable son of Butte, America - passed on from this world on Feb. 17, 2017. His family now celebrates the life of a truly exceptional man. Paul was born on Sept. 25, 1925, the youngest child of Albert Olsen and Anna Vennes Olsen, both Norwegian immigrants who...

Feb 15, 2017

Lucile "Lu" Nelson, 101, of Billings, passed away at TenderNest on Feb. 12, 2017, following a very brief stay. She lived in her own home until one week prior to her passing. Lu was born in Billings on Oct. 14, 1915, to Benjamin and Viola Balkwell. Her father passed away when Lu was young and her mother was in...

Feb 14, 2017

Glen G. Sprankel, 82, of Billings, passed away Saturday, Feb. 11, 2017, at Billings Health and Rehab.

The son of Fred and Marie Sprankel, Glen was born May 15, 1934 in Billings. He served in the United States Navy and enjoyed a 40-year career with the Post Office.

Glen married Marlene Handeland on April 23,...

Feb 13, 2017

James W. Kenaley, 91, of Billings, passed away on Feb. 13, 2017.

James was a WWII and Korean War Veteran who served as a Seabee in the Navy. He retired in 1982 after 39 years working for the Northern Pacific and Burlington Northern Railroads.

He was preceded in death by his eldest son, James M....

Feb 10, 2017

Jean Ann Baldi passed away on Feb. 7, 2017.

Jean was born in 1929 in Denver, to Michael and Naomi Strawmire Huddleston. Her parents owned Pat and Mike's Grill, across the street from their home, and Jean had many happy memories from that time. She married Ronald Baldi in 1946, and recently celebrated 71 years of marriage....

Feb 8, 2017

A vibrant presence was hushed in Billings when death took Richard L. Stratford on Feb. 3, 2017, at RiverStone Hospice.

Dick was born on Feb. 12, 1927, in Billings, to Harry Haines and Katherine (Denton) Stratford. Dick was raised on the farm his father established in 1910 in the Blue Creek Area in the south hills of...

Feb 4, 2017

Jerome D. "Jerry" Hein traveled from the worldly prison of his body to our Lord's spacious Heaven on Feb. 4, 2017. Jerry was born on Oct. 2, 1934, to George and Alice Harding Hein in Billings. He graduated from Billings Senior High in 1952 and joined the Army in 1954. While in the Army, he traveled to Japan and...

Feb 3, 2017

John "Jack" Lawler, a lifelong Montana resident, passed away on Feb. 1, 2017. He was born on Jan. 8, 1919, in Baker, the son of Edward and Dove (Schenck) Lawler. Jack graduated from Baker High School in 1937. He played center on their first basketball team to win a district title in 1936. He also was the first Eagle...

Feb 3, 2017

On Jan. 31, 2017, our world traveler made his final journey.

John Newman was born to Harold and Maude Victoria Smith Newman in Rickmansworth, England, on Sept. 18, 1933. Due to the death of his mother at a very young age, John was raised with the help of his family during very dark times while England was...

Feb 2, 2017

Theophil Tesky, 93, passed away on Jan. 31, 2017, at Westpark Village.

He was born in Venturia, N.D., on Sept. 15, 1923, and married Ruth Weisenburger Tesky (deceased) on April 20, 1947.

He is survived by daughters Kathleen Ann Cook (Monte Cook) and Cynthia Kay Sieler (Tom Sieler); sisters Octiva Bertsch, Agnes Biegel; grandchildren Holly...

Feb 1, 2017

John Edward Mulvaney was born in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Feb. 2, 1936, to Chester and Alice Mulvaney, and passed away at home in Billings on Jan. 27, 2017.

John was raised in Colorado, graduating from Longmont High School in 1954. From 1955 to 1959, John proudly served in the United States Marine Corps, receiving an honorable...