Obituaries

Jan 27, 2016

On Jan. 24, 2016, at the age of 82, Alex went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

He was born on July 10, 1933, in Aberdeen, S.D., to Alex and Helen Hilsendeger. He spent his childhood in Aberdeen, went on to college, got his master's degree, spent a brief time in the Navy, and...

Jan 20, 2016

Helen "Pat" Galusha passed away on Jan. 16, 2016, at Billings Clinic.

Pat was born on Aug. 8, 1930, to Charles B. and Katherine (Montgomery) Rathbun in Fargo, N.D. She lived with her family in North Carolina for a brief time and started school there before moving back to Fargo. After her mother passed away, Pat moved...

Jan 15, 2016

Jean C. Sullivan passed away suddenly on the evening of Jan. 12, 2016, at her home in Billings.

She was born in Butte, the first child of Arthur and Loretta (Sullivan) Ryan on Aug. 31, 1926. Jean attended Catholic schools in Butte, graduating from Girls Central High School in 1944; following high school, she worked several years...

Jan 15, 2016

Dr. Thomas C. Donahue, 65, of Billings, passed away on Jan. 13, 2016, in Billings.

He was born in Panama City, Florida, to Patrick and Irene Donahue on June 17, 1950. He is preceded in death by Patrick and Irene Donahue. He is survived by his sister, Colleen Donahue; and two brothers, Dan and twin brother Tim...

Jan 15, 2016

Shawn Finnegan passed away at his home on Jan. 12, 2016, just two days short of his 42nd birthday. Shawn was born in Butte, Montana, and was the oldest son of Phyllis Daly-Cunningham and Don Finnegan.

He spent his childhood growing up in Anaconda and Bozeman until he moved to Billings to live with his father in...

Jan 13, 2016

Margaret "Peg" Tatarka passed away on January 13, 2016 at St. Vincent Hospital with her family at her side following a short illness. She was born in Helena on September 26, 1923 to Leo and Felicia (Sullivan) LaReau. After graduating from Helena High School in 1941, she attended Montana State University. She transferred to the University of Minnesota, where...

Jan 12, 2016

Joyce Elizabeth Packard was born April 6, 1951 in Little Falls Minnesota to Burke and Florentina Kappes.

After graduating from high school Joyce completed business school and barber college in Minnesota.

Joyce moved to Montana in 1983 and operated The Hair Station for more than 30 years in Billings. Joyce was united in marriage to...

Jan 10, 2016

Evelyn Deming, 96 was born at the family homestead on the "Big Flat" between Hogeland and Turner MT, the third child of John and Lottie Bergren. She graduated from Hogeland High School and was employed doing housekeeping and child care in Harlem MT before marrying Henry Deming in 1939. They resided in Turner where their four children were born....

Jan 10, 2016

Albert "Al" Paul Resch went to heaven on Jan. 6, 2016, surrounded by his family.

Al was born to John and Bertha during a blizzard at the family farm outside of Harris, Minn., on Jan. 25, 1928. Dad grew up on various farms in the area and went to school in the Rush City, Minn., area. At...

Jan 10, 2016

Tim Jerhoff passed away on Dec. 26, 2015, in Nevada City, Calif., at the age of 75, of complications related to throat cancer. Tim will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and his dog Brody. Tim will be remembered for his great love of golf and other sports, his love of telling stories, and time spent with family...

Jan 8, 2016

Shirley Easton Voyta was born Nov. 22, 1911, in Fayette, North Dakota, to parents Henry C. Easton and Amy Zabel Easton. With her parents and two sisters, she moved to Montana in 1918. Shirley graduated from Fromberg High School and Eastern Montana College (now MSUB) with a graduate degree. She taught 35 years, with the last 22 at Eastern...

Jan 8, 2016

Heidi Thometz, 68, peacefully passed away in her home on Dec. 19, 2015.

She is survived by her two children, Jamie Oncay Chapman and Joshua Thometz; four grandchildren, MacKenna Kuntz, Desmond and River Chapman, and Hayden Thometz; and five siblings, Mary Cappiello, Gretchen Thometz, Anne Bowen, Lisa Hannegan and Alan Thometz.

Heidi was the pillar...

Jan 6, 2016

Lydia Zeiler-Barnes, 92, passed away on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016. At the time of her death, she was a resident at Aspen Meadows in Billings, where she had lived for the past five years.

Lydia was born on Dec. 23, 1923, in Lincoln, Neb., to Ida and Jacob Heinrich, and was raised on a farm near Billings....

Jan 5, 2016

Kent was born in Philip, S.D., and raised by loving parents on a farm at Milesville, S.D. He was one of eight children, the middle born in a set of triplets. His school years were in Milesville and Philip, where he worked as a John Deere mechanic, meeting and marrying a local girl, Jeannine Anderson. There are two children,...

Jan 4, 2016

Jean Schollmeyer Fischer, our dear mother, wife and grandmother died peacefully December 31, 2015.

Jean was born 92 years ago to Jimmie (Curtis) and Elias Holen in Big Timber, MT. She grew up on the family ranch during the depression years with her brother Elias Jr., Herbert and Harold. We loved to hear her talk about ranch...

Jan 1, 2016

On Dec. 28, 2015, heaven gained another angel.

Dale Allen Barnhart was born in Lewistown on April 17, 1946, to Allen and Frances (Baxter) Barnhart. He later married Elizabeth Larson. From this marriage, he had three children: April, Autumn and Allen. He then married Florence Jindra on Aug. 23, 1985. To this marriage, he became father to...

Dec 24, 2015

Loretta Jean Jonas, 81, of Billings, passed away at Riverstone Hospice on Thursday, December 24th.

She was born in Huntley, MT on September 18, 1934 to Fred and Marie Hankel. She attended Billings schools.

Loretta married Marcus Jonas, Jr. on October 14, 1950. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, and dancing. She was an excellent quilter and...

Dec 24, 2015

Janeen Marie Lehman McFarland, 64, of Billings, passed away on Dec. 22, 2015, at Billings Clinic.

Janeen was born on Oct. 26, 1951, in Forsyth, to Clyde and Katy Lehman. She graduated from Forsyth High School in 1969.

Formerly the manager of First Montana Title Company of Forsyth, she also served as the former president...

Dec 22, 2015

Harry Hanson, 95, passed away on Dec. 22, 2015.

Harry was born on May 20, 1920, in Cohagen, MT to Karen and Anton Hanson, who immigrated from Norway and became U.S. citizens. Harry and his family moved to Billings when he was S years old and he remained a resident of Billings for 90 years. In his...

Dec 21, 2015

Marvin Presser was born in Fort Peck, Montana to Frank and Esther on April 19th, 1939 and passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family in Billings, Montana on December 18th, 2015 from complications of a stroke after hip surgery.

Marvin was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend. He loved animals and some of his favorite moments...