Obituaries

Mar 6, 2015

Catherine (Schafnitz) Jones passed away March 2, 2015, in her home, surrounded by her loving family. Catherine was 98 years old (or 97 years, depending on which birthday is used). She was born on Aug. 12, 1916 (or May 25, 1917), in Dickinson, N.D. No matter what date is celebrated, Mom delighted in having "two birthdays" parties a year...

Mar 1, 2015

Helen Marie Driscoll, 89, of Billings, passed away peacefully on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2015, with family at her side. Helen was born on Dec. 20, 1925, to William and Miriam Hayes in Brooklyn, N.Y. Helen was a big city girl who fell in love with Big Sky Country. Raised in New York City, Helen spent her summers on a...

Mar 1, 2015

Carla Jean Schmidt died on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015, at St. Vincent Hospital. Carla was born on Nov. 30, 1949, in Salt Lake City, to Carl and Maude Swanson. She was their only child. Her father was in the service, and it was during Carla's early years that she grew to love traveling. In 1968, Carla married Steven Sandahl....

Feb 28, 2015

Rosalen "Joy" Leavitt, beloved wife of Robert LaVerne Leavitt (deceased 11-16-14) for over 54 years, loving mother of Jerry, Russell and Tom, passed away in peace at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015. She is survived by her brother, Walter Wark, and preceded in death by her brother Daniel Wark, mother Margaret and father Frank Wark. She is survived...

Feb 27, 2015

Charles Albert Pedersen was born in Chicago, Ilinois on Sept 10, 1917, the second of four children born to Norwegian immigrant parents, Selmer and Karen Pedersen. Before two years of age he had contracted polio which left him with a crippled leg, but his mother refused the prescribed brace so that he would learn to walk on his own....

Feb 24, 2015

Griffin came into our lives so quickly, and she left us even faster.

Griffin was born on Valentine's Day, 2015, at 26 weeks. She spent most of her life in the loving care of the Billings NICU nurses. On Feb. 24, they made the tough decision to send her to the Children's Hospital in Denver, where she...

Feb 24, 2015

Lois Anne Klunder passed away February 19, 2015 at her Billings home, after a long battle with COPD. Her family was at her side. Lois was born on December 27th 1934 to Ershel and Venetta Boyce in Idaho Falls, Idaho. She went to college at the University of Idaho where she met and married her late husband Bill L....

Feb 22, 2015

Our beloved George passed away Sunday, February 15th, at Riverstone Hospice Cottage with his daughter by his side. He was surrounded with family and friends in the week prior to his passing. He went to be with our Lord peacefully while listening to beautiful harp music.

He was born to Ira Ward Snider and Alta “Marie” Hathaway...

Feb 18, 2015

Emery James Wetzel was born to Emery and Mary Wetzel on November 25, 1934 in Billings.

Emery lived a life marked by consistent faithfulness. Above all, he strived to do all things to the glory of God as he followed his savior, Jesus Christ. He always was an active participant in his church and served as choir...

Feb 17, 2015

Maeona Esther Weldon Smith passed away at home, surrounded by her loving family, on Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015.

She was born on May 16, 1923, on the Weldon Homestead in Blue Creek, Mont. She was the daughter of Orville and Elizabeth Weldon. Maeona was raised on the family ranch with her five brothers and sister. Her elementary...

Feb 15, 2015

William Richard Meinhardt passed away peacefully on Feb. 12, 2015, shortly after suffering a massive stroke.

Bill, the youngest of six children, was born on Oct. 25, 1928, on the family homestead property near Bridger to proud German immigrants. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers and sisters. He is survived by his wife and...

Feb 11, 2015

Jill Diane Card, 76, of Billings, passed away peacefully on Feb. 11, 2015, at Billings Health & Rehabilitation Community.

Jill was born on June 5, 1938, to Howard and Viola "Peachy" Card. Jill is preceded in death by her parents and sister Joanne Card.

Jill's memory will live on in the hearts of her family:...

Feb 11, 2015

Eva "Jeane" Bryant was born to Rex and Ruth Farrar in Mountain View, Missouri on January 13th, 1927. In 1939, she moved with her family to Harlem, Montana where she graduated from high school. After moving to Great Falls, Montana she met her husband, William "Bill" Bryant and they married on October 6, 1951. They became proud parents of...

Feb 11, 2015

Our beloved father, husband, grandfather, Richard Einarson passed away on Friday, Feb. 2, 2015, at Valley Health Care Center in Billings. His family loved him dearly, but are comforted in knowing his faith sustained him and he is now with the Lord.

Of Norwegian stock, he was born in Starbuck, Minn., on June 9, 1935, and raised...

Feb 9, 2015

Patricia passed away on Feb. 9, 2015, at St. John's Hansen Cottage, at the age of 92. Patricia was born on March 13, 1922, in Dickinson, N.D., to Patrick and Kathryn Haughey. At age 10, she and her family moved to Billings, where she attended Fratt Memorial and Billings Senior High School.

In 1942, Patricia married Robert...

Feb 9, 2015

Dr. Berl Ward passed away on Feb. 9, 2015, in Roundup. He was well known in Billings, having had a medical practice for 27 years.

Born in South Bend, Ind., in 1922, Berl earned his medical degree from Indiana University in 1946. Upon completion of two internships and having served in the Air Force as a general...

Feb 9, 2015

Ruth Beryl Watson was born on July 18, 1919 in Broadview, MT to Winifred and Walter Watson. Ruth passed away peacefully in her home on February 6, 2015. She met her husband Willis while attending Billings High School. They eloped to Columbus to get married on September 10, 1936. Ruth and Willis celebrated 55 years together before Willis passed...

Feb 8, 2015

On Sunday, February 8th, our dad, Larry Dale Grendahl passed away surrounded by his loved ones at St. Vincent Healthcare.

Larry was born May 31st, 1951 in Wolf Point, MT to Myron and Sheila Grendahl. He was the oldest of their three children. In December of 1971 he married Jeri Lyn Moe and they had two daughters,...

Feb 8, 2015

Jean L. (Bunny) Hansen, 89, died peacefully at her home in Billings, Montana on Friday afternoon, February 6, 2015.

Bunny is survived by her children John (Hans) and Maribeth Hansen, Joe and Patty Hansen, Pete Hansen, Joan and John Jacobsen; her AFS children Ervin Schiele and Annette Koingberg Behm; and her grandchildren Luke and Tess Hansen; Patrick,...

Feb 5, 2015

Merton Edward Dale, age 87, of Billings, passed away on Feb. 2, 2015, with his wife, Audrey, by his side. He is now in his heavenly home with his Lord and Savior, Jesus.

Merton was born on Aug. 28, 1927, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Abraham and Betty Dale. Mert's family relocated to Minnesota, where he spent...