Obituaries

Feb 12, 2023

The second of five delightful and omnifarious children, Mary Jeanne was born at St. Vincent Hospital on June 25, 1945, to L.R. and Angela Rector. In her early life, she was a student at Fratt Elementary and Billings Central High School. She was a talented organist for celebrations at St. Patrick’s Church and an energetic majorette and fire baton...

Feb 9, 2023

Charles E. Morck passed away in the early morning hours of Feb. 9, 2023, at Tender Nest Assisted Living in Laurel. He was 89. His health had been in decline since he sustained a severe broken leg, requiring extensive surgery in January 2021. This was complicated by the gradual onset of dementia.

Chuck, as he was known...

Feb 7, 2023

Our beautiful mother and Gran, Rosemary Ann Van Steeland, passed away peacefully on Feb. 7, 2023, at WyndStone Novak Cottage with family by her side. She was 93 years old.

Rosemary was born in Billings on July 26, 1929, to John and Mary (Baumgartner) Yurian. She attended elementary school at Central School in the Lockwood Flats area...

Feb 6, 2023

Kenneth George Schreiner, 77, surrounded by loved ones, went to be with the Lord on Feb. 6, 2023, after a 13-year battle with cancer. Ken was born on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1945, in Columbus. Ken was the youngest son of Jacob and Maria Schreiner.

Ken grew up farming in the Billings, Laurel area with his siblings,...

Feb 4, 2023

Kurt J. Erickson, 63 years old, of Billings, passed peacefully in the comfort of his home, surrounded by his beloved family, on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, after battling cancer for almost two years. He will be dearly missed by his friends and family; they take comfort in knowing they will see him again in Heaven.

Kurt earned...

Jan 31, 2023

Allene June Reiter went to meet her Lord and Savior in Heaven on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family. Allene was born on June 21, 1942, in Cody, Wyoming, to parents James Allen Peery and Dorothy Peery. She was joined by sister Reva “Jane” in 1943.

Her early years in life...

Jan 30, 2023

Larry Eugene Schleining AKA Cheeseburger was 70 years old when he passed peacefully at his home on Jan. 30, 2023.

Larry was born and raised in Billings and graduated from Senior High School. He did a short stint in college, then was drafted and served two years in the U.S. Army as a sharpshooter. He was an...

Jan 23, 2023

George S. “Bucky” Baker Jr., age 82, passed away peacefully on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023, in Billings. Bucky was a 30-year resident of Bozeman, formerly of Sedona, Arizona, and Altoona, Iowa.

Bucky was born on June 5, 1940, in Rochester, Minnesota, and graduated from Rochester High School. He was a Minnesota High School Rodeo champion and attended...

Jan 21, 2023

At 97 years old, Alvina passed away at St. Vincent Healthcare, surrounded by her four children.

Alvina was one of five children born of Charlie Bergtoll and Anna Honrud. During her childhood, she lived on the family homestead outside of Opheim, with no running water or indoor plumbing. Upon graduating from Opheim High School, Alvina moved to...

Jan 14, 2023

Nicholas L. Silva, 36, beloved father, brother and best friend to everyone, left this earth on Jan. 14, 2023, to go fishing in heaven with his “Mom and Dad,” friends and family lost over the years.

Nick was born on Aug. 6, 1986, to Emelia A Sanchez and Sylvester Vega in Gallup, New Mexico. He lived a...

Jan 14, 2023

Dale Dean Russell, 87 of Billings, passed away on January 14, 2023. Dale was born October 13, 1935, Barnard, Nodaway County, Missouri.

The son of Orvale and Lela Mae (Hope) Russell, he was raised in Missouri to Valley City, ND with his siblings. Graduating College City High school, Valley City, ND, he joined the Marines.

...

Jan 13, 2023

Casey Joshua Wollmann was born in Illinois on the 8th of December to parents, Rex and Zandra Wollmann, joining their family with his older sister, Brandy Taylor (Wollmann) who was almost 3 at the time. Casey was a part of a dual Air Force household — making him a so-called “Military Brat.” Bouncing from Illinois, Florida, North Carolina and...

Jan 11, 2023

It is with deep sorrow and much love that we announce that our beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, papa, and friend, Nash Paz, peacefully passed away. He was welcomed into the kingdom of Heaven on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, just 20 days before his 99th birthday.

Nash is survived by wife of 70 years, Stella; and their...

Jan 10, 2023

Ken left this world early morning on Jan. 10, 2023, after an incredibly hard-fought and courageous battle with cancer. He passed peacefully at his home surrounded by his wife and children.

Ken’s cancer journey was admirable to all that knew him. He never once complained about his situation and lived by the motto, “God never promised tomorrow.”...

Jan 8, 2023

Ralph J. Studer Jr. went to be with his savior Jesus Christ on January 8th, 2023. He was welcomed by his wife of 66 years, Cemie; and his two daughters, Suzanne and Jeanne. Ralph attended Billings Catholic Schools and was devoted to its continued success. He was an instrumental member of BACET. With many years dedicated to the Catholic...

Jan 5, 2023

Barbara A. Marker left this earth way too soon. On Jan. 5, 2023, she entered heaven after a brief illness. Barb was born on Jan. 7, 1962, in Watertown, South Dakota, to Alex and Mary Ellen Hilsendeger. She lived most of her childhood in Columbus, where she graduated from High School in 1980. She later earned her BS from...

Jan 2, 2023

Dr. Arthur Kenneth Fink

(Aaron ben Gershon)

(01-22-1947 — 01-02-2023)

Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. Fink spent his life dedicated to his patients, his community and his family.

The majority of his life was spent in the medical field: first as a respiratory therapist, where, outside of his practice,...

Jan 2, 2023

Dorothy Beatrice Hucke, 94, passed away peacefully January 2, 2023 at Sweetwater Retirement Community in Billings, Montana.  She was born to Michael and Pauline Bede on December 2, 1928 in Roundup, Montana. Dorothy’s family lived where her father could find work during the Great Depression (Roundup, Miles City, Conrad, and Great Falls) until age nine when she, her brother,...

2023

Lou Ventrell died on December 30, 2023. He was 102 years old. Born in Brooklyn, New York, on July 7, 1921, he was the son of Frank Ventrell and Barbara Fischlein. He was baptized at St. Barbara’s Catholic Church and educated at Bushwick High School. He was 8 years old at the beginning of the Great Depression, but never...

2023

Donna May Hanson

1932 — 2023

On Dec. 2, she was granted her wish and was welcomed by the Lord into her heavenly home, where she is now pain free and reunited with her dear departed husband, Ralph, and her daughter, Susan.

Donna May Harding was born on May 20, 1932, to JC...