Obituaries

Nov 23, 2022

Bonnie Kay Walters, 71, of Billings, passed away peacefully on the evening of Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, after a brief illness. Bonnie was surrounded by family including her husband, Bill; her son, Chad; and stepchildren, Sarah and John Walters; as well as wonderful caregivers.

Bonnie was born in Stanley, North Dakota, on June 15, 1951, to parents...

Nov 21, 2022

Leonard James Kadrmas, 86, passed away November 21, 2022, peacefully surrounded by his loving wife of 43 years, and family.

Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Services pending for summer of 2023.

Leonard was born in New Hradec, North Dakota, to Isadore and Emma (Ficek) Kadrmas on...

Nov 20, 2022

Richard Everett Erickson, age 77, died peacefully on Nov. 20, 2022, from complications following a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, with his daughter at his side.

Rich was born on April 5, 1945, at Billings Deaconess Hospital in Billings, Montana, to Walter Erickson and Verna Erickson. He grew up in Billings with older brother Wally, graduating from...

Nov 20, 2022

Angelica D’Andrae Gaston was born on Aug. 2, 2000, at 2:22 a.m. to Alyson Hartman Olungura and Traviore Gaston. Angelica was beyond incredible, amazing, caring, graceful, giving, loving, and oh so selfless. To know our special girl was to love our special girl. Her smile was the brightest; she was beyond gorgeous both inside and out. She had the...

Nov 20, 2022

Bob was born on Oct. 18, 1936, to Phillip and Katherine Ryder. He was the seventh of 10 children living on a farm in Hardin. Bob moved to Billings in his teens before going into the Army. After returning from the Army, he started at the sanitation department as a garbage man. He worked his way up to the...

Nov 20, 2022

James “Jim” Axel Nelson, 77, of Billings, passed away on Nov. 20, 2022, at his home. He was born on June 12, 1945, in Sidney, to Henrietta (Peterson) and Harold Nelson.

Jim served in the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department from 1971 to 1991. He worked 20 years as a real estate broker for Beagle Properties until he...

Nov 19, 2022

Kenneth Richard “Rick” Shaw passed away on Nov. 19, 2022. Rick was born on May 24, 1948, in Terre Haute, Indiana, to Franklin Shaw and Blanche Elaine DeSpain.

Rick’s family was in power plant construction, which took them all over the United States. He attended 27 different schools before graduating from Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids,...

Nov 18, 2022

Frankie Lynne Hollenback Blank, 71, of Billings, MT, passed away peacefully and unexpectedly in her home on Friday, November 18, 2022, after a brief illness. Frankie was born in Bozeman, MT, on May 14, 1951, to Frank J. and Marian (Bishop) Hollenback.

She was active in band and 4-H throughout high school. She was crowned Prom Queen...

Nov 18, 2022

Gerald passed away Friday, Nov. 18, 2022. He was born in Red Lodge on Aug. 17, 1960, to Ralph and Patsy Rehard. Jesse would be one of nine siblings. He grew up working on the family ranch. Through friends, he met Nina and the two were married on May 20, 1989, in Red Lodge, and he would be become...

Nov 16, 2022

Our beloved brother, Stephen Craig Fox, passed away in Billings on Nov. 16, 2022, at the age of 72. All of us who loved him miss his witty and warm presence.

Steve attended Billings public schools, graduating from Billings West High in 1969. At Billings West, he was on the varsity basketball and wrestling teams — a...

Nov 16, 2022

Virginia Eleanor Johnson, 102, went home to be with her Lord on Nov. 16, 2022. The daughter of Ole and Marie Borseth, Eleanor was born on Feb. 4, 1920, on the family homestead in Watford City, North Dakota. On Nov. 20, 1945, Eleanor was united in marriage to the love of her life, Floyd Johnson.

Eleanor loved...

Nov 6, 2022

Stephen Paul Torna, DDS, was born to Pasqual and Julia (Frattari) Torna in Philadelphia on Nov. 6, 1961, and passed away in Billings, on Nov. 6, 2022. Steve grew up surrounded by sisters Patricia (Ron DiSimone) Torna, Julia (Jim) Zaccaria and Annie Torna, and brother Paul (Jamie) Torna. He attended St. Joseph’s University, after which he received his DDS...

Nov 6, 2022

Our friend, Nancy Lasater, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Nov. 6, 2022. She walked hand in hand with her husband and sons up to the throne to be welcomed by Jesus.

Nancy was born to Lloyd and Edna Snook on Aug. 8, 1940, in Laramie, Wyoming, and graduated from Laramie High in 1958....

Nov 3, 2022

Juanita Mae Bennett, aka Mother Bennett, passed early Thursday morning, Nov. 3, 2022, at her home, with her doting husband at her side. She never did like early mornings.

Born in Plainview, Illinois, in 1934, her stories of growing up as an only child were always entertaining. Time spent with her cousins enticed her to want 12...

Nov 3, 2022

Linda Marie McDonald, 77, passed away on Nov. 3, 2022, in Billings, surrounded by family. Linda was born on May 25, 1945, in Sidney, to Lucille and Gilman Foss. She lived there until graduating from Sidney High School in 1963.

She attended the University of Montana along with her high school sweetheart, Ken McDonald. They were married...

Nov 3, 2022

As per God’s “revised” plan (Mom’s words), Regina was called home to join husband Myles and daughter Cindy on Nov. 3, 2022, after living to be a grand 101 years old. She was born on May 22, 1921, the eldest of six children to William and Gertrude (Cavanaugh) Greany in Hudson, Iowa. In 1938, Regina was 16 when her...

Nov 3, 2022

Gerald Frank Linder, 91, went to be with our Lord and Savior on November 3, 2022, after a long battle with cancer. He was born on August 31, 1931, to Raymond and Ethel Linder in Daniels County, MT, on the Linder family farm. He attended a country school south of Flaxville. He was 19 when he met his best...

Nov 2, 2022

Jaye Marie Uzelac Heit of Billings Montana, passed away at the age of 60 on the morning of Nov. 2, 2022, just a day shy of her 61st birthday. Jaye passed away with her husband Mark by her side after a short battle with cancer. She was welcomed with open arms at heaven’s gates by her mother and father....

Nov 1, 2022

Randall “Randy” Christensen was a caring father, grandfather, and brother. He passed away on November 1, 2022, in Billings, MT, at the age of 70.

Randy was born on July 2, 1952, in Watertown, SD, to Kenneth and Doreen Christensen. After graduating from Hettinger High School in 1970, he attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, where...

Oct 31, 2022

Kenneth Eugene Hall passed away on Oct. 31, 2022, at his home. He was born at home to Frank and Olive (Gregory) Hall in Gates (near Morehead), Kentucky, on March 31, 1933, the sixth of 12 children.

In 1943, Kenneth’s parents moved them to Montana, where they settled in the Rockvale area, then to Fromberg. Ken attended...