Obituaries

Dec 10, 2022

Catherine “Cathy” Holland Obie passed away on Dec. 10, 2022, surrounded by her family, after a brief fight with a rare and aggressive cancer.

Cathy was born on Dec. 4, 1951, in Billings, to Jeremiah and Katherine Holland. Cathy attended schools in Rapid City, South Dakota, and Billings, graduating from Billings Central High School. She also attended...

Dec 7, 2022

Our rainbow baby Jesse Cole Wollmann was born Aug. 17, 2022, in Billings, and went to be with our Lord in heaven on Dec, 7, 2022.

Jesse was a vibrant little boy who had such an infectious smile and positive energy around everyone he met. He was a happy baby and had big blue eyes to melt...

Dec 5, 2022

Charles B. Nesbit, 95, passed away peacefully on Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. He was born in Poplar on Feb. 10, 1927. (Charles wrote most of his own obituary. “I wrote it at the same time I wrote my wife Betty’s,” he told a close friend, “because a part of me died back then.”)

Raised on a farm...

Dec 1, 2022

Ted Shinneman, our loving father and grandfather, sadly passed away on Dec. 1, 2022, at the age of 79, surrounded by his family.

Ted is survived by his children: his sons Sean and Chad (Lita), daughter Jennifer Witt (Kyle), and grandchildren Brandon, Courtney and Alexis.

He is predeceased by his parents John and Leora Shinneman...

Nov 28, 2022

Alice Gene Tower passed away peacefully on the evening of Nov. 28, 2022. She was surrounded by family members, friends and love. Alice was born on a kitchen table in Yale, Oklahoma, on Oct. 17, 1925, to Archer Dick Elliott and Della Frances Elliott. She married Emery Tower on Aug. 24, 1946. Alice graduated from Oklahoma A & M,...

Nov 27, 2022

Gene Cornell Erlenbush, 77, of Billings, was born in Mobridge, SD, to Gottlieb and Elsie Erlenbush. Gene passed away suddenly at his home Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022. He died peacefully in his sleep.

Gene was a car enthusiast. He used to drag race while in high school.

He graduated from Billings West High School and...

Nov 25, 2022

John D. Buck, 72, was born in Sistersville, West Virginia, on Nov. 23, 1950. He passed away Nov. 25, 2022, in Billings.

John graduated from Sisterville High School in 1969 and from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh with an associate’s degree in Interior Design. John was creative and talented. He worked for Neiman Marcus in Dallas, Texas,...

Nov 23, 2022

William Paul Brooks was born on March 7, 1931, in Chapman, Alabama. He was a taxi cab driver and movie projectionist during his school years and joined the U.S. Army after graduation. He served 30 years in the Army, rising to the rank of Chief Warrant Officer (CW4). Dad served in data processing during his career, implementing the first...

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...