Obituaries

Jan 7, 2022

Larry F. Balestra

Larry Balestra passed peacefully in his sleep on Jan. 7, 2022, in Daytona Beach, Florida, where he and his wife, Martha, spent their retirement years. Larry would have turned 101 this May.

Larry was born in Camden, New Jersey, on May 25, 1921, to Nunzio (Lancy) and Adeline (Lena) Balestra....

Jan 7, 2022

Tamra Michelle Crumb

Tamra Michelle Crumb was born in and grew up in Spokane. She made Billings her home for more than the past decade, until her passing on January 7, 2022 at the age of 40.

Tamra was an outgoing spirit. She was a kidney donor with a black belt in taekwondo...

Jan 5, 2022

Earl J. Halverson

Earl J. Halverson passed away on Jan. 5, 2022, at the age of 94. He was born on July 5, 1927, in Billings, to Earl Oscar Halverson and Goldie (Gullickson) Halverson. He was the middle child of the family with two older siblings, Victor and Dorothy, and two younger siblings, Shirley and...

Jan 3, 2022

Penelope Jean Olson

Penelope Jean Olson passed away in her home on Jan. 3, 2022.

Penny was born on Feb. 15, 1951, at St. Vincent Hospital in Billings. Penny was baptized at St. Patrick. Penny was one of eight born to Sheldon and Pauline Olson.

At 10 months old, Penny was...

Jan 3, 2022

Linda D. Walters

Linda D. Walters, 73, of Billings, passed away on Jan. 3, 2022, in Billings.

Linda was born on Sept. 23, 1948, in Billings. A graduate of Billings West High, she went on to get her art and teaching degree from Eastern Montana College. She taught in Scobey for a short...

Jan 2, 2022

John Fredlund was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend.

He was born on Jan. 16, 1953, in Williston, North Dakota, to Josephine and Vernon Fredlund. The youngest of three, he had two older sisters. He spent his early years playing with a wonderful gaggle of neighborhood boys, all of whom were life-long friends....

2022

Wayne D. Premo was born on May 31, 1932, in Billings, to Walter and Luella (Brier) Premo. Wayne was the only boy out of five children: Ella Marie (passed away 1923); Pearl (Tom) Stapleton (deceased); Joy (Bob) Reamy (deceased); and Wilma (Bob) Vincent. Wayne passed away on Nov. 21, 2022, at St. Vincent Hospital, surrounded by his loved ones....

2022

Beatrice “Bea” Anna Arlt, 80, of Billings, passed away on Nov. 10, 2022, after a battle with multiple medical conditions and ultimately losing the battle with liver cancer.

Bea was born to Barry and Stella Barnes on May 8, 1942. She grew up in Seattle. She was babysitting when she met her first husband, Raymond DuPre, and...

2022

Our beloved Paul Arthur Downing, of Billings, passed away on Thursday, Aug, 18, 2022.

Paul was born in 1937 in Sacramento, California. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in botany. He served in the United States Army Reserve, specializing in military intelligence and psychological operations. Paul later went on to study forestry and joined the L.A. County...

2022

Philip James Ganson, son of William and Florence Ganson of Terry, and youngest brother to Bill and Bob, passed away on Aug. 13, 2022.

Upon his Terry High School graduation, Phil enlisted in the United States Air Force, serving from 1952 to 1956, based at San Antonio, Texas (Kelly Field). His overseas assignment was with 6913th Radio...

2022

One wonders how some people do what they do. Dan Eddleman is one of those people. He was blessed to be born a cowboy with horse sense like few others. He was on the cover of the Quarter Horse Journal’s 10th Anniversary Edition, when he was only 5. Some of that gift was passed down from his mother Jimmie...

2022

John was born in Hardin, Montana, on July 18, 1926, to George and Mari Reichel. He attended elementary school in Laurel, graduated high school from Belfry and attended MSU. He graduated with BS and MS degrees in Agricultural Economics.

At MSU, he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, Alpha Zeta honorary Ag fraternity and Septimviri,...

2022

Freda Evans, age 83, passed away peacefully in her sleep at Wyndstone Assisted Living in Billings. Freda was born to Oswald and Otille Hennig in Borowo, Poland, and immigrated to Germany at age 7. Her courage and determination saw her through the hardships endured living in war-torn Germany. The family then immigrated to Canada when she was 15. The...

Jan 1, 2022

Karen Lynn Kraske Melius

Karen was born to Louise and Emil Kraske on Sept. 10, 1941, in Billings. Sadly, her parents passed early in her life, leaving Karen and her “womb mate” Kendall and older brothers Dick and Don to live with their grandparents.

She attended Kate Fratt Memorial and graduated from Central...

Dec 31, 2021

William “Bill” Mankin

February 12, 1930 – December 31, 2021

William “Bill” E. Mankin left this world on December 31, 2021, at the age of 91, having lived a very full life, with his wife by his side.

William E. “Bill” Mankin was born February 12, 1930, in Upton, Wyoming, to...

Dec 30, 2021

Jack Lawson

Jack Lawson, 93, of Billings, passed away on Dec. 30, 2021, with his longtime partner, Joan Crum; his beloved dog Topper; and Kitty by his side.

Jack was born in 1928 to parents Thomas and Eleanor Lawson of Poplar, where they operated a dryland wheat farm, which is still in operation...

Dec 30, 2021

Jerry Knutson

Jerry Knutson, 75, of Billings, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Thursday, Dec. 30, 2021, at RiverStone Health Hospice Home.

The son of Gerald and Beatrice Knutson, Jerry was born May 30, 1946, in Baker. He grew up on a farm (which he loved dearly) near Webster, Montana. ...

Dec 28, 2021

Isabel Ann Chism Frederick

Isabel Ann Chism Frederick was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, cousin, coworker and friend. Isabel was fiercely independent, tough as nails, a superb seamstress and an expert gardener. Most of all, she was the best mom and grandmother any of us could have hoped to have.

Isabel was born...

Dec 25, 2021

Richard McDonnell Schiltz

Richard McDonnell Schiltz, age 75, died peacefully on Dec. 25, 2021, after a long illness.

He was born in Billings on March 6, 1946, to the late John McHale and Edna McDonnell Schiltz. He grew up on Highland Park Drive. The area was bordered by Tony’s Supermarket, Lisa Field, the...

Dec 21, 2021

Barbara Ellen Condie

We lost our mother and grandmother, Barbara Ellen Condie, age 88, on Dec. 21, 2021. Barbara was born on Nov. 11, 1933, in Rock Springs, Wyoming, the daughter of Thomas and Panzey Blackwell. She grew up in the small coal mining town of Superior, Wyoming, and graduated from Superior High School in...