Obituaries

Jan 28, 2022

Andrew James Bjelland (aka Andy) passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack on Jan. 28, 2022, at The Billings Clinic. Andy was 60 years young, only five days shy from his birthday.

Andy was born to Richard and Janet (Colbrese) Bjelland in Billings, Montana, on Feb. 2, 1961. He was preceded in death by his father on...

Jan 25, 2022

Ed was born in Cuthbert, Georgia, on Sept. 25, 1933, the only son of Clyde and Ruth (Drinkwater). He had five sisters (two died before he was born). He was a gifted athlete and attended Auburn University on a football scholarship. He had a pitching tryout with the St. Louis Cardinals, but lost out due to his lackadaisical trot...

Jan 24, 2022

Pete Trask, 83, died on January 24, 2022 after many years with Parkinson’s. Pete was born in Billings, MT to Willard Trask and Margaret Johnston Trask. Pete married Linda Lee in 1966 and they spent a wonderful life together.

Pete attended Billings Senior High and the University of Montana where he was a proud Sigma Chi. He...

Jan 23, 2022

Eugene Jurovich

Eugene Jurovich was born to Angie and Velisha Jurovich in a small community of immigrant coal miners in Washoe, Montana, on Sept. 11, 1929. Known as “Gene” throughout his life, he was the second oldest amongst three siblings.

Gene went to work at a very early age, picking beans and tending...

Jan 23, 2022

Leslie I. Kercher “Les”

May 11, 1929 — Jan. 23, 2022

A very proud and determined man, and true gentleman, Les Kercher, by God’s grace, and through his faith in Jesus his Savior, has left this earth for his Heavenly home.

Les was born May 11, 1929, to George and Anne...

Jan 22, 2022

Ann L. Frette, age 99, passed away on Jan. 22, 2022. She was born on the homestead ranch on Sept. 24, 1922, to Nick and Mary Ban, who migrated from Austria. She graduated from Terry High School in 1940. After graduating from a Billings Beauty College, she was employed in Sidney. Later, at the age of 19, she purchased...

Jan 21, 2022

Mary Virginia “Ginny” Johnson Helmer, 93, passed away on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022.

Ginny was born on Oct. 15, 1928, to Alfred and Lou Mary Johnson in Kalispell. She was the youngest of two children. Ginny graduated from the University of Montana in Home Economics and received a master’s in retail from New York University. She worked...

Jan 19, 2022

Robert Gould Bishop III, born to Robert and Dorothy Bishop in New Haven, Connecticut, on June 22, 1946, passed peacefully at home on Jan. 19, 2022.

Bob had a distinguished career in the United States Air Force, retiring as a Lt. Col. after receiving numerous medals and awards. Bob was a quiet man, kind, gentle and generous....

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,...