Obituaries

May 31, 2021

Juanita Jean Kolczak Rogina earned her wings and went to be with her Mom and Dad on May 31, 2021, at 1:03 p.m.

Juanita was born on November 4, 1955, in Great Falls, Montana, to Jerry and Sweetie Kolczak. She was raised in Landusky and attended school there until the family moved to Malta in 1968 so...

May 30, 2021

Stephanie Newhouse Davis died May 30, 2021, nine months after a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. She passed away at her home in Billings, surrounded by family.

Stephanie Newhouse was born on Feb. 7, 1949, in Shelby, to William Erwin "W.E." Newhouse and Mary Lorann Wells, and was the second of five children. Her father was active in...

May 29, 2021

Diann (Petersen) Spear, born August 13, 1945, passed away peacefully at her home in Billings, on Saturday, May 29, 2021. Diann was born to Arthur and Evelyn Petersen of Skokie, IL. Her early childhood was spent in Skokie living in the house that her grandparents built. When she entered high school, her family moved to Woodstock, IL, where she...

May 25, 2021

Linda Darlene Dormady passed away on May 25, 2021, at the age of 74. She would have been 75 next month.

She was born in Sheridan, Wyoming, to Harry "Jack" and Wilma Belle Burns McCoy. She also resided in Miles City, Great Falls and, currently, Billings.

She is survived by her daughter, Brandi Dormady Chambers...

May 24, 2021

John Frederick Nickisch, age 71, passed away peacefully on May 24, 2021, surrounded by family.

He met the love of his life, Brenda Schultz, in Hoyt Lakes, Minnesota, whom he married on May 3, 1968. John was born in Butte on June 24, 1949, to Frederick Jay Nickisch and Mary Margaret Nickisch. He was not only a...

May 24, 2021

It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of Jane Susan Nelson, 68, of Billings. Jane was born on Oct. 17, 1952, to Leonard and Mathilda Nelson in Williston, North Dakota, where she grew up and attended school. After graduating from Williston High School in 1970, Jane moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota, to study nursing...

May 23, 2021

Mary Louise Becklen, 97, passed away early morning on May 23, 2021. Mary was born in Cameron, Missouri, on March 21, 1924. She was born to Harvey and Anna Mae Baker.

Mary graduated from Powell High School in 1942. She then moved to Washington, D.C., and worked for a bank. In 1946, she moved back to Powell,...

May 22, 2021

Helen Hanson, 91, passed away early afternoon on May 22, 2021. Fortunately, her first grandson, Drew and wife Savannah, and dear friend Connie Zimmerman, were present to say goodbye.

Helen was a proud Montanan who was born in Lewistown, Montana, on July 1, 1929. She was born to parents Claire and Thayer Stevens. On June 28, 1947,...

May 22, 2021

Lawrence J. Zika, of Billings, was called to Heaven on Saturday, May 22, 2021.

Born April 18, 1933, to George and Caroline Zika, he grew up in Alexander, North Dakota, where he met and married his sweetheart, Rosella Mae Larson, on Nov. 23, 1956. Together, they traveled the greater Northern Plains region as he worked as a...

May 21, 2021

Robert Morris, 88, of Billings, passed away on May 21, 2021, a resident of Arbor Village Senior Living in Kent, Washington.

Robert "Bob" Norman Morris was born in Beach, North Dakota, on Oct. 5, 1932. Bob was the daughter of Dennison Lee and Arva (Gilmore) Morris. He grew up on his parents' farm and learned from his...

May 20, 2021

David L. Johnson, a longtime Billings lawyer, died on May 20, 2021, at age 83. He was born on Oct. 18, 1937, in Dayton, Ohio, the third son of Clarence and Gladys Johnson. He grew up in Kettering, Ohio, graduating in 1955 from Kettering Fairmont High School.

David earned an undergraduate accounting/business administration degree from the University...

May 17, 2021

Jacqueline Jean Reilly passed away peacefully on May 17, 2021, at the age of 83. She was born on Aug. 19, 1937, in Billings. Her parents were Herman and Mildred Nygaard Walker.

Jacque graduated from Billings Senior High School. She was active in many school activities, plays, church youth group and Rainbow For Girls. She attended Eastern...

May 17, 2021

Donald E. Brocopp passed away at his home on May 17, 2021.

Born in Greeley, Colorado, to Benno Brocopp and Josephine (Domde) Brocopp in 1938, Don lived in a variety of places and, in 1951, settled in Billings. Don graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1957. During this time, Don began a lifelong love for cars...

May 17, 2021

Trent Turnbull, age 89, passed away on May 17, 2021. Trent was born Dec. 18, 1931 in Terry, MT, son of Joseph and Anna Turnbull. He attended Terry High School, University of Montana, then enlisted during the Korean Conflict. He married Dorothy Herman from Terry on May 10, 1952. He was a long-time member Al Bedoo Shrine where he...

May 16, 2021

Elton Neal Fortney was born January 29, 1956, in Billings, to Neal Fortney and Alice Fortney (Drevs) of Broadview. He passed away May 16, 2021.

Elton married Tammy Fortney (Lindt) on November 25, 1981, and adopted his son, Josh Fortney. He grew up on the family farm with three brothers: Dalton Fortney (Jackie), Laren Fortney, Kerry Fortney...

May 16, 2021

Robert "Bob" Roy passed away Sunday, May 16, 2021, surrounded by his family.

He was born on Aug. 19, 1939, to Alex Thomas Roy and Gertrude Lorinda Roy in Roundup. In August of 1959, he joined the U.S. Army, being honorably discharged in 1967.

On Jan. 28, 1977, he married the love of his life,...

May 13, 2021

Kenneth Gullard, age 93, passed away at his home on May 13, 2021, in his sleep. Ken was born on Nov. 13, 1927, son of Harry Gullard and Elizabeth Chestnut Blanton. He attended Senior High School and graduated from University of Montana in Missoula. He married Barbara Nore of Billings in 1950; they had two daughters, Pamela and Barbara....

May 12, 2021

June Mary Noyes (Goodale) lived 27 days shy of a century. She was born on June 8, 1921, in Dickinson, North Dakota.

She passed on May 12, 2021, in Billings, surrounded by loved ones. June earned a nursing degree at Iowa Lutheran. During WWII, she served as an LT in the Nursing Corp. After serving in the...

May 12, 2021

Marilyn Dow McKnire, 77, of Billings, passed away Tuesday, May 12, 2021, at her home.

The daughter of Harold and Mary Dow, Marilyn was born on Oct. 27, 1943, in Bremerton, Washington. She graduated from Billings Central. She married Dennis McKnire at St. Patrick's on Nov. 22, 1961. Marilyn was an excellent cook and seamstress, and enjoyed...

May 2, 2021

Donna was born in Lewistown, Montana, to William and Ellen (Anderson) Benes. The family lived first in a log house in the Judith Mountains and later in a little house on the prairie north of Hilger, Montana. She attended schools in Moulton, Hilger and Christina. Following graduation from Fergus County High School, Donna worked at the Bon Ton and...