Obituaries

Jan 4, 2021

Rick passed away at St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings, on Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, at the age of 71. His immediate family was given the gift of being able to see him and say "until we meet again" before he left this world to begin his next adventure.

Rick was an only child, born to Harold and...

Jan 2, 2021

On January 2nd, our family lost our son, brother, dad, and friend to so many. Rick, or Ricky Bob as he was so fondly called by his family and friends, passed away at his home in Red Lodge. Richard Lawrence Kirkness was born November 1st, 1951, in Billings to Neal and Norma Kirkness. Rick graduated from Senior High in...

Jan 1, 2021

Debra Ann Tabbert, 60, of Billings, passed away Friday, Jan. 1, 2021 (surrounded by family), after a two-and-a-half year battle with cancer.

Debbie was born in Salt Lake City on July 5, 1960, to Robert and Mary Dobias. She grew up in Bountiful, Utah, and moved to Fairview. After she graduated from Fairview High School, she went...

2021

Jean Marie Laughlin

How do we begin to write an obituary for our mom? How can we summarize in a few words what she means to us? We can try by setting down details about life. She was born in Billings, Montana, on Feb. 8, 1942, to Helen and Sigurd Nordlund. The oldest of four...

2021

Mary Gale Bembalkar

It is with a heavy heart the family of Mary Gale Aldrich Bembalkar announces her passing on Nov. 29, 2021.

On the morning of Nov. 22, 1945, a tiny baby girl, named Mary Gale was born to the L.R. Aldrich family in Billings. She was the second child in a family of...

2021

Maureen Brockman

Maureen Brockman, 74, recently passed away at her home in Billings.

She was born on Sept. 26, 1947, in Chicago. She married Wolfgang Brockman in 1968, and lived in Germany for a while. She later returned to the USA, got divorced and moved to Billings in 1996. She worked at the...

2021

Ellen Louise Bauer Miller

1947 — 2021

Ellen was a wonderful wife, mother, sister and friend. She was born in Hysham, Montana, in the summer of 1947. She was involved in many activities, such as cheerleading, and loved growing up in the small town. Before her senior year of high school, her family...

Dec 29, 2020

A life well-lived! Full of sweetness, fun, and grace, Loretta Cronk has left us with a space in our hearts that will be hard to fill. As one of three children to Ben and Hazel Smyk, she was born on Sept. 28, 1930, and raised in Coutts, Alberta. She married Dewey Cronk in 1950 and had a loving family...

Dec 27, 2020

Carl Edward Jahr was born on Sept. 9, 1935, in Rushford, Minnesota, to Raymond and Esther Jahr. He was the oldest of five children: Ronald, Ruby, Carol and Marilyn.

After growing up on the family farm, he set off for Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. He was a proud graduate of the class of 1957. While at...

Dec 26, 2020

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Vernon Roy Durham - beloved son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and social butterfly - in the early morning hours of Dec. 26, 2020. As a family friend observed, "he is now a true Christmas angel."

Vernie was born in Helena on March 6, 1954, to Roy...

Dec 25, 2020

After a 30-year battle with MS that robbed him the use of his legs, Dave ran all the way to his next journey at age 68 with his daughter Amy by his side. What a great person he was, never did he complain of this disease, NEVER! He was the kindest, most giving person I've ever met. Laughter came...

Dec 24, 2020

After a hard-fought battle against an aggressive cancer, Douglas "Doug" Lynn Dunker died on Dec. 24, 2020, at the age of 52.

Doug was born in Billings on November the 1st, 1968, to Robert L. Dunker and Edna M. Dunker. Doug was baptized at Pilgrim Congregation Church and confirmed at Hope Lutheran Church. Doug was the youngest...

Dec 24, 2020

Esther was born in Berthoud, Colorado in September of 1923 to Carl Daniel Chelberg and Gladys Olive Mead Chelberg. She was the oldest of 3 children. The family resided in Loveland CO until 1936, when they moved to Montana. She attended school at the Rancher School in Meyers and then Custer, graduating 8th grade and High School in Custer....

Dec 23, 2020

The world lost one of the strongest warriors when Dodie Rae Wheeler earned her rest after battling health issues all her life at age 36 on Dec. 23, 2020, in Billings.

Dodie is survived by mother Debby Wheeler (Brian); sisters Dawn (David) Wheeler, Audrina (Chris) Wheeler; brother Isaiah Wheeler; grandmother Dorothy Krogedal; her great-aunt May; and special...

Dec 23, 2020

On Wednesday, December 23rd, 2020, Lorene (Reney) Smith, Loving mother of 5 children, passed away at the age of 84.

Reney was born in Mission Hill South Dakota on March 27, 1936 to Emil and Eliza Fischer. She grew up in Grangeville Idaho where she met Seth Harold Smith Jr. and soon married him. They raised 5...

Dec 22, 2020

Keith L. Burrowes passed Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020, in Portland, Oregon. He died of natural causes peacefully in his sleep.

He was born in 1933 in Polson, to Wilbur and Aldene Burrowes.

Keith graduated from Polson High School in 1951. He served in the U.S. Military in the Korean War. He graduated from the University...

Dec 22, 2020

Raymond Anthony Hernandez, 52, of Billings, passed away on Dec. 22, 2020, at home with his wife, Michelle Porter-Hernandez, by his side. Raymond entered into eternal rest after a difficult 14-month battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).

Raymond moved from New Mexico to Montana in 1999 to continue pursuing a very successful mining career - most recently...

Dec 21, 2020

Madge was a beautiful 38-year-old woman. Born Jan. 5, 1983 and passed away on Dec. 21, 2020. Madge spent her years at Lake Elmo Group Home in Billings, MT. She was loved and cared for by many. Madge had a love for her baby dolls and music. She loved to go outdoors and go for drives around town. Madge...

Dec 20, 2020

Harold "Keith" Donovan, 92, of Billings, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, with family at his side.

Harold was born on June 3, 1928, in Fortescue, Missouri, to David and Zoolamay (Gallop) Donovan and was the younger of their two sons. The family moved to Billings in 1935, where he graduated from Billings Senior High...

Dec 19, 2020

MaryAnn (Boulet) Andrews passed away from this world on Dec. 19, 2020, at the age of 85, at home with her daughter by her side, after a courageous battle with cancer.

MaryAnn was born in Passaic, New Jersey, on Nov. 1, 1935, to Henry and Ruth Popeck Hansen. She grew up in nearby Clifton, where she graduated...