Obituaries

Nov 18, 2020

Celeste Lucille (Iams) Mares passed away on Nov. 18, 2020. She was born on Feb. 14, 1930, in Taylor, North Dakota. She moved to Billings in 1946 and graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1947. Lou, as she was affectionately known to her friends and family, got her teaching degree from Eastern Montana College. In 1952, she married...

Nov 13, 2020

John Frederick Graves died Friday evening, Nov. 13, 2020, in his home and among family in Billings; he was 76. John was born in Independence, Kansas, on March 8, 1944, to Margaret Esther (Sourbeer) and Clarence Graves, Jr.

John's life, accomplishments, and beliefs are survived in a rich and diverse family spirit, history and tradition of hard...

Nov 13, 2020

Delores Marie Stroble Etchart died peacefully at home in Billings, Montana, on Nov. 13, 2020. She was 93 years old.

Delores was born and raised in northwest Minnesota's Red River Valley: the land of "Uff Da!" Her childhood was very happy, filled with family gatherings at her Swedish grandmother's house, chores, and lessons learned from simple life...

Nov 12, 2020

Darleen Smith, of Billings, passed away too soon on Nov. 12, 2020, after more than two weeks battling COVID-19.

Born in Sheridan, Wyoming, on Aug. 17, 1933, she married the love of her life, Walter Smith, in 1953, and they started a family together, resulting in three children: Kim, Kristi and Kelly. She lived in Worland, Wyoming,...

Nov 12, 2020

Margaret Fay Ellis "Fay" passed quietly on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2020, in Billings.

Margaret Fay Holmes was born to Daniel Holmes and Margery Pring, and grew up in Colorado Springs, where she attended Colorado State University, was the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo Queen and Colorado State Dairy Princess. While studying Animal Husbandry at CSU, she met...

Nov 10, 2020

Claude Forney Henson was born in Livingston on April 13, 1931, the youngest of five boys, to Earl and Bessie (Forney) Henson. He was raised in Paradise Valley among many relatives who helped settle that valley starting in 1879. He moved to San Bernardino, California, when he was 10 years old so his father could find work during the...

Nov 10, 2020

Robert Allen "Bob" Sieler passed away on Nov. 10, 2020.

He was born to Albert and Elsie Sieler on Sept. 23, 1939, in Plevna. On July 29, 1960, he married Grace Adams in Billings. Bob began his career in the grocery business at Ward City in 1954, and worked in several other grocery stores in the years...

Nov 8, 2020

Richard Bruce Dahl, 76, of Billings died Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020, at Billings Advanced Care Hospital, with his wife by his side. Bruce was born to Richard N and Alice Dahl on March 22, 1944, in Madison, Minnesota.

He grew up and attended schools in Madison and graduated from Madison High School in 1962. Upon graduation, Bruce...

Nov 7, 2020

God called an angel home on Nov. 7, 2020. Tina Walmsley-Williams was born on Dec. 28, 1956, in Alpena, Michigan, to Francis (Spark) and Shirley Ann (Badder) Walmsley. She grew up in Alpena, where she graduated from Alpena High School.

Her journey through life kept her in retail management on a trek from Alpena to Dickson, Tennessee,...

Nov 6, 2020

Marcella Jane (Gunnufson) Barber passed away peacefully on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, from complications of Alzheimer's disease. The feisty Norwegian and fun-loving Swede was born on Feb. 28, 1926, to Sam and Bessie (Quisberg) Gustafson in Belgrade, Minnesota, which is where she was raised. She graduated from Belgrade High School and was active as a cheerleader, editor of the...

Nov 4, 2020

On Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, Erle C. Gross, longtime resident and community leader of Big Horn County, died at Mission Ridge Rehabilitation Facility, from complications following the contraction of coronavirus at the age of 89.

Erle was born in Hardin on Sept. 14, 1931, and spent his early years in and around Lodge Grass and Wyola. Erle...

Nov 2, 2020

Walter Eugene McGrail, 84, a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, passed away peacefully at home with family on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020.

The son of Walter and Estella McGrail, he was born on June 13, 1936, in Billings. Gene served in the Navy from 1954 to 1957 and, later in life, went on to serve...

Nov 1, 2020

Dorothy Lee (Oliver) Limpp, lovingly known to her family and friends as Lee, was born on Jan. 24, 1930, to Henry and Blanche Oliver in Savannah, Missouri. She was the seventh of nine children. Lee passed peacefully the morning of Nov. 1, 2020, in Billings.

She loved her dogs, bowling and going on road trips (especially to...

Nov 1, 2020

James Kirth Erickson was born on February 19th, 1971. He joined his forever family in September of that year. Jim was the happiest of babies despite his medical problems. He struggled with these issues all of his life. Despite his valiant struggle his body could not cope any longer and he passed away on April 2nd.

Jim...

Nov 1, 2020

Gale M. Birge, 77, of Billings, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2020, at his home. Gale was born on Nov. 14, 1942, in Pasco, Washington.

He worked for the Cenex Pipeline, was a member of the Knights of Columbus, and served in the U.S. Navy. He married Marcia (Kipp) Birge.

Gale was predeceased by...

Oct 31, 2020

Lillian "Jane" Stark, 76, of Billings, passed away on Oct. 31, 2020.

She was born on Oct. 21, 1944, to Alma E. (Harju) and Charles A. Peterson, in Park Rapids, Minnesota. She was raised in Butte, where she attended school and beauty school, working as a beautician. She lived in Butte, Billings, Lewistown and Miles City, where...

Oct 31, 2020

It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Joan "Jo" Hakes Sciaini - sister, aunt and life partner - on Oct. 31, 2020.

Jo was born on July 14, 1942, in Sheridan, Montana, to Julia Jarrett Hakes and Harvey R. Hakes. Her earliest years were spent with her family in Sheridan and Alaska. When the...

Oct 28, 2020

On June 3, 1929, Sylvia Frances Fields was born to William and Sylvia Fields at 938 Terry Ave. in Billings. She attended school in Billings and, upon graduation from Senior High, she worked for Continental Oil for several years. Frances and Lee Burt married in November of 1951 at First Christian Church. They had three children, Sheri, Steve and...

Oct 28, 2020

Ray Dean Schneckloth, 73, went to be with the Lord on Oct. 28, 2020, at 2:28 p.m., due to complications from COVID-19, at Saint Vincent Hospital.

Ray was born in April of 1947, to Edwin A. and Gladys E. Schneckloth, in Billings. He married Mary Schneckloth on Oct. 27, 1980, in Chula Vista, California. Before he married...

Oct 27, 2020

Michael Thomas Fargo, 84, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020, in Billings.

Born on Dec. 15, 1935, in Billings to R.C. and Helen Fargo, he was the fourth of their five children. He attended MSU Bozeman, where he studied engineering. He married Murnell Mikkelson on Feb. 27, 1960, and late that same year they moved...