Obituaries

May 17, 2024

William “Bill” Ballard died peacefully at his home in Billings, Montana, on May 17, 2024, after a long road through the ravages of Parkinson’s disease. Bill had been a resident of Billings since 1963.

“Billy Wayne” was born in El Dorado, Arkansas, on March 18, 1932, as the oldest of two boys. His parents, John Seldon Ballard...

May 16, 2024

Robert Emil Bodin passed away on the evening of May 16, 2024, surrounded by his family. He was born in Chicago on Jan. 24, 1936, to Robert and Emily. He lived in Chicago with his parents and brothers until the family moved to Bolivia, South America, where his parents were missionaries with New Tribes Mission. He returned to finish...

May 14, 2024

On May 14, 2024, Marjorie “Marge” Kennedy passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by family, at the age of 94.

Marge blessed the world when she joined the Laulo family on June 27, 1929, in Big Sandy. She grew up on a farm in Loma, Montana, with her siblings, George, Ed, Betty and Ailene. They attended...

May 11, 2024

With a heavy heart, we mourn the passing of Jeanne Kahle, 91, on May 11, 2024. Jeanne passed away at the TenderNest Assisted living, where she lived for just a short two months after the passing of her husband Don, who passed on Feb. 12, 2024. They were married for 68 years.

Jeanne was born on March...

May 9, 2024

Warren Lee Peterson was born on Jan. 10, 1953, in Crosby, North Dakota, to LaVerne and Lillian (Brensdal) Peterson, and died on May 9, 2024, in Billings.

He grew up on his family farm four miles outside of Westby, just across the Montana border into North Dakota. Warren attended the Westby School for all 12 years, graduating...

May 9, 2024

Joan Marie Kronmiller Ragland, known to nearly all friends and family as “Bibs,” passed away May 9, 2024, in hospice care at her home at Westpark Village in Billings. She was 91.

Bibs was born on April 15, 1933, in Hardin. She was the second of four children born to Hardin attorney Bert Wilson Kronmiller and his...

May 7, 2024

Martha Day Davidson passed away peacefully on May 7, 2024, at the age of 96.

She was born in Providence, Rhode Island, on Jan. 17, 1928, to parents George and Mildred Day. Along with her younger sister Nancy, her family lived in Maryland, Missouri and Rhode Island. She often shared memories of a happy childhood where she...

May 5, 2024

Cathy Lu (Goodrich) Park peacefully passed away on Sunday, May 5, 2024, in her home in Billings. Cathy was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on Dec. 1, 1962, to her parents Donna and Arthur.

Cathy spent the majority of her childhood in California with her 12 brothers and sisters, her mother, father and stepfather. It was in California...

May 1, 2024

A son, grandson, brother, nephew and friend of the highest caliber. An avid student in the midst of completing his degree program in Astrophysics, he is now among the very galaxies he was on a quest toward as he was planning a career with Lockheed and more, when an unforeseen medical emergency claimed his life.

His love...

Apr 28, 2024

Mark Kluksdahl was born in Powell, Wyoming, on Jan. 27, 1963, and passed away peacefully in Salt Lake City on April 28, 2024, due to an abdominal aortic aneurism, with Cindi, Dusty and Kasey by his side.

Mark lived in Billings with his wife Cindi. He worked for the State of Montana in the Developmental Disabilities Division...

Apr 24, 2024

Violet Joyce Pietz, 96, passed away April 24, 2024, at Westpark Village assisted living facility in Billings. She was born on Oct. 8, 1927, in Minot, North Dakota, the daughter of Ole Frederick Johnson and Violet Victoria Rader Johnson.

When Joyce was a child, her parents moved to Glendive, where her father worked for the Northern Pacific...

Apr 23, 2024

Kace Ray DeKlyen, 37, died unexpectedly while at home in Billings on April 23, 2024.

Kace was born in Pocatello, Idaho, to Peggy (Yacks) and René DeKlyen on Sept. 18, 1986, and later relocated to Butte, Montana, where he spent a majority of his childhood. Kace attended Skyview High School in Billings and graduated in 2005.

Apr 22, 2024

Our mother, Corrine (Seyfert) Rindal, at the age of 79, passed away peacefully on April 22, 2024, at Butterfly Homes in Billings. We take comfort in knowing Corrine is in great company with other family and friends who have gone before her, and she is fully renewed with our Heavenly Father.

Corrine was born in North Dakota...

Apr 18, 2024

Gary Kopperdahl Jr. was called home by Creator unexpectedly on April 18, 2024, in Billings.

Gary was born on June 8, 1959, to Janet Rose Feathers and Gary Kopperdahl Sr. in Wolf Point. He was a proud member of the Spirit Lake Sioux tribe in North Dakota. He grew up in Fargo, North Dakota, and attended West...

Apr 15, 2024

Jerry D. Michel was born on Dec. 31, 1943, in Worland, Wyoming, to Edward and Helen Michel. He was the eldest of four children. Jerry passed away unexpectedly while raking leaves in his backyard in Billings, on April 15, 2024.

Jerry developed a love for farming and the outdoors as a young boy. He and his siblings...

Apr 14, 2024

Dr. Wayne Stephen Zundel passed away April 14, 2024, at the age of 59 years young.

He is survived by his brother Mark Zundel and wife Shirley; and sister Laura Schmier and husband Wade. He will be especially missed by his nephews Cameron and Jace Zundel and his two Golden Retrievers Noah and Angus. Wayne was preceded...

Apr 13, 2024

Captain Allen Ross Hansen (USN-Retired, Naval Academy Class of 1973) passed away on Saturday, April 13, 2024, in Billings, Montana, doing the thing he loved most: exploring the world on his bicycle.

Allen was born in Sidney, Montana, on Dec. 14, 1950. He is survived by his wife, Suzi; sons Patrick (Cynthia) and Derek (Bonnie Alonzo-Hansen); brother...

Apr 12, 2024

Donald Eugene Ostermiller was born on Feb. 18, 1932. He departed this earth on April 12, 2024, at the age of 92.

Dad was born east of Billings out on the Huntley Project, the oldest child of George and Molly (Harmon) Ostermiller. In the next several years the family came to include two siblings: brother Lawrence and...

Apr 10, 2024

Mitzi Baugh passed away April 10, 2024, surrounded by loved ones. She was born on Jan. 17, 1937, as Mary Evelyn Rodocay but the nurses immediately said “No, that’s a Mitzi.” Born in Helena, she was the youngest of four girls. At the young age of 20, Mitzi met her future husband through a blind date set up by...

Apr 10, 2024

In what would later be discovered to be true Joseph form, he arrived fashionably late to his birth, May 15, 2002, to his parents Janae Zavala and Randy Reid. He would be the oldest child of all the siblings to come. Six more in total. Four brothers: Peyton, Josiah, Jodin and Dailyn; two sisters: Jodie and Elyzabeth. In their...