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Gary W. Garrison
LEWISTOWN - Gary W. Garrison, 67, of Lewistown, died Saturday evening at the Central Montana Medical Center of an apparent heart attack.
He was born March 21, 1932, in Parkersburg, W.Va., the son of Daniel R. and Flora L. Holman. He attended schools in Parkersburg and joined the United States Air Force in January of 1951, retiring in August of 1972 from Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls. After retiring, he became an insurance agent with Colonial Life and Accident and was with them until the time of his death.
On Dec. 21, 1952, Gary married
Floy M. Peeler. They moved to Belt where they resided until 1981.
On Oct. 22, 1982, Gary married
Iva "Babe" Polk in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. In 1985, they moved to Lewistown where he resided until the time of his death.
Gary was an avid golfer and enjoyed fishing, the outdoors, and spending time with his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, "Babe" of Lewistown; three sons, Glen Garrison of Phoenix, Terry Garrison of Kent, Wash., and Don Polk of Browning; two daughters, Denise Heikkila of Frenchtown and Lynn Sikes of Libby; three sisters, Pauline Bell, Pat Holstein of Parkersburg and Sharon Ashwell; three brothers, Steve and Jim Wells, both of Akron, Ohio, and Danny Garrison of Parkersburg; 12 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Robert Garrison.
Funeral services for Gary W. Garrison will be from the First Baptist Church, Thursday afternoon at 1 p.m. with cremation to follow. Visitations are scheduled for Wednesday, June 9, from 7-9 p.m. and Thursday, June 10, from 9-11 a.m. at the Cloyd Chapel, 209 Third Ave. N.
Friends wishing to do so may make memorials to the Gift of Life, Great Falls, and they may be left at the Cloyd Funeral Home. The Cloyd Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Gary Jay Kobielusz
SHERIDAN, Wyo. - Gary Jay Kobielusz, 54, died Thursday, June 3, 1999, at the V.A. Medical Center.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 9, at Champion Funeral Home with graveside rites in the Sheridan Municipal cemetery.
Betty L. Marosok
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - Betty L. Marosok, 77, formerly of Sheridan, died Monday, June 7, 1999, at the United Medical Center.
Services in Cheyenne will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 9, at Wiederspahn-Radomsky Chapel of the Chimes. Visitation in Sheridan will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Kane Funeral Home. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 10, at the Elks cemetery in Sheridan.
Elizabeth H. O'Rear
MARACAY, Venezuela - Sarah Elizabeth Hoffer O'Rear died suddenly of natural causes on Monday, May 31, 1999, in Maracay. She was born on Jan. 24, 1931, in Elizabethtown, Pa., the daughter of George and Naomi (Bixler) Hoffer. She married
Godfrey O'Rear in Elizabethtown on Sept. 15, 1951.
She devoted her life to the Lord and ministered with her husband her entire life. She and her husband pastored in churches in Dixie and Range, Ala., for 11 years, then in Texas for three years. They then moved to Montana working with Montana Institute of the Bible for 14 years in Billings and Lewistown. Then they moved to Washington and pastored at Renton Bible Church for 14 years. In 1996, they became missionaries under the Evangelical Alliance Mission in Venezuela where they were currently residing.
She enjoyed sewing, gardening and reading. She also enjoyed spending time with grandchildren and family, always making sure the family gatherings were captured on film.
Survivors include her husband, Godfrey; four children and spouses: David (Diana) O'Rear of Laurel, Mont., Mike (Laura) O'Rear of Colorado Springs, Colo., Connie (Douglas) Frank of Park City, Mont., Daniel (Sandy) O'Rear of Colorado Springs; 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. She is also survived by three sisters, Nancy Strong and Josie Weigel of Pennsylvania and Lois Hoffer of Sacramento, Calif., and by her brother, Joseph Hoffer of Puyallup, Wash.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 12, 1999, at Smith Funeral Chapel in Laurel. Interment will be at the Laurel cemetery.
DeLoris J. Rinehart
SHERIDAN, Wyo. - DeLoris J. Rinehart, 64, of Sheridan, died Sunday, May 30, 1999, at Deaconess Hospital in Billings.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 8, at Champion Funeral Home.
Alvina Smith
Alvina Smith, 77, of Billings born Feb. 4, 1922, to Henry and Katie Miller Weideman, met the Lord Sunday June 6, 1999. She was raised with 19 siblings.
Alvina is survived by her husband of 59 years, Raymond; four children: Bud (Jan) Smith, Carol (Don) Critelli, Bonnie (David) Booth, and Mike Smith; nine grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; five sisters: Betty Lydia, Dorothy, Esther, and Bertha; and three brothers: Rheiny, Don, and Harold.
Memorials may be made to a charity of choice. Cremation was held by the Gallery and Cremation Society of Montana. Memorial will be held 1 p.m. Thursday at Cremation or Funeral Gallery, 8 St. W and St. Johns.
Louise Taggart
CODY, Wyo. - Louise Taggart, 85, died Saturday, June 5, 1999, at the West Park Long Term Care Center.
Cremation has taken place and memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 10, at the Ballard Funeral Home.
DuWayne Erickson
DAGMAR - Duwayne Erickson, 38, died Saturday, June 5, 1999, in an industrial accident East of Medicine Lake.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 9, at the Union Congregational Church in Medicine Lake, with interment at 1:30 p.m., Mountain Time, in Grenora cemetery, Grenora, North Dakota.
Melda Vincine Little Light
PRYOR - Melda Vincine Little Light, 22, daughter of Richard and Wyma (Goes Ahead) Little Light of Pryor died in a car accident in Crow Agency on June 5, 1999. Melda was born in Billings on Dec. 4, 1976.
Melda was a member of the St. Charles Church and the Pentecostal Church and enjoyed attending church youth rallies and listening to gospel music. Melda attended grade school at Highland Elementary in Billings, junior high at Hardin, and graduated from St. Labre Indian School, Ashland. She attended Northwest Community College, Powell, Wyo., and May Technical College, Billings. While in high school she excelled in her scholastic studies, receiving numerous achievement awards. She was a member of the Business People of America, National Honor Society, Excel Honor Society, and Who's Who in America. She was class president of her senior class and the Salutatorian of her graduating class of 1995. She attended the summer Upward Bound program at Montana State University-Billings from 1992 to 1994. She was selected by St. Labre to spend the summer of 1995 in Mexico for her Honor Society achievements. Melda participated in volleyball and cross country during high school. She played softball on the Goes Ahead/King Transfer coed team. She enjoyed listening to rap music, driving around in her car, "Fringes" with her cousins and friends, and spending time with her daughter, Cherith. She was a member of the Ties-In-The-Bundle Clan and a child of the Big Lodge Clan.
She is survived by her father and mother of Pryor; her beloved two year old daughter, Cherith Ceta Brady of the family home; and husband, Dale Brady Jr. She also leaves behind a brother, Freddy (Anna) Kills Night Jr., Pryor; a sister, Brandi, Hardin; paternal grandmother, Rose Reed Chavez, St. Louis, Mo.; maternal grandparents, Vincent and Anna Goes Ahead, Pryor; aunts: Karen and Beulah Goes Ahead, Pryor, Mary (Todd) Volk, Billings, Natalie Little Owl, Crow Agency, Rhea Goes Ahead, Billings, Joanne Big Medicine, Victoria (Charles) Brown, Shirley (Thomas) Bad Bear, Peggy (Alden) Big Man, Vicky (Barry) Hogan, all of Crow Agency, Rosalie (Marvin) Stewart, Pryor, Una (Gene) Little Light, Seattle, Wash., and Vina (Richard) White, Ariz.; uncles: Marlin (Thelma) Goes Ahead and Vincent (Abigail) Goes Ahead Jr., Pryor, Henry (Denise) Little Light and Al (Roberta) Holds, N.D., and Ernie (Jane) Holds, St. Xavier; special friends: Olivia Plainbull, Koren Diebert, Shirley Holds, Tammie Cashen, and Roberta Fitch; and numerous cousins she was very close to.
She was preceded in death by maternal grandmother, Melda Cloud Goes Ahead; paternal grandparents, Ernest and Theresa Holds and Richard Little Light Sr.; uncles: Vincent Little Light, Artie Holds, Ellsworth and Myron Goes Ahead; aunts: Ernestine Holds and Katherine Ann Little Light.
Viewing will be from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday, June 6, and Monday, June 7, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with Rosary at 6 p.m. and Prayer Service at 7 p.m. at the Dahl Funeral Chapel, Billings. Funeral Service will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 8, at St. Charles Church, Pryor, with burial at the Goes Ahead Family cemetery. Dahl Funeral Chapel is entrusted with the arrangements.
Phyllis Norman Shamley
SCOBEY - Phyllis Norman Shamley, 86, died Friday, June 4, 1999, at the Daniels Memorial Nursing Home in Scobey.
Phyllis was born on Jan. 10, 1913, at Antelope to Frank and Julia Johnson. They moved to Scobey where she attended school and graduated from Scobey High School. She attended Eastern Montana College in Billings where she earned a teaching certificate. She taught at the Shennum School north of Scobey for several years.
In 1934, she married
Earl Norman. In 1945, they began a farming and ranching operation in Daniels county that, at one time, spanned 10, 000 acres. They lived on the family farm until 1972 when Earl passed away. In 1981 she married
E. R. Shamley of Wolf Point. They lived in Scobey until her death.
Phyllis was an avid golfer winning many area golf tournaments and helping others learn the fundamentals of the game. She squeezed gold rounds in between her duties as a farm wife. In later years she could often be seen driving her golf cart from her house to the Scobey Golf Course.
Phyllis was very creative and if she couldn't do something, she taught herself. Her talents included sewing, knitting, crocheting, carpentry, oil painting, and playing the violin, piano, and organ. As a child, she danced and played the violin with her siblings Adelaide, Estelle, and Norman. They performed in Montana and other states in a traveling show organized by their parents. As an adult, she sang in several Chataquas and Dirty Shame Shows in Scobey. She was the organist at the United Methodist Church in Scobey for many years. She enjoyed the distinction of being one of the oldest members of the Prairie Symphonette. She was also an avtive member of Eastern Star.
Phyllis enjoyed adventure and traveled to many far-away and exotic places. She toured Australia, China, Africa, and Egypt - riding a camel on the road to the pyramids. She brought home souvenirs and stories from her travels.
One year on the farm she decided that she wanted a new kitchen. She ripped out the old cupboards and spent the winter rebuilding all the cabinets to her own specifications. As she mastered carpentry, she turned her attention to oil painting. She frequently exhibited her work at area art shows. Many of her friends and relatives proudly display some of her beautiful works.
Phyllis was preceded in death by her first husband, Earl, and her daughter, Julie Ann Ware.
Survivors include her husband, E. R. Shamley of Scobey; two daughters: Shonny Korich (Mike) of Las Vegas, Nev., and Teri Willard (Alan) of Belgrade; two step-daughters: Darla Simmons (Terry) of Tacoma, Wash., and Dixie Hansen of Lewistown; two step-sons: Jack Shamley (Mary) of East Helena, and Andy Shamley (Natalie) of Columbia Falls; 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, June 7, at the United Methodist Church in Scobey with interment to follow in the Scobey cemetery. Pastor Tim Henze will preside. Pall bearers are Wayne Lowthian, Lyle Hansen, David Ware, Scott Willard, Micheal Willard, Steven Marlenee, Gregg Marlenee, and Roger Bekker.
Bill Greenfield
Bill Greenfield, 71, of Billings passed away peacefully Friday, June 4, 1999 while being cared for by his friends at Western Manor. Their two years of care, while his Alzheimers disease progressed, was a blessing to both Bill and his family.
He was born in Hardin June 7, 1927, to Roscoe and Inis Miller Greenfield. After serving in the US Army, Bill was a baker until retirement after which he derived great pleasure from painting and enjoying wildlife. He also enjoyed weekly services and music at the Manor. Bill was a member of the First Christian Church of Miles City and Billings.
Bill left behind to join him later his wife, Laura; daughters: Linda, Penny, Judy, Lana, and Denise; son, Michael; numerous grandchildren; one great-grandson; sisters: Betty, Alice, and Joan; and brothers: Robert, Raymond, and Chester. Bill was predeceased by his parents, brothers, Charles and Lyle, and sister, Doris.
Visitation will be 9-4 Monday and funeral service will be 1 p.m. Tuesday at Cremation or Funeral Gallery, 8th St. W. and St. Johns. Private internment will follow at Veterans Section of Mountview cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimers Assoc. of Billings, 2 Poly Drive, Billings, MT 59101.
Valentine J. "Vally" Hegel
Laurel - Valentine J. "Vally" Hegel, age 73, passed away Saturday, June 5, 1999, at his home following a lengthy illness.
Vally was born to Nick and Amelia Hegel on Oct. 20, 1925, in Belfield, N.D. He married
Esther Rose Uhrich on Jan. 20, 1949.
Vally farmed in his early years. He then went to work for the railroad Thompson Dairy and Laurel Creamery. In 1972 he want to work for the City of Laurel and retired in 1988.
Survivors include his wife of 50 years; one daughter, Nickie (Ron) Foos of Edgar; two sons: John (Rene) of Ronan, and Mike (Brenda) of Bozeman; four granddaughters: Jenny Vogele, Michelle Simser, Libby and Kenna Hegel; four sisters: Eva Ott of Reed Point, Aggie Kroll of Billings, Irene Sticka of Columbus and Sally Kokkeler of Belfry. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Rose.
Vally fought a long and hard battle for the last four years and will be very much missed by his family and many friends
A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 8, at Smith Funeral Chapel in Laurel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 9, at St. Anthony Catholic Church. Rite of Committal will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Billings.
Leon Hicks
JOLIET - With a small sigh, My music Man and sweetheart, left us on May 30th and found the Eternal Peace promised by our Heavenly Father.
Leon Hicks was born on the 7th of June in 1931 to William and Verna Hicks in Chicago, Ill. He was studying piano by the age of 4 and violin by 7. Leon was found to have perfect pitch when he played wrong notes at his lessons because he was always trying to make the music sound the same as it did on his "out of tune" piano at home. He was first chair violin at the age of 9 in the high school orchestra and maintained that position until he graduated as a senior. He won medals in music competitions and lettered in all four sports.
Leon married
Kathryn L. Rippy (Billie) on March 11, 1950, and they were truly looking forward to celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary in June 2000 with all their children.
His church choir director and accompanist for violin solos, Ken Grom noticed his beautiful voice add urged him to study with Jerry Smith at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. He was out of work at the time and started to teach piano to students in the Northwest Chicago area. He was 27 years old and the father of five children when he became a college student, instructor of 45 piano students and director of a church youth choir. With his income from teaching, the help of his parents and his beloved wife and the many awards won from music competitions and grants, he was able to finish his masters degree in five years and had seven children there to applaud his success.
We moved to Montana in 1969 and he began some of the most enjoyable years of his life as he taught voice and directed choirs at Eastern Montana College.
Our youngest, Mary Beth, turned 4 that year and she found her element in being part of Dad's world, making friends with many, as they came to our house for lunch or just to sit and chat. Many of our student friends still keep in touch and are a source of great joy.
He directed choir at Grace United Methodist Church, American Lutheran, St. Luke's Episcopal, and First Presbyterian Church. Away from teaching for some years in the 80s, Leon found that he really enjoyed working in the smaller schools, teaching band and choir to Kindergarten up to 12th graders. He taught at Sweetwater, Ophiem, Absarokee and finally three years at Joplin, Inverness before he retired in June of 1995. He reveled in his students and their achievements and became fast friends with many including members of the Stillwater Community Choir with which he first sang and then directed. Leon was classically trained and by inclination loved the resolutions written by the masters, but he willingly learned to direct bands and even learned to play the drums well enough to teach them with success. There was no instrument he could not play but the violin and piano were his favorites and he truly loved a vocal challenge. He would play for his student's lessons and for the church and for choir performances occasionally. He could hit some monumental clunkers and I knew it was just to get everyone's attention, which it surely did. He was a director who could elicit a finite response and played the voices to achieve their finest sound. No wrong notes or ones left out ever missed his ear. In 1973, we moved to our present home in Rockvale. We had found Montana to be a wonderfully friendly place and spent a lot of time in Yellowstone Park and in other mountain areas hunting, fishing and enjoying their great beauty. Leon would always cook the pancakes for breakfast when camping. He would spit in the cast iron skillet to be sure it was hot enough, bringing a response from any guest, which was hugely enjoyed by the kids. He loved to fish and his son Daniel tells of being taught to fly fish. Dad tied on a fly never known to catch a trout because he figured Dan would just get snagged in a tree. Instead he caught a fish. Dad promptly took the fly off the line and went upstream to use it himself.
He is remembered for playing spoon songs on his head and they became especially varied as he lost his hair. Diane must have been 8 or 9 when he would practice oratorio and opera roles in the car. He had a powerful, projected tone and she claims it affected her hearing to this day. He drove a small Volkswagen then and we would drive the 20 miles to church with all nine of us folded up inside of it. It must have been quite the sight. LeeAnn was only 3 when he had the lead in the opera "Pelleas and Melisande." She had the words and music memorized before he did and would correct him to his great remorse and delight.
Dawn has always been an outdoor person and wanted to live on our wildlife sanctuary, so when she decided to move a house onto our property he could not have been more pleased. Not only having her near but at the prospect of being able to help her fix the place up.
His daughters and daughters-in-law were especially dear to him and he looked forward to every letter and visit. Leon worked and played with his sons and was delighted at their successes. He worked along side them at various times and especially in the early days of oldest son Ray's establishing a concrete business. He hunted and fished with each of them and with his grandsons. He spent time in Virginia Beach with Dan, Sandi and their children, enjoying the pleasures of deep-sea fishing and helping in Dan's body shop.
Michael has traveled the world, being on active duty with the Air Force and he has shared his many adventures and experiences with his father.
We have been pleased to spend time with Bill, and his father was always interested in all his activities and those of his children.
They have all worked, fished, hunted and played golf and just plain shot the breeze over a good campfire ... but not near enough or long enough. There was never any doubt that we have a beautiful and tremendous family.
Leon had the pleasure of enjoying 24 grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and we were eagerly awaiting the arrival of four more this year. He loved the babies and they were always treated to a gentle, swift handshake that made them jiggle all over. He regretted not being able to provide continuous guidance and nurturing to our granddaughter Anne Beth who chose to live and grow up with us. He truly loved her.
This loving man and his love for music enriched the life of not only his beloved wife Billie, but his family and all those whose lives he touched. Cancer robbed us all of him and his great gift of music - he will truly be missed.
He is preceded by his parents, six brothers, a sister and a grandson, Matthew.
Leon is survived by: Diane Hicks and children, Scott, Jay, Lara, Paul, Jamie, Jon and step-children - Christi, Jessie, Ben, Richard; Raymond (Dianne) Hicks and children Sam, Joe, Ashley; Dawn Shryock and children, Shawn, Cassie, Chris; Bill (Lynne) Hicks and children, Jennifer, Michael, Nathan, Maureen; Michael (Marilyn) Hicks and children, Dahdia, Don; Daniel (Sandy) Hicks and children Seth, Aimee, Danielle; Leeanne Allen and son, Ryan; Mary Beth Hicks and children, Anne Beth, Michaela, Colton; a beloved brother, Roger and his wife Duenna and sister-in-law, Dorothy.
An Open-house, pot-luck dinner in celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, June 26, at 4 p.m. Please come, bring a dish to pass, a song to sing, music for the accompanist and don't forget the fond and funny memories to share. He will hear and enjoy.
In July, there will be a memorial service held in Barrington, Ill., where we spent our first 40 years attending school, becoming high school sweethearts and starting our lives together. His 50th class reunion will be this fall and he was so looking forward to attending. Many of his schoolmates have called and written which has made his terrible illness more bearable. Thank you to everyone for your support, love and kindness.
My gratitude and His for our Christian friends and family who have become so dear to us.
There is solace in knowing that "He is absent from us but present with the Lord."
A memorial scholarship fund has been established through MSU-Billings Alumni Association at 1500 N. 27th St., Billings, for a freshman violin or voice student.
