Search Archived Marriage Records
Walter Werth, 38
Walter Dean Werth died Sunday morning in a local hospital.
He was born in Butte on Nov. 9, 1962, to Walter G. and Zella (Rigby) Werth. He attended local schools, graduated from Butte High School and attended Butte VoTech. He was self-employed as a lawn maintenance worker.
Walter enjoyed working on his favorite car, a 1970 Mach I Mustang. He also enjoyed model cars and computers.
He is survived by his mother, Zella Werth, Butte; sisters, Ruth Witt and Mary Jensen, both of Butte; nieces, Jennifer Jensen and Denisha Witt; nephew, Josh Witt; and great-nephew, Steven Jensen; aunts and uncles in North Dakota and Utah.
His remains are in Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home where funeral services will be conducted Friday at a time to be announced. Cremation will follow services. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning Thursday at 4 p.m.
Memorials: Diabetes Association.
Fern Leland, 87
HELENA -- Fern Marie Leland died Sunday morning at Cooney Convalescent Home in Helena.
Fern was born May 10, 1914, in Great Falls, to Bart and Stella (Willard) Baker. That same day, the second Sunday in May, was declared the first Mother's Day by President Woodrow Wilson. Fern lived up to her birthday as the mother of six, grand mother of 29 and great-grandmother of 43.
On Dec. 1, 1943, Fern married Phil Leland at the First English Lutheran Church, in Great Falls. The couple resided in towns across Montana, including Great Falls, Sidney, Butte and Billings, where Phil died in 1990. Fern spent her last eight years in Helena.
She will be remembered as a loving wife, mother and grandmother, who loved to brag about her grandchildren and the large number of her great-grandchildren.
Preceding Fern in death were her parents; Phil, her husband of nearly 56 years; her oldest daughter, Molly; sisters, Stasia, Vernice and Doris ; and granddaughters, Gail Hundtoft and Stacy Ryan.
Fern is survived by her brother, Howard Baker of Missoula; sisters, Jeri O'Connor of Great Falls, Blackie O'Connor of Eureka and Maxine St. Clair of Great Falls; daughters and sons-in-law, Bev and Tyler Jensen of Billings, Doris and John Moss of Tacoma, Wash.; son and daughter-in-law, Phil and Mary Leland of Seattle; daughter, Fern Ryan of Helena; son, Tom Leland of Seattle; 27 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren.
Services are 2 p.m. Thursday at Chapel of Chimes Funeral Home, Great Falls, with entombment at Hillcrest Lawn Mausoleum. Visitation at the funeral home is Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Thursday, 9 a.m. to service time.
Memorials: Cooney Convalescent Home in Helena or a charity of the donor's choice.
Alice Gosselin, 87
Alice Geraldine (Derrenger) Gosselin died Tuesday in St. James Healthcare, surrounded by her family and friends.
Known for her sparkling blue eyes, friendly smile and generous spirit, Alice will be greatly missed.
Born in Butte on Sunday, March 12, 1916, to Anna and John Derrenger, Alice graduated from Lincoln School and attended Butte High. She married Henry George Gosselin, the true love of her life, on April 28, 1935. Henry was killed during World War II in the invasion of Siapan on June 15, 1944.
Alice is survived by her son, Henry A. Gosselin of Butte; daughter and son-in-law, Lorraine and Ray Barnicoat of Clancy; grandchildren, Kim and Dan Holland of Beverly Hills, Mich., Avie Gregoire of Great Falls, Dana and Georgia Barnicoat of Helena; great-grandchildren, Jordan and Jonathon Holland, Ashley, Lindsey and Zachary Gregoire and Tyler and Alicia Kay Barnicoat; nieces and nephews include James Eddy, Rena Reilly and her husband Jeb, Malina Bruin and her husband Buck, all of Butte, and June Pontages of Concord, Calif.
A devoted public servant, Alice began her career Sept. 19, 1959, as a clerk in the Silver Bow County Treasurer’s office. In November 1970, she was elected to the first of three successive terms as county treasurer for Butte-Silver Bow and retired Jan. 3, 1981.
Always active, Alice volunteered at the Mining Museum following her retirement. She belonged to many civic organizations, serving 25 years on the board of Big Brothers and Sisters and the United Way. She was member of the Butte Executive Club, Butte-Silver Bow Democrats, Butte American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars 8/40.
Friends may call beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday in Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday in the funeral home with the Revs. Thad Butcher and Nancy Slabaugh Hart co-officiating. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery.
Memorials: Butte Emergency Food Bank, Silver Bow Humane Society or to Our Lady of the Rockies.
Jack Baughman, 69
LIVINGSTON - Jack Austin Baughman of Emigrant died Sunday in Livingston Memorial Hospital.
His family includes his wife, Carla Postel Baughman of Emigrant; daughters, Carla Stringfellow and Abigail (William) Turner, who live in Tennessee; grandnephew, Aragorn Mikel Hansard, who was raised by Jack and Carla for seven years and lives in California; grandchildren, Amber Stringfellow of Arkansas and Errol Stringfellow of California; and nine great-grandchildren.
Jack was born Dec. 24, 1929, in Douglas, Ariz. He joined the Coast Guard at age 17 and was on the high seas for seven years during the Korean Conflict. He received a bachelor of science degree in Texas and later was in the aerospace programs as an engineer at TRW, Redondo Beach, Calif., for 28 years. He moved to Montana and worked for Mountain States Energy in Butte for nine years. His post retirement career has been as owner of the Mountain Eagle Bakery in Livingston.
A memorial will be 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, in Canterbury Chapel at Emigrant. Cremation will be held at Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
Bennie Duran, 82
Bennie Duran died Thursday morning in a local nursing home.
Bennie was born into a large family Aug. 2, 1917, in Raton, N.M. He married Vera (Elvera) Vigil, worked in Santa Fe, N.M., and then moved to Butte to find employment with the Anaconda Co. and raise a large family.
While serving in World War II, he traveled to Belgium, France and Germany. He was at Omaha Beach and fought in the Battle of the Bulge.
He started work for the Anaconda Co. in 1954, and retired 27 years later.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Vera (Vigil) Duran; siblings, Roy (Daniel) Duran, Clements Howell, Priscilla Grimaldo, Josephine Duran George and Rose Duran.
He is survived by sister, Emma Sanchez, and numerous children, grandchildren, and nephews, including Dick and Cecilia Sanchez of New Mexico and Rudy Sanchez of Albuquerque.
Survivors also include his children, Michael Anthony and Anna Duran of Atlanta, Ga., Ronald and Connie Duran of Seattle, Victor Duran of Butte, Ralph Duran of Pearl City, Hawaii, James Duran, Paul Duran and John Duran of Butte; daughters and sons-in-law, Anna and Ken Dockter of Butte, Barbara and Dave Wischer of Olympia, Wash.; grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Travis Duran, Trent and Christina Duran, Suzette Duran, Marc Duran, Christopher Duran, Paul Michael Duran, Anna Caroline Duran, Dusty and David Duran, Jacob and Jesse Duran, Tyler and Quinn Dockter, Kayle and Andi SeGraves, Emily and Julianna Wischer and T.J. Duran.
Visitation starts after 5 p.m. Tuesday in Duggan Dolan Chapel with parish rosary services conducted at 7 p.m. Funeral services are 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Duggan Dolan Chapel with Mass of the Christian Burial celebrated at 10 a.m. in St. Patrick's Church. A reception follows in the Knights of Columbus Hall.
Bennie was a good father and provider for his children.
Memorials: charity of choice.
Frances Jackson, 72
Frances M. Jackson died at her home in Santa Fe, N.M., on Monday after a prolonged illness.
She was born on Dec. 16, 1926, in Philipsburg and was an educator in Montana. She completed her career as the principal of Mountain View Elementary School, Great Falls, in 1985.
She had been a resident of Santa Fe since her retirement and had endeared herself to many through her kindness and generosity. Frances will be missed by the many who knew and loved her.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services in Santa Fe are pending.
Memorials: To the animal shelter of your choice.
Donald Forbes, 84
Donald McLeod Forbes died Monday in a Helena hospital.
Don was born March 29, 1915, the oldest son of David and Nora Forbes. His earliest years were spent on the family homestead north of Avon -- property now owned by Jim Quigley. He grew up in Avon, attending grade school there and high school in Elliston. He went to work for George Davis about 1931, managing the George V. Davis General Merchandise store and doing the bookkeeping for the three Davis ranches. George turned the store over to him in 1968 and he and his family operated it as the D.M. Forbes General Merchandise store until they sold it in 1992. Don became a Christian in 1941 and was active in the organization of the Avon Community Church, serving as its treasurer from about 1967 until 1997. He was also treasurer of the Avon Cemetery Association for many years.
Don married Dorothy Hunt in 1956. He was a wonderful husband and father to their five children. Don loved to hunt and trap and after selling the store, devoted several years to trapping.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and brother, Rodney Forbes.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy; children and their spouses, Don Lochlen and Marla Forbes of Chester, Daniel and Mishell Forbes of Helena, Douglas and Aleta Forbes of Avon, Dale and Stephanie Forbes of Deer Lodge, Darla and Mike Christian of Vancouver, Wash.; brother, Gordon Forbes of Deer Lodge; sister, Norine Clayton of Billings; eight grandsons; six grand daughters; and many relatives and friends. They will miss him greatly, but are rejoicing that he is in his Father's eternal house, where they will meet again.
Public viewing is 9 a.m. Saturday followed by the funeral at 2 p.m. in the Avon Community Church. Burial follows in the Avon Cemetery. Memorials: Avon Community Church, Avon Cemetery District or the Alzheimer's Association.
Retz Funeral Home is in charge.
