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Chester G. 'Stub' Pehlke
WHITEWATER - Chester G. "Stub" Pehlke, 78, died Friday, Sept. 24, 1999, at the Phillips County Good Samaritan Center of cancer.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, at the Malta Lutheran Church with interment in the Malta cemetery. Donations may be made to the American Parkinson Association. Adams Funeral Home is in charge.
Beverly Cecelia Roberts
BUFFALO, Wyo. - Beverly Roberts, 57, died Friday, Sept. 24, 1999, in the Johnson County Health Care Center.
Visitation will be 1-10 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, and 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, at Adams Funeral Home. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, at Willow Grove cemetery.
Kathy Sullivan
BUTTE - Kathy Sullivan, 50, died Saturday, Sept. 25, 1999, in Missoula.
Arrangements are pending. Garden City Funeral Home and Crematory of Missoula is in charge.
Pirl Wood
Pirl Wood, 87, of Billings, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday, Sept. 24, 1999. He was born in Jamestown, N.D. on March 2, 1912, and married
his childhood sweetheart, Violet Halzworth on July 4, 1937.
Pirl served in the Navy on board ship in the Pacific during the last two years of World War II, from 1943 to 1945. He and his wife, Violet, moved to Billings in 1946. Pirl worked for many years as a foreman for C & M Construction, which was responsible for the construction of several westend residential subdivisions in the 1950's and 60's, including Central Heights. He retired in 1973 and became very sought after for his woodworking skills, building one-of-a-kind beautiful gun cabinets, hope chests, and book cases. In his later years, he was an avid hunter and fisherman and enjoyed nothing more than taking to the wilderness to catch fish and shoot deer and elk. He was preceded in death by his wife, Violet, on Nov. 9, 1992, and several brothers and sisters.
He is survived by his only Goddaughter, Leanne Carpenter Mills, whom he thought of as his own daughter, and was very involved in her life since she was a baby; he took special pride in Leanne's daughter, Tasha Mills, whom he loved very much as she kept him happy and active in his declining years; he is also survived by two sisters, Ruth Hansen, a lifelong Billings resident, and Rachel Sahr of Jamestown; and numerous nieces and nephews in Michigan, Wisconsin, Washington, and North Dakota.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, at Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Ronald McDonald House, 1144 N. 30th St., Billings, MT 59101.
Elma May Leonard Becker
Elma May Leonard Becker, 93, of Billings, died Saturday, Sept. 25, 1999, at Western Manor. She was born on June 8, 1906, at the Y-Z Ranch, Lakeside-south of Bainville, a daughter of Fred J. and Ida M. Bowers Leonard.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be at a later date in Culbertson and inurnment will be at the Culbertson cemetery. Arrangements were made by Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
Geraldine M. (Gerry) Brumfield
REEDPOINT - Geraldine M. (Gerry) Brumfield, 81, of Reedpoint, passed away at her home on Sept. 22, 1999 of natural causes.
Gerry was born on July 16, 1918, in Billings, the daughter of Bernard F. and Edna Mae (Deckert) McGinnis. She attended Catholic Schools in Billings
She married
Rollie D. Brumfield on May 27, 1936, in Big Timber. They lived in Wyoming, South Dakota, North Dakota and Idaho before retiring and making their home in Reedpoint.
She was an avid supporter of the Reedpoint School and was known as Gramma Gerry by all the community children.
During her previous years, she enjoyed bowling, camping, fishing, and spending time with her family.
She was a member of Rock Rose Chapter #63 OES, and a member of the Ladies VFW Auxiliary #4762 in Columbus for 48 years.
She is survived by four daughters: Jeanne Caldwell of Seattle, Wash.; Judy Roan of Hardin; Sandie Damuth of Linch, Wyo.; Karen Stockton of Craig, Colo.; one son, Alan Brumfield of Thornton, Colo.; Terry and Anne Brumfield of Reedpoint; 17 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Rollie; a daughter, Mary Ann; sisters, Patricia Seibert and Mary Ann McDonough; brothers, Thomas and Bernard McGinnis.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, 1999, at the Reedpoint High School Gym. Inurnment will be held at a later date.
Memorials to the Reedpoint Schools or Shriners Children Hospital Transportation Fund would be appreciated.
Smith Funeral Chapel in Columbus is in charge of arrangements.
LuCille Colleen Conroy
HARDIN - On Sept. 23, 1999, after a two-and-a-half year battle with cancer, our Beloved was released from the bonds of this Earth. LuCille Colleen Conroy was born Sept. 17, 1934, to Bernard H. and Ethel Shively Barnes in Crow Agency. She was educated in St. Xavier, Crow Agency and graduated from Lodge Grass High School in 1952. There she was active as a cheerleader and majorette. Her talents were recognized when she won the Sheridan, Wyo., rodeo queen and also when she led the Billings Western Days Parade twirling her baton. She married
Thomas R. Conroy in 1952 and the couple made their first home in Helena, then moved to Washington State and Billings, before settling in Judith Gap. There she settled into helping with the farm and raising her family, which soon grew to six children.
In 1966, Tom and Colleen bought her mother's ranch in the Pryor Mountains and Colleen spent many years packing groceries and kids back and forth from town. When her husband was elected to the State Legislature in 1974, she took on another role, that of being a supportive political wife. In Helena, she was an active member of the Legislative Wives. She soon assumed greater roles in the political arena by first becoming chairwoman of the Big Horn County Central Republican Committee and then becoming a statewide District Representative. She was active in the Hardin Area Chamber of Commerce and chaired the Economic Development Commit-tee.
In 1993, Colleen was appointed by Gov. Marc Racicot to the Montana University System's Board of Regents. She was the first Native American to serve in this capacity and felt honored by this distinction. During her tenure on the board, the Regents successfully reorganized the structure and mission of higher education in the state. Following her resignation due to illness, she was recognized by the Regents for her immense contribution to the Montana University System.
Above all, Colleen was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She touched all who knew her with her ready wit, her hospitality and her genuine deep awareness. Colleen, by her example, taught the attributes of duty, responsibility and accountability. She was known as a very gracious woman who dearly loved and was loved by her many friends and family members.
Colleen was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hardin and a lifelong member of the A.R.E. She was also a member of the Greasy Mouth Clan of the Mountain Crows. She is survived by her husband, Tom; three brothers, Harlan (Betty Jo) Barnes of Jackson Hole, Wyo., Leroy (Betty) Barnes of Billings and Dean (Ruthie) Barnes of Hardin. She is also survived by her children: Harlan (Angie) Conroy of Hardin, Denise Spencer of Boulder, Colo., Tyke (Kelle) Conroy of Gillette, Wyo., Shelly (Willie) Ralston of Hardin, Lyndon (Sandi) Conroy of Colstrip and Molly (Jack) Joyce of Hardin; 14 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren. She also is survived by a very large and loving extended family.
A Catholic Rosary will be recited 7 p.m. Sunday evening, Sept. 26, in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 27, in the St. Joseph Catholic Church. Private interment will be held.
Colleen loved hats and often wore them to special occasions. Ladies, we invite you to wear yours, if you plan to attend.
Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Colleen Conroy Scholarship Fund in care of Scholarship Committee, Montana State University-Billings, 1500 N. 30th St., Billings, MT 59101-0298.
Albert T. Frank
GLENDIVE - Albert T. Frank, age 82, of Glendive, died on Monday, Sept. 20, 1999, at the Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colo.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Monday, Sept. 27, 1999, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Glendive with Pastor Howard Schreibeis officiating. Interment with military honors will be in the Dawson County cemetery in Glendive. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive is entrusted with arrangements.
Albert was born on Sept. 10, 1917, in Dodge, N.D., the son of Jacob and Leontina (Weidner) Frank. He was raised and educated in the Dodge area. Albert was drafted into the military in 1941, and served in the U.S. Army Medical Corp during World War II. Following his discharge in 1945, he returned to North Dakota until 1953, when he moved to Glendive. Albert married
Ruth Snow Rathbun on May 20, 1978. He worked for the Montana State Highway Department as a maintenance supervisor for 20 years until his retirement in 1972. Following his retirement, he maintained a winter home in Lady Lake, Fla.
Albert loved to do repair and maintenance work and enjoyed fabricating his own items for these repairs. He also enjoyed traveling, dancing and attending functions at the Glendive Senior Citizen's Center. Albert was a member of the VFW, the American Legion and the Disabled Veterans of America.
Survivors include his son, Merle Frank and his wife, Charlene of Englewood; one brother, Henry Frank of Glendive; five sisters: Freda Olson of Glendive, Hertha Fandrich of Laurel, Ruth Horning of Glendive, Lorraine Mohl of Glendive, and Edna Thornton and her husband, Cap of Townsend; step sons, LeRoy Rathbun and his wife, Marlys, Larry Rathbun and his wife, Mary, and Ken Rathbun and his wife, Gloria, all of Glendive; step daughter, Patty Taylor and her husband, Ellery of Waynesboro, Miss.; his special friend, Lorraine Maeriake of Williston, N.D.; two grandchildren, Dakota and Elizabeth Frank of Englewood; and numerous step grandchildren, great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Albert was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Ruth in 1992, and three brothers.
Albert will be missed by all who knew him.
Suzanne N. Geering
HILO, Hawaii - Suzanne N. Geering died peacefully Sept. 12 in Hilo, Hawaii. Mrs. Geering was born Suzanne Nearman on September 19, 1926, eldest child of Charles and Geneva Nearman in Iron Mountain, Michigan. She grew up in St. Cloud, Minnesota, raised a family in Billings, Montana, and retired to Hilo, Hawaii.
Beloved wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend, she was a talented textile artist, managed several small business efforts and volunteered time in her communities.
Mrs. Geering is survived by her husband and great love for over fifty years, Gilbert (Gib) Geering. Children include Jim Geering (deceased), Jennifer Gunderson (and husband, Alan) of Eagle River, AK and John Geering (and wife, Donna) of Kalispell, MT. Surviving siblings in the Nearman family include Bob (Issaquah, WA), David and Judy (Portland, OR), Paul and Ellie (Buffalo, MN), Tom and Nancy (Phoenix, AZ), Hanai daughter, Sally Mermell, five grandchildren. She also leaves her sister-in-law, Phylis Geering Janey of Mill Valley, CA, her brother-in-law Tom Geering of Billings and numerous nieces and nephews.
Special thanks go to her wonderful friends, Gisela Robeck and Mary Whittington and all the family, friends, volunteers and professionals who provided such wonderful support during Mrs. Geering's illness. The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, any donations be made to Hospice of Hilo in recognition of their attentive and compassionate care.
Mike Gross
CINCINNATI, Ohio - Mike Gross passed away on Aug. 19 in Cincinnati. He is survived by his three children, Cody Gross of Cincinnati, Callie Gross of Billings, Mont., and Leah Parry of Seattle, Wash.; parents, Mike and Leah Gross of Billings; sisters, Eleanor Gradwohl of Laurel, Mont., and Connie Schuman of Billings; and brother, Harvey Gross of Billings. He will be greatly missed by all of his family.
Preston 'Pres' Maynard
Preston "Pres" Maynard, 75 of Billings, died Sept. 24, 1999, after a short struggle with cancer. He was born Aug. 31, 1924, in Ucon, Idaho.
His family moved to Billings in 1928. He graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1942 and attended Montana State College in 1943. Pres served in the U.S. Army Air Force during WWII, from 1943 to 1946. Following his return from the service in 1946, he began working for Skaggs Drug and retired in 1983. He was manager of the stores in Billings from 1964 to 1983.
Pres enjoyed reading, trips to his cabin on the East Rosebud River, traveling, and fishing. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Barb, and his parents, Ida M. and Robert L. Maynard.
Survivors include his wife, Katie; his children, Bob, Sharon, Linda, and Jim; his sister, Zel; his brother, Fent; and 13 grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, at Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist with interment in Mountview cemetery. The casket is closed. Memorials may be directed to Big Sky Hospice, P.O. Box 35033, Billings, MT 59107-5033.
Patricia "Patty" Taylor Mayott
Patricia "Patty" Taylor Mayott went to the Lord on Friday morning, Sept. 24, 1999, after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer. Patty was born July 4, 1955, at Wolf Point. Patty was raised on the family ranch at Prairie Elk Community, north of Circle. She attended the country school with her cousins, Jay, Bruce and Jan Wright. Patty graduated from Circle High School in 1973, then went on to earn a bachelors degree in Accounting from The College of Great Falls in 1977.
During Patty's college days, she began a career with the Internal Revenue Service where she had been employed for 25 years. During her tenure, Patty was in the Great Falls and Billings offices.
Patty will be remembered for her devotion to her children, Todd (a senior) and Eric (a sophomore) Taylor of the family home. Whatever activity the boys were involved in you would always find Patty there cheering them on. Patty was married
on June 10, 1995 to Michael Mayott. Patty was active in her parish church, St. Bernard's and the Big Sky Cum Christo movement.
Patty is survived by her husband, Michael Mayott; her sons, Todd and Eric Taylor; her father and mother, Harold "Doc" and Thelma (Wright) Shamley; three sisters, Ann Shamley of Butte, Jean (George) Snider of Reserve, and Diane (Dion) Ligon of Poulsbo, Wash.
A vigil service will be held 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, and a mass of Christian burial 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, at St. Bernard's Roman Catholic Church. The casket is closed. Memorials may be directed to Big Sky Hospice, P.O. Box 35033, Billings, MT 59107-5033, or Amend Park Development Council, P.O. Box 1203, Billings, MT 59103. Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist has charge of arrangements.
Mildon L. Patterson
POWELL, Wyo. - Mildon Patterson, 84, passed away Sept. 24, 1999. The son of Nellie and Haden Patterson, he was born near Cozad, Neb. on Nov. 20, 1914. His family moved to Powell when he was an infant. They moved to Oregon for a few years, but returned to Powell to farm. He helped his parents homestead on Willwood.
He married
Barbara Sackman on Feb. 13, 1938. They lived in Powell and he worked for the Bureau of Reclamation. He served in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Following his return, they homsteaded in 1947 on Heart Mountain, where he, Barbara and his children farmed and raised cattle. They retired and moved to Powell in 1979, although he and Barbara continued to manage the farm until his death.
Mildon loved to dance, joke, travel and enjoy his family. In addition, he enjoyed his membership in the VFW, Elks, Legion and square dance club. He and Barbara have three children: Norma Demoney, Mary Christensen and LeRoy Patterson. They have numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Mildon was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Lindon.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 28, 1999, at the Presbyterian Church in Powell. Interment will follow at Crown Hill cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 27, at Miratsky Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to the Northern Rockies Cancer Center, P.O. Box 369, Billings, MT 59103, or the charity of the donor's choice.
Emma Haydal Stroud
Emma Haydal Stroud, 97, died Thursday, Sept. 23, 1999, at the Western Manor Nursing Home.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 27, at the American Lutheran Church. Interment will be at 4 p.m. Monday at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Smith Downtown Chapel is in charge.
Larry E. Allen
DENTON - Larry E. Allen, 55, of Denton, died Wednesday, Sept. 22, 1999, at Benefis East Hospital in Great Falls of cancer.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, at the Denton Community United Methodist Church with interment in the Hillcrest cemetery. Creel Funeral Home of Lewistown is in charge.
Mary A. Barbero
BROADUS - Mary A. Barbero, 99, died Wednesday, Sept. 22, 1999, at the Powder River Manor.
Vigil will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 27, in the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home. Mass of Christian burial will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 28, at St. David's Catholic Church with interment in the family lot of Valley View cemetery.
Ashley Christine Bernhardt
DIXON, Calif. - Ashley Christine Bernhardt, born Oct. 20, 1987, in Williston, N.D., died suddenly Sept. 19, 1999, after a fatal car accident.
Ashley is survived by her parents: Penny Bernhardt of California, Steve and Glenda Bernhardt of Littleton, Colo.; maternal grandparents, Marris and Luella Danielson of California; paternal grandparents, Jerry and Lenna Bernhardt of Alaska; grandma, Helen Dunn of Roundup, Mont.; and sister, Shae Bernhardt of Littleton. She is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Funeral Services were held in Dixon. Ashley was in the sixth grade at Anderson Elementary School in Dixon. She enjoyed playing fast pitch softball and Little League baseball. Ashley will be truly missed and never forgotten by her family and friends and especially by her little sister, Shae.
