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Alfred Mack Stiff Sr.
BOZEMAN - Alfred Mack Stiff Sr., of Bozeman, passed away Sept. 16, 1999, at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. A third generation Bozeman native, Al was born 73 years ago on Aug. 16, 1926, the oldest of five children of Harland Levi Stiff and Erline (Townsend) Stiff. He was raised on the Catron Farm on what is now North 19th and Baxter Lane. While helping on the farm, he also loved reading, his Grandma Townsend's birds, and playing basketball and football at Gallatin County High School (GCHS). Stricken with polio at 17, he took a year for rehabilitation at Shodair Hospital in Helena where he met his future wife, Vivian Ellen Heiser. He returned to Bozeman to graduate with GCHS's class of 1945.
Al married
Viv in the First Baptist Church of Missoula on Oct. 11, 1946. They lived and worked in Missoula, while Al studied accounting at the Modern Business College and through LaSalle Extension University, where they started their family. They lived briefly in Helena before returning to Bozeman in June 1951 when Al began building his accounting practice. He became a certified public accountant in 1959; formed the firm of Clark, Stiff, and Kirchhoff; and later became a partner in Jordahl, Sliter, and Bragg, CPAs. Al retired in June 1974 and devoted his energy to developing and selling their land on the Bozeman Pass. He brought his accounting expertise to the Bozeman City Commission and served for 151/2 years, including five-and-a-half as mayor, from his first election in 1980 until his resignation for health reasons in July 1999.
In addition to Viv and raising their 10 children, Al's commitments included First Baptist Church and "the most beautiful valley in the world." His community involvements were: the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, The White House Conference on the Handicapped (1977), Rotary, SCORE, and Quest for Knowledge. He was a strong believer in the value of sports and an avid Bozeman Hawk fan. In his spare time he enjoyed reading, playing cards, and watching sports.
Wheeling through the majority of his life, Al was a believer - in faith, love, honesty, hard work, people, and living one day at a time. He will be missed always.
Al was preceded in death by his parents, Harland and Erline Stiff, and his son, Alfred "Mack" Stiff Jr.
Al is survived by his cherished wife, best friend, and helpmate, Viv, and their surviving nine children and families. They include: son, Rob and wife, Marsha Stiff of Edmonds, Wash., and grandson, Jason of Idaho Falls, Idaho, and step-granddaughter, LeAnne Johnson of Edmonds; daughter, Kathy and husband, John Weiss of Kent, Wash., and grandson, David; daughter, Sue and husband, Chuck Humphrey of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and grandsons, Mark, Bryan and Nathan; son, Tim Stiff of Seattle, Wash.; son, Greg Stiff of Huntington Beach, Calif., and grandsons, Chris and Jesse of Bozeman; son, Dan and wife, Kim of Baldwin, Md., and grandsons, Matt and Adam; daughter, Becky and husband, Phil Cox of Bozeman and granddaughters, Ellie and Quincy, and step-granddaughters, Jenny Cox of Bozeman and Kate Cox of Greeley, Colo.; Mack's widow, Lili Stiff of Madison, Wis., and grandson, Levi, granddaughter, Hannah, grandson, Calvin and granddaughter, Mackenzie; son, Tony and wife, Tammy Stiff of Dallas and granddaughter, Jordan and grandson, Spencer; and daughter, Penny and husband, Jack Watkins of Bozeman and granddaughters, Nonie and Molly.
Al is also survived by his sisters, Bernette and husband, Loran Casey of Sidney, Janelle and husband, Joe Barnett of Belgrade, and Leota and husband, Bill Pritchett of Sun Lakes, Ariz.; and his brother, Larry and wife, Rosemary Stiff of Colorado Springs, Colo.
Visitation will be 3-9 p.m. Sunday at Dahl Funeral Chapel, 300 Highland Blvd., Bozeman. The funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Monday at First Baptist Church, 120 S. Grand, Bozeman. There will be a reception at 2:30 p.m. at the Senior Center, 807 N. Tracy. Friends are invited to attend the funeral, reception, or both. Cremation will follow the ceremony. A private family interment at Sunset Hills cemetery will be held at a later date. Remembrances may be made to a charity of giver's choice.
Dona Lee (Althoff) Gruel
THERMOPOLIS, Wyo. - Dona Gruel, 68, passed away peacefully Sept. 14, 1999, at the Canyon Hills Manor in Thermopolis. She was born Oct. 13, 1930, in Powell and raised in Badger Basin. Dona graduated as Valedictorian from Belfry High School in 1947. She married
Warren Frederick Gruel from Belfry, Mont., in 1950 and moved to Denver, Colo., in 1953.
Shortly after establishing a family with four sons, she suffered a disabling disease which caused her to be dependent on caregivers for the remainder of her life. She resided at the Canyon Hills Manor in Thermopolis since 1987.
Dona was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Myrtle Althoff, and two brothers, Eugene and Douglas Althoff.
Dona is survived by her sons, Gary (Pearl), Joseph, and Glen Gruel of Denver, Colo.; Alan (Sieglinde) Gruel of Fayetteville, N.C.; five grandchildren, Ivan, Eric, Nicholas, Aaron, Jennifer Gruel; and one brother, Weldon (Donna) Althoff of Billings, Mont.
Dona will be greatly missed by her family and friends, including the staff and residents of Canyon Hills Manor.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, 1999, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Cody. Interment will be in the Riverside cemetery in Cody.
Memorials may be given to St. Joseph's Children's Home, P.O. Box 1117, Torrington Wyo. 82240.
Mike G. Milohov
Mike G. Milohov, 83, of Billings, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Sept. 16, 1999, at his home.
He was born on July 21, 1916, to George and Elizabeth Milohov. He married
Pauline Hagel on Feb. 7, 1949. They spent the majority of their lives on the Huntley Project. He was a member of the Operating Engineers Local 400 for 43 years and a member of the Moose Lodge for 25 years. He loved to go hunting with his children and grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Pauline; three daughters and their husbands, Laurie and Bob Koffler, Barbara and Gary Smith of Billings and Margaret and Roger Holloway of Albuquerque, N.M.; one son, Mike Jr. of Billings; and one sister, Ruby and George Thaut of Bozeman. He also is survived by 19 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, one great-great-granddaughter and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Al and Pete; three sisters, Facta, Claudia and Ann. He was also preceded in death by one daughter, Wilma Diebele.
Cremation has taken place and at Dad's request, there will be no services. A Celebration of Life will be Sunday, Sept. 19, 1999, 12 noon, at 235 Emerald Drive.
We would like to express a special thanks to Big Sky Hospice and Dr. Stephen Shaub and staff.
Memorials may be made to Big Sky Hospice or the charity of your choice.
Verna C. Adkins
SHERIDAN, Wyo. - Verna C. Adkins, 93, died Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1999, at Sheridan Manor.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 20, in the Elks cemetery. Champion Funeral Home is in charge.
Franklin Beddes
LOVELL, Wyo. - Franklin Beddes, 80, died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1999, at North Big Horn Hospital.
Visitation will be 7-9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, at Haskell Funeral Home. Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 20, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints with interment in the Lovell cemetery.
Vernon L. Bollman
Vernon L. Bollman, 91 of Billings, died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1999, at his home.
The son of George and Mary Bollman, he was born April 26, 1908, in Omaha, Neb. He married
Frances Lamberton in 1927 at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Following their marriage they moved to Lincoln, Neb.
Vernon received a B.S. degree and a M.S. degree in engineering from the University of Nebraska. He received his Ph.D. in physics from Cal Tech in 1936.
He had been a professor and administrator at Occidental College in Los Angeles for 37 years, retiring in 1973.
In 1978 he moved to Boise, Idaho, moving to Billings in 1991.
Vernon was a member of Sigma Tau, Sigma Xi, and was an honorary member of Phi Beta Kappa. He was an avid fly fisherman who enjoyed golf and all spectator sports. He was a dyed in the wool Cornhuskers fan.
Survivors include his wife, Frances and his daughter, Marti Holmes and her husband, Lee of Billings, and a granddaughter, Melinda Holmes of Helena.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Fred, and a sister, Frances.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be 3 p.m. Sunday at Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist.
Memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice.
Marion Dell Carpenter
POWELL, Wyo. - Marion Dell Carpenter, 93, a resident of Powell, died on Thursday, Sept. 16, 1999, in Powell. Mrs. Carpenter was born on July 16, 1906, in Pipestone County, Minn., near the town of Holland, Mo., to Frank and Oresta Herrington. She came to Wyoming in 1910 when her father homesteaded near Ralston. She attended Fairview Country School located in the O'Donell neighborhood. She also attended the first school in Ralston, located in the lumberyard office. Her teacher was Miss Enid Scoville. She graduated from Powell High School in 1924. She then went on to attend nursing school at St. Joseph's Mercy Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa, and became a registered nurse.
On March 20, 1935, she married
Fred F. Carpenter in Red Lodge, Mont. Fred preceded her in death in 1976.
Survivors include her son, David Carpenter of Powell; brother, W.S. Herrington and wife, Helen; grandchildren, Merilee Solie, David Carpenter Jr., Steven L. Carpenter, Jamie Sweet and Cory Carpenter; great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Solie, Margaret Solie, Abagale Solie, Alysia Sweet and Elise Robles.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brother, Howard Herrington; and grandson, Ryan Blaine Carpenter. Visitation will be held on Saturday from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. at Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home, Powell. Burial will follow at 10:30 a.m. at Crown Hill cemetery, Powell.
Margeret Running Crane-Willis
GREAT FALLS - Margeret (Weatherwax) Run-ning Crane-Willis, 75, of 13 Ninth St. N.W., a retired bilingual educator, died of natural causes Sunday at a local hospital.
Rosary is 7 p.m. Friday at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Heart Butte. Funeral Mass is 2 p.m. Sat-urday at St. Anne's, with burial in Day Rider cemetery in Heart Butte. Day Family Funeral Home of Browning is in charge of arrange-ments.
She was born Feb. 4, 1924, in Little Badger. She attended Heart Butte Day School, Little Badger School, Holy Family Mission and Blackfeet Community College.
In 1938 she married
Joseph Run-ning Crane in Big Badger; he died in 1979. She later married
Huel L. Willis.
She worked for Heart Butte In-dustry and Heart Butte Headstart, the Piegan Institute, and taught at Moccasin Flat School. After retir-ing, she and her husband moved to Great Falls.
She was a member of Thunder Pipe (Nam-Ska Society), Buffalo Woman Society, Horn Society and White Tail Committee.
Survivors include her husband of Great Falls; four daughters, Dar-lene Spotted Bear, Joanne Wolver-ine and Delma Vielle, all of Brown-ing, and Ramona Running Crane of Pablo; three sons, Glenn Running Crane of Cut Bank and Oral Run-ning Crane and Garrett Running Crane of Browning; a stepson, Stanley Spotted Wolf of Browning; an adopted son, Cal Walks Over Ice of Billings; two sisters, Ann Goings of Browning and Irene Day Rider of Heart Butte; two brothers, John-ny Day Rider of Heart Butte and Joseph Weatherwax II of Brown-ing; 32 grandchildren and 50 great-grandchildren.
In addition to her first husband, she was preceded in death by two daughters, Althea Tail Feathers and Jolene Running Crane.
David C. Fletcher
David C. Fletcher, 71, of Billings, passed away Thursday morning, Sept. 16, 1999, at St. Vincent Hospital.
He was born in Clitherall, Minn., Sept. 3, 1928, to Elmer and Christine Fletcher. He married
Marlys Moe on June 2, 1950. He was employed by Consolidated Freightways for 33 years, during which time he drove three million accident-free miles and earned many awards. His proudest achievement was a line haul tractor dedicated in his honor. This tractor serves as a reminder to his safety record and is still on the road today.
He was generous and kind and gave much of his time to volunteer activities, some of which included St. Vincent Hospital care line installer, Family Services of Billings, and the Food Bank, helping whenever he was needed.
He loved to garden and spent some of his best time taking care of the lawn at church. His family jokingly nicknamed him the lawn king. He was a friend to everyone he met and never failed to smile and wave at anyone passing his way.
His first love was his family. He was a loving, devoted husband to his wife, Marlys, his beloved bride of 49 years. He is also survived by a son, Robert, and daughter, Kathryn who will always remember him as a teacher, friend, and most special dad. We will cherish memories of fishing, hunting, swimming, and his great joy of life. We will hold him in our hearts forever as daddy. Most precious he was to his granddaughters, Jennifer, Courtney and Ryann. They were and will always be Grandpa's girls.
So, to Dad, Grandpa we want you to know how much we will miss you and think of you. You will always be in our prayers. We will never forget the joy you took in living every day and will remember you with every beautiful moment.
To Dave, from Marlys, I love you with all my heart. And to Grandpa with love from his girls, "see ya, love ya, bye, " but just for now. We all love you so much!!!!!!!!
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, at Messiah Lutheran Church. Memorials may be sent to Messiah Lutheran Church, 2939 Colton Blvd., Billings, MT 59102. Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist has charge of arrangements.
Dona Lee (Althoff) Gruel
THERMOPOLIS, Wyo. - Dona Gruel, 68, passed away peacefully Sept. 14, 1999, at the Canyon Hills Manor in Thermopolis. She was born Oct. 13, 1930, in Powell and raised in Badger Basin. Dona graduated as Valedictorian from Belfry High School in 1947. She married
Warren Frederick Gruel from Belfry, Mont., in 1950 and moved to Denver, Colo., in 1953.
Shortly after establishing a family with four sons, she suffered a disabling disease which caused her to be dependent on caregivers for the remainder of her life. She resided at the Canyon Hills Manor in Thermopolis since 1987.
Dona was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Myrtle Althoff, and two brothers, Eugene and Douglas Althoff.
Dona is survived by her sons, Gary (Pearl), Joseph, and Glen Gruel of Denver, Colo.; Alan (Sieglinde) Gruel of Fayetteville, N.C.; five grandchildren, Ivan, Eric, Nicholas, Aaron, Jennifer Gruel; and one brother, Weldon (Donna) Althoff of Billings, Mont.
Dona will be greatly missed by her family and friends, including the staff and residents of Canyon Hills Manor.
The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, 1999, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Cody. Interment will be in the Riverside cemetery in Cody.
Memorials may be given to St. Joseph's Children's Home, P.O. Box 1117, Torrington Wyo. 82240.
Kathleen M. Midkiff
GREAT FALLS - Kathleen M. Midkiff, 64, formerly of Roundup, died Tuesday, Sept. 14, 1999, at a local hospital of lung disease.
Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, at St. Benedict's Catholic Church in Roundup. Croxford & Sons Funeral Home is in charge.
Gilbert Glenn Mobley
GREYBULL, Wyo. - Gilbert Glenn Mobley, 97, of Greybull, died Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1999, at the Wyoming Retirement Center in Basin.
Graveside funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 20, in the Hillside cemetery. Atwood Family Funeral Directors Inc. of Basin are in charge.
Alma Doris Olbu
Alma Doris Olbu, 82, of Billings, passed away Thursday, Sept. 16, 1999, at the Billings Deaconess Medical Center.
Alma was born May 4, 1917, in Killdeer, N.D., the daughter of Frank and Edna (Lauser) Johnson. She was raised in Killdeer. At the age of 11/2 years, Alma got meningitis and was left deaf. She attended the school for the deaf in Devils Lake, N.D., through the eighth grade.
Alma was a big help for her mother while at home. The family moved to Billings in 1937. Here she met and married
Lee Olbu, July 3, 1942. They moved to Missoula where Lee worked for the sawmill. She lived 53 years in Missoula. Following her husband's death in the early '90s, a deaf friend lived with Alma. In 1995 her sisters moved her to Billings to be near them. She lived at Sage Towers and loved every minute of it.
She was loved by all, especially children, and she was a very friendly lady.
She loved to watch TV as it was her company.
Survivors include two sisters, Elizabeth Scheafer of Billings, Lorene (Bill) Huvaere of Billings, and her brother, Lawrence Johnson of Vancouver, Wash., and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, two brothers and one sister.
A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, 1999, at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. Reception will follow services at the church. Cremation has taken place with interment of her cremains in the Sunset Memorial Gardens in Missoula. Smith Downtown Chapel in charge of arrangements.
