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Josephine Elits Thex
HAMILTON - Josephine Elits Thex, formerly of Ashland, passed away Monday, Dec. 6, in Hamilton at her residence following a lengthy illness.
Josephine Florence Eilts was born on July 1, 1916, in Rozel, Kan., to Olga and Oliver Eilits.
She received an Associate in Arts degree at University Preparatory School and Junior College in Tonkawa, Okla., in 1936 and an MA in education at Eastern Montana CoIlege
On Sept. 2, 1939, she married
Clifford 'Thex in Hardin. They built their family home on Otter Creek in 1947.
She is survived by her husband Clifford; daughter Kea Yanzick of Hamilton; sons Neil Thex of Mesa, Ariz., and Tim Thex of Salem, Ore.; a sister, Eugenia Cummings, of Hutchinson, Kan.; grandchildren Cliff: Dani (Smith), and Autumn Yanzick, David and Kelly Thex, and Kevin Thex; nieces Judi Swink and Gretta VanNatta; and nephew Chris Cummings. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Bobby, who died in childhood, and Alvin Elits, who passed away last year.
Visitation will be Thursday from 3-6 p.m. at the Daly-Leach Chapel. Services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10, at the Daly-Leach Chapel. Interment will follow at the Riverview cemetery.
The family suggests memorials in Josephine's name to MDH-Hospice of the Bitteroot, 1200 Westwood Drive, Hamilton, MT. 59840-1697.
Julia Black Eagle
LODGE GRASS - Julia Black Eagle, 65, of Lodge Grass, went home to be with the Lord, Monday, Dec. 6, 1999, in Billings.
D'uuptako Ischi Dalazish "Singing Bold Eagle" was born July 29, 1934, in Crow Agency, a daughter of Matthew and Minnie Saco Good Luck. She grew up in the St. Xavier area and attended the St. Xavier Boarding School.
Julia married
Moses Myers Black Eagle on May 30, 1947. The couple made their home in Lodge Grass. Her church and her family were her life. Always making her home a focal point of gatherings and preparing meals for her family and friends.
She was a member of the Crow Revival Pentecostal Church, Ties the Bundle Clan and a child of the Big Lodge Clan. She loved to bead.
Julia was preceded in death by her husband; two sisters and one brother.
Survivors include four daughters, Geneva (Robert) Chandler of Hardin, Charlene, Carol and Lucinda Black Eagle of Lodge Grass; two Sons, Marion (Colleen) and Larry (Samatha) Black Eagle of Lodge Grass; one adopted daughter, Harriett Don't Mix of Wyola; two adopted sons, Joshua and Jeremy Black Eagle of Lodge Grass; one sister, Pauline Kills of Washington; three brothers, Lewis Good Luck, Sr. of Pryor, Ralph (Irene) and Al (Gloria) Good Luck of Lodge Grass; eight children whom she raised as her own, Jerrod Black Eagle, Evelyn Howe, Veronica Good Luck, Dennis Bravo, Clayton Good Luck, Tyrone Bravo and Beatrice Black Eagle; 17 grandchildren; three great grandchildren; a special niece, Bernadine Evans of Washington; and members of the Covers Up family.
Wake services will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8, in the Crow Agency Revival Center. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, in the Lodge Grass Catholic Church gymnasium. Interment will follow in the Lodge Grass cemetery. Burns Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.
William R. Mackay Sr.
William "Bi11" R. Mackay Sr. died quietly Monday night due to complications from a heart attack and kidney failure at the Stillwater Community Hospital at the age of 88. He was surrounded by family and friends.
Bill established residence at the Lazy E-L Ranch near Roscoe in June of 1935. He married
Joyce Childs on Jan. 8, 1937, in Englewood, N.J., and brought her back to the Lazy E-L where they lived for over 60 years in the "Big House." They had three children, Julie, Helen and Bill Jr.
Bill's father, Malcolm Mackay, homesteaded on Morris Creek near Roscoe in 1901. Bill took over the ranch operations in 1935 and was joined by his son, William R. Mackay Jr. in a ranch partnership in 1972 which lasted for 20 years. Starting in 1993, Bill's grandson, Derek Kampfe, became the current manager of the Lazy E-L. Out of his love for ranching and agriculture, Bill became involved in Montana Stockgrower's Association, serving on the board of directors and then for two years as its board president. He also served for four years as a board member of the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.
Bill always demonstrated loyalty to his family and the ethic of service to his community. This was reflected by Bill's constant volunteering on many boards of directors, including the Roscoe School Board, the Home of Champions Rodeo Board, Carbon County Memorial Hospital Board, Carbon County Historical Society, Red Lodge Music Festival, and the Board of Rocky Mountain College. Bill also served on the Montana Historical Society board of trustees from 1951 to 1961, and again from 1981 to 1996. Bill was the second president of Grizzly Peak Corporation, Red Lodge Mountain Resort. During his term as president, the upper mountain was developed and the upper lift built.
Politics brought Bill from Roscoe to Helena and to Washington. Bill served as state representative in the Montana Legislature from 1951 to 1953 and as state senator in Helena from 1953 to 1972. During that time, he served as a member of the Commission on the Re-organization of State Government, on the Montana Legislative Council from 1953 to 1959 (chairman 1957 to 1959), and on the Montana Legislative Audit Committee from 1959 to 1965 (chairman 1959 to 1961). Bill was Republican state chairman from 1953 to 1955 and Republican national committeeman from 1972 to 1980.
A collector of vintage cars from the '20s and '30s, Bill enjoyed displaying his cars in the Fourth of July parade in Red Lodge. Each year, he would fill his 1920s Yellowstone Park bus with children, grandchildren, and friends, and drive down Main Street, waving and throwing candy.
As patron of the arts, Bill had a passion specifica1ly for music and supported both the Billings Symphony and the Red Lodge Music Festival. A fine musician himself, Bill played classical music on the piano, but his greatest love was Dixieland Jazz. Whether at a family gathering on the ranch or a community party at the Roscoe School House or the Grizzly Bar, Bill would be at the piano surrounded by family and friends.
Bill is survived by his sister, Mary Ellen Wang; his three children, Julie, Helen, and Bill Jr.; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11 at the Red Lodge Community Church followed by a reception at the Roscoe Community Center. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Red Lodge Music Festival, Montana Historical Society, Beartooth Hospital and Health Center, or The Absarokee Brookside Retirement Home.
Evan B. Peterson
Evan B. Peterson, 38, of Billings, died Saturday, Dec. 4, 1999, at a local hospital.
Visitation will be 5-9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8, at Smith Downtown Chapel. Services will be held in Ryder, N.D., at a later date.
Edward F. Kukuchka
SHERIDAN, Wyo. - Edward F. Kukuchka, longtime Sheridan-area rancher, passed away on Monday, Dec. 6, 1999, at Memorial Hospital of Sheridan, at the age of 71.
Ed was born on Feb. 4, 1928, in Kleenburn, Wyo., to George and Anna Banas Kukuchka, and attended school in Ranchester. During WWII, he served his country in the United States Navy. On Nov. 12, 1949, he was united in marriage to Ramona Strutzman.
He operated the Kukuchka Ranch near Ranchester for 38 years. In 1990, he and his children purchased the ranch on Soldier Creek where he resided until his death. Ed loved ranching, taking care of his cows and spending time at Freeze Out Cow Camp. He loved being on Quartz Creek hunting elk and he wasn't too bad at fly-fishing.
He was a member of the Big Horn Cattlemen's Association, a past exalted ruler of the Elks Lodge, and Holy Name Catholic Church.
Preceding him in death were his parents and three brothers, George "Curly", John, and Paul Kukuchka.
Survivors include his wife, Ramona of Sheridan; one son, Kenny Kukuchka and his wife, Janelle of Sheridan; one daughter, Karen Kukuchka Melder and her husband, Rick of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; three sisters, Anne Smith, Helen Fagenbush, and Margaret Melton; two brothers, Andy and Mike Kukuchka; and four grandchildren, Kara and Stacy Kukuchka, and Jessica and Max Melder.
Vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1999, at Kane Funeral Home. Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 9, 1999, at Kane Funeral Home with Father Ron Stolcis officiating. Cremation will follow with private family committal services at a later date.
Memorials may be made to the Elks Scholarship Fund, in care of Delphine Toner, First Interstate Bank, P.O. Box 2007, Sheridan, WY 82801.
Suzanne Evans Lesley
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Suzanne Evans Lesley, 41, died the morning of Dec. 4, 1999, in Albuquerque, N.M. A woman of immense quality and style, she will forever be remembered for her easy humor, hard work and huge generosity. Her courageous battle brought inspiration to us all.
Born in South Dakota and raised in Virginia, Suzanne embraced the Rocky Mountain west and lived her life with a pioneer's spirit and an artist's soul. Her diverse talents covered much ground.
She was preceded in death by her father, William B. Evans. She is survived by her husband, Brent; daughters, Bryce and Shane; sisters, Diane (Patrick) Boyle of Fairfax Station, Va.; Joanne (Michael) Lewis of Spring, Texas; Mariane (Rod) Owan of Chandler, Ariz; and Nancy Ann Evans of Billings; mother, Nancy Schlosser and stepfather, Larry Schlosser of Billings; stepbrother, Curtiss (Sandra) of Shepherd; and stepsisters, Trula (Dennis) Goll of Royal City, Wash.; Kim (Rod) Hoban of Shepherd; and Twila (Jim) Peters of Billings; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be conducted by the Rev. Sandra S. Bess at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 9, at the St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Albuquerque. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 97100, Dallas, TX 75397.
Casey Paul Jones
LEWISTOWN - Casey Paul Jones, 16, died Friday, Dec. 3, 1999, as a result of injuries sustained in a car accident.
Vigil services will be at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8, at St. Leo's Catholic Church. Funeral Liturgy will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, at St. Leo's Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Mount Calvary cemetery. Creel Funeral Home is in charge.
Perry L. Olson
FORSYTH - On Sunday, Dec. 5. 1999, we lost our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, Perry Olson.
Perry was born in Underwood, Minn., on Nov. 21, 1914, the son of Henry and Mary Watlov Olson. As a youngster, his family moved to Fairview, where he grew up and was educated.
On July 5, 1935, Perry married
the love of his life, Louise Seeder. Soon after their marriage, Perry and Louise moved to the Rosebud area where they engaged in farming and ranching for over 30 years. To this union were born three children; Gloria (Don) Coutts of Red Lodge. Richard (Virginia) Olson of Apache Junction, Ariz., and Wayne (Kathleen) Olson of Billings.
Perry was an active member of his community, serving on the FHA board and the Cartersvllle and Rosebud School boards for many years. He was always there for his friends, neighbors and family. His. steady, guiding hand will be sorely mind.
Perry was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 54 years, Louise, sisters, Daisy, Emily, and Betty, a brother Jesse, and grandson T.J.. Farris. He is survived by his three children, sisters, Alice, Helen and Pat, six grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will 2:p.m. Wednesday Dec. 8, 1999, at the Beals Mortuary Chapel. Interment to follow in the Forsyth cemetery. Beals Mortuary of Forsyth is assisting the family with these arrangements.
Maurice R. Kovar
LIVINGSTON - Maurice R. Kovar, 71, died Sunday, Dec. 5, 1999, at his home.
Cremation has taken place at Franzen-Davis Crematory. A procession will begin at 2:50 p.m. Graveside committal services will be 3 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8, at the veteran's section of Mountain View cemetery with military honors. Franzen-Davis Funeral Home is in charge.
Evelyn Braten Martin
CODY, Wyo. - Evelyn Braten Martin, 88, died Saturday, Dec. 4, 1999, at West Park Long Term Care Center.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, at Ballard Funeral Home. Cremation has taken place. Ballard Funeral Home is in charge.
Obert Sateren
MILES CITY - Obert Sateren, 89, died Monday, Dec. 6, 1999, at the Holy Rosary Extended Care.
Visitation will be held Thursday, Dec. 9, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home. Services will be held Friday, Dec. 10, at 10 a.m. in the Evangelical Church in Fallon. Graveside services will be held at 1:30 p.m. in the family lot at the Carlyle cemetery in Carlyle.
Andy Slovak
Andy Slovak, 85, passed away Saturday, Dec. 4, 1999, at Deaconess Hospital.
The son of Andrew and Susie Slovak, Andy was born Nov. 20, 1914, in Monarch, Wyo. He attended school in Monarch and Sheridan. Andy liked playing football in Sheridan. Baseball was also on of his favorites.
In 1934, he enlisted in the Navy and was stationed on the USS Houston as ships cook. He was discharged in May 1938. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Andy re-enlisted and was stationed at Guadalcanal as chief commissary steward.
Andy married
Peggy Wolney in Sheridan, Wyo., July 25, 1938. They moved to Billings and along with Andy's brother, Paul, started a drive-in restaurant called "City Drive Inn." Later, Andy's brother, John, joined the business and on Dec. 31, 1948, they opened "The Big Boy" on First Avenue South. They later branched out with two more drive-ins in Billings. Andy, along with his brothers, Paul and John, also became the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise holders in Montana.
Andy loved his family deeply. He is survived by three grandchildren, Christie Bach, Daryn Slovak and January Slovak; great-granddaughter, Cassie Breshears; and two brothers, Paul and John Slovak.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy, and son, Roger.
We will miss you very much Grandpa. We know you are with Grandma and Dad.
Remember the Golden Rule Andy, "He who has the gold, makes the rules."
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist Mortuary. Interment with military honors will follow at Mountview cemetery.
Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist has charge of arrangements.
Joy Evone Craven
COLSTRIP - Joy Evone (Kay) Craven, 71, formerly of Nebraska, died on Friday, Nov. 26, 1999.
Services were held at Lone Pine cemetery in Bigfork on Tuesday, Nov. 30. Bigfork Funeral Home was in charge.
MaryAnn Zinda
GLENDIVE -MaryAnn Zinda, 60, died on Saturday, Dec. 4, 1999, in Glendive.
Vigil service will be held at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 8, at the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Rite of Committal will be in the Dawson County cemetery. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive is in charge.
