Search Archived Marriage Records
James G. Lauwers
James G. Lauwers, 76, of Billings, died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2000, at St. Vincent Hospital after a courageous battle with cancer.
The son of J.J. "George" and Clara Lauwers, Jim was born Sept. 7, 1923 in Hedgesville, Mont. He graduated from high school there in 1943. During WWII, he served with the Army in the Philippines. Following his discharge he returned to Hedgesville, and farmed with his dad. In 1948, he attended Billings Business College, graduating with a degree in accounting in 1950.
He married
Roberta "Bobbie" Lauwers in Billings, Oct. 28, 1950. They made their home in Miles City where he worked for Miles City Mercantile. In 1962 they move to Billings and Jim started work in the audit department of Midland Bank. He retired from First Bank as assistant vice president in 1985.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Odd Fellows Star No. 41, Elks Lodge No. 394, and Rebekah Lodge No. 14.
Jim enjoyed working around his home, yard work, gardening, hunting, fishing and baby sitting his grandchildren. He also enjoyed riding quarter horses with his daughter for 25 years.
Survivors include his wife Roberta "Bobbie" Lauwers of Billings, three children, Sharon (Earl) Henderson and their children, Heidi and Megan; Richard (Cathy) Lauwers and their children Daniel, Julie, and Jason; Catherine (Robert) Culbertson and their children, Joshua and David; and granddaughter-in-law Trish Lauwers and great-grandson Devon, all of Billings. Also surviving are three sisters, Elza (Pete) VanOmmen of Fort Benton, Leona (Paul) VanOmmen of Judith Gap, and Alma (H. Lee) Bayne of Billings; his mother-in-law Mae Paddock and sister-in-law Barb Lauwers of Billings, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Mandell, sister-in-law MaeBelle Paddock, brother-in-law, Ralph Paddock and father-in-law Smith Paddock.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, at Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist Mortuary with interment in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Anna J. 'Annie' Rowe
Anna J. "Annie" Powers Rowe, 92, passed away Feb. 13, 2000, at St. Vincent Hospital of natural causes. She departed this life to join her heavenly father and loved ones in heaven. She was born April 25, 1907, in Butte, the daughter of Maurice and Mary (Murphy) Powers, Irish immigrants from County Cork, Ireland.
Annie grew up in Butte's Corktown and Dublin Gulch districts. She attended catholic schools and graduated from Girls Central in 1925. After the death of her father, she helped raise her younger brothers so her mother could work to support the family. She worked hard as a young woman in Butte at Gamer's, the Butte Grill, Thornton and Finlen Hotels.
While at the Finlen Hotel, she met her soon to be business partner and future husband, James H. Rowe. They forged a partnership pooling their savings and in 1928, they purchased Davey's Grill in Butte and transformed it into the Main Grill at 39 N. Main St. It was the second largest restaurant in Butte, and at age 22, Annie was the youngest restaurateur in Montana. Annie and Jim were married
in 1939, and together they began another business venture in Kalispell called the "Nu-Style Sandwich Shop and Drive-In" located on First Ave. West. For 20 happy years they enjoyed a thriving business.
They retired to Arizona in 1963 and then to California. They moved to Billings in 1970 to be close to their grandchildren. After her husband Jim passed away in 1983, Annie continued enjoying her family, friends, church and traveling, especially her trip to Ireland in 1990. She enjoyed driving to the senior citizens center to meet her friends and have lunch. She loved listening to Irish music and dancing to the old "big band" songs. She was very proud of the several ribbons she won in the 80 plus age group in the annual "Montana Women's Run".
She was preceded in death by her four brothers and one sister, her husband, and one of her twin daughters. Survivors include her daughter, Mary Anne (Mac) Souza of Billings, three grandsons, Jim (Teri), Jeff (Kate) and Rod (Brittney), three great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Annie's family will love and miss her always, and would like to thank all her friends and caregivers at Fraser apartments, Sage Tower and Primrose Personal Care Home.
Rosary vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, at St. Bernard's church. Funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, at St. Bernard's with burial following at Mount View cemetery.
Since Annie always enjoyed feeding her customers, friends and family, her family wishes any memorials be made to the Billings Food Bank or the Montana Rescue Mission.
Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist has charge of arrangements.
Island Lorene Soape
Island Lorene Soape was born to Georgia Suler (Powell) and James Albert Ivey in Mt. Pleasant, Texas, April 9, 1921. She fondly remembers picking cotton during the depression, along with her brothers and sister.
Island was united in marriage to Donese Soape April 22, 1937, in Texas, where they began their life together. They had a son, Glendelle Morgan Soape. The family traveled from place to place, following the oil rigs. No matter where they lived, Island gave their home her special touch. Every place looked like a million. She was a devoted wife, and mother.
Island and her husband, Donese, were successful oil contractors in Billings where they made their home. Island will be remembered by all for her generosity to all who knew her. She was always there to help her family and friends. Island also had great a sense of humor and always had people laughing. She loved to go shopping and take her friends and family out to eat. She also enjoyed the company of her special friend, Harry Fisher. Island maintained her dignity throughout her courageous battle against congestive heart failure.
She was preceded in death by her son in 1963, her husband, Don and her sister, Irene Williams,
She is survived by brothers, Arlin Ivey, James Ivey, R. Ray Suell; her granddaughters, Glenda Smith her husband, Rob, their children, Robert along with his wife, Julie and their son, Dawson; Mandy and Ashley Smith; Elizabeth Marie Soape, her daughter, Amy Elizabeth Soape-Allison; Denise Peterson, her children Jessica, Jennifer, and Walker.
Island will be buried in Phoenix along side her husband and son.
Visitation will be at 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. Funeral services will be Thursday at 7 p.m. at Dahl Chapel with reception to follow.
Michael Charles "Mike" Flotkoetter
Michael Charles "Mike" Flotkoetter, 36, of Billings, formerly of Miles City, passed away on Monday, Feb. 14, 2000, in Billings.
Mike was born on Feb. 10, 1964, in Miles City, the son of Bernard and Pauline Flotkoetter. He attended schools in Miles City and graduated from Custer County High School in 1983. Mike married
his sweetheart and best friend, Tracie McGowan, in 1983. They shared many happy years together at home, camping, the outdoors, business, and their love for each other and their children. Mike worked in the automobile business for 12 years.
Mike was actively involved with the Billings Bulls hockey team and BAHL Hockey League. Mike was a co-coach with Dave Martin. Mike enjoyed the boys, their ice skating and the challenge of the games. He was proud of the effort the boys put forth and especially proud of his son, T.J.
While in high school, Mike was a catcher for the Miles City Mavericks in the American Legion Baseball League. Mike continued his love of ball by coaching Amanda's softball team and coached the girls all the way to the city tournament. He was so proud of his daughter, Amanda. Paige was Mike's little sweetheart. Mike never missed a dance or an opportunity to take her shopping, out to lunch at McDonalds or at Chuck E. Cheese.
Mike and Tracie and the kids enjoyed picnics, camping, and fishing. Mike and T.J. had their hunting trophies. Mike was so well liked by all his friends and loved by all his relatives. Mike will be so greatly missed by everyone who was blessed to know him.
Mike was preceded in death by his father, Ben Flotkoetter and his grandmother, Palmera Dyba. Mike was a loved father, brother, and son. He is survived by his wife, Tracie; two daughters, Amanda and Paige, and a son, T.J., all of Billings; his mother, Pauline and her husband Elmer Deines of Glendive; three brothers: Bob Flotkoetter and his wife Sandy of Miles City; Jim Flotkoetter and his wife Vicki of Laurel; and Rick Flotkoetter of Miles City; his grandfather, Anton Dyba, a aunt, Norma and her husband Robert Tom and an uncle, Charles Dyba all of Miles City; three step-brothers: Gary, Allen and Leonard Deines, two step-sisters: Pam Pulse and Carol Gardner. In-laws: Charlie and Maggie McGowan of Billings, Al, Barbara and Casey Knopik of Buckley, Wash.; Terrie Door and Jeannette and David Demint all of Billings; Johnny and Marina McGowan of Kent, Wash., and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, in the Faith Chapel in Billings with Rev. Ron Todd officiating. A second service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 18, at in the Chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City with Father Gil Hemauer-Capuchin officiating. Interment will follow in the family lot in the Calvary cemetery in Miles City. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements.
In Lieu of flowers, please send memorials for the Flotkoetter children to Glacier Bank, P. O. Box 20597, Billings, MT 59104.
Mary Leona Ostler
DRUMMOND - Mary Leona Ostler, 91, formerly of Winnett, died Feb. 12, 2000. She is survived by a sister, Joella (Verland) Taylor of Kelly, Wyo.; son, Harold (Doris) Ostler of Helmville, Mont.; daughter, Mary (Hugh) Brindley of Winnett; daughters-in-law, Jennie Ostler of Sheridan, Mont., and Darlene Ostler of Cut Bank. Leona is also survived by 15 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren and a great-great-granddaughter.
Memorial services will be Saturday, Feb. 19, at 2 p.m., at the Drummond Branch of the LDS Church. Arrangements by Jewell Funeral Home in Deer Lodge.
Loralee Trapp
LEWISTOWN - Loralee Trapp, 59, died Sunday, Feb. 13, 2000, at her home of cancer.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Creel Funeral Chapel. Cremation has taken place.
Lowell Young
CULBERTSON - Lowell Young, 95, died Saturday, Feb. 12, 2000, in the Roosevelt Memorial Nursing Home.
Services will be at 10 a.m. (MST) in the Big Sky Church in Froid. Visitation will be on Wednesday for an hour before service time at the church. Burial will be in Hillside cemetery in Culbertson. Everson-Clayton Memorial Chapel in Culbertson is in charge.
Georgia Jo Bach
LEWISTOWN - Georgia Jo Bach, 74, died Sunday, Feb. 13, 2000, at her home of natural causes.
Memorial services will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Cloyd Chapel. Cremation has taken place.
Dr. Richard MacLean
SHERIDAN, Wyo. - Dr. Richard H. MacLean, 79, died Monday, Feb. 14, 2000, at his home.
Cremation has taken place. No services are scheduled. Ferries Funeral Home was in charge.
Mildred R. Smith
LEWISTOWN - Mildred R. Smith, 90, died Monday, Feb. 14, 2000, at Central Montana Skilled Nursing Center of natural causes.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in the Cloyd Chapel with burial to follow in the Lewistown City cemetery.
John C. Nicholson
SHERIDAN, Wyo. - John Chalmers Nicholson, 77, died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2000, at the Veterans Administration Hospital.
Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at Kane Funeral Home. Private interment will be held at a later date.
Selma 'Sam' Dellos
WORLAND, Wyo. - Selma Joan "Sam" Dellos, 54, died Monday, Feb. 14, 2000, at the Washakie Medical Center of cancer.
Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday before the funeral service at 11 a.m., all at the Bryant Funeral Home. Burial will be in Riverview Memorial Gardens cemetery.
Joseph 'Dude' Hutton
EKALAKA - Joseph "Dude" E. Hutton Sr., 75, died Monday, Feb. 14, 2000, at the Fort Meade Veterans Hospital in Sturgis, S.D.
Prayer service will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, at Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 19, at the Gospel Tabernacle Church with burial in the IOOF cemetery.
Lloyd 'Smitty' Smith
THERMOPOLIS, Wyo. - Lloyd "Smitty" Smith Sr., 79, died Monday, Feb. 14, 2000, at Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, at Riverside cemetery. Mortimore Funeral Home is in charge.
Joan Margaret Miller
EDMONDS, Wash. - Joan Margaret Miller, daughter of Donald and Margaret Curtis, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2000, in Edmonds from complications of emphysema.
Joan was born Dec. 17, 1927, and raised in Winona, Minn. She attended McAllister College and was later employed at the Mayo Clinic.
She married
her husband, Bruce in 1948. Over the next 52 years together, they enjoyed their family and many friends in Beach and Bowman, N.D., Glendive, Chester, Chinook, Great Falls, and Butte, Mont. After retiring and moving to Edmonds, Joan enjoyed pursuit of her artistic interests, creating unique hand-painted gifts through which she made many more friends throughout the entire northwest.
Joan is survived by her husband of 52 years, Bruce K. Miller, and their children, Curt and Jo Miller of Tyrone, Ga., Jeff and Sue Miller of Helena, Mont., and Julie and Bob Layton of Snohomish, Wash.; her brother, Jack Curtis of Milwaukee, Wis.; ten grandchildren, two very special aunts, Margaret Stokke and Ruth Jean Waltz of Winona. Her daughter, Barbara preceded her in death in 1980.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, Feb. 17, 2000, at 2 p.m. in Beck's Funeral Home, 405 5th Ave. S., in Edmonds. Private cremation followed by interment in Great Falls, Mont. The family suggests remembrances in Joan's name be given to the American Lung Association, 2625 3rd Ave., Seattle, WA 98121 or the charity of your choice.
Charles Howard Whitlock
POWELL, Wyo. - Charles Howard Whitlock, 93, of Powell, passed away Feb. 2, 2000, in the Powell Nursing Home. Charles was born Feb. 28, 1906, at Gobel, Ark., the son of James (Will) and Carrie Whitlock. He attended school in Oklahoma and later went into the oil field work.
Charles married
Margueritte Ward July 15, 1925, in Denver. He worked on the rigs and drilled for oil or water across most of the southwestern states. They finally settled in 1957 in Powell where they made their home so they could be near their children and grandchildren.
Charlie was preceded in death by his mother and father, two brothers, five sisters, three sons and on daughter.
The survivors include his wife of 74 years, Margueritte; four sons, Howard and wife, Barbara of Jackson, Miss., Jerry of San Francisco, Jack and wife, Darlene of Casper, Joyce and husband, Ben Keller of Powell; 22 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at the Presbyterian Church with the Rev. David Hunter officiating. Interment was held at the Crown Hill cemetery. Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements.
Margaret (Standing Elk) Fighting Bear
BIRNEY - Margaret was born on Nov. 10, 1924, in Birney, Mont. She departed from this earth on Feb. 13, 2000, leaving behind all of her loved ones. She was hospitalized at Deaconess Medical Center where she was admitted on Jan. 30, due to a short illness and died of natural causes.
She was the daughter of Alec and Nora (Redneck) Standing Elk. Margaret united in marriage with Herbert Fighting Bear on October 1941 in Birney where they made a home and raised their children. Margaret has been a mother, housewife, and homemaker all of her life and her home was always open to everyone especially to her children, grandchildren and relatives. In her early years, she attended Birney Day School and later transferred to Tongue River Boarding School. She completed the eighth grade at Birney Day.
Her parents preceded her in death and her three daughters, Kay, Deloris and Serena; one son, Robert Fighting Bear; three brothers, Wayne, Jordan and Melvin; three sisters, Sally Standing Elk-Goggles, Rita and Darlene Standing Elk.
Survivors include her loving husband of 58 years, Herbert; two daughters, Marie (Herbert) Bearchum and Nathel (Harry II) Littlebird; three sons, Roy of Santa Fe, N.M., Homer (Mary) Sr. of Riverton, Wyo., and Ronald of Birney; two sisters, Nancy Whitedirt of Muddy Creek, Freda Standing Elk of Birney; her beloved 34 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and her special aunt and beloved friend, Sylvia Elkshoulder of Birney, many cousins and numerous nieces and nephews.
Wake service will be held at Herbert's residence Wednesday evening beginning at 7 p.m. Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. at Rusty Locker Hall in Birney. Rausch Funeral Home of Lame Deer is in charge of the arrangements.
We wish to thank the doctors, nurses and all medical staff for their care to our sister, mother, and grandmother.
Helen L. Brown
Helen L. Brown died Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2000, at her home at the Vista at Mission Ridge. She was born north of Hysham to Clara and Otto Kolb.
Helen was raised in the Hysham area, graduating from Hysham High in 1938. She then attended Billings Business School. After working for a short time at Pierce Packing Co. in Billings, she returned to Hysham to work for the newly organized REA as a bookkeeper. Her allegiance to the REA never faltered throughout her lifetime.
Helen married
Ralph W. Brown on Nov. 15, 1945. They moved to Ralph's home place at Pompeys Pillar to farm in 1948. She dedicated her life to helping Ralph and caring for their two children, David and Vivian.
After Ralph's death in 1970, Helen went back to Billings Business College for a refresher course. She worked the bookkeeping department at Streeter Brothers for 13 years until her retirement in 1983. Helen sold the farm in 1979 and moved to Billings. She moved to Mission Ridge in 1998.
Family was very important to Helen who often hosted the holiday dinners. She loved gardening, especially her roses. Her cinnamon rolls for birthday presents will be remembered by many. She took great pride in her grandchildren and their accomplishments and enjoyed spending time with them. She attended First Presbyterian Church while she was able and enjoyed the many activities in which she participated.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband Ralph; her son Dave; and her brother, Leslie. Survivors include her daughter, Vivian and her husband, Michael Zabrocki of Billings and their children Brandon, Mark and John; her daughter-in-law, Marcia Brown of Butte and her children Mac of Seattle, Wash., and Meredith; her brothers, Clarence Kolb and his wife, Ethel, Raymond Kolb and his wife, Lillian all of Hysham, and Robert Kolb and his wife, Marty of San Diego, Calif.; her sisters, Agnes Engle of Hysham and Lois Oman and her husband, Jerry of Wawa, Pa.; her sister-in-law, Nancy Kolb of Billings; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will begin Thursday at Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 21, at Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist with interment to follow in Pleasantivew cemetery, Ballantine. Memorials may be directed to Big Sky Hospice, P.O. Box 35033, Billings, MT 59107-5033.
