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VICTOR EMANUAL LUCARA
Victor E. Lucara, 93, of Fromberg passed away Sunday morning, Dec. 29 after a short stay in Billings.
Born April 23, 1909 in Hartford, Ark., he was the son of Joseph and Anna Lucara of Tyrol, (Austria) Italy. Victor moved with his family to Red Lodge when he was eleven years old, and lived in Carbon County the remainder of his life except for a short time in 1928 when he and his older brother, John Richard, moved to Chicago to seek work during hard times and then again in September 2002 for assisted living in Laurel.
He married Lempi Amanda Rautio on Dec. 17, 1932 in Red Lodge. They were together 48 years when she passed away on April 9, 1981.
From 1935-1947, Victor worked for Ed Nordstrom and Wally Columbus at the Texaco station in Red Lodge. In 1948, he ran the Shell/’76 Station for five years for owner Harley Weydt. The ‘76 Station was most notable for two bear cubs that lived there for locals and visitors to enjoy. Victor then worked for the Mouat Mine for chrome until its close in 1957. He and his wife then moved from Red Lodge to heir home on five acres in Fromberg, and he worked for Fichtner Chevrolet in Laurel until retiring at age 65 in 1974.
Living through tough times, Vic maintained a genuine kindness and helped others when he could. He died knowing the repayment
for his hardships was the love of his family and the friendship of his neighbors.
Victor was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters Laverne and Catherine, and brother John Richard. Survivors include sister Elizabeth (Henry) Hodnik of Billings; brother Francis (Vivian) Lucara of Polson; daughter Marlene Lucara Donelson of Red Lodge; two sons Patrick (Karen) Lucara of Billings and Richard (Teri) Lucara of Brandon, Vt., 12 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at Dahl’s Funeral Home of Red Lodge at 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 11, 2003. Memorials may be made in Victor’s name to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Montana Division.
JUNE PAULINE SMITHURST
JOLIET – June Pauline Smithurst, loving Mom and Granny, went home to the Lord on Thursday, December 26, 2002. She was 68.
June was born on December 4, 1934 in Klondyke, Arizona, a daughter of Blanche and Seth Beals. She married Otto Cook on April 22, 1953. Three daughters, June, Rhonda and Mona were born to this union.
In 1979 she married Bob Smithurst, and they resided in California until his death. While there she established many friendships with her “bingo buddies.” June enjoyed writing poetry, and in 1988 won a national poetry award. In 1991 she moved to Montana to be closer to her family.
She was preceded in death by one daughter, June Thomas; her parents; two brothers and one sister.
Survivors include two daughters, Rhonda Best and Mona Peterson; son-in-law, Dallas Peterson; 12 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren; one brother, Lewey Beals; two sisters, Leona Meadows and Inez Cook; and brother-in-law, George Cook.
Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2002 in the Joliet Wesleyan Church. Interment was in the Joliet Cemetery, with Smith-Olcott Funeral Chapel of Red Lodge in charge of arrangements.
WILLIAM 'JIM' BRETZEL
Jim went to be with the Lord, Thursday, Dec. 19, surrounded by loved ones. He had fought a long, courageous battle with cancer.
Jim was born Oct. 31, 1925, to Frank and Frances Bretzel at the family homestead near Mill Iron. He was the youngest of eight children born to the family.
Jim farmed and ranched most of his lifetime, first at home with the family, then with various other ranchers, including seven years with Jack Baker.
In 1964, he purchased a place at Plevna which he later sold to his brother, Albert, in 1968. In the fall of that year he bought a ranch north of Big Timber, moving there in March of 1969.
It was there that he met his wife, Judith Mack Chapel, and they married on July 25, 1969.
Together, they ranched there until the spring of 1976, when they sold that ranch and bought a place in the Bridger-Belfry area. They have resided there since, with the exception of four years in Ballantine.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Frank, John, Charlie; and sister, Frances.
Survivors include his wife, Judy; step-daughters Linda Chapel McBride of Billings, Joyce Chapel Randles of Bridger; four grandchildren, Eric (Cory) Saltzman, Kevin McBride, Kim (David) Cook, L.J. Kirby; and seven great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a brother, Albert Bretzel of Miles City, and sister Mary Astrope of Wheatland, Wyo., plus several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Dec. 23 at the Calvary Baptist Church at Laurel. Burial followed at Rockvale Cemetery. Cremation or Funeral Gallery was in charge.
JOHN ROY SAUNDERS
JOLIET — John Roy Saunders, 87, of Joliet died peacefully Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2002 at his home with his family.
John was born Aug. 25, 1915 to Junie Bain Saunders and William Roy Saunders near Silesia. He graduated from Silesia Grade School, Joliet High School, Montana State University-Billings and Rocky Mountain College.
John married Theresa Ellen Schierenberg in Billings on Aug. 2, 1941.
He taught school for several years in Montana, from one-room country schools to high schools. During World War II he served as an instructor in the Naval Aviation School in Jacksonville, Florida.
After the war he returned to Montana with his wife Theresa and son Ted, where he bought a ranch near Arlee. He also worked as a trainman for the Milwaukee Railroad until they closed operations in Montana. He was a member of the American Angus Association for many years. They later sold the ranch at Arlee and moved to Joliet, where he enjoyed being close to his brothers and sisters. He also enjoyed spending time doing woodworking as well as photography.
His survivors include his wife of 61 years, Theresa; son, Theodore John Saunders and wife, Joanne and their children, Nancy and Katey; 2 great grandchildren; son Donald Roy Saunders and wife Vivian; son, Roger Keith Saunders and wife, Sheryle and their children, Kathryn and Nathan; sister, Aleatha McDonald; brother, Larry (Gene) Saunders and wife, Lou.
He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Betty Carol Saunders, brother L. Ken Saunders and sister, Francis Roberts.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6, 2003 at the Joliet Christian Church in Joliet, with interment in Joliet Cemetery.
MARY WARD DAVID
JOLIET — Mary David, 85, died January 1, 2003, at the ranch where she lived her entire life.
She was born on Elbow Creek, January 18, 1917, the first born child of four to Hallie Tinsley and Lester Ward of Joliet. Mary lost two brothers, Art and Glenn in the Second World War.
Mary graduated from Joliet High School and went to Billings Normal School, later named Eastern Montana College, to pursue a degree in education. She taught at Jackson School on Red Lodge Creek, Pryor Creek School, and Warren, Montana.
She married Russell David in Red Lodge on her 24th birthday. They made their first home in Warren, where Russell was superintendent of the quarry and Mary taught school in the one-room schoolhouse.
In 1946 they moved back to the ranch to raise sheep, cows and crops. The couple had two daughters, Glenda Marie and Beverly Jean, both born in Billings and raised on the ranch.
Mary was a lifetime member of the Joliet Christian Church where she served a treasurer for 30 years, a Sunday-school teacher and President of the Christian Workers for numerous terms. She also was a leader of the Joliet Wranglers’ 4-H Club, a member of the Joliet Women’s Club and a member of the Carbon County Wool-Grower’s Association.
Mary was an excellent seamstress and a wonderful cook who hosted numerous family dinners. She was and avid reader, Bible scholar and model grandmother.
She is survived by her two daughters, Glenda M. (John) Newman and Beverly (Jim) Braten; three grandchildren, David (Tara) Newman, Fort Drum, N.Y., and Ward and Wesley Braten, Joliet; two step-grandchildren, Heather Braten, Bozeman, and Michael ( Julie) Newman, Billings, and one brother, William (Lillian) Ward, Weaverville, N.C. Mary’s husband, Russell died January 5, 1995.
Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 9, 2003 in Joliet Wesleyan Church. Burial will follow in Joliet Cemetery. The family requests memorials be sent to, Beartooth Home Care, Box 590, Red Lodge, MT 59068.
ANNE TURNER
BRIDGER – Retired school teacher and rancher Anne Turner, 98, of Bridger, died Wednesday evening, January 1, 2003 at Twin Cottages Care Center where she had resided for the past four years.
Anne was born on February 7, 1904 in St. Thomas, North Dakota, a daughter of John R. McWilliams II and Mary Stewart McWilliams. She graduated from St. Thomas High School and Valley City Teacher’s College in North Dakota. She taught at Jordan, Montana, and later at various schools in Carbon County.
On November 8, 1930 she married Jess Thomas Turner in Red Lodge. She and her husband were involved in cattle ranching at Red Lodge and Bridger until retiring. They spent their retirement years in Bridger where Anne was active in the Senior Citizens. Mr. Turner died on September 2, 1985. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, John and Alex McWilliams; and five sisters, Marguerite McWilliams, Jean Porter, Ethel Hartji, Catherine Sand and Fossie McWilliams.
Survivors include two nephews, Charles McWilliams of Arvilla, N.D., and Stewart Sand of Coon Rapids, Minn.; two nieces, Charlene Barker of Big Lake, Minn., and Rita Shaver of Staunton, Va.; a sister-in-law, Ann Paine of Bridger; and her extended family at Twin Cottages Care Center in Bridger.
Funeral services were held Monday, January 6 in Bridger United Methodist Church. Interment was in the Bridger Cemetery beside her late husband. Smith-Olcott Funeral Chapel of Red Lodge was in charge of arrangements.
H. KEITH HAZEN
RED LODGE – H. Keith Hazen, 62, of Red Lodge died at his home on Friday evening. Keith was born in Powell, Wyo., on May 14, 1940, to Harvey and Thelma (Elton) Hazen.
He was raised and attended school in the Bridger area.
Keith married Bonnie Duncan and together they lived in Bridger and he worked at the rock quarry. Later he worked as a heavy equipment operator.
Some years later, Keith married Shirley Hazen and they lived in the Medicine Lake, Mont. area. For the past ten years, he had lived in Red Lodge.
Keith loved to fish and hunt. He was also a big fan of the Green Bay Packers.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include three daughters, Rene D. Kimball, of Sawyer, N.D., Cherie L. Hazen, of Tennessee and Terrie L. Miller, of Billings; three sons, Wesley K. Hazen, of Billings, and Andrew K. Hazen and Gerald L. Hazen, both of Medicine Lake; one brother, Ray Hazen, of Laurel; one sister, Gayla Hazen, of Frannie, Wyo.; and 10 grandchildren.
At Keith’s request, cremation will take place and no services will be held. Smith-Olcott Funeral Chapel of Red Lodge is in charge of the arrangement.
KURT MICHAEL EBEN
Kurt Michael Eben, 25, of Orlando, Fla., died Jan. 10, 2003 of injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident.
He was born Dec. 25, 1977 in Oak Harbor, Wash., to Wesley Karl and Barbara vonZurmuehlen Eben. Kurt grew up in Hardin, Mont., and graduated from Hardin High School in 1996.
He worked at Hardin True Value before moving to Red Lodge, Mont., where he became a ski tech and also helped construct the two quad-lifts at Red Lodge Mountain Ski Resort.
He trained to serve as a Big Horn County reserve sheriff’s deputy before joining the United States Marine Corps in 1998 where he graduated from MCRD San Diego with the highest honors. He was the Company Honor Man, first in his class of 602 marines, earned the coveted Board of Governors’ Leatherneck Award and the Navy League Outstanding Recruit Award along with a commendation from Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Charles C. Krulak. He proceeded to School of Infantry where he also graduated with honors and at the top of his class. He was selected to be a member of the prestigious Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon stationed at Marine Corps Barracks in Washington, D.C.
Cpl. Eben received an honorable discharge in July 2002. He then moved to Orlando to attend Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and pursue a career that would fulfill his love for motorcycles while allowing him to do what he did best; work with his hands.
His love of life was demonstrated in and by everything he did. He loved music, poetry, everything western, especially the mountains, and animals, particularly horses and dogs. While living in D.C., he took the time and risk to go and hug a city patrolman’s horse, he so missed their aroma. He loved young and old alike and had no trouble collecting friends of all ages and walks of life everywhere he went.
Besides friends, Kurt collected tools, knives and guns. He was an expert snow boarder and a skilled craftsman who mastered 18- and 24-strand braiding for the making of bullwhips. He loved hunting with his dad on a cold snowy morning and helping with a roundup or branding on any ranch that would let him come. He worked as hard as the men, even as a youngster, and when a tired crew finally gathered ‘round the table, he would go to the piano and play his favorite music at the time, Garth Brooks, to everyone’s delight.
He was a man of action, a loving son and brother, generous, tender hearted and strong-willed. His life was short, but also packed full of admirable accomplishments, interesting and enjoyable people, hard work, and lots and lots of fun.
His maternal grandparents, Hans Tormolen and Ursula vonZurmuehlen and his paternal grandfather Martin Richard Eben, preceded Kurt in death.
Survivors include his parents of Hardin; his sisters, Brietta “Berta” Eben of Billings and Kathryn “Shorty” Eben of Red Lodge; his grandmother, Marguerite Eben of Emporia, Kansas, and step grandmother, Charlene “Smokey” Tormolen of Early, Tex.; his uncles Dennis (Deborah) Eben of Littleton, Col., Hermann (Louise) Eben of Midland, Tex., Arved vonZurmuehlen of Dallas, Tex., and Victor (Kim) vonZurmuehlen of Austin, Tex.; his aunts Genice (Kenneth) Armstrong of Emporia and Rosemarie vonZurmuehlen of Austin; as well as his many cousins. He is also survived by his favorite friend, Allison Altheide of Silver Spring, Md., and the brothers of Semper Fidelis Motorcycle Club in Orlando to whom he always will be “Showtime.”
Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 25, 2003 at the Church of the Open Bible in Hardin. Interment with military honors will follow in the Hardin Fairview Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary has been entrusted with arrangements.
A memorial fund to promote motorcycle safety has been established. Memorials in Kurt’s name may be sent to the Foundation for Motorcycle Awareness, 1301 River Place Blvd., Suite 1500, Jacksonville, FL 32207-9000, or to the charity of one’s choice. A memorial to Kurt “Showtime” Eben also has been placed on the freeridersflorida.com website.
