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Rosemary Bailey
Rosemary Bailey, 76, of Billings, passed away Thursday afternoon, July 20, 2000, at St. Vincent Hospital.
Rosemary was born in Dickinson, N.D., on Aug. 7, 1923, a daughter of George and Minnie Dukart. She was raised and educated in Dickinson and on June 14, 1948, married
Robert James “Bob” Bailey in Wibaux, Mont. In 1950, the Baileys moved to Billings where they lived the rest of their lives.
Mrs. Bailey was a wonderful homemaker and mother. She enjoyed meeting new people and spending time with old friends. Quiet time was spent doing needlework, crocheting or knitting.
Survivors include her sons, Bob and Rick Bailey of Billings; a daughter, Margo Johnson of Oregon; a brother, Bill Dukart; three sisters, Ann Huschka, Bernetta Seeberger, and Jean Boggess; seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Rose-mary was preceded in death by her husband in 1990, two brothers and one sister.
Visitations will begin Tuesday afternoon at the Smith Downtown Chapel. On Thursday, July 27, Rosemary will be moved to the Smith West Chapel, 304 34th St. W., for a 10 a.m. funeral service. Interment will follow in Mountview cemetery with a reception to follow at the Smith West Chapel hospitality room.
Leonard Verne Bailey
Leonard Verne Bailey passed away Saturday, July 8, 2000. He was born in Miller, S.D., March 25, 1929, a son of William and Florence Bailey. The family moved to Billings in 1938. Leonard graduated from Billings Senior High in 1947. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1948-1952. On Oct. 27, 1951, he married
Rosemary Collins. Leonard worked in the Billings City Engineering Dept., retiring in 1991.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Rosemary; daughter, Mary Kathleen; his parents and his brother, Melvin. Leonard is survived by his son, Leonard (Rod) Bailey and his friend, Donna Orr of Billings; brother, Alvin (Karol) Bailey of Billings; sisters, Evelyn (Earl) Taylor of Billing, Irene (Gene) Hopkins of Bremerton, Wash., Anita (George) Stowell of Shelton, Wash., and Virginia Kopsa of Sacramento, Calif. Also surviving are three grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Cremation has taken place. Interment will take place at a later date. A memorial service will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 26, at the VFW Post No.6774 located at 637 Anchor St.
Kathleen “Kathy” Boyce
BOZEMAN – Funeral services for Kathleen “Kathy” (Christensen) Boyce, of Bozeman, will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, 2000, at The Church of the Nazarene in Sidney, Mont. Pastor Art Fish of Billings, Mont. and Pastor Rick Run will officiate. Interment will be in the Sidney cemetery, under the direction of Fulkerson Funeral Home of Sidney.
Kathleen was born July 5, 1949 in Sidney, to parents Arthur and Mary Ann (Pfau) Christensen. She grew up and attended schools in Crane, Mont. before attending Sidney High School. After high school Kathy worked at the A&W in Sidney. She also helped her sister Diana. On April 23, 1970, she was united in marriage to Robert Boyce at the Pella Lutheran Church in Sidney. They made their home in Sidney where Kathy operated a Child Daycare out of her home. She was also very active in the Nazarene Church in Sidney. In 1987, they moved to Montrose, Colo., where Kathy started in the foster care program. In 1993, the family moved to Bozeman, where they have lived since. Kathy’s husband Bob had been working in Calif., which gave Kathy an opportunity to be with family.
Kathy’s very special joy was her husband and children. She was proud that she was able to home school them. She also enjoyed crafts and crocheting. Kathy enjoyed reading especially in her Bible. She especially appreciated all her many friends at the Northern Rockies Cancer Center in Billings.
Kathleen died Thursday, July 20, 2000, in Vacavilie, Calif., following a ten year struggle with cancer.
Survivors include her husband, Robert Boyce of Bozeman; three sons, Gerald, Joel and Benjamin Boyce all of Bozeman; two daughters, Laura (Dave) Furniss of Belgrade, and Jennifer Boyce of Bozeman; three brothers, Bill (Kathy) Christensen of Simms, Fred (Sheila) Christensen of Choteau and Wes (Cathy) Christensen of Medford, Okla.; three sisters, Bonnie (Keith) Osborne of Sidney, Diana (Harold) Westover and Mary Ellen (David) Smith of Vacaville, Calf.
Kathy was preceded in death by her parents.
Robert J. Boyd
ANACONDA – Funeral Mass for Mr. Robert J. Boyd, retired District Judge of Anaconda, will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday morning, July 27, at Holy Family Catholic Church, with Father John Murray as celebrant. Interment will be in Mt. Olivet cemetery with military honors. The vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 26, at. at the Holy Family Church. The Wake/visitation will be Wednesday from 6-8 p.m. Cremation has taken place.
He died in Anaconda on Saturday afternoon, July 22, 2000, surrounded by his family.
Bob was born on July 18, 1923, in Anaconda, the only son of George F. and Anna F. (Fagan) Boyd. He spent his early years in Anaconda, graduating from Anaconda High School in 1941, before enlisting in the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He served from 1942-1945, participating in the Rhineland campaign.
Upon returning home, he enrolled at Montana State University in Bozeman where he not only received his degree in electrical engineering but also found the love of his life, Carol Kelly. He then went on to the University of Notre Dame where he received his JD in law. He married
Carol on Aug. 26, 1950, in St. Helena’s Cathedral. After a brief stop in Kalispell, they moved to Anaconda where they resided for the rest of their lives. Their marriage was blessed with seven children.
Bob spent the rest of his working career in the Anaconda/Deer Lodge valley working as a lawyer in practice with John N. Radonich, deputy county attorney (under Irving Pearson), county attorney, and finally as Montana district judge for Deer Lodge, Powell and Granite Counties, until he retired in 1981. As a “retired” judge, he continued presiding in courts around Montana, assisting other judges when needed until his death.
His interests included hunting, fishing, traveling, his children, and most especially, his grandchildren. Small triumphs were major achievements in “Poppa’s” eyes. A more devoted husband, father, or grandfather could not be found. He especially enjoyed being surrounded by family and friends at his Georgetown Lake cabin.
Memorials are requested to PCA Family Enrichment, AOH Scholarship Fund, the Discovery House and/or donor’s choice.
He is survived by his children and their spouses and grandchildren, Catherine and Robert Sullivan of Orland Park, Ill., Cara and Conor; Patrick and Rhonda Boyd of Billings, and Leigh Shelle, Lauren and Lacey Hunt; Theresa and Don Fischer of Alexandria, Va., and Dennis and Julie; Mary and Terry Hybner of Rudyard, and Markus, David, Colleen and Brian; Ellen Boyd of Carson City, Nev., Barbara and Greg Roberts of Kenmore, Wash., and Conor and Keenan; Michael and Cristi Boyd of Anaconda, and Cassie, Kelly and Eric; his sister, Ruth Boyd of Anaconda; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Patrick and Terry Kelly of Briaroliff Manor, N.Y., Jack Kelly of Pittsboro, N.C., and Dr. Michael Kelly of Dana Point, Calif.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Carol, in 1997, and his parents, George (1966) and Anna Boyd (1981).
“Poppa, you taught us well and showed us the way. The love, honor, and respect you’ve given can now be the pillow you rest on in heaven. We all love you dearly, the pain now is gone. One last favor, say ‘We love you’ to mom. We’ll miss you very much, ” your children.
Cremation and services are under the care of the KT Riddle Funeral Homes, Anaconda.
Marion Case
LIVINGSTON – Marion Case, 74, died Sunday, July 23, 2000, at Livingston Memorial Hospital.
Cremation has taken place at Franzen-Davis Crematory. Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, July 27, at the Absaroka Heights Baptist Church. Graveside committal of cremains will follow at the Shorthill cemetery in Paradise Valley.
Louise L. Castles
PORTLAND, Ore. – Louise L. Castles, 89, former Montana resident, died July 15, 2000.
A memorial service was held at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 22, at First Presbyterian Church. Interment will be at Lincoln Memorial Park, cremation has taken place.
Jack Conway
Jack Conway, born Oct. 26, 1936, passed away to join the great spirits July 23, 2000. He was the son of Dave and Jessie Conway and was born and raised in Yerrington, Nev. Jack’s career of truck driving brought him to Montana in 1975. He marring Clara Dolder in May 1977.
Survivors include his wife, Clara; step-children, Jana Paulson, Alan MacFarlane, Christie (Marvin) Whitaker; three grandchildren; one great-grandson; and his special child, April Lynn Little Light; two brothers, Lawrence and Harvey Conway of Yerrington; several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Jessie; two sisters, Marie and Francis.
A memorial gathering will be held July 26 at 239 Reda Lane from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Cora Bricker George
Cora Lucille Bricker George, 92, formerly of Roscoe and Absarokee, passed away Saturday, July 22, 2000, at Beartooth Manor in Columbus, Mont.
Cora was born to Charles Bricker and Lavina Viola Crawford Bri-cker on Jan. 11, 1908, in Bloomington, Ill. Vi-ola, Cora, and Cora’s brothers – Wesley and Willard – lived in Oklahoma City, Los Angeles, Columbus, Absarokee and Roscoe. They farmed around the Columbus and Absarokee area and operated a restaurant in Columbus for a short time. Cora attended schools in White Bird, Shane Creek, and Columbus. She graduated from Columbus High School in 1928.
Cora married
Marion B. George on June 6, 1932, at the Christian Church in Billings. They farmed with Marion’s parents, John and Jessie George, on the JG Ranch during the Depression and spent a year in Phoenix, before coming back to Absarokee, where they purchased George’s Tower Service Station. Cora and Marion operated the service station as partners, and they both waited on customers and pumped gas. They raised four children: Delores (Jim) Haslip of East Helena, Howard (Joan) George of Worden, Charles (Jan) George of Frenchtown, and Thomas (El Vera) George of Roscoe.
In 1965, Cora and Marion began a “working retirement” at the JG Ranch. Cora’s mother, Viola, lived with them and was their “right hand man.” Although they very much missed their loyal and wonderful customers, they enjoyed their years at the ranch. Following Marion’s death in 1989, Cora resided at the JG Ranch until 1994, when she took up residency at the Beartooth Manor. Tom still works the JG Ranch. They loved the outdoors, working the soil, and caring for their livestock. Cora and Marion loved visits from their family, including grandchildren Karen Haslip Chadwick, Bill Haslip, Kathy Haslip Griffin, Heidi Haslip Martin, Steve George, Sharon George, Sandra George Klawitter, Kimberly George, Kristy George, and John George, and great-grandchildren Patrick Chadwick, Jonathan Chadwick, Stacy Haslip, Christine Haslip, Natalie Griffin, Lauren Griffin, Claire Griffin, Jeremy Martin, Gordon Martin, Sarah George, Aspen Klawitter, Bailey Klawitter, and Lexi Klawitter.
Cora was a wonderful cook and was always busy and helpful. She was very generous with everything she had and gave away children’s clothes she sewed and vegetables she canned herself. She sold eggs for 25 cents a dozen on the honor system: Help yourself from the refrigerator on the back porch. Cora was very frugal and was an expert on recycling before anyone had ever heard of “environmentalists.” Cora was never interested in material things for herself but was a source of great encouragement and influence with respect to her children’s and grandchildren’s educational and musical endeavors.
Cora was preceded in death by her parents, Viola and Charles Bricker; her brothers, Wesley and Willard Bricker; and her husband, Marion.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 26, at Community Congregational Church, Absarokee, Mont., Reverend Michael O’Hearn officiating. Interment will follow at the Roscoe cemetery. The family requests that, instead of flowers, memorials may be given to the Roscoe Community Center, the Community Congregational Church in Absarokee, or the Cobblestone Preservation Committee. Olcott Funeral Chapel of Red Lodge is in charge of arrangements.
Ed Kreitel
EKALAKA – Ed Kreitel, 66, died on July 23, 2000, at the Holy Rosary Health Care Center in Miles City.
A prayer service will be held Wednesday, July 26, at 7:30 p.m. in the Stevenson Funeral Home Chapel in Ekalaka. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 27, in the Carter County High School Gymnasium. Interment will follow in the I.O.O.F. cemetery with military honors.
Marion Lillian Morrill
SHERIDAN, Wyo. – Marion Lillian Morrill, 96, died on Tuesday, July 18, 2000, at the Sheridan Manor.
There will be no services. Interment will take place in Lebanon, N.H., at at later date. Kane Funeral Home is in charge.
Everett Melby
PLENTYWOOD – A funeral service for Everett Melby, 95, will be held at 2 p.m. (North Dakota time) Friday, July 28, 2000, at the United Methodist Church in Grenora, N.D., Pastor Patricia Mersch will officiate and burial will be at the Grenora cemetery. Everett passed away Sunday morning, July 23 at LaCasa Personal Home Care Center in Plentywood.
Everett was born Jan. 2, 1905, in Osnabrock, N.D., the eldest son of Oscar and Nellie (Palmer) Melby. He came to Montana with his parents in 1909, where they filed on a homestead in the East Coalridge Community. He started helping his dad farm when he was nine years old and continued farming until his retirement in 1977. Everett married
Ruby Nelson on June 17, 1935, and they had three children. Ruby passed away in 1977.
Besides farming, Everett worked for awhile on WPA at Fort Peck and other odd jobs. He was a school board member for a number of years, was a member of the Farmers Union Local and Grenora Methodist Church.
In 1980, Everett married
Annetta Nustad at Downey, Calif. She was originally from Grenora, N.D., and they moved back there and were actively involved with the Senior Citizens Center. During his lifetime, some of his favorite activities were camping, fishing; he was a rock hound, loved antiques and antique farm machinery. Due to declining health, Everett and Annetta moved to LaCasa Personal Care in Plentywood, Mont., in the fall of 1996, where they have lived since.
Everett is survived by his wife, Annetta of Plentywood; son, Vernon and his wife, Nona of Dagmar, Mont.; daughters, Lucille Larson of Stanchfield, Minn., and Linda Severson and her husband, Gordon of Flaxville, Mont.; stepson, Curtiss Nustad and his wife, Joyce of Victorville, Calif. Also surviving are a brother, Albert Melby of Dagmar, a sister-in-law, Hettie Melby, also of Dagmar; seven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren; three step-grandsons and seven step-great-grandchildren; and many nephews and nieces. Everett is preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Ruby; brother, George; sister, Esther Lipscomb; brother-in-law, Henry Lipscomb; and son-in-law, Lawrence Larson.
William Patrick Murphy
The angels must have danced in heaven on March 9, 1920, for that was the day that Cecilia and Lee Murphy brought Wil-liam Patrick Murphy into the world. They could not have known how much kindness and joy he would share with so many until his death at 80, July 23, 2000.
The Murphys lived in Geraldine for a short time, and then moved to several places in Gallatin County before buying their own place in Moffit Gulch near Bozeman. There they raised cattle and kids. Bill was a menace on the Gallatin High School Hawk football team as a standout tackle. His opponents were glad to see him graduate in 1938.
Handsome Bill Murphy was the most sought after bachelor in the area, but he refused all except Marie Brooks. (At two years his senior, he often claimed that she lured a younger, naive boy.) Marie Brooks and Bill Murphy were married
at Holy Rosary church on Nov. 30, 1940. Bitsy and Bud were born while the family lived at Chestnut, eight miles east of Bozeman. While at Chestnut, Bill was drafted by the U.S. Army and defended our country in World War II. He was a member of the Seventh Division, 184th Infantry, nicknamed “the Bloody Butchers of the Pacific” by Tokyo Rose. He was sent to Okinawa and was involved in the fiercest battle in the Pacific, the battle that ultimately ended the war in Asia. He was given the Purple Heart Medal, awarded for the serious wounds he sustained in battle. Only after his release from the hospital did he learn that he was the lone survivor from the platoon he estimated had 50 men. He never knew why he was saved. We, his family members, certainly knew. He was one of the men who saved the world. Our dad was a shy war hero, but a big time hero nonetheless. Pain from his war wounds remained with him for over 50 years. After the war, he was a member of the American Legion Post No. 14, and the VFW Post 903.
When dad returned from the war, he swore he would never leave Montana again. Except for a trip to Portland to watch his Little League State champion son, Tim, pitch in the regional tournament, he stood by that promise. With the possible exceptions of Yankee Stadium, Butte, and Notre Dame, dad firmly believed that true civilization ended at the Gallatin County line. Belgrade was highly suspect, however.
After the war, Bill sold groceries to the small stores in the Bozeman area for the Gamble Robinson Company. Don and Tim were added to the family. Eventually, he bought and ran The Dairy Store, our family grocery store on East Main. He also tended bar at times to give us extra money, and was a member of the Teamsters Union Local No. 2, and the Bartenders Union. Eventually, Dad worked for the Park Department of the City of Bozeman until he retired.
His wife, Marie, was the love of his life and his best friend for 56 years. Bitsy, Bud, Don, and Tim were his treasure. By no means were we his only kids. It seemed at times that our parents helped raise half the young people in Bozeman. Kids with problems at home stayed anywhere from a night to a year. Mom and Dad also fed many others. We shared our Dad with those who didn’t have one. Dad had no interest in money. He chose to invest in kids.
Bill thoroughly enjoyed sports. He was a great fan of the Rosary Bulldogs, the Bozeman Hawks, the MSU Bobcats, and any little kid who put on a uniform. The delight of his soul, however, was the New York Yankees, an acquired pa-ssion learned from his wife, Marie. They rewarded him with 25 World championships.
Bill was kind, brilliant, witty, proud, tough, stubborn, charming, mischievous, and Irish. He was a Montanan, a Catholic, a liberal, and a Roosevelt-Truman-Kennedy Democrat. He had no use for conservatives who constantly complained about how terrible they thought the country he fought for had become. He was also a fiercely loyal friend, husband, and world-class father. His twinkling blue eyes hid 50 years of physical pain caused by an incredible number of ailments. He never had a bad day. Some were better than others. None were bad. He was a textbook case on how to live a difficult life well, with dignity, and an enormous sense of humor. He was an inspiration to all who knew him. Many told us they wish he had been THEIR dad. We Murphys got first choice.
Bill was preceded in death by his bride of 56 years, Marie; his parents; brothers, Don (World War II), and Cecil; and nephews, Mike and Pat Murphy, who passed away some years ago. Other deceased family members include mother-in-law, Lizzie Brooks; father-in-law, Jim Brooks Sr.; sister-in-law, Ora Brooks; brother-in-law, Ray Brooks; niece and nephew, Sharon and Joe Brooks; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and loyal friends.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Bitsy and Junior DeGidio of Bozeman; son, Jim (Bud) Murphy of Billings, his kind and loving son, Don, who took care of him; and his Yankee buddy son, Tim, both of Bozeman. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Debi DeGidio, and Dean Degidio and his wife, Kim; and three great-grandchildren, Cherice, Vito, and Karina DeGidio.
We, Murphys, are heart-broken that we won’t be able to share the fun and wisdom of our Dad anymore, but all those years of pain took their toll on the big heart of our best friend. No Coyote Ridge for him; God has something much better in mind. We all realized that he was merely on loan from Mom, and it’s now time to give him back. Mom once said, “You just can’t imagine what it could do to a young girl to see that Bill Murphy riding proudly on that big horse, Spooks, as he came over the peak from Moffit Gulch and down into Chestnut. You just can’t imagine it.” Well, saddle up, Wild Bill, Mom’s been waiting and she’s no doubt lonesome, too. Good luck, and tap ’er light. That ride should be spectacular in heaven.
In lieu of flowers, those who wish to do so, may donate to the Bozeman Little League baseball program in Bill Murphy’s name. Please send all correspondence to Bozeman Youth Baseball, 1611 W. Koch, Ste. 32, Bozeman, MT 59771.
Prayer Vigil will take place at Dokken-Nelson Sunset Chapel, 113 S. Willson Ave. at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 25, 2000. Friends who plan to attend the funeral, should wear comfortable, casual clothes in response to the hot weather. Dad would highly approve of that.
Funeral Mass will be held at Resurrection Parish at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 26th. Interment will follow in Sunset Hills cemetery.
Michael (Mike) Schwartzenberger
TOWNSEND – Michael (Mike) Schwartzenberger, 68, died at home on July, 22, 2000.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 27, at Connors Funeral Home in Townsend.
Judy A. Stricker
CODY – Judy A. Stricker, 56, passed away Sunday, July 23, 2000, at West Park Hospital in Cody. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 27, at Central Church of Christ in Gering, Neb. Local services are pending.
Marie Webber
POWELL, Wyo. – Marie Webber, 85, died Monday, July 24, 2000, at the Powell Hospital.
Visitation will be on Wednesday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home. Funeral services will be on Thursday, 2 p.m., at the Deaver Methodist Church, Deaver, Wyo. Interment will follow in the Deaver cemetery.
