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GEORGE COOK
JOLIET - George Cook, 71, of Joliet died Sunday, May 4, 2003, at his home.
He was born November 17, 1931 at Byers, Texas, the son of Albert and Zula Ellen (Goodin) Cook. George served in the U. S. Army during the Korean Conflict.
He married Inez Bartee on December 3, 1955 in New Mexico. George and Inez worked together as an over the road truck driving team until retiring in 1996. They moved to Joliet in May 1996 to be near their daughter, Vicki.
Survivors include his wife, Inez, of Joliet; three sons, Rich and Wayne of Texas and Duane of Arizona; two daughters, Vicki (Chuck) Schlosser, of Joliet, and Connie Johns of Texas; an adopted son, Jeff Webster; two brothers, Otto Cook of Ohio and Albert Cook of Arizona; two sisters, Hazel and Edna of Arizona; 21 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
George was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Pernie Cook and Tommy Cook, and one sister, Anna Belle.
No services are planned. Smith-Olcott Funeral Chapel of Red Lodge was in charge of cremation.
ESTHER E. MILLER
Esther Elizabeth Branger Miller of Roscoe, passed away April 28, 2003, at the home of her daughter, Merrilen. Born to John and Margaret Branger on June 14, 1921 at the Wigen family homestead near Roscoe, Esther was the eldest of three children. She attended Roscoe Grade School and Absarokee High School, where she was an outstanding center on the girls’ basketball team, graduating in 1939.
Raised in the East Rosebud Canyon, Esther inherited a love for ranch life and horses, and became a strong supporter of rodeo. In her youth, she was a member of the Red Lodge Quadrille team and also participated in steer-riding at the Red Lodge 4th of July Rodeo. With the assistance of Alan Woosley and Jim O’Rourke, Esther revived the State District 4 High School Rodeo in 1958. She never missed an opportunity to attend a rodeo where any member of her family was competing, whether it was the National Finals Rodeo, the Broken Horn Stampede, or at Ingomar. Esther only missed one Red Lodge Rodeo in her entire life.
After an extended horseback courtship, Esther married Merrill Miller at the lodge of the family’s historic T-O Bar Ranch. They became parents of three children: Eddie, Merrilen, and Branger. They lived on the Lazy EL Ranch for 20 years, then reluctantly left Esther’s cherished East Rosebud Canyon for a new home down the valley.
After her husband Merrill’s death in 1990, Esther returned to Roscoe where she purchased back the Branger family cabin, which she restored and resided in until her death. This cabin, a gathering place for friends and family, was synonymous with Esther’s hospitality. She became a rural mail carrier, taking on the route from Absarokee to East Rosebud Lake, where she could once again marvel at the beauty of her beloved mountains.
Esther’s talents were many and her interests unending. The skill of creative quilting, knitting, and upholstery learned from her Grandmother Wigen, is evident in her beautiful creations. She was an avid reader and bridge player, and enjoyed playing the piano and collecting art. She never found a house she couldn’t remodel or a picture she couldn’t re-hang. Esther was a member of the Roscoe Community Club, the Stillwater Historical Society, the J.K. Ralston Studio, the Roscoe Bridge Club, and of Stillwater St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where she was Lay Eucharistic Minister.
At 81 years young, Esther Branger Miller was a colorful and prominent personality in the Roscoe area. Through her warmth, her story-telling and her sense of humor, she has left a legacy of charm and enthusiasm for life that will never fade from the hearts of those who knew and loved her.
She is survived by her sister, Rosina Hash; her three children, Eddie (Karen), Merrilen, and Branger; her five grandchildren, Matt, Luke, Megan, Morgan, and Peter; great-grandchildren Mary, Clay, and MacKinzy; and by cousins Virginia Mackay, Kathryn Kern, David Branger, Chris (Sybil) Branger, and Clarice Schrumpf. Esther includes Chuck Melaney and Jane Bishop Palmer as part of her family of children. She was preceded in death by her husband Merrill, by her parents and by her brother John.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services were held at the Roscoe Community Center on Thursday, May 1. Interment will be conducted at a later family gathering. Memorial donations may be sent to Roscoe Community Center, Roscoe, MT 59071.
KATHERINE L. (KUCERA) KRACAW
RED LODGE – Katherine L. (Kucera) Kracaw, 60, of Red Lodge, formerly of Laurel, passed away Monday, May 5, 2003 following an 8-month illness. She was born on January 31, 1943 in Billings, Mont. to Edwin and Ellen (Reardon) Kucera of Laurel.
Kathy grew up in Laurel attending and graduating from Laurel Public Schools. Following high school she attended Billings Business College for one year. She later moved to Sacramento, Calif. where she worked for the California State Dept. of Motor Vehicles. While there she met and married Michael A. Kracaw, who was serving in the U.S. Navy at the time. Following service obligations they remained in California until 1968 when the family returned to Montana. They stayed in Montana until 1971 when the moved to Iowa. They subsequently moved to Wisconsin where they remained until August 2002, when they returned to Montana, retiring to Red Lodge.
She was preceded in death by her parents Edwin and Ellen Kucera, and a brother, Anthony E. Kucera.
Kathy was wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many. She will be greatly missed by all. Kathy enjoyed her family and friends as well as numerous crafts, hobbies and travel.
Kathy is survived by her husband, Mike, children and grandchildren; a son Kurtis M. Kracaw, his wife Kristin and children Zackariah and Kassandra, all of Two Rivers, WI; a daughter Jennifer A. Kracaw, of Lincoln, IL; a son Peter A. Kracaw, his wife Josephine and children Alicia, April and Joshua, all of Two Rivers, WI; and a daughter Sarah K. Mueller, her husband Leon and children Abigail and Molly.
She is further survived by a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Judy and Michael McGrath of Myrtle Beach, SC and their children Timothy, Patrick and Kelly and their families; her wonderful aunt Margret Hirschfelt of Laurel; and very special friends, Wally and Claudia Miller of Butte, and Robert and Rita Ryder and Kim of Laurel, and Linda Shaw of Red Lodge; and numerous first, second and third cousins who complete a very strong extended family.
The family wishes to extend their deepest gratitude to Dr. Donald Twito, the Deaconess Billings Clinic staff, as well as doctors William George and Clint Hauxwell and their clinic staff, and the staff of Beartooth Hospital & Health Center in Red Lodge.
Cremation has taken place, and a memorial service is being planned for mid-summer in Red Lodge. Relatives and friends will be notified of the date. Smith-Olcott Funeral Chapel of Red Lodge is assisting the family with arrangements.
The family requests donations to either of the following: Deaconess Billings Clinic Cancer Program Endowment of Billings, Montana 59101; or Beartooth Hospital & Health Center; Box 590, Red Lodge, MT 59068.
WILLIAM E. “BILL” GREGORY
ROBERTS – William E. “Bill” Gregory, 73, of Roberts, passed away Tuesday morning, May 6, 2003 at Deaconess Billings Clinic.
Bill was born on January 20, 1930 at Washoe, Mont., a son of Earl Thomas and Catherine Thomas Gregory. He was raised and educated in the Bearcreek/ Red Lodge area, and then served in the U.S. Army for 3 years. Following his discharge he lived at various locations while working as a heavy equipment operator in the mining industry.
Bill lived in Pima, Ariz. for thirty years before moving back to Montana in 1998, settling in Roberts. He was a member of the American Legion Post at Safford, Ariz. for many years.
In his younger years, Bill was an avid boxer. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, and gatherings with friends and family where Bill was considered a wonderfully entertaining and animated storyteller. He was very appreciative of the care he received from his niece, Waynette Crossley, since returning to Montana.
Survivors include four daughters, Byra Letlow of Galt, CA, Karla J. Walls of Oilmont, MT, Kallie Hamilton of Bozeman, MT, and Rhea Maldonado of Thatcher, AZ; one brother, Earl Gregory of Red Lodge; 3 sisters, Catherine Castagne of Spokane, WA, Hazel Postlethwaite of West Union, WV, and Janet Wynn of Pinehurst, ID; 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Arthetta Gregory; one son, William “Leo” Gregory; one brother, Jimmy Gregory; and 3 sisters, Eunice Tresner, Margaret Tomicich and Murella Jetty.
Graveside memorial services will be held at a later date in the Lodge Pole Cemetery at Fort Belknap. Cremation has taken place, with Smith-Olcott Funeral Chapel of Red Lodge in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be given to the charity of one’s choice.
BERNARD (BENNIE) ROTH
BRIDGER – Bernard (Bennie) Roth, 95, of Bridger, Montana, passed away peacefully at St. Vincent Healthcare Sunday evening, May 4, 2003, surrounded by family.
He was born Jan. 9, 1908 at Mott, North Dakota, the son of Karl and Wilhelmina Roth. Orphaned at a young age, he was raised by Adam and Elizabeth Roth, an uncle and aunt.
He farmed in the Bridger area, raised and pipe-lined in Montana and neighboring states. He retired in the mid-1970’s and lived in Bridger until his death.
Bennie married Geneivive (Gen) Weisgerber on Feb. 15, 1938 in Fromberg, Montana at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.
He is survived by his wife, Gen, of 65 years, three sons and one daughter: LaVerne (Kay) Roth of Farmington, NM, Bob (Rhonda) Roth of Maricopa, AZ, Gerry Roth of Bridger, MT and Susan (Larry) Kalina of Lewistown, MT; nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Bennie was also survived by two sisters, Betty Goodfellow of Redding, CA and Celestine Pfeifle of Mott, ND. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers and two sisters.
He was known by many and loved by more.
A vigil was held Thursday, May 8, and the funeral mass was celebrated Friday, May 9 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bridger, MT with interment in the Bridger Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of donor’s choice. Smith Funeral Chapel of Laurel was in charge of arrangements.
JOHN E. MAJERUS
RED LODGE - John E. Majerus, age 74, of Red Lodge, died peacefully in his home on Wednesday, May 7, 2003 with his wife by his side, after a five- year battle with esophageal cancer.
John was born in Watertown, South Dakota on November 14, 1928, the only child of Emil and Isabel Majerus. He graduated from Watertown High School in 1946 and enlisted in the Army. He was honorably discharged in 1948 and remained in the reserves. John started his higher education at the University of Minnesota and completed two years until the reserves were called to active duty.
He served two more years in the Army, and was honorably discharged in 1952. John graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1954. It was on campus that he met his beloved wife-to-be, Mary. John and Mary were wed in Minneapolis on June 23, 1956. In 1958 their first son Michael was born, followed by David in 1959, Dan in 1961 and daughter Sally in 1965.
After his college graduation John was employed in the petroleum industry. In 1971 John and his family moved to Red Lodge. They owned and operated the Coast to Coast Store in Red Loge for several years. When they sold the store he retired, found it boring and worked several winters for Red Lodge Mountain Ski Area. He later accepted a job with the City of Red Lodge Fire and Ambulance Department.
John was a member of the Elks in Minneapolis, and in Red Lodge belonged to the Star in the West Lodge #40 A.F. & A.M. and the Royal Arch Masons.
Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Mary Majerus of Red Lodge; 3 sons, Michael (special friend Kathleen Cooper) of Red Lodge, David (wife Dawn) of Laurel, Dan (wife Cindy) of Big Fork; and his daughter Sally Slater (husband Rich) of Cheyenne, Wyo.; grandsons Eric and Jason Majerus of Laurel, Robbie and Chet Slater of Cheyenne Wyo.; and stepgrandson Shane Sherman of Big Fork. John is also survived by his adored dog, Mickey.
Memorial services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 12 at Smith-Olcott Funeral Chapel. Interment with military honors followed in the Red Lodge Cemetery. Cremation has taken place. Memorials may be given to Beartooth Hospice, Box 590, Red Lodge, MT 59068.
ROBERTS JANZ, SR.
Robert (Bob) Janz, Sr., 90, formerly of Joliet, Mont., passed away at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Billings, Mont. on May 8, 2003. He was surrounded by the love of his family and the caring and compassionate staff of St. John’s.
Bob was born on October 17, 1912 in Plevna, Montana to Philip and Justine (Kosch) Janz, both of whom were born in Glastidz, Romania. They moved to Montana in 1910 and had five children. Bob had three brothers, Johnny, Albert, Reinholdt and one sister, Anna.
As a young man, Bob was a boxer who had many bouts in American Legion halls in and around Fallon County. According to newspaper accounts, he won all of his fights except one.
Bob married Viola Leischner on August 28, 1936 in Miles City, Mont. Bob and Viola resided in Plevna where they farmed and owned and operated the Plevna Bar until 1948, when they purchased the Joliet Theatre. They operated the theatre for ten years, and then relocated to Worland, Wyo. where both of them worked for the Wyoming Industrial Institute. In 1972, they retired to their farm west of Joliet and maintained a small herd of registered Red Angus cattle which gave them much pleasure. Before moving back to Joliet, Viola remained in Worland for a year while Bob completely remodeled their home which was originally a refrigerator box car.
Bob led an active and varied life. He was extremely creative and artistic. He was also an electrician, carpenter and plumber and could fix absolutely anything. In his younger years he enjoyed flying a Piper Cub airplane. He was a talented craftsman who, over the years, made blown glass vases, tobacco pipes, canes, metal sculptures, light fixtures, rings, and belt buckles. He purchased very few supplies for his crafts and utilized various items found around the ranch. Bob was a member of the Miles City Elks Lodge and Joliet Lions Club.
Bob is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 67 years, Viola; his son, Robert H. (Patricia) Janz, Jr.; his daughter Marilyn Wakeham of Billings; a step-daughter Marlene White of Mandan, N.D.; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Words cannot express the gratitude we feel for the staff at St. John’s for the love and support they shared with Bob during the last years of his life.
A memorial service was held Wednesday, May 14, 2003 at the Joliet Lutheran Church with a reception to follow. Burial of ashes was in the Joliet Cemetery.
ALFRED H. CROONQUIST
Alfred H. Croonquist was born Aug. 17, 1924 in Red Lodge, Mont. to Alfred and Senia (Pollari) Croonquist, and died May 8, 2003 in Seattle, Wash.
Alfred spent his childhood with his sister, Senia Mabel (Croonquist) Hart in Red Lodge and at Camp Senia, a dude ranch on the banks of the West Fork of Rock Creek in the Beartooth Mountains.
The family moved to Billings in 1932. Upon the death of his father in 1938 when Alfred was 13, he became the head of the household and started working various jobs to help support his mother and sister. He attended Billings High School where he was active in athletics. He graduated in 1942. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and joined the Naval Aviator Program where he attained the rank of lieutenant and earned his Naval Aviator Wings of Gold by flying the PV4Y2, a four-engine patrol bomber.
After WWII, he enrolled at Montana State College, where he was active in the Sigma Chi fraternity. He played football for Montana State and was elected to the MSU Football Hall of Fame. He met Shirley Mehlhaff at Montana State College. They were married in 1947 and divorced in 1975.
In 1948, Alfred transferred to the School of Architecture at the University of Washington. He received his architectural license upon graduation in 1950. He worked for the firm of Decker and Christensen before starting his own business, Alfred H. Croonquist Architects, AIA. His firm was in operation for over 50 years in the Seattle area. He did work for the U.S. Navy, the University of Washington, Boeing Company, Northwest Building Corporation, Corporate Properties, Inc. and Triland Development. Notable projects included the Baranoff Hotel restoration in Pioneer Square in Seattle, and the addition to the School of Art at the University of Washington. He also designed many commercial building projects in the Seattle area and western states.
Alfred lived his life with passion and inspiration. He loved the out-of-doors. He was an avid fisherman, and enjoyed sailing, skiing, photography and jewelry design.
He is survived by his three sons and their wives, David and Judy Croonquist of Sequim, Wash., Tom and Elsa Croonquist of Vashon, Wash., and Mark and Kris Croonquist of Seattle; six grandchildren, Karyn Golgart of West Seattle, Amy Croonquist of Denver, Colo., Taylor, Max and Mia Croonquist of Vashon, Wash. and Kate Croonquist of Seattle; two great-grandsons, Carter and Jackson Golgart. His aunt, Olga Middleton of Big Timber, Mont., his sister, Senia Hart of Red Lodge and her family, and his dear companion of the past 13 years, Diddy Cullity, also survive him.
Services were held on Tuesday, May 13, 2003 at Plymouth Congregational Church in Seattle.
Memorials may be made to Carbon County Historical Society, P.O. Box 881, Red Lodge, MT 59068.
