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William Preston Trask
UTICA – William Preston Trask, 97, longtime Utica area rancher, died Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2000, at the Central Montana Skilled Nursing Center.
William was born on Nov. 1, 1902, in Utica, to George William and Jean Pirrie Trask. He received his schooling in Pig Eye at the Sapphire School and graduated from Fergus County High School in 1922. Upon graduation, he worked for one year in the First National Bank, as he said “to please his mother, ” but working inside was not for him. In 1923, he went to California, but when it was time for snow he got nervous and headed back to the mountains. The banks closed that fall and with 50 cents in his pocket, he headed back to Montana. He bought the tax deed to the original Trask ranch and spent the rest of his years in his beloved mountains until he moved to Billings and eventually Lewistown.
On Dec. 31, 1924, he was united in marriage to Eva Seaver. Eva passed away in 1950. On Jan. 16, 1965, he was married
to Patricia Hay in Manhattan, Kan. Pat passed away in 1973. On Dec. 13, 1975, he was married
to Irene Gray in Cokedale, Mont. Irene passed away in 1991.
He is survived by his daughter, Lois Jean Perry; his son, George William (Dorothy) Trask; and grandchildren Linda Turco of Lewistown, Lanny (Joy) Perry and Layton (Heather) Perry, both of Utica, Laurie Perry of California, Leatha Perry of Absarokee, Debbie (Larry) Thompson of Anchorage, Alaska, Clint (Jan) Trask of Billings, Eva (Gary) Kuykendall, and Teri (Dick) Zier, both of Lewistown. In addition, he is survived by 13 great-grandchildren, five step great-grandchildren; one sister, Lydia Keating and three stepsons: Charles (June) Gray, David (Vivian) Gray and Fred Gray and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, Ann Day, a brother, Millard Fillmore, his son, Fred, his three wives and a son-in-law, Ken Perry.
Services for the celebration of his life will be held at the Creel Funeral Chapel on Saturday, Aug. 5, at 11 a.m. The casket will be open until the time of service and closed thereafter. Burial will be at Lewistown City cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch in Billings or to the Utica Historical Society.
The Creel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Richard ‘Dick’ Witcomb
RED LODGE – Richard (Dick) Witcomb, 86, of Red Lodge, died July 31, 2000. He was born March 28, 1914, in Rouses Point, N.Y., the son of Walter Witcomb and Irene Slater Witcomb. He grew up in Verdun, Canada. Dick played football (center) for the Montreal Alouettes and played hockey for the Montreal Canadiens. He was a scout and coached for the Montreal Canadien farm teams. Richard went to Los Angeles to coach women’s semi-professional softball
Richard was married
to Alice Maloney from 1952-1981, together they raised five children. They lived in Provo, Utah, where Dick owned and operated the B&H Pharmacy and coached hockey for BYU. In 1964, the family moved to Phoenix and he worked for Skaggs Drug Stores, Totem Department Stores, and Yellow Front. In 1981, Dick married
, Clare Moseley and extended his family to include Clare’s three children.
In 1988, Clare and Dick retired to Red Lodge. There he enjoyed days of yard work, reading, socializing, and most of all golfing with his Red Lodge friends and the Seniors at Pryor Creek. Not a day went by where Dick didn’t express a love of life and how happy he was. He was dearly loved and will be missed by everyone who knew him.
Richard is survived by his wife, Clare; sons, Paul (Dianna) Witcomb, Kevin (Corinne) Witcomb, Eric Moseley; daughters, Laurie (Roy) Miller, Jody (Bill) Swapp, Stacey (Ed) Parker, Laura Moseley, Claudia (Kevin) Hauser; 13 grandchildren; and a great-grandson; brothers, Ralph and Les Elson; sister, Margaret Fitzgerald, all of Canada; and many nieces and nephews.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial service will be held at Dahl Funeral Chapel-Red Lodge, 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 5. Following the service, there will be a reception at the family home, No. 1 Comanche Trail, Tipi Village. Scattering of ashes will take place later by his family in the Beartooth Mountains.
Memorials may be made to Habitat for Humanity, Box 946, Red Lodge, MT 59068, Red Lodge Boys and Girls Club, P.O. Box 11, Red Lodge, MT 59068, or Metro Ministries, PO Box 695, New York, NY 11237.
Virginia Atkins
Virginia Atkins, beloved sister, mother, grandmother and friend, went home to be with the Lord in the evening of Saturday, the 29th of July. She died surrounded by those she loved and those who loved her after a courageous and often spirited battle with cancer.
Virginia, or Gramma Ginny, or Momame depending on whom was talking to her was known for her strong spirit and giving heart. Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Virginia knew that her family is without a doubt paramount in her life and always was. She was born on Nov. 15, 1926, and grew up on a farm in southwestern Iowa near the little town of Essex. She met her soon to be husband, W. Lyle Atkins, while working in a hospital in Macon, Mo. After their marriage on March 21, 1948, the two moved to the family’s ranch in Hardin, Mont., on the North Bench. There they began their own family. A son and two daughters would be their legacy. In 1963 they sold the ranch and the family moved to Shepherd and eventually Billings, all the while maintaining close family bonds.
Virginia will be remembered fondly for her many passions. One of these included her often amazing ability to put needle to thread. Be it a winter coat for her grandson, or a quilt, or a dress for herself, her creations rivaled those that could be purchased on store racks. She will also be known as a lover of the Montana Wilderness. She truly found peace and solace in spending her free time in the backyard of this wonderful state. Of all the animals she was partial to, birds were certainly the species she was most enthusiastic for. An avid and active member of the local chapter of the Audubon Society, Virginia thrived on being a part of counting trips or general field expeditions. The friendships made while participating in Audubon will continue to serve as a lasting tribute to Virginia’s spirit of adventure.
Above all, we will recall the precious times she spent with her family. Invariably these times would include a unique and creative meal prepared with great love and care not long after we were told to “get out of the kitchen!” Games were played, puzzles put together and Christmas memories were made and shared all while being apart of a God-centered family bond. A bond none of us could ever forget.
The love of her family and of the outdoors could only come second to the love she had for her God. Virginia took pride in being a member of the First United Methodist Church of Billings and worked for the church’s Yellowstone Conference Office for many, many years. Her life is truly a reflection of Christ’s unconditional love for the world. The angels rejoice as a true and wonderful saint has been brought home.
Virginia was preceded in death by her parents Warren and Enola Read and her husband W. Lyle Atkins. She is survived and remembered by her sister Ardith (Jack) Simpson of Clarence, Mo.; her children Bill (Sandy) Atkins and their children Guy, Lyndsy and Jared; Debbie (Bruce) Bates and their children Jonathan and Jillian; Charlotte (Rick) Kloepfer and their children Ivy and Amber; and countless other relatives and numerous friends.
Mom, Grandma, Sister, friend, we all will miss you. Our lives are enriched by you having been a part of them. Thank you for your love and strength. We will all see you again soon.
Cremation has taken place at Cremation or Funeral Gallery. Memorials may be given to Hospice, Yellowstone Chapter of the Audubon Society, and First United Methodist Church. Memorial service will be held at the First United Methodist Church Saturday, Aug. 5, at 10 a.m. Private family interment will be held.
Norman ‘Norm’ Cailler
CROOKSTON, Minn. – Norman “Norm” Cailler, 71, formerly of Sheridan, Wyo., passed away Monday morning, July 24, 2000, at the MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, N.D.
Graveside funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2, in the Sheridan Municipal cemetery with a memorial mass to follow at the Holy Name Catholic Church. Father Cliff Jacobson will be officiating. Kane Funeral Home is handling local arrangements.
Pedro R. Castro
FAIRVIEW – Pedro R. Castro, 74, a long time Sheep Shearer in Eastern Montana, passed Sunday morning, July 30, 2000 at the Sidney Health Center.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 3, at the Fulkerson Memorial Chapel in Sidney. Pastor Michael Backhaus will officiate with burial in the Fairview cemetery under the direction of Fulkerson Funeral Home of Sidney.
Robert Jon DeWald
BUFFALO, Wyo. –Robert Jon DeWald, 57, passed away July 29, 2000 at his home in Buffalo. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Aug. 1, at the Adams Funeral Home Chapel in Buffalo with Pastor Kirt Peters and Bill Picket officiating.
Victor DeWald
LAUREL – Victor DeWald, 83, of Laurel, passed away Sunday, July 30, 2000, at Asplin Personal Care Home.
Vic was born Nov. 6, 1916, to Catherine Hoffman and John George DeWald at Hesper, Mont. He entered the Navy Seabees in June of 1942 and served until January 1945. He received the Purple Heart. Vic worked for Northern Pacific and Burlington Northern Railroads for 39 years and 9 months and retired in 1976. Vic was a member of Yellowstone Lutheran Brethren Church of Billings and was a life member of Moose Lodge and Disabled American Veterans.
Vic is survived by his wife, Doris; six children, Richard, Joan, Connie, David, Vicki and Jonathan; a stepson, Archie Lake; sister, Molly and a brother, Walter.
Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, August 3, at Smith Funeral Chapel in Laurel. Interment with military honors will be in the Laurel cemetery. Memorials: Yellowstone Lutheran Brethren Church of Billings or charity of one’s choice.
Margaret Early
SHERIDAN, Wyo. – Margaret Early, 89, formerly of Denver, Colo., passed away Saturday, July 29, 2000 at Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County.
At Margaret’s request, cremation has taken place and there will be no services. Kane Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Alan Galt
Alan Galt, 77, of Billings, Mont., died after a lengthy illness on July 31, 2000. Cremation took place in Billings at Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist Mortuary. Memorial services will take place at the Presbyterian Church in Stanford, Mont., on Monday, August 7, at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Helena, Mont. Memorials may be sent to the Presbyterian Church in Stanford, Mont.
Alan was born in Great Falls, Mont., on July 18, 1923, the son of Glen Alan Galt and Catherine Kelly Galt. He graduated from Stanford High School in 1941. He enlisted in the Army Air Force in July 1942 after spending a year at Montana State University in Bozeman. He received an honorable discharge in February 1946, after which he attended the University of Montana in Missoula. He married
Mary Bell Anderson in Helena, Mont., in February of 1957.
Alan was in the grocery business until he retired from Buttery Foods in 1974 at which time he moved to Stanford to work at the Basin Trading Company. He was elected to office as the Judith Basin County Assessor in November 1978 and was reelected for a second term.
He is survived by his wife, Mary of Billings, and his three sons: Roy E. Anderson of Fort Collins, Colo., David Alan Galt of Helena, and Glen E. Galt of Billings; his brother, Richard of Vancouver, Wash., and six grandchildren: Aaron and Amy Galt of Helena, and Michelle, Thomas, James and Joseph Anderson of Fort Collins.
Conrad Hart
LAUREL – Conrad Hart, 90, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, July 29, 2000, at Valley Health Care Center.
Conrad was born in Kautz, Russia on March 21, 1910, the son of John Jacob Hart and Katherine Margaret Michel.
Conrad came to the United States on April 8, 1912 on a freighter named the S. F. Birma, and they arrived at Ellis Island. They then settled in Scottsbluff, Neb., for two years and then moved to the Laurel area with his parents.
On May 4, 1931, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Reiter in Laurel, Montana. She died in Oct. of 1967.
He loved Christian music, organ music, horses, working in his yard, and his dog “Tippie.” Farming was his life. He also loved his church. He was involved in the Men’s League and served on the board of trustees. Conrad was very instrumental in the building plans of the First Congregational Church.
Conrad married
Emma Michaelis Frank on Nov. 10, 1975. She passed away on July 14, 1987.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wives, one grandson, Paul; three brothers, Jacob, Phillip and George Hart; two sisters, Elizabeth and Katie.
He is survived by one son, Wilmer of Laurel; daughters, Geraldine Peeler of Billings, Marion (Adam) Krug of Laurel, and Janice (Charles) Baker of Pinole, Calif.; 12 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.
Funeral Service will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 2, at the First Congregational Church in Laurel. Interment will be at the Laurel cemetery. Smith Funeral Chapel in Laurel is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the First Congregational Church in Laurel or charity of ones choice.
Warren J. Heckel
Warren J. Heckel of Billings died Sunday, July 30, 2000, doing the one thing he loved most in life, fishing. He was born in Bowdie, S.D., in 1930. He grew up in South Dakota, Hardin and Billings. Warren went into the Navy in 1948 and was honorably discharged in Philadelphia in 1952. In 1950, he met and married
Mary Ellen Elder in Yuma, Ariz. Together they returned to Montana to work and start their family. Warren loved Montana. His passions were fishing and hunting and Montana provided both like no other state he had ever known.
He is survived by his wife, Mary; a son, Jack (Mary), both from Billings; a son, Terry (Katie) of Spokane; brother, Rodger Heckel of Great Falls; his sisters, Gladys Schmidt, Donna Feller, Betty Elder and Janice Evenson, all of Billings, Shirley Armfield of Great Falls, Carol Wilson of Arizona, Lola Quest of Washington state, Paulette Bargen of Texas and Phyllis Kirkemo of Belgrade, Mont;, his grandchildren: Jennifer (Mark) Hall, Levi, Amanda, Travis, Lorren and Matthew; great-grandchildren: Jalen and Sydney; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Ralph and Myren. Warren kept watch over all these people. He was always willing to help each and every one of them without a question asked. Warren will be greatly missed.
Services will take place at New Life Church, three quarters of a mile south of King Ave. on Shiloh at 10 a.m. Thursday, August 3. Interment will follow at Mountview cemetery. Memorials may be sent to New Life Church, 3950 Temple Place, Billings, MT 59106.
Albert Hust
LAUREL – Albert Christ Hust, 80, passed away July 29, 2000, after an extended illness.
Albert was born Oct. 2, 1919, in Gackie, N.D., the son of Christ Hust and Katherina Bitz Hust. Albert served in the CCC Program in 1939. He also served in the World War II, Panama Canal Zone. He worked for the Northern Pacific and Burlington Railroad for 35 years, retiring Oct. 3, 1980. He married
Alma Emilie Henke Hust on May 20, 1945 at Kulm, N.D. They lived in Jamestown until 1962, then Laurel, Mont.
Survivors include his wife, Alma of Laurel; his children, Mary Lou Silburn of Irving, Texas, Dennis (Mary) Hust and Roger (Barbara) Hust all of Billings, Donald (Jere) Hust of Havre, and Richard Hust of Laurel; two sisters, Esther Rothwell of Jamestown, N.D., Vera Meadows of Medina, N.D. and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers, five sisters, and one son.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2, at Smith Funeral Chapel in Laurel with interment following at Terrace Gardens in Billings. Visitation on Tuesday, Aug. 1 from 1-9 p.m. at funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Big Sky Hospice or the Laurel American Legion Post #123.
Melvin R. Hamby
Melvin R. Hamby, 78, of Billings died Thursday, July 27, 2000 at his home of natural causes, He was born March 24, 1922 in Bozeman, a son of Robert and Lena Olivetti Hamby. He graduated from Ismay High School, enlisted in the U.S. Navy, during which time he married
Elmer Lee in Jan. of 1943. To this union four children were born. He married
Dorothy Pearson in Sept. of 1979. He was employed at Texaco until his retirement after which they made their home in Billings and Parker, Ariz.
Melvin was a member of the Glendive Elks Club. He enjoyed playing cards and watching the rodeo circuit. He never met a stranger and enjoyed visiting with everyone.
Surviving him are his mother, Lena of Billings; four children, Robert (Kathy) Hamby of Casper, Wyo., Karyl (Bill) of Cloquet, Minn., Bill (Lisa) Hamby of Sheridan, Wyo. and Rita (Ed) Farmer of Meeteetse, Wyo.; stepsons, John Pearson of Billings and Larry Pearson of Missoula; grandchildren and great grandchildren, two brothers, John Hamby of Billings and William Hamby of Spokane, Wash.; two sisters, Kate Redman of Ismay and Ella Mae Obie of Billings; sister-in-law, Thelma Hamby of Billings; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, father and brother, Charles Hamby, and two grandsons.
Memorial will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2, at Cremation or Funeral Gallery. Memorials may be made to American Diabetes Assoc., MT Affiliate, PO Box 2411, Great Falls, MT 59403. Arrangements were made by Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
Lawrence ‘Larry’ S. Greenlee
BAKER – Lawrence “Larry” S. Greenlee, age 58 of Baker, passed away Sunday, July 30, 2000, at his home in Baker. He was born Nov. 14, 1941, at Baker, the son of Vernon and Pearl Sparks Greenlee. He attended the Red Hill School and graduated from the Baker High School in 1960. Larry worked in the oil field, driving truck. On April 12, 1964, he was married
to Erna Buerkle at Plevna. In 1973, Larry started G & S Trucking, which he operated with his sons until 1988 when he sold it. Larry operated the family ranch south of Baker until his health failed in 1991. Even with health problems, Larry continued going out to the ranch to help. He enjoyed hunting, reloading ammunition, barbequing, camping and being outdoors. During many summer haying seasons, he introduced many town boys to the business of haying. Larry served on the Fallon Carter County Forge Board for several years and was elected to the Red Butte Grazing District Board. Survivors include: his wife, Erna of Baker; three sons: Larry Greenlee, John Greenlee and Jeff Greenlee all of Baker; four sisters: Bernette (Bee) Burns of Baker, Faye Gaskin and her husband, Jerry of Moorcroft, Wyo., Lucy Lovec and her husband, Red of Sidney and Nancy Curry and her husband, Lee of Plevna; a brother-in-law, Vic Buerkle of Baker and numerous nieces and nephews. His parents preceded him in death. A Prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, in the Stevenson Funeral Home Chapel in Baker. A Funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 2, at the Lakeview Baptist Church in Baker. Burial will follow in the Lame Jones cemetery. Stevenson Funeral Home of Baker is in charge of arrangements.
