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Elvin Wilson Wedel
JOLIET – Elvin Wilson Wedel of Joliet died at Western Manor in Billings on Sept. 22, 2000. He was born Nov. 10, 1912, in Pretty Prairie, Kan., the eldest child of Peter J. and Martha (Goering) We-del.
At the age of six he moved with his family to the Judith Basin area of Montana. In his early teens the family moved to Sand Springs in Garfield County.
He married
Marguerite (Margie) Garrett from Brusett on Jan. 2, 1934, in Miles City. They farmed in the Custer Pease Bottom, Hysham and Lodge Grass areas until the late thirties when they moved to the Two Leggin area south of Hardin. In 1952, Elvin bought the old Howie Stagestop ranch on the lower Sweetgrass south of Big Timber, and in 1956, purchased a farm/ranch two miles south of Joliet where he made his home.
Elvin was an old-time fiddler. He played for dances and events from an early age, after getting a fiddle at the age of 12. He played for many dances in the Hardin and St. Xavier areas and while in Big Timber formed a band called the Sweetgrass Ramblers. He played for dances and social gatherings in the Joliet, Carbon County area. In July of 1999, he was inducted to the Montana Old Time Fiddlers Association’s Hall of Fame. Elvin was a member of District four of the Old Time Fiddlers Association, Masonic Carbon Lodge #65, the Joliet Baptist Church, the Joliet Senior Citizens and the Joliet Kitchen Band.
Elvin was preceded in death by his wife, Margie in 1993; his parents; brothers, Kenneth, Howard, Rolland, and Harold; sisters, Ruth Horton, Dorothy Baranowski, and Helen Burr. He leaves behind his children, Joe (Joy) Wedel of Joliet, Joyce (Arnold) Jerke of Terry, Jeanne (Bill) Ruff of Billings, and June (Richard) Lohof of Laurel; and a brother Elmer of Reno, Nev.; his grandchildren, Jim Wedel, JoAnn Lavelle, Scott Wedel, David Jerke, Robin Ward, Holly Hoagland, Billie Jean Ruff, Michael Ruff, Roxanne Watkins, and Russell Lohof; and seventeen great grandchildren.
The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday Sept. 25, at the Joliet Baptist Church. Interment will follow at the Joliet cemetery. In Lieu of Flowers, memorials may be made to the Joliet Community Center, P.O. Box 29, Joliet, MT 59041 or The Joliet Senior Citizens, Joliet, MT 59041.
Gladys E. Buck
Gladys E. Buck, 86, of Billings, formerly of Ekalaka and Fairview, passed away Wednesday, Sept 20, 2000, at the St. Vincent Hospital in Billings from a brief illness.
She was born on June 14, 1914, in Sidney, the daughter of William and Anna Anderson Eggleston. She spent her younger years on the family farm in the Sioux Pass community west of Fairview and graduated from the Fairview High School with the class of 1932. She later attended Willamette University in Salem, Ore., and graduated with a A.B. degree on June 10, 1939, with a major in English. She taught English at the high school in Antelope from 1939 to 1940 before going to Ekalaka where she taught English in the Carter County High school for seven years.
Gladys married
Frank B. Buck in Ekalaka in 1947 and they were in business in Ekalaka for nearly 12 years before moving to Denver and later to Durango, Colo., for another five years. They also resided in Arizona for 21 years before moving to Billings in 1996.
Survivors include her husband Frank and a sister-in-law Donna Eggleston of Walker, Minn. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Ellis and Ogden.
Cremation has taken place and no further services are planned at this time. Arrangements were by Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
Betty Clabaugh
KINGMAN, Ariz. – Betty Clabaugh, 70, formerly of Big Horn, Wyo., died Friday, Sept. 15, 2000, in Kingman.
Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 22, in the Elks cemetery in Sheridan, Wyo. Kane Funeral Home in Sheridan is in charge.
Christy Jean Horsely
SHERIDAN, Wyo. – Christy Jean Horsely, 50, died at her home Sunday, Sept. 17, 2000.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, at the Sheridan Veterans Hospital Chapel. Kane Funeral Home is in charge.
Melvin Kisler
PLENTYWOOD – Funeral services for Melvin Kisler will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept 22. Pastor Larry Pierson will officiate at the service at the First Congregational Church in Plentywood; interment will be in Plentywood Memorial cemetery. Mel, 80, died Tuesday at Mercy Medical Center in Williston, N.D.
Melvin was born at Valley Ford, Wash., Jan. 11, 1920, the son of Peter and Mathilda (Plynn) Kisler. The family moved to Montana and settled on a farm southwest of Plentywood where Mel was raised; he graduated from Plentywood High School and attended college in Billings for a time.
He served in the Air Corps during World War II as a B-24 crew chief and gunner. He married
Viola March at Homestead, Fla., on her birthday, Sept 8, 1944. After his discharge, they returned to Plentywood and made their home on the ranch southwest of Plentywood. Mel was an independent, free spirit; a man who loved the land, his livestock and raised his family with high standards of integrity and responsibility.
Recognized by his white western hat and western boots, he enjoyed dressing well, being informed about events (he always studied each issue of the Greeter and The Sheridan County News, as well as regional papers and news programs) and always spoke his mind. He lived the adage he taught his kids: “keep the barbed wire tight, your cows inside your fence, and you won’t have any trouble with your neighbors!” He had lived the hard times of the dirty ’30s, appreciated the good times and always planned ahead for when the hay would be short and the crops might fail.
A member of the First Congregational Church in Plentywood, Mel enjoyed taking friends to dinner after church, supporting and working with youth groups and loved being with his grandchildren and was always taking pictures. Since Vi’s death Jan. 13, 1988, Mel has made his own home in Plentywood, sometimes traveling on bus tours and to the Denver Livestock Show and N.I.L.E. in Billings, but always said the best part of any trip was getting home again. As long as he could, morning and afternoon coffee at Laura Belle’s with Gene and Roland was the highlight of the day, where his laughter and mustachioed grin under his white hat were the best parts of his jokes!
Mel is survived by three children: Randy, and his wife Trudi live on the family ranch southwest of Plentywood, Sheila and her husband Dick Person live in Seattle, and Vickie and her husband Colin Bodine live in Plenty-wood. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Rick and Heather Person. Shyla and Jenna Bodine, and Cheyenne and Kylee Kisler. While Mel was a child attending school, he stayed with Dick and Bessie Smith; Mel thought the world of her and has remained close to his “mom” who lives in Medicine Lake. Besides Vi and his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Marcia, in 1966; and his brother, Victor, and sister, Sabina (“Beana”) Jones.
Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood has charge of arrangements.
Dorothy L. Koschel
Dorothy L. Koschel, 63, of Billings and formerly of Miles City, died Sept. 20, 2000, at the Evergreen Health and Rehab Center in Billings.
Dorothy was born Nov. 10, 1936, in Miles City, a daughter of August and Mary Baugatz. She received her education in Miles City and on June 5, 1958, married
Art Koschel. Together they settled in Billings where Dorothy’s love of friendship and cooking found her employment in numerous restaurants as a cook until her retirement in October of 1999. Mrs. Koschel was a member of the Four Square Gospel Church.
Survivors include a brother, John Baugatz and his wife, Louise, of Miles City; two sisters, Emma Bartch of Miles City and Alice Brown and her husband, Alan, of Tacoma, Wash.; numerous nieces and nephews; and her close friend, Elmer Tietz of Billings. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Art Koschel; and two sisters, Martha Baugatz and Viola Stelmachuk.
Visitations will begin Sunday afternoon at the Smith Downtown Chapel and continue there until 9 p.m. Tuesday. Visitations will continue on Wednesday, Sept. 27 at Smith West Chapel, 304 34th St. W. and at 2 p.m. a funeral service will be held with interment to follow at Terrace Gardens cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Four Square Gospel Church or the charity of one’s choice.
Harley Madison Long
Harley Madison Long, 72, passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2000.
He was born May 8, 1928, to Arthur Henry Long and Erma Lucille Criddle in Beckley, “West (By God!) Virginia.”
Harley moved to Billings in 1949 after serving in WWII. He was happily married
to Rose W. Stephens on Sept. 20, 1975. They lived in Billings prior to making their home in Lockwood in 1985.
Harley was a cement finisher for 35 years and much of Billings was built with his contribution. He believed in excellence in his craft and in 1976 he was the first cement mason to be nominated for Craftsman of the Year. He retired in 1991.
His love for friends and family, along with his visits with friends at Tiny’s Tavern and The Second Shift, filled his days. Harley’s belief that Mother Nature ruled the earth kept his will strong to enjoy his gardening to the end. He also enjoyed fishing and camping with family and friends.
His loving wife, Rose, sons, Gary and Harley II, daughter, Patty, one stepson and four stepdaughters survive him. He is also survived by his sisters, Lois Jewell Hartung and Edna Bernhart, a brother, Charles Long, 17 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Harley was preceded in death by his eldest daughter, Linda Long.
Visitations may be made on Friday and Saturday at the Smith Downtown Chapel. Cremation will follow these visitations and a memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 25, at Smith Downtown Chapel with interment of the urn to follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions are suggested to Big Sky Hospice in Harley’s name.
Mae Overturf
HARDIN – Mae Overturf, 84, of Hardin, formerly of Lodge Grass, died Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2000, in the Big Horn County Nursing Home.
She was born Feb. 25, 1916, in Crosby, Wyo., a daughter of Richard and Anna Fowler Ekis. She was raised in New Castle and Sheridan and received her education in Sheridan.
Mae married
C.W. “Clem” Overturf in Hardin on July 23, 1931, and they made their home in the Decker area before moving in 1934 to Lodge Grass where she resided until moving to Hardin five years ago.
She was a member of the Lodge Grass Little Brown Church, the Lodge Grass Sr. Citizens and Grandmothers Club. Mae was a wonderful cook and worked at all of the cafes in Lodge Grass and ran the Lodge Grass bowling alley for five years. She was known as Grandma “O.”
Survivors include six daughters, Marty (John) Bowman, Lorraine Anderson and Joyce (Marvin) Bird of Billings, Nancy (Merrille) Mullenberg, Betty Mullenberg and Donna (Ron) Lane of Lodge Grass; two sons, Chuck (Barbara) Overturf of Parkman, Wyo., and Roger (Diana) Overturf of Wyola; 25 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren and numerous great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Monday in the Lodge Grass Little Brown Church with Rev. Kenneth McDougall officiating. Interment will follow in the Lodge Grass cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Gary Lynn Amende
BOZEMAN – Gary Lynn Amende, 31, formerly of Sheridan, Wyo., died Monday, Sept. 18, 2000, in Bozeman.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at First United Methodist Church in Sheridan. Kane Funeral Home in Sheridan is in charge.
Alice Donlin Braley
Alice Donlin Braley, 85, of Billings, formerly of Terry, died Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2000, at the Parkview Convalescent Care Center.
Visitation will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday before the vigil service at 6 p.m. Sunday, both at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Terry. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Rite of Committal in the family lot of the Prairie County cemetery.
Ernest Goff
MILES CITY – Ernest George Goff, 82, died Monday, Sept. 18, 2000, at the Holy Rosary Health Center Extended Care.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Custer County cemetery. Bullis-Graves Memorial Chapel is in charge.
James Francis Hart
James Francis Hart, 58, passed away at Deaconess Hospital from a heart attack Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2000. Jim was born Feb. 6, 1942, to Harry and Veronica Reedy Hart in South Dakota. He married
Mary K. Schofield Dec. 12, 1959. This marriage was blessed with three sons.
He worked on the missile bases in South Dakota, Wyoming and North Dakota. Jim also worked on the construction of Libby Dam. Jim later married
Lynda Eschenko on Dec. 30, 1989. Together, they drove truck for 15 years.
Survivors include his wife, Lynda; sons, Gary (Ginny) of Fromberg, Larry (Debbie) and Greg (Jodie) of Billings; daughter, Geri Lou Weppler of North Dakota and Mary K. Hart of Billings; grandchildren, Beau, Bryan, Lindsey, Leslie, Michael and Brian; brothers, Huey (Joann) of Arizona and Dan of South Dakota; sister, Deanna (Kelly) Fees of South Dakota; aunts, Bernice Jenson and Emma Reedy of Philip, S.D., and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Jim loved following his grandchildren in their sports and other activities. He enjoyed the camaraderie of his friends on the road. Trucking was his passion and he worked harder than the average man and enjoyed every minute of it.
Funeral will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, at St. Bernard’s Parish, 226 Wicks Lane. Cremation will follow. Memorials may be made to charities of choice. Arrangements were by Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
E.C. ‘Buster’ Lenoir
GLASGOW – E.C. “Buster” Lenoir, 74, died Friday, Sept. 15, 2000, at the VA Nursing Home in Miles City of pulmonary and cancer-related problems.
He was born May 14, 1926, to Louis D. and Clara Lenoir at Robare. Being raised on a cattle ranch, he learned at a very young age how to work. He left ranching and learned, on his own, how to operate any piece of heavy equipment. After helping to build Tiber Dam, he moved to Great Falls where, after two years, he became a business agent for the Operating Engineers Local 377, presently Local 400. His territory covered the whole northeast area of Montana.
While in this work, he attended Harvard University in 1966. He lived in Glasgow for 41 years and retired in 1981.
An avid hunter and fisherman, he also enjoyed mechanic work. He served his country in the Navy in 1945 aboard the USS O'Brien.
He was proud of his Blackfoot heritage.
He was an active lifetime member of the VFW Post 3107, a lifetime member of the Elks Club, the Eagles and Moose Club.
He was preceded in death in 1996 by his wife Ellen of 30 years.
He is survived by three stepchildren, Rae Matthews of Caroline, Alberta, Canada, Arnie Tweten of Kodiak, Alaska, and Joy Ericksen of Seattle; five children from a first marriage, Louis, Russell, Leanna, Michael and Patti Sue Lenoir, all of Longview, Wash.; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
To everyone who knew him, he was “one-of-a-kind” and never to be forgotten.
At his request, there will be no services and internment is in the Opheim cemetery.
Laurence Eugene ‘Murph’ Murphy
BOZEMAN – Laurence Eugene “Murph” Murphy, 70, of Bozeman, died suddenly on Sept. 18, 2000. The son of stepfather, R. L. and Pauline (Cochran) Littau, he was born on July 17, 1930, in Meade, Kan.
Murph grew up in the Panhandle of Oklahoma and Texas, graduating from high school in Beaver, Okla. He moved to Las Cruces, N.M., in 1948 to drive a truck for American Linen and lived there for 20 years. During this time, he met and married
Jimmie Sue Wasson and they spent 32 wonderful years together, moving to Billings in 1968 to be a route driver for Big Sky Linen, then in 1970, moved to Moscow, Idaho, to be plant manager for Total Textile. In 1979 they moved to Livingston where Murph worked for Industrial Towel as general manager until 1995. It was here, in 1990, that Jimmie Sue passed away. Murph moved to Bozeman in 1996 and has lived here since.
Murph liked guns and knives; he loved to fish, go arrowhead hunting and was an avid rock hunter.
Murph is survived by his partner, Carol Hample; his mother, Pauline Littau; daughters, Melinda Murphy and Cindy (Dave) Peters of Hemingford, Neb., Michelle (Joe) Rockafellow of Belgrade, Shirley Murphy of Olympia, Wash., and son, Larry Murphy; five grandchildren, Brian Stables, Mike Asay, Charlie Peters, Chris Harrington and Emily Rockafellow; brothers, Bob of Meade, Kan., Jim of Aurora, Colo., Don of Amarillo, Texas, and Dave of North Carolina and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jimmie Sue, and father, R. L. Littau.
Cremation has taken place at Dahl Crematory. Memorial service will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Dahl Funeral Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gallatin Valley Humane Society, 2125 N. Rouse, Bozeman, MT 59715 or Park County Humane Society, PO Box 705, Livingston, MT 59047.
