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Lucille L. Meridith
Lucille L. Meridith, 95, of Billings, died Friday, Sept. 1, 2000, at Western Manor Nursing Home.
The daughter of George and Grace Jacques, Lucille was born in Exeland, Wis., March 24, 1905.
Until moving to Billings four years ago, Lucille had lived at the same address in Powell for over 50 years. She worked as a cook for the Powell Valley Hospital and Nursing Home for over 20 years. Lucille was a member of the Powell United Methodist Church and was very active in the Rebecca Lodge, serving as Vice Grand.
She married
Rheudy Meridith in Powell, Aug. 12, 1924.
Survivors include her daughter, Imogean McPhail and her husband, Bob of Billings; her son, Donald Meridith and his wife, Connie of Bandera, Texas; a sister, Edyth Bums of Huntington Beach, Calif.; six grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Rheudy; five brothers; and a sister.
Cremation is planned and graveside services will be held in the Crown Hill cemetery, Powell. Memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice. Michelotti, Sawyers and Nordquist has charge of arrangements.
Rodney D. Royal
Rodney D. Royal passed away Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2000, at the Billings Deaconess Health and Care Center. Rodney was born in Fort Bragg, N.C., on April 17, 1955.
His love and occupation was driving trucks.
Rodney is survived by his mother, Beverly Dorn of Billings; three brothers, Duane Royal and John Christensen, both of Washington state, and Melvin of Missoula; two sisters, Karen Griffiths of West Yellowstone and Machelle Christensen of Helena. Also surviving are three children, Quincey Royal, Hillary Royal and Joey Royal, all of Wibaux.
Cremation has taken place at Smith’s Crematory A private family service will be held at a later date.
Ida C. Schmidt
CIRCLE – Ida C. Schmidt, 82, died Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2000, at the McCone County MAF in Circle.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Evangelical Church of North America with burial in Riverview cemetery. Clayton Memorial Chapel is in charge.
Paul E. Thayer
MISSOULA – Paul E. Thayer, 84, of Missoula and longtime Roundup resident, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2000, at home of natural causes.
He was born on Feb. 11, 1916, in Neogra Matton, Ill., the son of Clifford and Anna Thayer. Paul enlisted into the U.S. Army on Sept. 22, 1942, and received his honorable discharge as a staff sergeant on Feb. 5, 1946. He married
Ann Rosely in Balich, Ill., in 1948. They lived in Roundup and Paul worked as a rancher and an oilfield worker. Paul loved working with horses and had some of the finest. He also enjoyed gardening and being an auto mechanic. Paul had an exceptional work ethic and was a great supporter of education.
Paul was preceded in death by his wife Ann, five brothers and two sisters. He is survived by two daughters, Roxanne Boettcher of Missoula, Rowena Wolff of Libby and step-daughter, Paulette Pratt of Kalispell; a brother, John Don Thayer of Montana; sisters, Pauline Wade of Bend, Ore. and Ina Dumas of Virginia; and six grandchildren, Averiel Wolff, Kara and Travis Boettcher, Garrett Pratt, Damion Kins and Brittany Wood.
Graveside services will be held on Saturday. Sept. 2, at 4 p.m. at the Musselshell County cemetery in Roundup. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Garden City Funeral Home and Crematory.
Linda Jean Wohlk
KOLIN – Linda Jean (Hodik) Wohlk, 56, died Thursday at her home of complications of cancer.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the First Christian Church. Cremation has taken place. Cloyd Funeral Home is in charge.
Richard Dean “Dick” Bailey
COLUMBUS – Richard Dean “Dick” Bailey was born in Winner, Tripp County, S.D., on Jan. 28, 1949, the youngest of three boys born to Robert and Lillian (Wagner) Bailey. He grew to young manhood on the family farm, southwest of Dallas, S.D. He graduated from Gregory (S.D.) High School in May of 1967. While in school, Dick was active in 4-H and baseball.
On May 17, 1969, Dick was united in marriage to Linda McDonnell. To this union brought two joys of their lives: Michael on June 7, 1972, and Crystal on Dec. 31, 1975. During this time Dick had a small family farm in Dallas, S.D., and also worked for the U.S. Soil Conversation Service.
In 1981 Dick and family moved to Columbus, where they have since resided. This is where they lived, worked, played and raised their family, not to mention made some great friends. While in Columbus, Dick started his own tree trimming and spraying business.
Throughout the years, Dick was a sports enthusiast. He enjoyed golf, baseball, football and bowling. He even has the trophies to prove his excellence. Dick also enjoyed the great outdoors. He liked hunting and fishing and especially mountain trips with his father and brothers.
Dick Bailey passed from his life to his eternal rest on Aug. 30, 2000, at the age of 51. He is preceded in death by his father, Robert Bailey and a nephew, John Bailey.
Surviving him is Linda, his wife of 31 years, son, Mike and daughter, Crystal; his mother, Lillian of Gregory, S.D.; his brothers, Bob, Jr. and Ron, both of Riverton, Wyo.; numerous nieces, nephews and multitudes of friends.
A loving husband and devoted father, he will be sorely missed by all his family and friends.
Memorials may be sent to: Big Sky Hospice, Stillwater Team, Box 1109, Columbus, MT 59019 or P.E.A.K.S. % Northern Rockies Cancer Center, Box 369, Billings, MT 59103-0369.
A vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 1, at Smith Funeral Chapel in Columbus. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Columbus with Rite of Committal in Mountainview cemetery.
DuWaine A. Curtiss
BASIN, Wyo. – DuWaine A. Curtiss, 71, of Basin, died at his home on Aug. 30, 2000. He was born Oct. 18, 1928, in Circle, Mont., to Francis and Christine (Burger) Curtiss and married
Lauriena Lemieux on March 1, 1949. They moved to Wyoming in 1952. Employment included serving as a police officer in Lovell for two years, undersheriff in Basin for several years, and then years as a lineman for the Big Horn REA. He retired in 1991.
Survivors include his wife, Lauriena, and their children and their spouses, Roger and Debbie Curtiss of Atlanta, Ga., Vickie and Russell Wenke of Cody, Connie and Mike Reinig of Helena, Mont., Sheri and Phil Hartman of Basin; son-in-law, Charles Hopkin of Basin; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; sisters, Iola Pearson of Belt, Mont., and Eunice Southern of Fairview, Mont.; and brothers, LaVerne Curtiss of Simms, Mont., and Vance Curtiss of Great Falls, Mont.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 5, in Mount View cemetery in Basin.
Leif Dreyer
Leif was born on the Red Rock Springs ranch 25 miles west of Circle, on Aug. 20, 1919, to Lauritz and Inga Dreyer. He graduated from Circle High School in 1936, attended the Univeristy of Montana from 1936-38, and graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1940 with a degree in accounting.
He worked for public accounting firms in Chicago and Portland, Ore., before enlisting in the Army Air Force on April 1, 1942. Assigned to the 90th Bombardment Troop, “the Jolly Rogers, ” he served in Hawaii, the Iron Range in Australia, and New Guinea in 1943-44. He was honorably discharged in October of 1945.
Upon returning to the U. S., he married
Caroline Espeland in Sidney on Oct. 22, 1944. He enjoyed traveling, especially the two trips he and Caroline took to Norway and Hawaii, and one to Paris. He worked for the IRS in Portland, Ore., and in Billings for 28 years. He was a charter member of the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd and the Sons of Norway. Leif was a devoted husband, father and grandfather.
He passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 30, in the loving arms of the God from whom he drew life, guidance and strength.
Leif is survived by his wife, Caroline; his sons, Larry (Kathy) Dreyer of Helena, Martin (Susan) Dreyer of Laurel, Ralph (Merrie) Dreyer of Dillon, Don Dreyer of Chesterfield, Va., and daughters: Carol (Mike) Gauthier of Missoula and Daveda (Bob) Holmberg of Circle Pines, Minn. Also surviving are his brothers, Ralph (Ruth) Dreyer of Glasgow and Elmo Dreyer of Circle; 17 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Instead of flowers the family suggests memorials to: the Mission Ridge Ministry Fund at 3840 Rimrock Road; Big Sky Hospice at 123 S. 27; or the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd Trust Fund or Christikon Bible Camp both located at 1108 24th St. West, Billings 59102-3810.
A memorial service for Leif will be held at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd on Tuesday, Sept. 5, at 2 p.m.
John Fochs
John Fochs, 57, passed away Aug. 30, 2000. He was born Dec. 3, 1942, in Harlowton, the son of George L. and Helen Bettinger Fochs. He was raised in Shawmut. He attended schools in Shawmut, Harlowton and Livingston.
John worked at Montana Truck and Car Salvage for over 33 years. He enjoyed working with trucks and cars. He always knew how to make the engine run. He could often be found at the local car races, and took in the WinterNationals in Pomona, Calif., which he truly enjoyed.
He always looked forward to spending time in the outdoors – camping, hunting, fishing and boating, and could almost always be found spending his weekends at the ranch of Paul and Raymond Fochs. He loved to travel and enjoyed photographing the sights and scenes around him.
He is survived by his mother, Helen Fochs of Billings; sisters, Mary Drogitis of Billings, Diane and her husband, Lloyd Maichel of Billings, and Dolores Fochs of Omaha, Neb.; brothers, Mike and his wife, Cheri Fochs of Denver, David Fochs and companion, Betty Hanson of Harlowton, William and his wife, Karen Fochs of Billings, and Thomas Fochs of Los Angeles. John is also survived by the children and grandchildren of his beloved Marge Douglas, with whom he shared over 22 years of his life: Diane (Kelly) Bradley and their children, Aaron, Peter, Paul, Donita (Ken) Dierenfield and their children, Michelle, Jennifer, Nathan, and Tricia, David Douglas, all of Billings, and Dean Douglas of Texas.
John and Marge, inseparable in life, together in eternal peace.
John had many nieces and nephews who were all special to him.
Visitation for family and friends will be from 12-2 p.m. Thursday at Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist. Memorial services will be held at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church in the Billings Heights, 226 Wicks Lane, on Saturday, Sept. 2, at 11 a.m. The family requests that memorials be made to Big Sky Hospice at P.O. Box 35033, Billings, MT 59107.
Kitty Belle Gillespie
1940-2000
BUSBY – Kitty Belle Gillespie died peacefully Monday evening, Aug. 28, 2000, surrounded by her family and friends. She had been visiting her daughter in Gilbert, Ariz.
Kitty was born Feb. 3, 1940, in Lame Deer, to John and Verda Gillespie. She graduated from grade school in Lame Deer and from Colstrip High School in 1957. Kitty married
Don Littlewolf May 28, 1958, in Busby. They were later divorced.
Kitty was employed by Busby School for over 23 years, starting as a secretary/receptionist and then moving on to an accounting position.
She was very active in various church activities, the Head Start Program, Native Action Youth, the Family Sisterhood Gathering, Lame Deer Women’s Club and the Volunteer Blood Drive. She enjoyed visiting with her family and friends and was known for her kind heart, generosity, integrity and ability to work with children.
Kitty is survived by a son, Jay Littlewolf of Busby; two daughters, Pam Littlewolf of Busby and Dawn Littlewolf of Gilbert; two granddaughters, Taylor Lyn and Tynesha Sharee, both of Gilbert; a sister, Anita Perata of Billings; and two nieces, Faye and Sara Perata, both of Billings.
Kitty will be missed by all. “You are now at peace, Mom. We will all see you again.”
Wake services will be at 6 p.m. Sunday with the funeral service at 10 a.m. Monday, both at the Busby Mennonite Church. Burial will be in the Lame Deer cemetery. Rausch Funeral Home is in charge.
Herbert E. Johnson
WASHOE, Nev. – Herbert E. Johnson, 85, died July 27, 2000, at Washoe Medical Center.
A native of Chicago, he was born June 27, 1915, to Herbert E. Sr., and Jeannie (Johnson) Johnson and had lived in Reno since 1988, coming from Spokane, Wash. He also lived in Billings.
Johnson was a sales manager for Burlington Northern and was a World War 11 Marine veteran.
Wife, Lorane, died Oct. 19, 1998 and a sister, Laverne Barra, preceded him in death. Surviving are sons, Gary of Reno and Robert of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and four grandchildren.
No funeral is scheduled. Cremation will be at Truckee Meadows Crematory, under the direction of Reno Memorial Cremation and Burial Society, with inurnment at Mountain View cemetery.
