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Blanche Mabel Marn
GREAT FALLS – Blanche Mabel (Schamehorn) Marn, 96, of 2621 15th Ave. S., Great Falls, a homemaker, died of natural causes, Monday, Nov. 26, 2001, at a local nursing home.
A sharing time for family and friends is 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29, at Croxford & Sons Funeral Home. Her funeral is 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 30, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1015 15th Ave. S., with burial in Highland cemetery.
Survivors include daughters Beulah Johnson of Havre, Esther Meidinger of Raker and Nora Kreb of Belt; a brother, John Schamehorn of Canada; 16 grandchildren, 43 great-grandchildren and 18 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by husbands Oscar Fish and Francis Marn; a daughter, Ethel; and sons Gary and Dale.
Additional survivors include a nephew, Robert Schamehorn of Manning, Alberta, Canada.
She was born Nov. 6, 1905, in Kenmare, N.D., and was educated in Williston. N.D.
She married
Oscar N. Fish in Waterford City, N.D., in 1953. They lived in Fairview until her husband’s death in 1953. She later married
Francis Marn; he also preceded her in death.
She worked at the Rainbow Restaurant and Tracy’s in Great Falls, and at Malmstrom AFB.
She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Navy Mothers and Royal Neighbors. She also belonged to a grandparents’ organization and the Laff-A-Lot Club in Fairview.
She enjoyed crocheting and gardening, loved her flowers and especially her roses. She tended a large garden and loved canning to provide for her family.
She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Robert and Willy; sisters May and Flossie; and a granddaughter, Marcella.
Ralph Ronald ‘Ron’ Peters, Jr.
BRIDGER – Ralph Ronald “Ron” Peters, Jr., 58, of Bridger, MT., passed away Nov. 22, 2001, at his home, after a long illness. He was born March 26, 1943, in Laurel. He had lived most of his life in Bridger.
He loved working on old cars and small engines and enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping.
He is survived by his wife May; sons, Ronald of Billings, Robert (Linda) Cowley of Billings, Delbert (Jodie) of Thermopolis, Wyo., Kevin of Billings; and daughters, Charlotte of Bridger, Holly Klundt of Bridger; stepdaughters, Angela (Gad) Asmith of Hemet, Calif., Vicki May (Daryl) McIntosh, and stepsons, Albert Waid and Henry Waid, all of Billings, and 11 grandchildren; sister Deanna (Ralph) Betcher of Texas; and a brother, Gerald of Helena.
He was preceded in death by his parents Ralph V. and Magdalena Peters and grandson Neal Pacheco.
Services will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, at Smith Funeral Chapel-Laurel. Interment will be in Bridger cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to Beartooth Hospice; Box 1090; Red Lodge, MT 59068.
Lester Morken
Lester Morken, 86, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 22, 2001, at the Western Manor Health Center. He was born Nov. 18, 1915, in Winneshick County, Iowa, the son of Lars and Mathilda Morken, and grew up in the rural country around Spring Grove, Minn.
He served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Aleutian Islands and in Okinawa during WWII. Throughout the years, he has maintained contact and sustained the friendships of many of his comrades from those days.
On Aug. 24, 1944, he married
Luella Collins in Glasgow, and later settled in the Billings area. In 1981, he retired from Motor Power Equipment, where he had worked as a mechanic. Lester had a passion for woodworking and spent many hours working in his workshop and perfecting his skills. Many of the grandfather clocks and special crafts he made are in the hands of family and friends throughout the world and are a lasting legacy of his talents and enjoyment in working with wood.
He loved his family and welcomed every opportunity to be with his grandchildren even as the miles separated them from one another. He is survived by his wife, Luella; son, Larry (Sharon) Morken; granddaughter Shannon and grandson Brandon, who live in Highlands Ranch, Colo. Also surviving is his sister, Palma Oleson of Billings.
Les was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Tilman and Almar; sisters, Bellinda Mohr and Edythe Duerrwaechter.
Lester will be remembered for his gentle and quiet nature, care and concern for his family and friends, and for that, all will miss him.
Viewing will be from 8 to 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 26, with a Devotional service at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. A memorial will then be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 26, at the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd. Cremation or Funeral Gallery is in charge of arrangements.
Irene V. Nitz
MALTA – Irene V. Nitz, 83, died Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2001, at the Phillips County Good Samaritan Retirement Center.
Wake services will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, at the Adams Memorial Chapel. Mass of the Resurrection will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 26, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Adams Funeral Home and Hi-Line Crematory are in charge.
Gloria H. Van Orman
SALT LAKE CITY – Gloria H. Van Orman, daughter of T.H. Hutches and Elizabeth Hutches Nastaji, passed away on Nov. 12, 2001. We are grateful that Mother, who has lived with cancer for the past five years, was able to be at home and holding hands with her children at the time of her passing.
Mother graduated from Bountiful High School in 1957 and also attended the University of Utah. She later married
Clark T. Van Orman of Bountiful and together they raised two children.
Mother worked for many years at the U.S. Marshal’s Office in both Salt Lake City and Billings.
Words are insufficient to express how much Mother will be missed by both family and friends. Mother is survived by her daughter, April E. Van Orman; her son, Erik R. Van Orman (Stephanie); her grandchildren Dominick and Tyler; and many, many, many friends.
We love you, Mom.
The family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Cobb and all who attended to Mother at St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings, Dr. Samlowski and the attentive staff at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, and Jeanie Morris, RN, and all who cared for Mother at Heritage Hospice.
A viewing will be held Saturday, Nov. 17, at Larkin Mortuary, 260 East South Temple, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Graveside services will follow at 2 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Lawn cemetery, 2350 East 1300 South.
Zonda Sean Gunnels Loya
Zonda Jean Gunnels Loya, age 41, of Billings, formerly of Miles City, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2001, in Billings.
Zonda was born in Colorado Springs, Colo., the daughter of Thelma Mae Schafer and Melvin Lee Gunnels. The early part of her life was spent in the South and in Wisconsin. Later her family moved to Miles City, where she had been a longtime resident until she moved to Billings, where she was residing at the time of her death.
Zonda loved horses and all animals; “Bear” was closest to her heart. She loved agate hunting, camping, carving diamond willow, leather working and making “Bush Huts” at the river.
Her profound personality and character has touched everyone she considered a friend and family. We were blessed for sharing this space of time with her. We wish her more love in her passing than can be measured, and celebrate all the memories we have. WE LOVE YOU LOU! LOU!
Zonda is survived by long and loving companion, John Sievertsen; two sons, Kenith Lee Emeline and Shannon Ray Emeline both of Miles City; a grandson, Alexander Xavier Emeline; her mother Thelma Mae Schaefer of Eunice, N.M.; three sisters, (Zoe) Lee Nelson of Butte, (Zelma) Ann Owen of Southern California, and Zebra Lanell Sheeley of Miles City; two brothers, (Zackery) Dean Schaefer of Great Falls, and Zane Wesley Schaefer of Eunice, N.M.; and several nieces and nephews.
A prayer service will be held on Thursday, Dec. 13, at 6 p.m. at the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City, with Pastor Jim Head officiating. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Cecelia C. Wooden Legs
LAME DEER – Cecelia C. Wooden Legs, 96, oldest maternal elder of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, passed away Monday evening, Dec. 10, 2001, in the Big Horn County Memorial Hospital.
Me’ona’han’ee (Kills in the Morning) was born Aug. 5, 1905, near Ashland, a daughter of Charles Little Eagle and Mary Two Bulls. She was raised in the traditional Cheyenne Family manner while receiving her formal education in Ashland schools.
She married
Dr. John Wooden Legs, Sr. in August of 1930 and together, the couple worked diligently to improve the way of life for the Cheyenne people. She served as first Lady to the Tribe for nearly 20 years. Dr. Wooden Legs died in 1981.
Cecelia was a foster mother to many children throughout the reservation. She was a member of the Native American Church, Catholic Church, War Mothers Society and an recipient of an Honorary Associates Degree from Chief Dull Knife College.
Two daughters, Darlene and Zethel; four sons, Patrick, Harvey, Max and John, Jr.; as well as two nephews, Joseph and George White Wolf, whom she raised as sons, preceded her in death.
Survivors include one son, John Joe (Judy) Wooden Legs of Lame Deer; two daughters, Therese Wooden Legs of Lame Deer and Rosie (Thurlow) Doyle of Crow Agency; one nephew Fred White Wolf, whom she raised; two foster sons, Everett White Wolf of Arizona and Russell Deverniero of Washington; 27 grandchildren, 63 great-grandchildren; 66 great-great-grandchildren and two great-great-great-grandchildren; her first cousin, Wanda Red Breath, as well as her extended families including the Old Elk, Medicine Bull, Bright Wings, Flores, Waters, Seminole, Lakota Sioux, Black Horse, Ben Knighthorse Campbell and the Mabel Small families.
A Funeral service of remembrance will be held 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 17, in the Lame Deer Boys and Girls Club Gymnasium. Interment will follow in the Lame Deer cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Grace W. Lapp
GLENDIVE – Grace W. Lapp, 82, of Glendive, formerly of Terry, died Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2001, in Glendive.
Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 14, at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Terry. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home. Interment will follow in the family lot of the Prairie County cemetery.
Lillian E. Andrews
Lillian E. Andrews, a retired teacher, was born May 19, 1916, in Killdeer, N.D. She died Dec. 13, 2001, in Billings.
Mrs. Andrews was preceded in death by her husband, George N. Andrews in 1984; a daughter, Ollie in 1954; her son John in 1997. She was also preceded in death by her parents, Andrew and Carrie Thompson; three brothers, Joe, Lavern and Lawrence and his wife Ruby; and a sister, Ellen Louise.
Survivors include Mary (Mark) Weatherman, their children, Marlyce (Jim) Smith and Mike (Debbie) and their son, Cody; Georgie (Clint) Schryver, their children Patrick (Lisa) and sons Jessie and Kael, Melinda (Rod) Baum and sons Troy and Shane, and Jeff (Patty) Schryver and daughter Casey; Donna Andrews and her children Jason and Shannon (Ken) Jones and their children Jessica and Tate. She is also survived by Rudy (Norma) Thompson, Helen Mae (Alvin) Hamilton, Caroline Thompson Andrews, 15 nieces and nephews and their children.
Mrs. Andrews will best be remembered for her love of children and her many stories of various students she had while teaching in North Dakota, Laurel and Gresham, Ore.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.
Services will be held 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 17, at Smith Funeral Chapel-Laurel. Interment will be in the Laurel cemetery.
Arthur E. Busse
MISSOULA – Art was born in Billings on June 12, 1918. He was born at home, the only child of Ernest and Mary Strand Busse. He worked at the Artificial Ice and Cold Storage delivering ice, following his father’s death. He remained in Billings until he was 24 years old. On June 12, 1942, he married
Betty Blankenbaker at the First Methodist Church in Billings. They celebrated their 59th anniversary this past June. In September 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He attended diesel engine school at Navy pier in Chicago and was a motor machinist mate. He served three years in the South Pacific. He was fortunate to have seen the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima.
Art’s life was always involved in the trucking industry, both as a driver in his earlier years and later as a master diesel mechanic. While as driver, he had more than one million miles of safe driving. He was a member of the Missoula Rural Fire Department for many years and retired as a Captain. Following his retirement from there in 1982, he became a self-taught skilled wood craftsman at his home workshop. He produced many small craft items and later made many pieces of furniture for their home. He became a member of the Garnet Preservation Association and served as Treasurer and Vice-president. After Betty retired in 1986, they both spent summers at Garnet as volunteer hosts. It was during that time he also began donating his time and carpentry skills to the BLM office in Missoula, where he fashioned and built many pieces of office furniture.
Art is survived by his wife Betty of Missoula; five children and their spouses, Sandra and Gary Vincent of Billings, Judy Hartey of Honolulu, Hawaii, Nancy and Ed Maynard of Moline, Ill., Peggy and Jim Day of Cottonwood, Ariz., and Jim and Angie Busse of Missoula. He also leaves behind 12 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held Friday, Dec. 14, at 11 a.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, with a reception to follow in the fellowship hall of the church. Interment will be held at 2 p.m. at Sunset Memorial cemetery. Sunset Memorial Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in Art’s name to Grace United Methodist Church, PO Box 2999, Missoula, MT 59806.
