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Theodore Belford Davis
Theodore Belford Davis died Friday, July 15, 2011.
Mr. Davis was born Feb. 18, 1933, in Miles City to Fred W. Davis of Miles City and Emma O. Bucholz Davis of Dickinson, N.D. As an infant, he was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Miles City.
He lived in Miles City until, as a young man, he moved to Seattle, Wash., to be with his mother.
While in Seattle, he joined the United States Army, serving as a medic from 1950 to 1953, when he was honorably discharged.
Later he moved to San Bernadino, Calif., where he met and married
his wife, Lois. They celebrated 42 years together.
His survivors include his wife, Lois; an older brother, James E. Davis (Anna) of Tacoma, Wash.; and many nieces and nephews.
He will be laid to rest at Parkland Lutheran cemetery in Tacoma.
Esther Gackle Kogele
On Wednesday, July 27, 2011, at 9:50 p.m. Esther Gackle Kogele, beloved and cherished mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, died.
She was born to Andrew and Pauline Kalmbach Gackle on Sept. 24, 1918, in Watkins. Her home ranch was 20 miles southwest of Brockway, where her schooling began. In 1938 she graduated from Terry High School as salutatorian of her class.
She attended Billings Business College, but work was scarce, so she came back to Terry as a National Youth Administration worker in the County Agent’s Office; plus she did housecleaning and laundry for 10 cents an hour and cared for her three brothers who were attending school.
Then she moved to Miles City, where she did office work for $56 a month. Many times she didn’t have food for a week. Sometimes some good people would come and take her out to eat “unbeknown to them that they were angels sent by God, ” she’d say.
In the beginning of World War II, she was called to Helena as a file clerk in the State Unemployment Office then on to a Civil Service job with the Reconstruction Finance Company of Helena. She was becoming very involved in the business world in Helena, and belonged to the Business Women’s Association, when her mother suffered a severe heart attack and pneumonia and she gave up her career and a promising future to go back to the ranch and care for her mother. This is how she lived her life. Her God and family always came before herself.
In 1946 she and Richard Kogele were married
. They settled in Terry in 1949, where she had lived since. They had four girls, Karen, Myrna, Joyce and Phyllis. The couple divorced in 1975.
She was a member of the Terry Wesleyan Church for more than 60 years and served as treasurer, Sunday school teacher and as a mighty prayer warrior.
In August of 1964 she became the business manager for the Prairie Community Hospital and retired in 1983. Then she managed the Senior Citizen Center in Terry, plus working for Action for Eastern Montana and retired from these positions when she was 84.
Her survivors are three daughters, Myrna Kogele of Terry, Joyce (Jim) Wilcox of Helena and Phyllis (Loren) Sackman of Dickinson, N.D.; one grandson, Jonathen (Jody) Sackman; three great-grandchildren, Jayce, Gabe and Autumn; two step-grandchildren, Shayne Wilcox and Lisa (Wilcox) Tehrani; and four step-great-grandchildren.
Preceding her in death were her parents; a daughter, Karen; a sister, Elsie (Solomon) Lackman; and three brothers, Erwin, Albert and Richard.
A prayer service will be Friday, Aug. 5, 2011, at 6 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons in Terry. Funeral services will be Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011, at 2 p.m. at the Wesleyan Church in Terry. Interment will follow in the Prairie County cemetery in Terry.
Jeffrey E. Roberts
Word has been received of the death of Jeffrey E. Roberts, 68.
He died Friday, July 29, 2011, in Orofino, Idaho.
He was born and raised in Miles City, the son of Dwight and Ellen Zuelke Roberts.
He graduated from Custer County High School in 1961 and the University of Montana in 1965.
He then began a long career as a Certified Public Accountant.
He is survived by his wife, Jackie, in Orofino; children, David (Kerry) and Judy of Billings; two step-children, Kathy of Phoenix and T.J. in the Air Force stationed at Las Vegas; four step-grandchildren; and his sister, Jane (Rod) Shores in Miles City.
Friends and family will gather at a later time to celebrate his life.
Richard "Rick" Glen Parker
Richard “Rick“ Glen Parker, 53, of Missoula, formerly of Terry, died Saturday, July 30, 2011, in Superior Nursing Home, under the care of the staff.
He was born Oct. 14, 1957, in Englewood, Calif., the son of Robert and Darla Parker. He was raised in Terry and attended schools in Terry and the University of Montana in Missoula.
His survivors are his parents, Robert and Darla Parker of Miles City; two brothers, Rex Parker of Boise, Idaho, and Russell Parker of Missoula; two sons, Jeramy and Travis Parker of Missoula; a niece, Sarah; a nephew, Frankie; a special friend and caregiver, Grace of Plains; and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents; one brother, Robert Earl Parker; and a special aunt, Judy Gaub.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be set at a later date in Missoula.
Bill Wahl
Bill Wahl, 75, died Monday, July 25, 2011, at the Trinity Hospital in Wolf Point.
Mr. Wahl was born on March 17, 1936, in Fort Peck to Mildred Wheatley Wahl. He grew up on the family farm and attended Lost Creek School, north of Circle.
On Dec. 31, 1962, he married
the love of his life and best friend, Dana Hinnaland. They had three sons: Danny, Terry and Grant Wahl. In 1983, they lost their eldest son, Danny, in a motorcycle accident. Mr. Wahl also had a daughter, Shaun Novich, from a previous marriage.
For the first several years of their marriage, Mr. Wahl drove truck for Rice Truck Lines of Great Falls. In 1966, they returned to Circle and started their own construction business. In 1974, Mr. Wahl incorporated water well drilling into the business. He was a pilot and enjoyed flying as a pastime.
Mr. Wahl was a charter member of the First Baptist Church of Circle. He also enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, Adisyn and Tripp Wahl, who were his pride and joy and reason for living the past four years.
His survivors include his wife, Dana of Circle; his two sons: Terry Wahl and Grant Wahl of Circle; four grandchildren, Adisyn and Tripp Wahl of Circle, Rayna Ponessa of Miles City and Brandon Donalson of Billings; three sisters: Bonnie Viall of Kinsey, Mary Ann (Gordon) Garpestad and Betty (Bruce) Robinette; one brother: Neal (Kris) Wahl of East Helena; a sister-in-law, Marlene Wahl; a great-grandchild, Auroura Donalson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Danny; a brother, Gary Wahl; and brother-in-law, Brownie Viall.
A celebration of Mr. Wahl’s life will be held for friends and family on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011, at 2 p.m. at the Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Circle.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to a desired diabetes organization, or the charity of one’s choice.
Wilma Oxford
Wilma Oxford, 86, of Miles City, died Tuesday, July 26, 2011, at the Eagle Cliff Manor in Billings.
Mrs. Oxford was born on Jan. 21, 1925, at the family homestead northeast of Ekalaka on an extremely cold winter day. She loved going to school and attended the Spring Valley grade school and later graduated from Carter County High School. She went to Billings with her sister, Diana, to get the credits to get her teaching license then taught for two years at Schofield School and a year at the Burch School, both in Carter County.
While she was still in high school she met George Oxford and they exchanged letters for the nearly four years that he served in World War II. They were married
on March 23, 1945, right after he returned home. This was a lifetime union that lasted 54 years.
They began their marriage in the old rock house on the Oxford homestead, but later moved to Miles City, then to the state highway section house at Ismay where they enjoyed being part of that community for more than 25 years. They also owned a house in Plevna and stayed there to send kids to school. Mrs. Oxford made many friends in Plevna. They later bought a house in Miles City and enjoyed their life of retirement.
Mrs. Oxford always appreciated the little things in life that so many take for granted and was always optimistic about the future. Her greatest joys in life were her children and grand-children. When Doug married
Bonnie and became the dad of her two children, Mrs. Oxford welcomed them lovingly into her family. She was also very fond of Heather Vennes and Michelle Reynolds, who spent a great deal of time with her as little girls. She valued a good education for all the young people in the family and was always excited to hear the latest news about each of them.
Her survivors include two sons: Junior, who lives at Highgate Retirement Center in Billings, and Doug and his wife Bonnie of Billings; Kay Wells and her husband Dick of Rosebud Creek; six grand-children: Denny Wells, Dean Wells, Kristy Flesch (Bob), Kassia Lyman (Donnie, Eijai Oxford and Madison Oxford. Survivors also include two great-grand-daughters: Kylee Wells and Sarah Kay Flesch. The staff at Wel-Home Health in Miles City became like family to Mrs. Oford, allowing her to live in her home as long as possible and taking care of her so lovingly.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George; and her daughter, Penny. She was the last survivor of the seven brothers and sisters in her family. She also was preceded in death by her brothers, John and Vernon; and sisters, Diana, Sarah, Mava and Virginia.
Graveside services will be Friday, July 29, 2011, at 10 a.m. at the Custer County cemetery in Miles City.
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements.
Lawrence ‘Larry’ Sylvan Nelson
Lawrence “Larry” Sylvan Nelson, 83, of Miles City, Montana, passed away peacefully Monday, July 25, 2011, at St. John’s Lutheran Home in Billings.
Larry was born in Bowman, North Dakota, on September 15, 1927, and spent the next 80 years in Miles City.
Larry served one and a half years in the Army and three years in the National Guard. After serving his country he returned to Miles City, where he worked for 33 years with the State Highway Dept., retiring in 1984. Larry then worked a few odd jobs before going to work for Prince, Inc. in Forsyth, MT, finally retiring at age 75.
Larry married
Jackie Fulton in June of 1953 in Amidon, North Dakota, and later adopted two children.
He and Jackie recently celebrated their 58th Wedding Anniversary.
Larry is survived by his wife, Jackie Nelson; son, Paul Nelson of Miles City and daughter, Becky Johnson of Billings; brothers: Gary (Julie) Nelson of Stevensville, MT, and Marvin Nelson of Belgrade, MT; brother-in-law, Cy Fulton of Bowman, North Dakota; three grandchildren: Brandi, Kacye and Ty; and two great-grandsons: Cayden and Kyelan.
The family would like to thank all of the people who cared for Larry at St. John’s Lutheran Home and the Dialysis Clinic.
Graveside services will be held at 1:30 P.M. August 4th in Miles City at the Eastern Montana State Veterans cemetery; and refreshments will follow at the VFW, 119 N. 6th, Miles City.
Memorials may be sent to St. John’s Lutheran Home, 3940 Rimrock Rd., Billings, Montana 59102.
William A. Winkley Sr.
William A. Winkley Sr, 81, of Miles City died Sunday, July 24, 2011, at the Holy Rosary Healthcare in Miles City.
Mr. Winkley was born May 13, 1930, at the Darcy Hospital in Miles City, the son of William F. Winkley and Cecilia G. Shumsky Winkley. The family lived in Carter County on the family ranch nine miles east of Powderville where he grew up with several Winkley cousins. Mr. Winkley attended six years of school in Powderville, then two years at the Winkley school, and then high school in Ekalaka.
He bought the hotel and cafe in Plevna in 1949, which his folks operated after November of 1950 in which he enlisted in the United States Air Force stationed in Greensville, S.C., as a supply sergeant.
Mr. Winkley was honorably discharged in 1954 at the rank of Staff Sgt.
In 1952, he and Emily Rodgers were married
in Spartanburg, S.C. They returned to Miles City in 1954. To this marriage three children were born, William Allen Winkley Jr., Terry Winkley and Melinnee (Cindy) Mastel (Marvin). There also were two step-children, Michael West and Kenny Salmi.
Mr. Winkley worked at various jobs, railroading, driving bus for Greyhound, the old refinery wrecking yard north of town, L.P. Anderson, co-owner Baker Cement, and worked for Miles City Sand and Gravel, Rask Electric, Miles City Ready Mix, Mid-West Motor Express and Behlen Buildings. He also owned W.A. Winkley Construction, doing highway concrete work on the interstate. After he retired he continued working, fixing appliances and other household items.
On Aug. 26, 1972, Mr. Winkley and Linda (Sotka) were married
in Watertown, S.D. To this union two children were born: Mark Winkley (Jennifer) and Kari Winkley (Jarred Pitcher). Mr. Winkley also had three step-children, Laura (Sotka) Wetherelt (Allen), Roni Sue (Sotka) Adams (Bob) and Scott Sotka. In 1979 Mr. and Mrs. Winkley owned and operated the 10 Spot Café until 1986.
He was a very handy man. He could make something out of nothing and fix anything, drive or operate any machinery.
His survivors include his wife, Linda; son, Allen Winkley Jr. of Miles City; daughter-in-law, Cindy (Brown) Winkley of Helena; daughter, Cindy Mastel (Marvin) of Rapid City, S.D.; step-daughter, Laura Wetherelt (Allen) of Forsyth; step-daughter, Roni Sue Adams (Bob) of Eau Claire, Wis.; step-son, Scott Sotka of San Jose, Calif.; son, Mark (Jennifer) Winkley of Miles City; daughter, Kari Winkley (Jarred Pitcher) of Kalispell; 21 grandchildren with a new one expected in November, making a total of 22; 13 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Mr. Winkley was preceded in death by his parents, William and Cecilia Winkley; and his son, Terry Winkley.
The family will receive friends Thursday, July 28, 2011, at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City from 4 to 6 p.m. Graveside services will be Friday, July 29, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. at the Eastern Montana State Veterans cemetery with full military honors provided by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1579. Family and friends will meet at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home at 10 a.m. to proceed to the cemetery together. There will be a gathering at the VFW Hall following the services.
Sheryl Kay Helmuth
Sheryl Kay (Miller) Helmuth, 63, died Tuesday, July 26, 2011, at her home in the arms of her loving husband and family. She died after a seven-year battle with leukemia. She received excellent care by caregivers Suzanne and Lorna Wollman.
Mrs. Helmuth was born in Sidney on Feb 25, 1948, the daughter of Nathan and Kathryn (Mitchell) Miller. They lived in rural Bloomfield until she was three years of age. The family then moved to Glendive until she was in the third grade. She moved back to Intake for the fourth grade then on to Miles City where she attended Garfield Elementary School, Washington Middle School and Custer County High School.
She and her husband, Sandy, were united in marriage June 11, 1967, at the Wesleyan Church in Miles City. They began their life together living in Phoenix, Ariz. After leaving Arizona they lived in Wolford, N.D., came back to Montana and settling in their current home in Fallon in 1986.
Mrs. Helmuth had many hobbies including needlework, crocheting, white ware painting and artwork, but growing roses was her passion. She always loved music and started sharing her love at nine years of age singing gospel songs on a local Glendive radio station. In August 2010 she continued her music career by making an acapella CD with her sisters. She was a prayer warrior and prayed for many people found in her “prayer notebook.” She loved the Lord and longed for her home in heaven.
She is survived by her husband of 44 years, Sandy; daughter, Valerie Helmuth, granddaughter, Audrey of Bloomfield; son, Josh and his wife Piney, grandchildren, Kylie and Dalton of Terry; parents Nathan and Katherine Miller of Sidney; brothers, Tim (Sheila) Miller of Havre and Les (Mickey) of Pueblo, Colo.; sisters, Wanda (David) Reisig of Hardin, Nancy (Jim) Fercho of Malta, Lynette (Rod) Christenson of Laurel, Starla (Vern) Fox of Bigfork and Robyn (Tim) Hurst of Sidney; and numerous nieces, nephews, other family and friends.
Mrs. Helmuth was preceded in death by two daughters, Audrea Lynn and Michelle Cherie; granddaughter, Korenna Kay; infant brother, Terry; and her grandparents.
A Celebration of Life Service will be Thursday, July 28, 2011, at 7 p.m. at the Evangelical Church in Fallon. Funeral services will be Friday, July 29, 2011, at 10 a.m. at the Evangelical Church in Fallon. Interment will follow on Saturday, July 30, 2011, at 2 p.m. in the Lakeview Mennonite cemetery in Wolford, N.D.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Lutheran Center, P.O. Box 825, Billings, Montana 59103.
Katherine M. Shevlin
Katherine Mary Shevlin left this full and long earthly life surrounded by family members in Helena on Sunday, July 24, 2011.
Kay, along with her twin brother Kenneth, was born on July 6, 1915, in the small town of Lambert, MT. Her parents, Bernard and Katherine Mullin Backes, homesteaded in the area in the early 1900’s.
Two of Kay’s brothers, Alonzo and Ken, died at early ages. Ben and Katie Backes kept their family, consisting of Kay and her brother Otto, going through the tough years of drought and then the depression by their hard work in farming, ranching, dairy/creamery, gasoline distributorship and service stations.
Katie Backes wanted her daughter to have a college education. Despite financial hardships, Kay graduated from MSU, now the University of Montana, with a B.A. degree in 1938. She remained a loyal Grizzly fan and enjoyed watching their sporting events on television. She attended her 60th class reunion at the 1998 graduation ceremonies at UM when one of her grandchildren was obtaining her BA degree.
During the 1930’s, Ben opened a service station in Wheeler, MT to service the needs of the workers at the Fort Peck Dam operation. It was here that Kay met a young Irishman by the name of Patrick V. Shevlin who was working at the site. Although born in Chicago, Pat was raised in Laurel, MT and considered Montana his home.
On October 8, 1942, Kay and Pat were married
at St. Theresa’s Catholic Church in Lambert, MT. Shortly after their wedding, Pat reported for active duty in the US Air Corp and was stationed in Ft. Douglas, UT. Kay remained in Montana and worked at various jobs until Pat returned. They were living in Great Falls when their first son, John Patrick, was born in February 1945. Pat was transferred to Glasgow and then Miles City where Joseph Francis was born in November 1946. March 1948 saw the arrival of Mary Katherine and the family was complete with the birth of James Michael in May 1950.
Kay and Pat were kept very busy raising their active children. Their large garden on Custer Avenue reminded the family of their agricultural ties to their Lambert and Ireland families. Baseball seasons and swimming lessons occupied their summers along with tending the garden and marketing produce to the neighbors. Also the children were given instrumental music lessons. The need to be able to play an instrument reflected Kay’s and her father’s love for music. The gift of singing, however, was not part of any ability that was passed on to the children.
Kay and Pat also enjoyed dancing and they were quite good at it. They especially enjoyed square dancing. Kay was last seen dancing at grandchildren’s wedding parties after she turned 90 years old.
Following Pat’s retirement from the Veterans Administration in 1974, the couple began enjoying winters in Arizona. Kay continued spending the winters in Apache Junction after Pat’s death in 1976. She also did some world traveling but always appreciated returning to Montana.
Kay moved from Miles City to Helena in the early 1980’s and built one of the first homes in the then new Cloverview development on the golf course. Although not a golfer herself, she enjoyed watching them play. Errant golf shots that ended up in her yard became gifts to her grandchildren. She spent time watching her grandchildren in various sporting and academic endeavors.
One of the things that Kay passed on to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren was her love for chocolates. There were usually candies available and most likely a chocolate cake awaited any visitor to her house.
The recent celebration of her 96th birthday included a delicious chocolate cake complete with chocolate frosting shared with children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and fellow residents at Aspen Gardens.
Kay, with the assistance of her son Jim for the past two years, lived in her own home until after Thanksgiving 2010 when she went to live at the Waterford. Following a stay at the Big Sky Care Center, she recently moved into Aspen Gardens and was enjoying her new life there.
Kay was preceded in death by her husband Patrick, daughter Mary Kay, brothers Alonzo, Kenneth and Otto, nephew Kenneth Backes, niece Barbara Backes Ketterling, and sisters and brothers-in-law.
She is survived by sons John and Penny (Conrad, MT), Joseph and Cherie (Helena, MT) and James (Helena, MT). Surviving grandchildren are Brian and Heidi Shevlin (Virginia Beach, VA), Dan Shevlin (Missoula, MT), Amy Friede (Conrad, MT), Travis and Anna Shevlin (Belgrade, MT), Patricia and Brett Greene (Portland, OR), Theresa Bryant (Helena, MT), Michael Shevlin (Boise, ID), Katie and Matt Boynton (Missoula, MT), and Jason Shevlin (Bozeman, MT). Surviving great-grandchildren are John Anthony, Cecilia and Agatha Friede; Chad and Desiree Shevlin; Ella, Hannah and Bailey Greene; and Shauntiel, James and Nathin Bryant. Kay is also survived by numerous nephews, nieces and extended family.
Kay passed away on the 6th anniversary of the death of her sister-in-law, Marie Ann Prevost Backes Logue. They were both born in July — a few weeks apart, were classmates at Lambert Schools, shared a deep religious faith and enjoyed spending the winters in warmer climates.
A Vigil Service will be 7:00 p.m., Sunday, July 31 at St. Mary’s Catholic Community in Helena. Funeral celebration will take place at St. Mary’s at 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 1. Internment with a graveside service will take place at Calvary cemetery in Miles City on Tuesday, August 2, at 10:30 a.m., with a meet the family gathering at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. Pallbearers will be Kay’s grandchildren.
Kay appreciated higher education and participated with family members in establishing endowed scholarships at the University of Montana, Montana State University and Carroll College. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to these funds or charities of choice.
The family would like to thank the staffs at The Waterford, Big Sky Care Center, Aspen Gardens, St. Peter’s Hospital and Hospice of St. Peter’s for their great care, attention and concern shown to Mom during the last few months.
