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Fr. Frank F. Kelly
Father Frank F. Kelly, 75, died Monday, Sept. 30, 2013, at Billings Health and Rehab, surrounded by his family.
Frank Findlay Kelly was born in Broadus on Aug. 13, 1938, to Archie and Audrey Vowel Kelly. He attended country school and Sacred Heart Catholic School in Miles City, graduating in 1957.
One of his specialties was cooking. After being in the Army Reserve for five years, he attended chef school. He became head chef at a resort in Boca Rotan, Fla., and Old Faithful Lodge in Yellowstone Park.
In 1973, he attended Pope John the 23rd Seminary in Westin, Mass. He was ordained a priest in 1977 at St. Ann’s Cathedral in Great Falls.
He was a member of the Miles City Jaycees, a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus, and Chaplin for the D.C.C.W. After being in a nursing home in Great Falls, he entered the Billings Health and Rehab, April 2, 2005, to join his brother, John. He enjoyed traveling and eating out. Since this was limited, he settled for Saturday breakfast at the Muzzle Loader with family. He was confined to a wheelchair as both legs were amputated due to diabetes, along with weekly dialysis.
He was always positive, had remarkable faith and was an inspiration to his family and all who knew him. He was loved, cherished and will be missed.
His survivors include his brother, Glen (Susan) of Waldport, Ore.; sisters-in-law: Sue Arang, Betty Kelly and Chris Kelly; brother-in-law, Gary Rockwell; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother; father; four brothers: Earl, Bob, John and Willis; and a sister, Marge Rockwell.
Family will receive friends on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City followed by a Rosary at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday, Oct. 7, 2013 at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Rite of Committal will follow in the Calvary cemetery.
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements.
August "Gus" Magnuson
August “Gus” Magnuson, age 89, of Miles City passed away of natural causes on Sunday, September 29, 2013 in Billings, MT. His passing was peaceful, in the arms of his loving wife of 66 years.
Gus was born the youngest of four children, to August and Anna (Myrstol) Magnuson in Miles City, MT on September 13, 1924. He was always very proud of being a Miles City native!
As a child, he had the opportunity to enjoy a summer camp in the mountains south of Red Lodge, MT. He vowed then and there that he would someday build a cabin where he could go to enjoy the nature and beauty of those mountains. He enjoyed fiddling with radios, chemistry, and photography during his teenage years. He even built his own darkroom in the family’s basement. He attended public school in Miles City where he graduated in May of 1942. He briefly worked in the shipyards in the Seattle, WA, area.
He returned to Miles City around his 18th birthday to wait for his call to service in World War II. While in the Army, he was chosen as a “volunteer” for chemical warfare experimentation. He then was sent to the South Pacific where he served tours on Biak Island and New Guinea. His job was patching war aircraft with sheet metal.
He returned home via Japan, was honorably discharged in 1946, and immediately joined his father and brother, Harold, in the sheet metal business. He was a very energetic and busy man who was never happier than when he was working with his tools. During the following years, he worked long hours to support his family, built the L&M Drive-In in Terry, MT, where he installed all of the electricity and speakers; used recycled materials to construct the family cabin in the Red Lodge mountains from the ground up, played poker with his buddies, and belonged to the Elks.
He also had a love for aviation and in 1972, he achieved his dream of becoming a pilot. He spent many adventurous years flying small aircraft.
Mostly, Gus spent time with his wife and family. He married
Patsy Elbert on February 20, 1947. He and Pat bought their first and only house in 1955 and worked for several years to update it while adding to their family. He loved Pat dearly and together they raised 6 children: Sally, Sandy, Jill, Jane, Bob, and Nancy. What a wonderful example of commitment he and Pat are for their children and grandchildren!
In 1991, Gus and his brother, Harold, sold the family business, Magnuson Tin Shop, to his son Robert (Bob) and enjoyed many summers with Pat at the cabin in the mountains. It was his own little piece of quiet and a dream come true!
Gus and Pat enjoyed living at Highgate Senior Living in Billings for the last 21/2 years and appreciate the loving care he received from their staff.
He is survived by his ‘sweetheart’, Pat; daughters, Sandy (Keith) Brownfield of Billings and Miles City, Jill (Lynn) Solomon of Billings, Jane (Gary) Robertson of Houston, TX; son, Bob (Joni) Magnuson of Miles City; daughter, Nancy (Kevin) Tennant of Gillette, WY; and son-in-law Ken (Janet) Neumiller of Helena, MT; 16 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews, whom he loved as his own children.
He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings – Betty, Harold, and Walter, and his daughter Sally in 1999.
A memorial service for Gus Magnuson will be held on Friday, October 4th at 3:00 P.M. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City, MT. Family and friends are invited to celebrate the life of this wonderful man. Burial will take place at the Eastern Montana State Veterans cemetery following the service with a reception after that at the Parlor.
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements.
We will miss him, but celebrate a life well-lived!
Aubrey Rae Lantta
Aubrey Rae Lantta died unexpectedly on Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013, in Holy Rosary Healthcare of natural causes.
She was born Dec. 19, 1979, in Glendive and lived in Red Lodge, Billings and Forsyth with Miles City being her most recent home.
She moved to Miles City with the hope of attending Miles Community College to obtain the skills to better care for her family. Unfortunately, she was not able to pursue that dream.
Her survivors include her daughters, Kaya Berges and Keirnan Cayko, fiancé, Justin Cayko and mother, Montie Martelle, all of Miles City; father, Carl Lantta of Red Lodge; sister, Sari (Bob) Fisher and family of Fort Hood, Texas; brothers, Jason Gaughan and family of Helena and Ty (Rhenee) Lantta and family of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; grandmother, Merna Martelle of Miles City; aunt, Tina (Arenie) Sticka, cousin, Erin Unruh and family, all of Billings; and uncle, Robert Martelle of Forsyth.
Visitation will be Friday, Oct. 4, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, at 3 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Custer County cemetery.
Margie Ellen Randall
Margie Ellen Randall, 88, formerly of Miles City, most recently of Hysham, died Friday, Sept. 27, 2013, at her son’s home in Cheyenne, Wyo., with her family by her side.
Mrs. Randall was born on Aug. 24, 1925, in Forsyth, the daughter of Raymond and Helen Scoles Seekins. She grew up and attended school in Forsyth until the eighth grade.
In 1944, she married
her lifelong partner, Archie “Tom” A. Randall. In 1949 Mr. and Mrs. Randall began their lifelong journey by starting Randall Lumber & Coal, which later became Randall Lumber & Equipment.
On April 4, 2011, her husband, Archie, died and soon after Mrs. Randall moved closer to her son, Archie Jr. in Cheyenne, Wyo.
Mrs. Randall loved gardening, listening to all types of music, and especially enjoyed cooking for her family. She would often sing songs while cooking a meal.
She is survived by her three sons, Robert (Bonnie) of Eldon, Mo., Archie (Kathy) of Cheyenne and Steve (Callie) of Minot, N.D.; two daughters, Judy (Bill) Gable of Absarokee and Jean (Dan) Stevens of Billings; 14 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and one brother, Jim Seekins of Miles City.
Visitation will be Friday, Oct. 4, 2013, at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral Services will be Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will follow at the Custer County cemetery.
Randall James "Randy" Reynolds
Randall James “Randy” Reynolds, 54, of Miles City unexpectedly died on Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. He was comfortably sleeping in his favorite recliner with his beloved pugs, Tivo and Migo, by his side.
Marge and Jack Reynolds welcomed him into this world on Christmas Day, 1958. He was born and raised in Glendive. In Glendive, with his brothers Tom, Bill, John and Bob, he learned to fish and hunt, and fell in love with the outdoors. Over the years, he enjoyed numerous fishing trips in Alaska, Canada and Mexico with family and friends.
He left Glendive to attend Creighton University for his undergraduate studies and his doctorate in dentistry. As a dental student, he volunteered in the Dominican Republic where he met Creighton medical student, Lourdes Rondan. They began a three-year courtship that included frequent, lengthy phone calls and many visits between Glendive and Los Angeles. They were married
in Los Angeles on July 23, 1988.
Now together in Glendive, they were excited to begin the most important facet of their lives, their own family. Within five years, Bobby, Mia, Toni and Nicky filled their home. It was a fun, happy, chaotic house full of toys, books, stuffed animals and lots of love.
In 1997, the family moved down the road to Miles City. As the couple worked, their children grew and hockey skates and golf clubs replaced the toys. Dr. Reynolds loved coaching youth hockey, golfing with his children and spending countless weekends traveling across Montana for games and meets. He loved summer vacations and was always excited to spend the holidays in either Glendive or Los Angeles, a city he grew to love as a second home.
He treasured time spent with his brothers telling stories, laughing and sharing memories. He loved visiting Glendive, sitting in his father’s office on weekend mornings and talking about Reynolds Market, the family business. He could spend hours talking with his father, listening and learning, with his mother, Marge, joining them and keeping the coffee cups full.
This past July, with their four children, the couple celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary at the ranch where they held their wedding reception. A few weeks later they sent their youngest child off to college and began the next chapter of their lives; the empty nest. Over their last month the couple talked and laughed about how fast the time had flown, the varied and exciting lives their children were leading, and of the wonderful possibilities the future held.
Dr. Reynolds’ survivors include his wife, Lourdes of Miles City; his children, Bobby, Mia, Toni and Nicky, all of Miles City; his mother, Marge Reynolds of Glendive; his brothers, Tom (Patty) and Bill (Jacki), all of Glendive and John (Elena) of Sidney; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Jack; and his brother, Bob.
Family will receive friends on Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Rosary and Vigil services will follow on Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, Oct. 4, 2013, at 11:30 a.m. in Glendive at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Rite of Committal will follow in the Dawson County cemetery in Glendive.
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements.
Ellen Donnelly Sollars Merry
Ellen Donnelly Sollars Merry, who was born and raised in Miles City, died suddenly on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2013, at her home in North Carolina.
She attended Sacred Heart Grade School and Custer County High School, graduating in 1943. After graduation she worked for the War Department during World War II at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and met a Marine, Joe Sollars, who she married
in 1947.
After his discharge from the Marine Corps, they moved back to Miles City and had three children. Mr. Sollars was then recalled to active duty to fight in the Korean War and was killed in combat in 1951. She remained in Miles City, raising her three daughters until she moved to Colorado Springs, Colo., in 1955. There she met her husband, John Merry, and later moved to Denver, Colo.; Roswell, N.M.; and Graham, N.C.
Mrs. Merry is survived by her husband, John Merry; three daughters, Bonnie Jo Waggoner, Laura Morris and Maggie Kryer; her brother, Dan Donnelly in Billings; a sister, Patricia Donnelly Cotton in Colorado Springs; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Dan and Pearl Donnelly; her sister, Elizabeth Donnelly; her brother, Albert Donnelly; her nieces, Karen Donnelly and Dianne Donnelly; and her nephew, Brian Donnelly.
Mary Marie Brahar Ringland
Mary Marie Brahar Ringland, 93, died Sunday, Sept. 22, 2013, in Olympia, Wash.
She was born in Philadelphia, Pa., on April 26, 1920, the daughter of Nick and Anne Senick Brahar.
An animal lover who loved her adopted dogs, she worked as a housekeeper at the Red Rock Village and the old Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City.
She married
Evan Bernard Ringland and is survived by daughters, Jackie Rudnicki of Olympia, Wash., and Stephanie Pittman of Miles City; grandchildren, Sheena Rudnicki of Olympia, Eddie Pittman of Miles City and Lynn Pittman of Billings; great-grandchildren, Jason Moxam, and Tonya and Blade Pittman; and a brother, Joseph Brahar in Hamtramck, Mich.
Visitation will be Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, from 1 to 6 p.m. in Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be Monday, Sept. 30, 2013, at 2 p.m. in Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City with interment to follow in the Custer County cemetery.
Betty Lou Bair Wright
Betty Lou Bair Wright died Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2013, at Friendship Villa in Miles City.
Born in Ismay on Dec. 8, 1927, she was the daughter of Elmer Bair and Mary Alvina (Baker) Bair. As a child, she attended schools in the Ismay community and graduated from Custer County High School.
On Oct. 2, 1948, she and Harvey L. Wright of Kinsey were married
. They were married
for 43 years. During this time they lived in various parts of the country and always had fond memories of their time in the Kalispell, Kinsey and Terry areas and working on local ranches.
Mr. and Mrs. Wright were both employed at the Custer County Rest Home, which was located in the Yellowstone Valley in Miles City.
Mrs. Wright was a life-time member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary in Miles City, holding offices in the local chapter as well as state offices. She and her husband were active volunteers at the Veteran’s Administration hospital in Miles City. She spent many years devoting time to others and to worthy causes in which she believed.
She enjoyed doing genealogy, quilting, crocheting and embroidery work, until such time that she was no longer able.
The staff at the Holy Rosary ICU and the staff at Friendship Villa took good care of Mrs. Wright.
She is survived by her special nephews, Lloyd R. (Colette) Butcher and Roger (Darlene) Root, who were like her own children, as she and Harvey never had children of their own; and numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews, all across the country; and an abundance of lifelong friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey; her parents; her brothers and sisters; and their faithful cattle dog, Lady.
Visitation will be Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral Services will be Friday, Sept. 27, 2013, at 10 a.m. in Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Custer County cemetery.
Evageline Sams
Evangeline Sams, 84, of Broadus died Monday, Sept. 23, 2013, at Holy Rosary Extended Care Facility in Miles City.
She was born July 10, 1929, in a log cabin on Ranch Creek, the daughter of Allen and Hermine Sott Sams. She was the eldest of 31 Sott cousins. Her paternal grandmother, Mary Angeline Sams, was the midwife. She was named after Longfellow’s poem.
She and her sister walked two miles to the Bergerson School, except for one year when they went to Powells and Anna Powell was their schoolteacher. They grew up very close to their cousins, Charles, Gerald and Bertha Neprud, who also lived nearby, first on Ranch Creek and then Biddle.
In 1946, she went to North Dakota to stay with family and attend high school. She became godmother to her cousin, Ted Sott. She completed high school in three years and planned to continue college and work in the mission field. Her plans were changed by a serious illness.
She returned to the family ranch and later attended Bible schools in Cincinnati and Colorado Springs. In 1961, another illness brought her home. For the next 28 years, she lived at the ranch.
She was active in the Biddle Wesleyan Church. Although she never married
or had children, she kept up with a large extended family through her greeting card ministry. She became proficient in scherenschnitte, the German art of paper cutting. She volunteered at the museum and the manor.
She loved photography, flowers and helping with flowers at the fair. She was known for always having her facts straight at the museum; her proficiency at scripture; serving as a prayer warrior; and her beautiful handwriting and handwritten letters and notes, often tucked into a carefully selected greeting card.
She lived at the ranch until 1989, when she moved to the Biddle Trailer Park, where she lived until she and her mobile home moved to Broadus in 2008. She faithfully attended the Assembly of God Church.
Her survivors include her nieces, Margaret (Bob) Scoles of Broadus and Dixie (Mike) Stark of Darby; nephews, Steve (Bonnie) Patten of Green River, Wyo., and Carl (Kaylene) Patten of Lewistown; and great-nieces and great-nephews, David Scoles and Emily Jesttes, Jonathan and Monica Jo Patten, and Kyle and Carson Patten. She will be missed by family and many special friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant brother, Carl; her sister, Lily Mae Patten; and one nephew, Ben Patten.
Visitation will be Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013, from 1 to 6 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Broadus. Funeral services will be Friday, Sept. 27, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Broadus. Interment will follow in the Ranch Creek cemetery near Biddle.
Thomas Elbert Klamm
Word has been received of the death of Thomas Elbert Klamm, 77, former Miles City resident who lived in Boone, Iowa. He died Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 22, 2013, at the Madrid Home in Madrid, Iowa., where he had been a resident since October 2012.
Mr. Klamm was born Sept. 21, 1935, in Miles City, the son of John F. and Elizabeth Burtner Klamm Sr. He graduated from Custer County High School in Miles City in 1953.
On May 15, 1959, he and Beverly L. Shuey were married
in Billings.
Mr. Klamm joined the Army in December 1965 and served in the Vietnam War as a helicopter mechanic. Shortly after returning from Vietnam, he moved to Boone and joined the Iowa National Guard where he was employed as a helicopter mechanic until his retirement in 1992 with the rank of E7.
He had many hobbies, feeding the birds and squirrels, flower gardening, coin collecting, rock collecting, collecting ceramic Chihuahuas and other figurines, along with numerous wildlife pictures. He had a great love for his two very special Chihuahuas, Katie and Keli, and was seen walking them almost daily all around West Boone before his declining health. Mr. Klamm was very well known at the ISU Veterinary Hospital where he had taken his dogs many times. He and his beloved Kati and Keli were featured in the ISU Hospital information brochure.
Mr. Klamm was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints where he served his church for a time as the building custodian and groundskeeper. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, the Boone Humane Society, the National Humane Educational Society and the National Wildlife Federation.
His survivors include his wife, Beverly of the Madrid Home in the Alzheimer’s unit; a step-son, Elmo Hansen, and wife, Jolene, of Boone; three step-grandsons, Brent and Bradley Hansen, both of Boone, and Justin Hansen of Moingona, Iowa; two step-great-grandsons, Christopher and Dustan Hansen, both of Boone; and two step-great-granddaughtersm Mallory and Lucy Hansen, both of Boone.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother; and three sisters.
His body was cremated and a memorial service was held Saturday morning, Feb. 2, 2013, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 1516 22nd St. in Boone. Stark-Welin Funeral Directors in Boone was in charge of arrangements.
Interment, with military honors conducted by the Boone Veterans Council, was Saturday morning, June 8, 2013, in the Linwood Park cemetery in Boone.
