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Donald Lee Thibault
Donald Lee Thibault, 77, of Miles City died Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2006, at his home in Miles City after a short battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his family and died peacefully.
Mr. Thibault was born on Sept. 18, 1928, in Miles City, the son of Andrew and Mable Hutchinson Thibault. He was raised and attended schools in Miles City.
He enlisted in the United States Marine Corp and served during World War II. After his honorable discharge, Mr. Thibault retuned home and then began working at the Eaton Dude Ranch outside of Sheridan, Wyo., and also traveled around the United States.
He moved back to Miles City and began working at the Miles City Saddlery. On Sept. 1, 1961, Don and Virginia Carter were united in marriage in Miles City. He then helped in the construction of the 1st National Bank and also worked at the Beacon Carter Service Station for a time.
The family then moved south of Broadus, where Mr. Thibault worked for the Gay Ranch for eight years. They moved back to Miles City and owned and operated Don’s Shoe Repair for a number of years. He then became a maintenance man for the Miles City school district and later for the Miles City Post Office where he retired in 1990. Mr. Thibault had remained in Miles City ever since.
He enjoyed woodworking, making furniture and mirrors for many in the community. Mr. Thibault also enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, traveling, and saw and blade sharpening. He was a member of the Good Sams Club and a past member of the Elks.
His survivors include his wife, Virginia of Miles City; a son, Kelly Thibault of Miles City; a daughter, Cathy Lampert of Casper, Wyo.; a brother, Dale Thibault and his wife Doris of Miles City; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Floyd and Frank Thibault; a sister, Lucille Thibault; and a nephew, Lynn Thibault.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2006, at 11 a.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home. Interment will be in the Custer County cemetery.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Ralph Oliver Coltrin
Memorial Mass for Ralph Oliver Coltrin, former Miles City resident, was held Saturday morning, July 15, 2006, in Arizona.
He died the morning of Tuesday, July 11, 2006, after a valiant fight with cancer.
Mr. Coltrin was born Jan. 18, 1919, in Miles City and attended grade school and high school in Miles City. He furthered his education at the University of Montana-Missoula and was employed early in his life as a brakeman moving his way up the employment ladder with the Southern Pacific Railroad and ended his employment career as superintendent of the Tucson Division.
On Feb. 6, 1940, he and Carol Styer were married
in Miles City.
Music filled his home as he played the organ, piano, trombone and violin and for some years played with the Beaver’s Band Box.
His survivors include his wife, Carol, and 11 of their 12 children, Teresa “Terry” Cloakey of Alamogordo, N.M., Charles “Chuck” Coltrin of Virginia, Rose Czech of New Mexico, Carol “Cathy” Hufault, Ralph Coltrin Jr., Michael Coltrin, Helen Hess, Paul R. Coltrin and Dorothy Coltrin, all of Tucson, Joan Julie Coltrin of North Carolina, and Elizabeth “Betsy” Coltrin of California.
Survivors also include 21 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren. In the Miles City area, his survivors include his nieces, Marian Niedge and Patsy Bickle and their families of Miles City and a nephew, Keith Brownfield and his family of Billings.
He was preceded in death by his son, Robert “Bobby” Coltrin.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be made to Catholic Services.
Arrangements were by Bring’s Broadway Chapel in Arizona.
Timothy "TJ" James
Timothy “TJ” James, 60, of Miles City died Sunday, Aug. 20, 2006, at his home in Miles City.
Mr. James was born on July 25, 1946, “Christmas in July, ” to Elmo and Estelle Dobson James in Hardin. He joined them and his beloved son “Tim-Tim” on Aug. 20, 2006, in his home after a brief battle with cancer.
He met the love of his life, Tammra “Tami” Gulden, and they were married
on Feb. 14, 1968. They had four children, Terry, Timberly, Tony and Tim-Tim.
Mr. James enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling and road trips with family and friends. He was a regular at both the Silver Star and Blue Moon Casinos. He had a wonderful sense of humor. He even had loyal customers who followed him from job to job.
He was employed by Sawyers, Eddy’s Standard, Glenn’s Standard, Larry Sayre’s Fire Equipment, JR Texaco, Miles City Ford, CJ’s, Beacon Carter Service, Oftedahl’s and a short while at Eagles Manor.
His survivors include his wife of 38 years, Tami; his daughter, Timberly (Joseph) Sprayberry and grandson Joseph “Cubby, ” his son Tony (Amy Decker) and their daughter Joyce, grandson Jesse James and granddaughter Bailey Healey, and son Terry (Vanessa Raschkow Sikveland), granddaughter Kasey Hill, grandsons Cristian Dyba, Dawson James and soon-to-be step-grandson Randall Sikveland.
He is also survived by his brother Lee James; his sisters Judy (Richard) Beehler and Betty (Derwin) Desroches; and by several nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, and all the friends he made and meet along his journey.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Aug. 25, 2006, at 1 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City with an Irish wake afterwards at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall in Miles City. Interment will be at a later date.
Mildred Black McClure
Mildred Black McClure, 85, of Ackerman, Miss., mother of Betty Gayle Steiner of Ackerman, long-time Miles City resident and former Eastern Montana Fair Board president, died Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2006, at the Choctaw County Nursing Home in Ackerman.
Mrs. McClure was born June 26, 1921.
She and William M. McClure were married
in Ackerman. She was a business partner with her husband.
Mrs. McClure was a member of Enon Cumberland Presbyterian Church and was very active in the Order of the Eastern Star. She always loved caring and sharing with the community and those in need. Mrs. McClure always considered family a major part of her life.
She and her husband were frequent visitors to Miles City, particularly during fair time.
In addition to her daughter and son-in-law, Betty and Cloyd Steiner, formerly of Miles City, Mrs. McClure’s survivors include her husband, William of Ackerman; a son, Gerald McClure, and his wife, Gayle, of Columbus, Miss.; her brother, Melton Black of Texas; her sister, Beatrice Cummins of Lynchburg, Tenn.; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
A service will be held Saturday, Aug. 26, 2006, at 2 p.m. in the Enon Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Ackerman. Interment will follow in the Enon cemetery in Ackerman.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Enon Cumberland Presbyterian Church Lighthouse Fund, P.O. Box 294, Ackerman, MS 39735.
Coleman Funeral Home, 9150 Hwy. 12 East, Ackerman, MS 39735 is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to the family residence at 11500 Mississippi Highway 12, Ackerman, MS 39735.
Henry Gran
Henry M. Gran, 89, former Miles City resident, died Thursday, Aug. 17, 2006, at Carol’s Country Cottages in Federal Way, Wash.
He was born Aug. 17, 1917, to Theodore and Betsy Wall Gran in Glasgow, the fifth of nine children. He attended schools in Glasgow and Miles City, where he graduated from high school in 1935. He had various jobs in Miles City until 1942.
After his marriage to Ella Neumann, they moved to Seattle and were employed at the Boeing Aircraft Co. during World War II. Those not
serving in the military were expected to contribute to their country’s defense by working in agriculture or in a defense plant. As the war was winding down, they moved to Billings where he worked for the BN Transport until transferring to Seattle in 1971, retiring in 1980 after 35 years of employment.
Mr. Gran was a devout Christian and a member of the Grace Lutheran Church in Des Moines, Wash.
His survivors include his wife of 64 years, Ella; his daughter, Joyce; two grandchildren, Herb (Janelle) and Risa (Darrell); three great-grandchildren, Lindsay, Kassidy and Zachary; two sisters, Myrtle and Helen; two brothers, Mel (Arlene) and Ted (Rose); and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
His parents; his son, Gordon; two sisters; and two brothers preceded him in death.
Memorial services were held Thursday afternoon, Aug. 31, 2006, at the Grace Lutheran Church in Des Moines, Wash.
Family and friends will gather at the Bullis-Graves Memorial Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 25, 2006, and proceed to the Custer County cemetery for graveside services to be held at 11 a.m. Memorial services will be held 1:30 PM
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Grace Lutheran Church.
Robert "Punk" Riley
Robert Wesley “Punk” Riley, age, 82, died peacefully at his home in Kila, surrounded by his family on May 31, 2006.
He was born Robert Wesley Riley to Fredrick and Myrtle Stryker Riley in Ismay on May 30, 1924. He attended schools and graduated from Terry in 1942. Shortly after graduation he enlisted in the 37th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army. When he left for the service he stepped directly from his horse onto the train leaving his new saddle and horse for his brother, Cliff. He served in the Pacific and was involved in beachheads in the Philippines.
After his tour with the Army, he returned to Terry and married
Leona Schlinker on June 25, 1948. They lived throughout Montana with a short stay in California. They raised five children together.
Mr. Riley wore many hats to provide for his family from construction work, cattle ranching, sheep ranching, farming to outfitting in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, where he specialized in grizzly bears and mountain goats. He and his first wife divorced in 1975.
Mr. Riley and Meriel “Mel” Barnes Fishback were married
on Dec. 15, 1983. They spent much of their time packing into various wildernesses throughout the west and raising thoroughbred horses, quarter horses and miniature horses. They lived in the Flathead in Marion and Kila until they moved to Polson in 1993. His second wife died at their home in Polson in 1996.
He brought many smiles to people with his stories of the “old days” and “the good horses” of his life. He lived his life to the fullest and never looked back.
Mr. Riley enjoyed helping neighbor children and friends of his children with various horse activities. He was a founding member of the Smith Valley Saddle Club, Kalispell Turf Club and was one of the leaders for Flathead County for the Cattle Drive of ’89. His life passion was horses from breeding, raising, to training in all aspects of the horse world from rodeo, omoksee, racing, to gathering cattle in the fall, but his true love was packing back into the back country especially the Bob Marshall.
His survivors include his children and spouses, Wesley “Buster” and Sheila Riley of Anaconda, and Bob and Bev Riley of San Antonio, Texas, Sandie and Rick Bousquet of Seeley Lake, and Marcie and Tab Young of Kila; his grandchildren, Aaron Schroder, Jason Bousquet, Jessie Bousquet, Melinda Riley, Brian Riley, Kim Piske and Kelly Grinolds; two great-grandchildren, Adam and Robert Schroder; a sister-in-law, Agnes Riley; and his nephew, Russell Riley.
Mr. Riley was preceded in death by his parents, Fredrick and Myrtle; a sister, Gladys; his brothers, Cliff and Will; and his daughter, Gloria Schroder.
Memorial services will be Friday, Sept. 1, 2006, at 11 a.m. at Pyramid Trailhead in Seeley Lake.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Mr. Riley’s family.
Wilhelm "Bill" Kesler
Wilhelm F. “Bill” Kesler, 90, formerly of Fallon and Miles City, died Saturday, Aug. 19, 2006, at Gateway Residential Living in Springfield, Ore.
Mr. Kesler was born April 8, 1916, to John Kesler and Rosina Roesler Kesler at Hoyt. In 1919, the Kesler family moved to the land on Fallon Flat that Mr. Kesler’s mother had homesteaded. Mr. Kesler left school after the eighth grade to help his father on the farm, so his younger siblings could continue their educations.
Mr. Kesler and Dorothy Rose Ames were married
at Marsh on Feb. 14, 1943. In 1946, after his parents retired to Fallon, Mr. and Mrs. Kesler purchased the family farm, where they raised their five daughters: Joann, Sharon, Evelyn, Marilyn and Laura.
Mr. and Mrs. Kesler farmed and ranched, raising registered Angus cattle, until they moved to Fallon in 1979. Mr. Kesler was a talented welder who designed and built gooseneck trailers, cattle guards and other functional equipment and decorative items.
In retirement, Mr. Kesler spent much of his time restoring horse-drawn wagons, buggies and sleighs, often with his wife’s assistance. They trained several teams of driving horses, and Mr. and Mrs. Kesler drove their “surrey with the fringe on top” in numerous parades.
Mr. and Mrs. Kesler also restored and furnished his mother’s homestead cabin, which is on permanent display at the Prairie County Museum in Terry. In retirement, Mr. and Mrs. Kesler also enjoyed dancing and following the Southeastern Montana Old-time Fiddlers.
Mr. Kesler served on many local boards, including the School Board for Garvin School, Board of Directors of the Farmers Union Oil Company of Fallon, the Council on Aging of Prairie County, the Church Council of the Hope American Lutheran Church of Fallon, and the Advisory Committee of the Production Credit Association of Glendive.
He was a member of the Hope American Lutheran Church of Fallon, the Range Riders of Miles City, an associate member of the Southeastern Montana Fiddlers, and a volunteer at the Prairie County Museum in Terry.
After 54 years of marriage, Mrs. Kesler died in 1997. Mr. Kesler lived alone in Fallon for several years before moving to the Eagles Manor in Miles City. He moved to Oregon in 2004, to live closer to his daughters. He continued to attend dances several times a week until late 2005.
His survivors include his sisters, Mathilda (Mrs. Herbert) Schuler of Billings, and Gertrude (Mrs. Marvin) Kaul of Santa Clarita, Calif.; his daughters, Sharon (Mrs. Ray) Sauser of Eugene, Ore., and Joann Lenertz, Evelyn (Mrs. Mark) Ruth, Marilyn (Mrs. George) Morgan, and Laura Kesler Quiroz, all of Salem, Ore.; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy; his brothers, Emil and John; his sister, Freda (Mrs. Earl Ostby); his son-in-law, Carlos Quiroz; and his granddaughter, Angela Peters.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26, at Hope American Lutheran Church in Fallon. Interment will follow in the Prairie County cemetery in Terry.
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements.
Memorials in lieu of flowers may be sent to the Range Riders Museum in Miles City or to the American Cancer Society.
William "Bill" Reno
William Stanley “Bill” Reno, 64, of Miles City died Monday, Aug. 21, 2006, at the Holy Rosary Healthcare in Miles City.
Mr. Reno was born on Sept. 21, 1941, in Hay Springs, Neb., the son of Clarence Ray and Irene Reno. He moved with his family to Terry at the age of three and he attended schools there.
Following his schooling, he worked in the oil fields.
Mr. Reno and Joyce Roufley were married
on May 11, 1975. They had two children, Waylon and Joni. He then married
Linda Sakelaris on March 2, 1992.
Through the years, Mr. Reno worked for Schlautmann Dairy, Thiruds Office Supply out of Sidney, was a bartender at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall and on Aug. 8, 1987, he went to work for the Custer County cemetery in Miles City until retiring in 2004.
He enjoyed fishing and hunting.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Reno of Miles City; a son, Waylon Reno of Billings; and a daughter, Joni Reno of Billings; and three grandchildren.
His survivors also include a brother, Derald (Vivian) Reno of Sidney; two sisters, Geraldine (Charles) Klunder of Havre and Frances Thoeny of Winnemucca, Nev.; and a sister-in-law, Pat Sakelaris of Miles City.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A Vigil Service will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, 2006, at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, Aug. 25, 2006, at 9:30 a.m. in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Interment will be at a later date.
Should friend desire, memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
