Search Archived Marriage Records
HELVI KATHERINE SALO ROAT
RED LODGE - Helvi Roat, 88, died March 5, 2004 on what would have been her husband’s 100th birthday. She passed away at Beartooth Hospital Long Term Care Unit where she lived and received excellent and loving care for nearly three years.
Helvi was born in Red Lodge, Montana on July 30, 1915 to Finnish immigrants John and Maria Salo.
She was educated at Washoe and Red Lodge, graduating from Carbon County High School in 1933.
She married Anton Celeste Roat on April 27, 1937 in Red Lodge.
Helvi worked as a nurse’s aide at Carbon County Memorial Hospital for many years. She was an excellent seamstress, wonderful cook, and was proud of her Finnish heritage. She was a member of Kaleva Tupa #1. She baked great Finn bread, and had a green thumb and enjoyed working in her garden and yard. She traveled to Finland to visit relatives there.
Her husband, parents, brothers Jack and John, sisters Hilja and Ida, and granddaughter Darcy Ann Roat preceded her in death.
She is survived by sons Brian (Sharon), Anthony (Linda), Paul (Irene), and daughter Katherine Roat (George Braly), grandsons Daniel Roat, Patrick Roat, Todd Roat, Shane Roat, and granddaughter Bree Roat. Great grandchildren are Steven Roat, Justin and Sahra Belcher, Nathaniel Felix, Mayzie, Cub, Ocea and Maya Roat. Also surviving are niece Irene LaMaine, and many other nieces and nephews.
Cremation has taken place, and graveside services and interment will be in the Red Lodge Cemetery later this spring. Smith-Olcott Funeral Chapel of Red Lodge was in charge of arrangements.
BRUCE G. STEVENSON
BRIDGER - Bruce Gary Stevenson, 71, died March 5, 2004, at his home in Bridger. He was
born March 6, 1932, in Reeder, N.D., the son of Fred & Hazel Stevenson. He was raised in South Dakota.
He proudly served his country in the Army, in Korea, earning a Combat Infantry Metal and two Bronze Stars. He then returned to Montana and married his sweetheart and wife of 50 years, Claudia Cady.
Bruce was an avid horseman, learning the cowboy-way from real cowboys before it became a nostalgic recreation. He owned and operated an auto body shop for many years in Bridger. He raised a one-acre garden for many years after he retired.
He was an accomplished musician and entertainer who loved to play western music for his many friends. His talents included playing the guitar, fiddle, mandolin, and banjo; playing at bars, weddings, and funerals, usually for free because he enjoyed it. He had a striking resemblance to Hank Williams.
Bruce is survived by his wife Claudia, daughter JoAnn Bradley, sons Jordan and Spud (Debbie) Stevenson, granddaughters Jennifer (Kevin) Nickisch and Miranda Bradley, grandsons Clinton and Travis Stevenson.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brothers Wynn, Jack, and Spud.
We will all miss him and his music will remain in our hearts for the rest of our lives.
Funeral services were conducted at Smith’s Funeral Home in Laurel at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 10, 2004.
SARAH ANN HEREM
Sarah Ann Monk Kennison Herem, age 77, of West Jordan, Utah, passed away peacefully at her home, Saturday, March 06, 2004, surrounded by family members.
The youngest of five children born to Benjamin Jones and Augusta Tietjen Monk, she was a child of the Great Depression, learning early to create her own opportunities through unbounded love and hard work. Her mother passed away when Sarah was only two months old, so she was placed into the loving care of an uncle and aunt, William and Ethel Monk Kennison. She found the devotion, tenderness and charity that she sought while in their care, and she came to honor them as her parents. She brought uncommon love, enthusiasm, and intelligence to every challenge she faced. She became a treasured soul mate for many, many friends whom she lovingly embraced throughout her life. She was an ultra-positive driving force that brought countless blessings to all she loved.
Educated in the Cowley, Wyo. school system and Montana State University’s School of Nursing, Sarah excelled as a Registered Nurse, working in surgery and obstetrics at Deaconess Hospital (Billings, MT), Powell General and Kansas City General. She had a special talent for making new friends and for administering to the sick and the afflicted. She was able to connect with individuals of various generations and became a bridge between hearts. She perfected her legacy of love through 18 years of service at the Stillwater Convalescent Center in Columbus, Mont.
She was personally acquainted with her Savior. She demonstrated her commitment to His work by her membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She served in various church callings including Relief Society President, Seminary instructor, and as a missionary in the Argentina Salta LDS Mission. Her depth of devotion expanded to include service in the Argentina Buenos Aires, Provo, and Mount Timpanogos LDS Temples.
She was the glue that brought her extended family together. Her family includes: Elburn (Iris) Kenison (Bountiful, UT); Edgar Monk (Richmond, CA); Louise Kennison Birch (Idaho Falls, ID); Jesse Ray Asay (Wilcox, AZ); and Ron (Cheryl) Monk (Englewood, CO).
She married Clarence Oliver Herem on June 3, 1953, in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They established their new home on the Sunset Ranch located on Butcher Creek, southwest of Absarokee. She reared her family by continuing a life-long pattern of arising early, working with inspired zeal, and showing extra-ordinary charity. She was determined to make a lasting contribution as her gift to her Heavenly Father, and everyone around her joined in. She played the accordion, learned fluent Spanish, baked thousands of pies for the lonely and discouraged, and tutored countless students in reading, math, and the sciences. She became a model of compassion and diligence in her chose profession of nursing, and the doctors she assisted showed their appreciation by delivering her seven children for free.
She is survived by her children: Larry (Connie) Herem of Burley, ID; Ann (Gordon) Parker of Absarokee, MT; Norman (Mychelle) Herem of Lehi, UT; Mary Alice (Archie) Schott of Bozeman, MT; Beverly and Rosemarie Herem of West Jordan, UT; Loretta Herem of Provo, UT; 21 grandchildren and four great-grand children.
Friends and family may honor Sarah on Thursday March 11 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Smith Mortuary, Columbus, MT. Funeral Services will be held on Friday March 12 at 1 p.m. at the Laurel LDS Church, 504 West 11th, Laurel, MT. Interment: Rosebud Cemetery, Absarokee, Mont.
KATHERINE “KAY” A. EWING
BELFRY – Katherine “Kay” A. Ewing, age 86, of Belfry, went with the angels on Friday, March 5, 2004.
She was born January 4, 1918 at Bridger, Montana, the daughter of Rudolph and Elizabeth Bleth Shupak. She was raised on a ranch on South Dry Creek and attended school in Bridger. She graduated from Belfry High School in 1938.
Kay married A. Lee Jones on January 12, 1946 in Billings. They lived in Belfry where they operated the Belfry Café. Mr. Jones died in 1959. She later married Walter Ewing on September 8, 1962 in Bridger. Mr. Ewing died August 3, 1972. After his death, Kay settled in Belfry to be with her family.
Kay was a 25-year member of the Red Lodge B.P.O. Does, and a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and St. Anne’s Altar Society. She was also a foster parent for years and enjoyed gardening.
Survivors include six children: Theresa (Don) Kokkeler of Belfry, Patty Miner of Clark, Wyo., Marianne (Mike) Martinez of Salt Lake City, Utah, Mike (Judy) Ewing of Bridger, Rick (Shawna) Ewing of Las Vegas, Nev. and Jesse (Marilyn) Ewing of Gillette, Wyo.; 13 grandchildren, numerous great grandchildren; two brothers, Tom (Wilma) and Frank Shupak; four sisters, Virginia (Sam) Loyning, Eunice Pierce, Evelyn Harrington and Phillis Herman; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Kay was preceded in death by her parents, two husbands, and two brothers, Charles and William.
Funeral Mass was celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, March 9, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bridger. A vigil service was held Monday evening at the church. Interment was in the Belfry Cemetery, with Smith-Olcott Funeral Chapel of Red Lodge in charge of arrangements.
“Mom and Grandma, we love you and will miss you until we meet again.”
DORTHY “DOTTI” PRICE
Dorthy (Dotti) Price, formerly of Roberts, died Feb. 12, 2004 in Las Vegas, Nev. She was 74 years old at the time of her death.
Dotti was born in Colorado in 1929 to John and Lilly McMance. She is survived by her two older brothers and her two younger sisters.
Dotti brought 13 children into the world, with all but one surviving her. She is also survived by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as well as many friends, all of whom knew her for her heart of gold and generous spirit.
A hard worker, Dotti brought her work ethic to the many organizations for which she did volunteer work, the Red Lodge Zoo probably being her most favorite of all because of her love for animals.
Those who would like to remember her with a memorial are invited to give one, in her memory, to the zoo.
Dotti was greatly loved and will be greatly missed every day. God Bless her and keep her in His peace.
Love you, Mom!
FRED AXTON
1949-2004
RED LODGE, MT - Fred loved mountains, especially the Cascades in Washington, The Beartooths in Montana, and the Dragoons in Arizona, but this time, Lord, you gave him a mountain too high to climb.
On March 12, 2004 he rose to sing the Lord’s praises instead of the human foibles he found so musing.
Fred was born in Selah, Washington on April 18, 1949 to Cecelia and Arthur Axton. His father died when Fred was in his early teens. He quit school and worked a variety of jobs to help his mother. He taught himself to play guitar and he and his sister, Ella were a popular singing duo in their church. Music became his life and he went on to play with several bands in the Northwest and later as a solo. His quick wit and offbeat sense of humor endeared him to everyone he met. Someone once said of him, “There’s nothing wrong with Fred, he just looks at the world a little differently than everyone else.” What he saw was often pointed out in humor or a few words changed in a song.
Fred married Joyce Henry at an early age. They adopted a son, Freddie, Jr., whom he loved very much. Fred later married Norma Brown and they had a son, Jason.
In 1985 he reunited in this life with his eternal soul mate, Susan Sherman. They married at Red Lodge, MT in 1987. A year later they were joined by one of God’s little guardians, a puppy named Bambi. The three of them had a lifetime of great adventures. Fred’s music career enabled them to travel to many places.
Besides music and his dog, Fred loved his family, his racehorses Pitch and Kelly, his mountain bike, God, country and carrot cake. He was notorious for hating to walk. He would drive his car twenty feet rather than walk, but when hunting season rolled around there was no mountain too high and not many that could keep up.
In 2001 he took over the rural mail delivery route out of Red Lodge, traveling the canyons and backroads with magnificent views and wildlife. He thought it was great fun plowing his Explorer through the big snowdrifts, sometimes having to guess where the road was.
Fred is survived by his wife, Susan of Red Lodge; his two sons, Freddie, Jr., and Jason; his mother, Cecelia, and sister Martha of Yakima, WA; sister Ella (Rocky) Patrick of Joliet, MT; uncle George (Gracie) Koch of Renton, WA; uncle Walter Koch of Everett, WA; niece, Debbie Brown of Beaverton, OR; nephews Steven Brown of Beaverton, OR and Leslie (Sharon) Brown of Yakima. Also his father-in-law, Leigh Sherman and friend Addie Kiss; sister-in-law Nancy (Barry) Rohrer, special brothers-in-law Lester Brown of Yakima and Sandy McDonald of Billings, and the many friends and fellow musicians he gathered in his life. Waiting anxiously in heaven for Fred’s arrival was his father; Sue’s mother, Marilyn Sherman, and Sue’s many aunts and uncles that loved Fred dearly. Fred will be buried with the ashes of his faithful dog at the Red Lodge Cemetery where the Beartooth Mountains they loved stand eternal guard.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 17 at Smith-Olcott Funeral Chapel in Red Lodge. A memorial service will be held in Yakima at a later date. Memorials may be sent to the Carbon County Historical Society, Box 881, Red Lodge MT 59068.
