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Frank Zawada
Frank Zawada, 89, of Missoula, formerly of Miles City, died on August 23, 2007 at his home in Missoula.
“Papa” Frank A. Zawada, son of Joseph and Annie Zawada, was born on October 31, 1917 on his family’s homestead in Sumatra, Mont. After school he moved to Miles city, where he met Elsie Lietholt. They married
on November 22, 1940. In 1942 he began his 38-year career working as a railroad man for the Milwaukee Railroad. He worked in various positions, from Miles City to Tacoma, Wash., retiring as a wrecking foreman in Spokane, Wash., in 1980. In 1999 the couple moved to Missoula, Mont., to be close to family.
Mr. Zawada was a lifetime member of the Loyal Order of Moose, serving twice as governor, and was also a member of the Eagles Lodge. He was a jack of all trades, building log splitters, working on cars and fixing anything that could break. He was one of the last real cowboys and a prankster who always had a joke to make everyone smile. His favorite pastime and the true joy of his life was visiting with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They loved to go camping, gather firewood, steal cookies, have pillow fights and just spend time together.
He was preceded in death by his parents and nine siblings. Survivors include his wife, Elsie, of 67 years of Missoula; his brother, Joe Zawada, of Miles City; his daughter, Evie and son Leonard, of Missoula; three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be Tuesday, August 28 at 10 a.m., followed by noon services at the Garden City Funeral Home in Missoula. The interment will then be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens, followed by a reception at the Garden City Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice of Missoula, 800 Kensington Suite 209, Missoula, MT 59801.
Alta Wille
Alta Wille, 92, of Jordan died Tuesday, August 21, 2007.
Mrs. Wille was born in Whitehall on July 27, 1915, to Frank and Clara Wyne, the eldest of four daughters. She attended school in Whitehall, Butte and graduated valedictorian from Three Forks in 1933.
Her college education began at Montana State University Dillon and she received her bachelor of arts degree from Montana State University-Billings in 1967.
In 1935 she came to the Garfield County area to teach at the Butte Creek School.
She met her husband, Gerrit, during this time and they were married
June 4, 1938. They began their married
life at what was then the Baan Wille Store in Brusett, where Mr. Wille worked and in 1940, moved to Jordan, where Mr. Wille continued working with his father and uncle at the store in town. Mrs. Wille returned to teaching in 1958, after the couple’s five children were all in school and taught until 1977.
At the core of Mrs. Wille’s life was her personal faith in Jesus Christ as her Savior. From that faith radiated her love and loyalty for her husband, family and friends. Out of her desire for others to share her faith in Christ came her work with children, and adults in her church, the Jordan Community Presbyterian Church, and through Kiddies Korner a weekly Bible story written for the Jordan Tribune for many years.
Mrs. Wille was a community worker who began Home Demonstration club in the Brusett area, and in Jordan worked for her vision of parks and a swimming pool. She was a member of the Garfield County Women’s Civic Club.
Her hobbies were many and included cake baking, flower arranging and making cards from dried flowers and she loved reading and served several years as a Garfield County Library Board member. She and her husband Gerrit traveled much during their retirement years, with friends and family to visit from coast to coast.
She will be remembered as a faithful wife, loving mother and good friend.
Her survivors include her husband, Gerrit of 69 years; her three daughters, Clara Jane (Al) Smith, Neeltje (Jack) McNulty of Pensacola, Fla., and Jeanne (Mark) Astle of Billings; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by a son, Willem James; a daughter, Martha Kee Chapman; two sisters, Phyllis and Betty Jim; and two grandchildren, Willem G. Smith and Paul B. Chapman.
A graveside service will be Friday, Aug. 24, 2007, at 2 p.m. at the Pioneer cemetery in Jordan. A Memorial service will follow at 3 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Jordan.
Memorials may be sent to the Jordan Community Presbyterian Church, the Garfield County Library or the Swimming Pool Fund.
Adolph Leidholt
Adolph Leidholt, 76, of Miles City died at the Holy Rosary Healthcare in Miles City on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007.
Mr. Leidholt was born on April 17, 1931, at Wason Flats, the 11th child of a family of 13 children born to Karl and Rosana Bauer Leidholt. He attended Tree Coulee School at Wason Flats and Kircher School after the family moved to the Yellowstone Valley.
He was a very hard worker and when he was very young he went to work for various ranches. Mr. Leidholt enjoyed reminiscing about the 10 years he worked for the Thompson and Nefsy ranches.
In 1959, he went to work for the Custer County Road Department as a heavy equipment operator, retiring from there in 1994 after 35 years of service.
He and Dolores Lippert Malone were married
in 1964.
In his retirement he enjoyed working for his nephew, Duane, at his farm and keeping his home and yard in meticulous condition.
Mr. Leidholt and Barbara Midgley were married
June of 1997. She was Mr. Leidholt’s “sunshine, ” especially following his debilitating stroke in 2005.
He was a member of the First Lutheran Church and during his lifetime was a member of the Ranger Riders and Eagles.
His survivors include his wife, Barbara Leidholt of Miles City; his step-children, Wally (Darlene) Malone of Gilbert, Ariz., Michael (Chris) Midgley of Billings, Mary Lou (Jack) Deibel of Miles City, and Lisa (Michael) Alley of Joplin; the Leidholt brothers, Leonard (Pauline) Leidholt, Robert (Katherine) Leidholt, Phillip (Beverly) Leidholt, Eugene (Jean) Leidholt and James (Jessie) Leidholt, all of Miles City; and sisters, Martha Snodgrass of Springfield, Mo., Alma Hartman of Pasco, Wash., and Vi (John) Howe of Miles City.
Also surviving him are 20 step-grandchildren; 20 step-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Karl and Rosana; his first wife, Dolores; his brothers, Julius and Edwin; and his sisters, Peggy Asher and Tillie DeMarris.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, 2007, at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be Saturday, Aug. 25, 2007, at 10 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Custer County cemetery in Miles City.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the First Lutheran Church, 512 Cale Ave., Miles City, MT 59301 or to the charity of one’s choice.
John Edward Nisley
John Edward Nisley, 81, eldest son of Otis E. and Odessa Bell Fields Nisley, died Sunday, Aug. 5, 2007, at his Sun City, Ariz., residence.
Mr. Nisley was born Aug. 20, 1925, on his parent’s ranch on the East Fork of Little Powder River near Boyes. He attended the one-room Osgood grade school and also attended several years in the Spearfish, S.D., schools. Upon graduation from Broadus High School in 1943, he volunteered for the United States Navy and served aboard the U.S.S. Jarvis D.D. 799 with the North Pacific Fleet during World War II. He received his Navy discharge in 1946, shortly after marrying Althea Bruce of Boyes on Dec. 29, 1945.
The couple settled on lower East Fork Creek and began establishing their sheep and cattle ranch, which they still own today.
Mr. Nisley had hospice help and comfort during the last six months of his life.
His survivors include his wife, Althea; daughter, Paula Nisley of the home ranch; brother, Dan (Susan) Nisley of Spearfish, S.D.; grandchildren, Curtis (Kathy) Preston of Boulder, Danielle (Steve) Ray of Glendive, Tonya Preston (Micah) Maestas of Rock Springs, Wyo.; five great-grandsons; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Irene Fields Harper and Leona Fields Lull.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007, at 4 pm. in the Powder River Congregational Church at Broadus.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the local cancer fund, Relay For Life, care of Pat Gardner, Box 629, Broadus, MT 59317. Or memorials may be made to the Infiniti Hospice Care, 2929 E. Camelback Rd., Suite 226, Phoenix, AZ 85016.
Paul Hoverson
Paul Hoverson, 56, of Grass Range, formerly of Jordan, died Monday, Aug. 20, 2007, in Rangeley, Colo.
Mr. Hoverson was born on April 16, 1951, in Jordan, the son of Melvin Hoverson and Norma Gallinger Hoverson. He attended grade school in Billings and Jordan and graduated from Garfield County High School in Jordan.
He attended Montana State University in Bozeman until he went to work for Hains Electric and Shennun Construction in Jordan and Circle. He moved to Watford City, N.D., where he worked in the oil fields.
Mr. Hoverson married
Cynthia Reichenbach on June 7, 1980. Following their marriage, they moved to Sidney where he continued working in construction and the oil fields until 1999, when they moved to Lewistown. He continued to work doing construction and in 2003 they moved to Grass Range.
His pride and joy was his family. He enjoyed spending time with his kids and especially enjoyed family meals. His family meant everything to him.
Mr. Hoverson is survived by his mother, Norma Hoverson of Jordan; a son, Paul W. “P.J.” Hoverson of Billings; three daughters, Amberlynn Hoverson of Boise, Idaho, Sarah Ruth Hoverson and Elizabeth Hoverson, both of Billings; a brother, Glen (Cindy) Hoverson of Pulaski, Wis.; four sisters. Halle (Duncan) McDonald of Jordan, Laurel (Charles) O’Connor Noland of Circle, Sally Hoverson of Billings and Jane Hoverson of Miles City; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews whom he loved dearly.
He was preceded in death by his father, grandparents and a brother-in-law, Bob O’Connor.
A family service to share memories will be Thursday, Aug. 23, 2007, at 6 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Jordan. Funeral services will be Friday, Aug. 24, 2007, at 10 a.m. at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall in Jordan. Interment will follow in the Pioneer cemetery in Jordan.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Pioneer cemetery or to the charity of one’s choice.
John Constantine Foundas
John Constantine Foundas, 80, of Conrad, former Miles City resident, died after an extended illness on Friday, Aug. 17, 2007, at the Pondera Medical Center.
Mr. Foundas was born on Feb. 12, 1927, in Bloomington, Ill., to George and Florence Foundas. Like many young Americans, he was moved by the attack at Pearl Harbor and with forged papers, enlisted in the Army at the age of 15. He served four years, part of the time in the Philippines. He was a member of the underage veterans organization.
On June 1, 1946, he married
the love of his life, Sarah I. Guy in Bloomington.
He began his college studies at Pella, Iowa, and went on to receive a bachelor of arts degree and master of arts degree in Physical Therapy from the University of Iowa, graduating in 1956. His works as a physical therapist took him first to McHenry, Ill., then to Astoria, Ore., and then to Miles City where he became head physical therapist at the Veterans Affairs Hospital and also worked at the Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City.
He worked later on in the Billings area as a physical therapist for the Visiting Nurse Service. He retired in 1995.
He was involved with Knights of Columbus and was a 4th Degree member, was a core presenter of the Right to Life organization in Montana, former member of Kiwanis, former member and president of the Sacred Heart Roundtable, and involved in the organization of the Miles City St. Vincent DePaul.
Mr. Foundas loved to tie flies, fish and hunt. A very intelligent man, he was always involved with news, current affairs and had a deep concern for the human condition. He kept furthering his education and knowledge through reading articles, journals and working on his computer.
His survivors include his wife of 61 years, Sarah I. Foundas of Conrad; daughters, Krista (Dan) Anderson of Conrad, Reneé (Gary) Dent of Conrad; a son, Kenton (Tracy) Foundas of Prescott Valley, Ariz.; nine grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by a grandson, James.
A Rosary Service was held Monday evening, Aug. 20, 2007, at the Pondera Funeral Home in Conrad. Funeral Mass was held Tuesday morning, Aug. 21, 2007, at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Conrad. Burial will be Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2007, at 11 a.m. in the Custer County cemetery in Miles City. Family and friends will meet at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home at 10:30 a.m. to proceed to the cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Conrad or to the charity of one’s choice.
Phyllis Reinertson
Phyllis Reinertson, 71, died with her family by her side Saturday evening, Aug. 18, 2007, at Rosebud Health Care Center in Forsyth.
Mrs. Reinertson was born in Grand Rapids, Minn., on Feb. 29, 1936. Because she was born on leap year, she only celebrated 18 actual birthdays in her 71 years. She was the fourth and last child of James and Mary Christesen. Her family was in the hotel management business, so she grew up calling the Front Street Hotel and the 3rd Avenue Hotel home.
She received her education in Grand Rapids, graduating from high school in 1954. Her life-long love of music surfaced when she began singing in sixth grade. She studied piano and violin from the seventh grade through high school.
As an adult she sang in the choir for Billy Graham and Kathryn Kuhlman crusades.
Mrs. Reinertson was an accomplished seamstress and cook. When her two sons started school, she began pursuing her passion of oil painting. Some of her work took top honors at the Rosebud-Treaure County Fair and the Eastern Montana Fair in Miles City.
She taught home group Bible study classes for 15 years after she met the Lord at the age of 33. In a Bible study during her early years as a Christian someone asked, “How do you want to be remembered?” She responded saying that she hoped those who knew her could say, “She always tried her best to do God’s Will.”
In 1955 while she was singing in a church choir she met a young man named Norm Reinertson. They were married
in Fargo, N.D., in 1956. The couple celebrated their 50th anniversary in June of 2006 with a family celebration held in Minnesota. That was a very special time for Mrs. Reinertson.
Mr. Reinertson’s work as a carpenter contractor took the couple from Minnesota to Paradise, Calif., then back to his home state of Montana over the course of their 50 years together. At the time of Mrs. Reinertson’s death, they were making their home at Rosebud.
The couple had two sons: Mitch (Heidi) of Big Timber and Steve of Forsyth; and two grandsons, Joey and Josh Reinertson of Minnesota.
Mrs. Reinertson was preceded in death by her parents, and her sister Helen “Christy” Neary of Jacobsen, Minn.; a brother Donald Christeson of Fargo, N.D.; and a sister, Mary Anne Warren of Casper, Wyo.
She is survived by her husband, Norm; and sons, Mitch of Big Timber and Steve of Forsyth; her two grandsons in Minnesota; and numerous special nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the chapel of Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Forsyth.
A Funeral Service will be Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2007, at 10 a.m. in the chapel of Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Forsyth. Burial will be in Minnesota.
John Norbert "Jack" O'Reilly
John Norbert “Jack” O’Reilly, 85 years young, died Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2007, in Miles City.
He was born Sept. 27, 1921, the third of John and Edna (Herman) O’Reilly’s six children, in Philip, S.D.
He relayed many stories to his family about life growing up on the farm and working for Dan Copps’ grocery store after graduating from high school in Philip.
After listening in disbelief to the radio reports about the attack on Pearl Harbor, he decided to enlist in the United States Navy and was sworn in July 4, 1942. He served aboard the USS Augusta during World War II before moving to Miles City in 1947 where he shared a grocery store partnership with Bill Haley. After the store burned down in March of 1969, he went to work for KATL radio station where he remained until December 30, 1997.
On June 25, 1953, he married
Maureen Piner in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Together, they raised seven loving daughters. Mr. O’Reilly never complained about being so outnumbered; his wife and children were his love, his joy and his life.
Mr. O’Reilly will be fondly remembered for his faith, sense of humor, generosity and loyalty to the New York Yankees. He was a member of The Knights of Columbus, Elks Lodge and Rotary Club, volunteered at Sacred Heart, Holy Rosary Hospital and St. Vincent de Paul, as well as the Catholic School system and Head Start. His Irish eyes were always smiling and his laughter was infectious.
His survivors include his wife, Maureen, his daughters, Barbara (Ray) Weber, Anne (Bruce) Rost and Margaret O’Reilly, all of Billings, Joan (Willie) Thibault of Glasgow, Denise O’Reilly Gaglia of Billings, Janice (Brent) Henrichs of Anaconda, and Jackie O’Reilly, also of Billings; 11 grandchildren, John Herr of San Francisco, Jennifer (Jesse) Newell, Kolbi Peterson, Ashley Gaglia, Casey Rost, all of Billings, Brandi, Whitney and Jason Thibault, Kyle, Lynnsi and Matthew Henrichs; three great-grandchildren, Taryn Peterson, Hannah and Ryan Newell; his sisters, Mary June Penticoff of Murdo, S.D., and Delores Hansen of Los Angeles; and sister-in-law, Maxine O’Reilly of Murdo; as well as numerous friends, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Francis and Loren; sister, Marguerite; and grandson, DC Henrichs.
Memorial services include Rosary and Vigil at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007, at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home, and Memorial Mass at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, 2007, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, Sept. 28, 2007, at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Rite of Committal will follow in the Calvary cemetery.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to Sacred Heart Catholic Schools or St. Vincent de Paul Society.
