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Carla Ferris
Carla Ferris, 51, died Monday, Sept. 24, 2007, at the Billings Clinic Hospital in Billings after a short, but courageous, battle with cancer.
She was born in Miles City on Feb. 4, 1956, one of twin daughters born to Frank L. and Emma (Olson) Johnston. She attended grade school and graduated from Custer County District High School in 1974. When she and her sister, Maria, were in the seventh grade, they were one of seven sets of twins that year.
Following her graduation from high school, she went to Kinman University where she graduated with her associates degree. Following her schooling, she returned to Miles City where she worked for Rowland, Thomas and Company.
She married
Dan Ferris on Oct. 20, 1979, and following their marriage she worked for the Custer County School District. She also worked for Garberson Clinic and the past three years for Eastern Montana Industries.
Her family meant everything to her. When it came to Thanksgiving and Christmas or any family events, they were always held at her house. She was always the chief planner of family reunions.
Her survivors include her father, Frank Johnston of Miles City; her children: Joe Ferris and his daughter Hailey of Miles City, and Peggy Ferris of Miles City; five siblings: Brenda Johnston of Miles City, Wanda Rasmussen and her husband Bud of Grenora, N.D., Marla Malley of Miles City, Kevin Johnston and his wife Mary of Miles City, and Lowell Johnston of Miles City; numerous nieces and nephews; aunts, Hazel Wetherelt of Broadus, Ruby Olson of Broadus, Caroline E. Olson of Tacoma, Wash., and Leona Wright of Montesano, Wash.; and numerous cousins.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Emma Johnston; sister, Charla Johnston; grandparents, Eddie and Emma Olson and Ethel and Lowel Johnston; and numerous aunts and uncles.
The family will receive friends on Friday, Sept. 28, 2007, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007, at 2 p.m. at the Trinity 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 Trinity Lutheran Preschool, 221 S. Center Ave., Miles City, MT 59301 or to the charity of one’s choice.
Charlotte Dorothy Haun Schlenker
A wonderful mom and grandmother left her earthly home for her heavenly home on Tuesday, September 25, 2007.
Charlotte Dorothy Haun Schlenker was surrounded by her children when she died from a heart attack. This was how she would have wanted to go.
She was always very clear that she did not want to have a stroke, nor did she want to go to a nursing home. She got her wish on both accounts. And for that, all who loved her are happy along with her.
Charlotte was born to Carl & Mary Haun on July 14, 1921 in Lewistown, Montana. She along with her seven brothers and sisters grew up very poor in Winifred, Montana. This was poor in material goods only, but rich in family. After she graduated from high school, the family moved to Kinsey, Montana. She did not go to college, but was very proud that all of her children had college degrees.
Over the years, the family vacations all centered around trips to visit her brothers and sisters, and their vacations were in Montana. As a result of these vacations, get togethers and reunions, all of Mom’s brothers and sisters and all of the cousins became a very close knit family; and to this day, the cousins are like siblings and aunts and
uncles were like second parents. Oh, the stories we would hear about them growing up during the depression in Winifred, the country dances, WWII, and many, many more.
During World War II, mom and her three sisters boarded the Greyhound bus and headed to San Diego to do their part in the war effort. She helped build planes for Consolidated Airlines. She and her sisters had lots of stories to tell of those San Diego years as “Rosie the Riveter” and when we were growing up, it was always fun to get them talking about all their escapades.
Charlotte was late to marry, late to have children and late to have grandchildren, but she did them all and was able to enjoy her four children and five grandchildren until she was over 86 years old. She married
our dad, Alvin, on November 21, 1948. They were married
for almost 57 years when he passed away in August 2005. They lived in Miles City until a move to Glendive in 1954. In 1957, work brought them to Billings where they lived in the same house until they died. Almost fifty years in the same home makes for a lifetime of memories for her children and grandchildren.
She and Dad had four children. Dona Cranston (Monty), Kenny Schlenker (Gretchen), Carol Keenan (John), and Tami Evenson (Mike). She took good care of all of us; and in the past couple of years, we took good care of her. Her four children all lived with 10 minutes of her and she loved having one or all of us there every day.
She was very proud of her grandchildren and they could always count on looking out at the crowd or audience and seeing Grandma cheering them on in their many activities. She was pretty honest about the fact that she didn’t really care for the music, plays, sports, but was there to see her Libby, Connor, Mary Kate, Sam or Max perform. The Saturday before she died, she was at Max’s soccer game happily celebrating his goal and laughing at all the falling and tumbling he did on the field.
Charlotte started work at Public Auction Yards in the mid-sixties and her kids became some of the first latch key kids in the neighborhood. She loved working and took great pride in the fact that she learned how to do all her work on a computer before she retired in her 70’s.
When Mom no longer worked at PAYS, she began volunteering at both the Deaconess and St. Vincent’s Hospitals. She met so many great people both places and particularly liked working in the pharmacy at Deaconess. One summer she got to work with her granddaughter Libby when she volunteered, and Grandma loved showing Libby the ropes in “her” department. She looked beautiful in her coral colored volunteer jacket and the people who worked there were lucky enough to enjoy lots of her baked goods over the years.
Mom had some health issues that she battled over the years. But she was determined to take control of these and not allow them to control her. She began walking and watching her diet to minimize the effects of diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems. It worked and we know that she added very many healthy, active years to her life. She was a regular walker and until she broke her hip in 2006; there was nothing that could keep her from her at least daily walks. She was very proud of the fact that people were always shocked when they learned her age (thinking she was much younger than she was). She never failed to relay those comments...over and over!
Charlotte was a fabulous “everyday” cook. Everyone who had the privilege to eat in her kitchen was lucky and had a favorite she would cook just for them. For years she entered things in the fair. Sometimes it was pies, sometimes rolls. She most often won at least one
blue ribbon and became put out in later years if she didn’t. This year she entered her brownies and received the “Best of Show” for them. When Carol brought her the ribbon, her comment was that she felt like it was a good send off for her. We think maybe she knew that those brownies would be her last entry.
There are two remaining siblings from Mom’s family. She was predeceased by her parents, her sisters Mary Jo Haun Thompson, Juanita Haun Lehr (who beat Charlotte to heaven by only two months); brothers Dick Haun, Russell Haun & Jack Haun; special sister-in-law Gladys Haun and her husband Alvin who she has missed so much in the past two years.
Charlotte was so loved by those who survive her. We will all miss her phone calls, her worrying, her cooking, and everything that made her the best mom and grandma in the world, most of all that she was always there for all of us. She is survived her children Dona, Kenny, Carol, and Tami and grandchildren, Libby, Connor, Mary Kate, Sam and Max all of Billings, sister Myrt (Jimmy) Richardson of Ashton, Illinois, brother Billy Haun of Bozeman, sister-in-law Betty Haun of Billings, many special nieces and nephews, brother & sister-in-laws Don and Lorraine Stolts of Powell, WY, and Rayanda Woods of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Her special kitty, Katie was such good company for her in her last years as well.
Please join us to celebrate Charlotte’s life on Monday, October 1 at First United Methodist Church, 2800 4th Avenue North, at 2:00 p.m. with burial to follow at Yellowstone Valley Memorial Park, 3605 Grand Avenue, at 4:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, should you desire, donations can be made to Help for Homeless Pets, PO Box 1282, Billings, MT 59103; Billings Clinic Volunteer Services, PO Box 37000 Billings, MT 59107, or the charity of your choice.
Take the time to hug your mom and tell her you love her today.
Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary has charge of arrangements.
Julian Terrett Jr.
Julian Terrett Jr., 86, of Miles City died Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007, at the Holy Rosary Healthcare in Miles City.
Mr. Terrett was born in Miles City on April 3, 1921, the son of Julian Sr. and Marion Lantz Terrett. He was home schooled at the family ranch through the eighth grade. He then went to school at Custer County High School until his junior year. The family moved to the East Coast and he finished high school at Woodrow Wilson High School in Washington, D.C., graduating in 1939. He was enrolled at the University of Maryland for two years prior to enlisting in the United States Army at the beginning of World War II. Upon his honorable discharge from the service, Mr. Terrett returned to the family ranch on Beaver Creek.
He was united in marriage to Ellen Anderson on March 31, 1951, in Miles City.
In 1960, Julian Terrett Sr., Julian Terrett Jr., and Louise Terrett formed Terrett Ranch Corporation. Julian Terrett Jr. operated the ranch with his father until Julian Terrett Sr. died in 1975. After this, Julian Terrett Jr. continued to run the ranch, with both Jay and Curt, until 1995 when he and his wife moved to Miles City, where they had resided since.
Mr. Terrett became a member of the Montana Stockgrowers Association at a very early age, serving as president in 1973 and 1974. He served on the National Cattlemen’s Association Board of Directors from 1977 through 1978. He was past president of the Miles City Club, a member of the Elks Lodge, Range Riders Museum and the Miles City Chamber of Commerce. He served on the board of directors of U.S. Bank, formerly First National Bank, and the Holy Rosary Foundation. Along with his wife, Ellen, Mr. Terrett volunteered countless hours at the Holy Rosary Hospital and was active in the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program for more than 10 years. They were honored with the Volunteers of the Year Award in 2004. Mr. Terrett above all enjoyed his coffee group at the 600 Café.
His survivors include his wife of 56 years, Ellen Terrett of Miles City; two sons, Julian A. “Jay” Terrett and his wife Debbie of Colstrip and Curtis G. Terrett and his wife Gayle of the family ranch on Beaver Creek; a daughter, Nancy Markuson and her husband Stanley of Miles City; a sister, Louise Terrett of Miles City; seven grandchildren, Jaylene Allison, Jody Terrett, Johnna Goodwin, Will Terrett, Cody Terrett, Pete Markuson and Megan Markuson; and three great grandsons.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2007, at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007, at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Custer County cemetery.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Holy Rosary Foundation, the Range Riders Museum or the First Presbyterian Church.
Ramona May Zimmer
Ramona May Zimmer, 72, of Miles City died Saturday, Oct. 6, 2007, at the VA Nursing Home in Miles City.
Born in Linton, N.D., on July 17, 1935, she was the daughter of Clara and Maurice Robbins. At the age of three years, she was adopted by Otto and Jane Rothschiller Miller who lived in Minnesota. She graduated from Mahnomen High School, Minnesota in 1953.
Following graduation, she attended the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks for one year before joining the United States Navy in 1954. She was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1956.
She and John “Jack” Zimmer were married
in 1956.
Mrs. Zimmer loved music and played the piano and trombone. She also loved reading joke books and doing crossword puzzles. Mrs. ZImmer enjoyed the company of her cats. She was a devote catholic and a strong believer in daily rosaries.
Her survivors include her children: John W. Zimmer of Lakeside, Calif., Steven P. Zimmer of Yuma, Ariz., Suzanne T. (David) Klanke of Miles City, and Gregory B. Zimmer of Ashland; and six grandchildren.
A scripture service will be held Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2007, at 2 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Rite of Committal will follow in the Calvary cemetery with full military honors.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Alfred Maxwell "Gunny" Davidson
Alfred Maxwell “Gunny” Davidson, 80, of Terry died at his home in Terry on Oct. 2, 2007.
Mr. Davidson was born on June 24, 1927, in Terry to Alford and Selma Shauf Davidson.
After his schooling in Terry, he joined the Unites States Marine Corps and was promoted to Sergeant until he was honorably discharged as a Sergeant on Feb. 26, 1957. He reenlisted in the Marine Corps the next day, Feb. 27, 1957. During his enlistment he served during the Korean War and performed two tours of duty in Vietnam. Mr. Davidson served his country for more than 20 years until his honorable discharge on March 1, 1969.
He and Anna Martinson were married
and to this union a daughter, Diane, was born. Mr. Davidson was later married
to Suzanne Morton, and they had three sons, Kevin, Palle and James.
After his military career, Mr. Davidson lived in Moro, Ore., and later Hood River, Ore., where he worked as a heavy equipment mechanic until retiring in 1982.
In 1991, he moved back to his home town of Terry where he had remained since.
His survivors include his children, Diane and Kerry Goodson of Montgomery, AL, Kevin and Shelley Davidson of Vancouver, Wash., Palle and Morgen Davidson of Woodinville, Wash., and James and Bobbi Davidson of Tualatin, Ore.; and five grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife.
Graveside services will be Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2007, at 11 a.m. at Prairie County cemetery in Terry with full Military Rites.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Prairie County Health Department, P.O. Box 202, Terry, MT 59349 or to the charity of one’s choice.
Betsy May (Padden) Kuntz
Following a long struggle with her health, Betsy May (Padden) Kuntz was escorted by angels on Oct. 2, 2007, just four days after her 78th birthday.
Betsy May was born September 29, 1929, in Camp Crook, SD, at her grandmother’s home. She was the second of four children of Easton and Sylvia (Davis) Padden. She attended the country schools at Rema and Plainview near the family ranch on Tie Creek along with her siblings. The family moved to Ekalaka to attend high school and she graduated in 1947 from Carter County High School.
Following graduation she attended Presentation School of Nursing in Miles City and received her Registered Nurse Diploma in 1951. It was during her nurses training that she met the love of her life, Valentine Kuntz, while he was hospitalized at Miles City and they were married
April 3, 1951, a union that lasted 56 years and blessed them with nine children.
She worked as a registered nurse in Hettinger, ND, Belle Fourche, SD and later did some private duty nursing, but her true devotion was her family and assisting her husband with his business.
In the early years she helped her husband with the Kuntz Sawmill, in Camp Crook and sold lumber and did accounting. After her husband’s logging accident she assisted him with his construction company, again doing the paperwork until he retired in 1999.
She also spent the summers managing their motel, Geyser Cabins in West Yellowstone, MT.
She loved to “coffee” and visit, and was an excellent cook, known for her ability to create a meal out of a little flour and whatever else she could find. She knew no strangers and anyone was welcome at her table in her home. She was willing to share her experiences and what they taught her in hopes of helping others.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Paul Padden; and a granddaughter, Jacqueline Brooke.
Grateful to have shared in her life are her husband, Val; and nine children: Cheryl (Doyne) Perry of Henderson, Nev.; Valory (Orman) Lende of Eaton, CO; Theresa (Daniel) Brooke of Miles City, MT; Donald (Robin) Kuntz of Ekalaka, MT; Ronald (Kathleen) Kuntz, Kigali, Rwanda; Rebecca (Jeff) LeBrun of Columbus, MT; Monica (Dean) Peterson, Thomas (Susanne) Kuntz, Douglas (Diana) Kuntz, all of Belgrade; her sister, Carol McKinley, Lansing, IL; her brother, Benny (Dorothy) Padden of the family ranch at Camp Crook, SD; also 19 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren, along with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Rosary and Vigil service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, 2007, at the Valley of Flowers Catholic Church in Belgrade. The Funeral Mass will he held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, Oct. 8, 2007, at Valley of the Flowers Catholic Church in Belgrade.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Dahl Funeral Home in Bozeman, MT.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Lloyd Alphus Cox
Lloyd Alphus Cox, 92, of Jordan died late Monday afternoon Oct 1, 2007, at the Garfield County Health Center in Jordan.
Mr. Cox was born May 22, 1915, in Milford, Neb., the son of Doras and Nora Badgley Cox. He was raised and went to school in Seward County, Nebraska.
He married
Lena Kassebaum in Marysville, Kan., on May 24, 1939, and they moved to Montana, where he remained for the rest of his life.
Mr. Cox worked on various farms before moving to Jordan where he was employed by Yellowstone Lumber Company. He later purchased the business, which he continued to operate until 1977. He had a life-long hobby of fixing anything broken and did this throughout his lifetime.
He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, volunteer fireman, school bus driver, ambulance driver and local weatherman for 40 years.
His wife, Lena; brothers, Charlie, Arthur, Jefferson and DD Jr.; and sisters, Esther and Ina, preceded Mr. Cox in death.
Survivors include numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 5, in the Jordan Community Presbyterian Church. Interment will follow in the Pioneer cemetery.
Bullis-Graves Memorial Chapel of Miles City has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Memorials may be made in Mr. Cox’s name to Community Presbyterian Church, Box 117, Jordan, MT 59337 or to the Garfield County Health Center, Box 389, Jordan, MT 59337.
Lynne Taylor
Lynne left us on March 12 and rode his horse towards the sky.
Lynne was born near the Red Wall at Kaycee, Wyoming January 10, 1935 to Sandy and Peggy Taylor. The family ranched at Kaycee near the “Hole in the Wall” and lived in the Red Cabin. At the age of 12, his Dad moved the family to Miles City, Montana to trade ranches.
He graduated from Custer County High School, where he was an outstanding athlete and a honor society student. The first bucking horse he rode was when he was a sophomore in high school. He said then “my sole purpose in life is to ride bucking horses.”
He was attending college when he decided to enlist in the army before he was drafted, where he was shipped to Germany. He returned to the states and went to college at Colorado State University where he was on the rodeo team. In between seasons he worked for the Kramer Horse Ranch near Cohagan, Montana. He was a pickup man for Brookman Rodeo Company and Linger Rodeo Company for many years and was the pickup man for the first seven PRCA Circuit Finals in Montana.
Besides riding broncs, bulls, and picking up, he also team roped off of his pickup horses. He went to work for the Bureau of Land Management where he was assigned the management of the Pryor Mountains Wild Horse Range, for 18 years.
He was head Wrangler for the Great Montana Centennial Cattle Drive in 1989, where he was entrusted with a crew of 80 men and 3, 337 horses. He retired from the BLM in 1990 and followed his dream of raising his own horses. He developed a line of rope horses who are smart, gentle, well mannered, and owned three outstanding studs. He was happiest riding colts to the end.
During his adventures he married
and raised three children. He was a featured story in the September 2006 issue of Western Horseman. He was to be recognized this summer for being a top bronc rider for the college rodeo during a 10 year stretch.
He is survived by his wife Marion, three children, Tim (Sandra) Sandy (Tom), Christy (Jim), three grandchildren, Derek, Jordan, and Dustin, his two brothers, Russell, Colin and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Whether you were working horses or cattle two words you always heard were “Thanks Lynne.”
It’s been a big circle for Lynne and one well ridden. He stayed horse back until the end. From Kaycee, Wyoming to Eastern Montana, Lynne had proven himself to be the ultimate cowboy.
Memorials may be made to the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Wolf Point, 218 3rd Ave S. Suite C, Wolf Point, Montana 59201.
A funeral service will be held at 1:00 pm on Monday March 17, 2008 at the Cremation or Funeral Gallery in Billings. A reception will follow at The Feed Lot Steak House in Shepherd. Interment will take place Tuesday, March 18, 2008, in Miles City at the Custer County cemetery with military honors. Friends will gather at noon at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home for a horse drawn procession starting at 1:00 pm. Visitation will begin at 9:00 am. Mounted riders are welcome.
