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BRUCE HERDEN
BELFRY - Bruce John Herden, 68, of Belfry, Montana, passed away Monday August 2, 2004 at Deaconess Billings Clinic Hospital surrounded by this family, after a yearlong battle with cancer.
Bruce was born December 13, 1935 at home in Big Horn Wyoming. In his early years, he spent most of his time farming and working with racehorses. Bruce graduated in 1953 from Sheridan (Wyo.) High School. He moved to Emigrant, Mont. in 1954, to manage the family ranch. In 1955 he met Mary Minnie, and they were married in 1956 in Sheridan, Wyo. During their early years, they also lived in Townsend, Laurel and Big Timber. In 1972 they moved to Belfry where they farmed, ranched and established their trucking company.
Bruce was involved with the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Posse where he enjoyed playing cowboy polo. He also enjoyed team roping throughout the years as well as teaching his two sons to rope. After retiring from trucking, he drove bus for the Belfry School. He especially enjoyed driving the activity bus. He was always the biggest fan at all activities involving his children and later his grandchildren. In the last three years he was blessed with four great-grandchildren that always seemed to bring a smile to his face.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Martha Herden. Bruce is survived by his wife Mary; three children, Willis (Teri) Herden of Belfry, Nancy (Larry) Bangert of Belfry, and Ken Herden of Hysham; two brothers, Allen (Bertha) Herden of Park City, and Roger (Patsy) Herden of Minnesota, eight grandchildren; Lori (Dennis) Thormahlen, Brad (Laura) Herden, Crystal (Clark) Pinkerton, Loren Bangert, Bryce Herden, Karen Bangert, Michelle Herden and Gary Bangert; and four great-grandchildren; Casey Pinkerton, Alyssa Thormahlen, Whitney Herden and Kenzie Herden.
Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at Smith-Olcott Funeral Chapel in Red Lodge. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, August 6 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Bridger. Interment will be in the Bridger Cemetery, with a luncheon to follow at the Belfry School Multi-purpose room.
Bruce’s family would like to thank the nursing staff in ICU at Deaconess Billings Clinic, especially Stacy, for the loving care and consideration that Bruce received.
KERMITH “BEAR” KAMPPINEN
COLUMBUS – Kermith “Bear” Kamppinen, 51, of rural Columbus, left in his sleep to fly with the angels on August 2, 2004.
He was born in Columbus on July 2, 1953, the first son born to Kenneth and Doris Kamppinen.
Kermith drove truck for several years and then was a core driller for precious metals. He loved tinkering in his shop and rebuilt a hay loader this summer, his last legacy to the ranch he so dearly loved.
“Bear” loved taking his teepees up into the mountains and hunting for deer and elk. His teepees were also set up for weddings in the area periodically and were his pride and joy.
He was preceded in death by his father. Survivors include his mother of Columbus; three brothers, Kevin of South Carolina, and Keith and Kim of Columbus; a niece and two nephews; and a grandnephew.
A celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, August 5 at the Whitebird School. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Smith-Olcott Funeral Chapel of Red Lodge.
Memorials may be sent to the Stillwater Team of Big Sky Hospice, P.O. Box 1109, Columbus, MT, 59019; or to a charity of choice.
MILDRED LAING
Mildred (Mickie) Laing passed away August 7, 2004. She was born December 11, 1923, the daughter of Otto Loessin and Mary (Eichler) Loessin. Mildred was raised on a farm at Hammer, South Dakota. As an adult she moved to Hawthorne, Calif. to be near her future husband, Clayton. She worked at Northrupt Aircraft factory as a secretary. On June 28, 1942 they were married in Yuma, Ariz. Their daughter Sharon was born January 11, 1944.
They moved back to Sisseton to be close to family when Clayton was drafted into the service. Her husband worked road construction and they traveled and moved to many places throughout the Dakotas and Montana. Mildred was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother.
After retiring, Mildred and Clayton settled at Fromberg, Mont. In 1996 they moved to Belgrade to be near their daughter and son-in-law Sharon and Skip Shields.
Mildred was a member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church of Belgrade. She loved spending time with family, fishing, gardening, and playing cards.
Mildred was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, four brothers, and two sisters.
She is survived by her daughter, Sharon (Skip) Shields, of Belgrade; four grandchildren, Nichole (Shields) Roffler, Clayton Shields, Angela (Shields) Pierce, and Clinton Shields; seven great grandchildren; brother, John Loessin, of Sisseton; sisters, Louella (Loessin) Larson and Vardean (Loessin) Stave.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will take place 10:30 a.m., Thursday, August 12, 2004 at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Belgrade. Interment of the urn will follow at Meadowview Cemetery in Manhattan.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mildred’s name to the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 102 N. Weaver, Belgrade, Montana 59714.
AMOS C. CLARK
9/1/1915—8/8/2004
RED LODGE - Amos’s journey through life began in Potter County, South Dakota on September 1, 1915, the 8th of 13 children born to Elmer and Persis Clark. The family moved to Miles City, Mont. where Amos graduated from High School and began his life-long love of aircraft and flying after witnessing a barn-storming exhibition over the prairies north of town.
The second, and by far the most important, leg began on October 16, 1937, when he married Gladys Ronning, a union that lasted more than 67 years. The young couple put their belongings in the back of a ’37 Oldsmobile, attached a 10 foot travel trailer and headed for Southern California where Amos went to work for the then fledgling Lockheed Aircraft Company. The couple purchased their first home in Culver City, Calif., which became a virtual USO for family and friends during the war years. In 1944, his son John was born and his co-workers commenting on his absence that day said, “ either he crashed his plane (a Fleet Biwing) or Gladys gave birth.”
Although their life was filled with friends and activities, Amos and Gladys felt that Montana was their future and moved to Red Lodge in 1954. Amos started driving bus for the school district and eventually “Clark’s Bus Service and Cody Bus Lines” had operations based in 6 communities in two states. He was a partner with ski racing great Pepi Gramshammer and others for the development of the Red Lodge International Ski Race Camp held annually on the Twin Lakes Headwall. He helped develop the Montana School Bus Association and served as its first President. One of his treasured awards was “MSBA Person of the Year” presented for his service to the organization.
Amos had been a member of Messiah Lutheran church since 1954 and prior to that was a founding member of Grace Lutheran Church in Culver City. He and Gladys were recently honored by that congregation as two of the founding members.
Amos was involved in many organizations and activities, but probably the most important to him entailed service to others. He was a member of Lions Club International for more than 35 years, and was involved with the Charles Campbell Children’s Camp since its inception. He was active in the Democratic Party for many years and was drafted by friends to run for the Montana Senate. He was a rather relaxed politician, as he assumed that most people in his district knew him, and if they wanted him as senator, they would vote for him. He lost the election by a handful of votes.
His close-knit family has been a great blessing. He always had time for his grand children and the numerous nieces and nephews who loved to visit. A treasured photo taken during Amos and Gladys’ 50th Wedding Anniversary shows 6 of his brothers and sisters with spouses who had been married more than 50 years.
His final flight plan was filed early in the morning on August 8, 2004 when surrounded by family and friends, he lifted off for the last time.
Amos is survived by his wife Gladys; sister, Olive Lockie; sister-in-laws, Dorothy Baken and Inez Smith; brothers-in-law, Warren (Liz) Ronning and Orville (Kate) Ronning; son, John and his wife Nani; grandchildren, Jeff, Will, Shinta (Daniels) and Angie; great-granddaughter, Isis; and a whole bunch of nieces and nephews who with their children will always remember their “Uncle Amos”.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, August 11, at Messiah Lutheran Church in Red Lodge. A reception followed at the Clark Guest House on the south edge of Red Lodge.
Arrangements were handled by friends at the Smith-Olcott Chapel of Red Lodge. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice.
CHARLOTTE JACOBSON
Charlotte Jacobson, 81, of Billings, formerly of Columbus, passed away Aug. 6, 2004 at Magnolia Place Home Care where she had resided for the past year.
Charlotte was born Oct. 5, 1922 in Red Lodge, the daughter of Daniel Emmor and Bessie Coe (Bond) Doty. She attended Willow Creek Country School and graduated from Roberts High School. She then attended Long Beach Junior College and the University of Northern Colorado-Greeley, where she graduated with a teaching degree.
Charlotte married Harold Jacobson in Absarokee, Mont., on Sept. 13, 1953. They lived in Butte, Zurich, Columbus and Billings.
She taught elementary school for over 35 years in numerous schools, including Elko, Nev., and White Sulphur Springs, Laurel and Columbus. She retired from Columbus Schools in 1986 after teaching there for 20 years.
Charlotte was an active member of St. James Lutheran church in Columbus, having served on the Church Council. She was a member of the Stillwater County Historical Society, a volunteer at the Special K Ranch, and a member of the Stillwater Extension Homemakers. Charlotte was a member of the Pilgrim Edward Doty Society — Edward Doty was an early ancestor of Charlotte’s who sailed to America on the Mayflower.
Charlotte enjoyed gardening, reading, researching family genealogy and doing crossword puzzles. She was very fond of her antique glassware collection. She liked family picnics and outings in the mountains. Charlotte loved spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.
Survivors include two daughters, Carol (Dave) Steidley of Lander, Wyo., and Carol’s children, Drew, Erica, and Haley Barton; and Elaine Jacobson of Pocatello, Idaho; two sons, Steve (Deanna) Jacobson of Broomfield, Colo. and their son, Eric; and Jim (Karen Schulz) Jacobson of Broomfield; her brother, Emmor Doty of Red Lodge and many nieces, nephews and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold, her parents, Dan and Bessie Doty, and a brother, Ed Doty.
A memorial service was held Tuesday, Aug. 10 at 11 a.m. at St. James Lutheran Church in Columbus. Remains were buried at John Henry Cemetery near Red Lodge.
Memorials may be made to St. James Lutheran Church in Columbus, the Special K Ranch in Columbus, or the charity of one’s choice.
TILLIE PETERS
BRIDGER – Tillie Peters, 88, of Bridger passed away Aug. 5, 2004 at the home of her great niece Susan Buechler, along with Hospice as caregivers.
She was the daughter of Joseph and Magdalena Peters, born Dec. 15, 1915 in Dickinson, N.D. The family came to Montana in the early 1920’s and worked for the Sugar Company in Fromberg.
Tillie married Tony Kroll November 26, 1935 and had two children, Evelyn of Idaho and Richard of Fromberg.
After retiring from farming in the Fromberg and Laurel areas, her interests included gardening, reading, crocheting, playing the accordion and organ and playing cards and crazy dice.
She is survived by Evelyn Kroll, Richard Kroll, six grandchildren, her great grandchildren, her brother John Peters of Park City, and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister Mary Reichert and eight brothers, George, Martin, Chris, Joe, Harry, Jack, Louie and Ralph.
Funeral Mass was celebrated Aug. 10 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bridger with interment in Bridger Cemetery.
