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WRAAL S. ARTHUN
BOYD – Wraal S. Arthun, 83, passed away Monday morning, September 20, 2004 at his home near Boyd. Wraal was born on September 17, 1921 on the family ranch near Roscoe, a son of Bill and Amy (Dell) Arthun. He was raised on the family ranch.
In 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving in the South Pacific for 36 months. While on furlough, Wraal was married to Margaret C. (Marge) Giachetto on March 25, 1945 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Absarokee. The couple resided in Pasco, Washington until his discharge later that year.
Wraal and Marge settled on the ranch near Roscoe where they raised their four children. In 1996 they retired from ranching and relocated to Boyd. Wraal loved ranching and livestock, and was highly respected in the agricultural industry.
He was preceded in death by his wife on January 17, 2004.
Survivors include one sister, MaryAnn Frank of Auburn, CA; three daughters, Linda of Wasilla, Alaska, Judith of Boise, Idaho, and Margit of Absarokee; one son, Daniel Wraal of Boyd; 6 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place under the direction of Smith-Olcott Funeral Chapel of Red Lodge. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 23 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Absarokee. Interment with military honors will be in the Rosebud Cemetery.
Following the interment, a reception will be held at the church. Memorials may be given to the Disabled American Veterans.
Our tears are not of sorrow, but of joy, for our parents have been reunited once again. You will always be in our hearts. You may be gone, but your spirits flow through our veins. We are one with you. We love you. –Your Family
GEORGE W. SEKULICH
George W. Sekulich, 69, died peacefully at home, surrounded by family and friends, on Sunday September 19, 2004. He died of complications due to a previous stroke.
He was born April 15, 1935 in Red Lodge, MT, the son of Dan and Mary Sekulich. He married Sandy Hosley, July 23, 1976 in Billings, MT.
They had 2 beautiful children, Lisa Mary Sekulich, 21, and Linsey Ann Sekulich, 17. George’s legacy can be found in the two children that he so beautifully raised and the love and deep respect that he gave his wife each and every day. His kindness, generosity, and gentle humor touched the lives of many friends and families throughout his life.
George served in the army, attended Rocky Mountain College and Creighton University, worked for Yellowstone Park Service, the Hotel Industry. He spent his remaining years immersed in raising his daughters and following their soccer careers, sometimes to the dismay of the referees.
He is survived by his wife and 2 daughters, his sister, Ruth Gebo of Red Lodge, and many nieces and nephews.
George is proceeded in death by his parents, Dan and Mary Sekulich, his brother, Steve Sekulich, his sisters Lucille Bosone and Helen Gum, his sister-in-law Connie Cummings, and his nephew Danny Gebo.
An informal gathering will be held at the Red Lodge Cemetery at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 25, 2004, followed by a luncheon in the basement of St. Agnes Church in Red Lodge.
LARRY (LAURENCE EARL) THIEL
Larry was born July 18, 1940. He passed away Sept. 20, 2004.
Born in Red Lodge, the son of Lloyd and Ruth (Smith) Thiel, Larry had two sisters, Betty Jean and Janie. Larry’s boyhood was spent in Red Lodge and the surrounding area. As a youngster, Larry often would ride his pony, dog following, through the Pryor Mountains where his father, Lloyd Thiel, worked as a forest ranger.
In high school Larry was active in sports: track, football and basketball. No doubt he and his best friend, Brian Roat, also actively raised a bit of heck. He graduated from Red Lodge High School in 1958 and entered the service July 18 (his 18th birthday) that same year. Larry served three years in the Navy, stationed in Japan, during the Korean Conflict.
Larry was married to Mickey (Hoke) Thiel (the mother of his children) for 13 years. Larry lived at Red Lodge until 1975, when he moved to Clark, Wyo. where he resided until his death. Larry worked dirt construction with his father, Lloyd Theil, until his father passed away in 1996. Larry continued working and running Larry Thiel Construction until this past year when his health slowed him down.
Peggy Anne Connett came into Larry’s life in his later years, and was the blessing of his life. As his dear wife, she became the friend and partner that Larry always needed, bringing a completeness to his life.
Larry worked hard all his life. He found satisfaction and pleasure in a job done well. He and Peg worked side by side fixing up the ranch, planting trees, building fence and gathering wood. Even though officially retired due to his weakness, Larry continued working when ever he had “good days,” and accomplished building a new garden and a campsite down by the creek.
Larry enjoyed gardening, reading, TV, horseshoes and camping trips, where he was always in charge of cooking breakfast on the campfire, including his special coffee boiled right in the coffee can.
As a father and grandfather, he passed on a great appreciation of the outdoors and a wealth of wisdom. Larry made mistakes in his life. But he taught his kids that everybody makes mistakes and we need to forgive ourselves and move on. “the only person who doesn’t make mistakes isn’t doing a damn thing.”
Larry was a proud and gentle man. He never wanted to put anyone out, but would bend over backward himself for anyone in need. He did good things for others all the time and never wanted credit or recognition. His family and friends always felt loved, always knew he was there.
Larry is preceded in death by his grandparents, Earl and Ada Thiel and Harry and May Smith; his parents, Lloyd Earl Thiel and Ruth Dorris (Smith) Thiel, and sister, Betty Jean Thiel.
Family members who miss him include wife, Peggy Thiel; sister, Janie O’Brien; nephews, Cory and Will O’Brien; son, Lloyd Thiel (Tammy Thiel) grandchildren, Breanne, Katie and Zach Thiel; daughter, Betty Thiel-Nygaard (Ken Nygaard); grandchildren, Alexandra and Samantha Nygaard, and daughter, Lisa Wood and grandchildren, Autumn, J.D. and Jarret Wood. Larry was also blessed with numerous cousins, aunts and uncles. Larry also leaves behind many dear friends, including lifelong friends, Brian and Sharon Roat of Red Lodge.
Funeral services were held Monday, Sept. 27, 2004 at Bennett Creek Baptist Church in Clark, Wyo., with burial at Bennett Butte Cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to Fort Shiloh or Bennett Creek Baptist Church.
ORIAN “ODE” CUSKER
Orian “Ode” Cusker, age 89, of Glendive, left this earth to join his wife, Sally, in heaven on Sunday, Sept. 19, 2004. He peacefully passed away at the Glendive Medical Center.
Orian was born on December 25, 1914 in Wolf Point, the son of Sig and Lillian (Pipal) Cusker. He grew up on the family ranch on Sand Creek in northern McCone County and graduated from high school in Wolf Point. Ode married Cella “Sally” Nelson on February 19, 1939 at the Nelson family home near Vida, Montana. Ode was a graduate of the University of Montana in Missoula with a degree in forestry. In July 1943 he was inducted into the Army and served in France, Belgium, and Germany during WW II. After being honorably discharged, he worked for the Soil Conservation Service in Circle, Montana and later in Glendive. He also resided with his family in Dickinson, North Dakota and Lemmon, S.D., where he was the district ranger for the Custer National Forest Service. Following his retirement, Ode and Sally enjoyed the sunshine of Sun City West, Ariz. and the view of the mountains and wildlife from their cabin in Red Lodge, Mont. Ode had resided at the Eastern Montana Veterans Home in Glendive for the past 1-1/2 years.
Ode was a true cowboy at heart. He broke horses in his younger years and continued throughout his life to be a very skilled horseman. He loved being outdoors, whether it was working around the yard, hunting, fishing or back packing into the mountains; he was right at home with nature.
Ode was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Sally, two infant sisters and one adult sister, Alta McIntyre.
Survivors include his daughter, Nicki Dufner and her husband Jim of Glendive; two sons, Scott Cusker and his wife Joanne of Glendale, Ariz. and Rodney Cusker and his wife Debra of El Cajon, Calif.; his sister, Iris David of Victorville, Calif.; five grandchildren, Tana McCall and her husband Dave of Farmington, N.M., Ty Dufner and his wife Cindy of Miles City, Mont., Mirriah Elliot and her husband Andy of Denver, Colo., Kit Cusker and Devin Cusker, of Denver, Colo.; four great grandchildren, Shay Davis and Shilo McCall of Farmington, N.M. and Syrell and Mathias Dufner of Miles City, Mont.; numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004 in the Zion Lutheran Church in Glendive, with Pastor Paul Everett officiating. Interment with military honors was in the Dawson Memorial Cemetery in Glendive. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive was entrusted with arrangements.
Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silvernale-silhafuneralhome.com
ADA MAYOR HAYS
POWELL, Wyo. — Ada Mayor Hays was born Jan. 21, 1911 at Richwoods, Mo. to Henry and Marie Carrel Mayor. In 1922 she moved with her family to a homestead near Kaycee, Wyo. She attended schools at Richwoods, Mo. and in the Kaycee area and graduated from Johnson County High School in Buffalo, Wyo. in 1928. She later attended the University of Wyoming for a time, and taught in rural schools for several years.
On June 27, 1933 she married A. R. (Slim) Hays in Hardin, Mont. Slim died in 1997. They ranched in the Kaycee and Arvada areas for several years. In 1941 they bought a ranch near Jordan, Mont. and lived there for 20 years. Ada still owned the ranch, which is now operated by a daughter and grandsons. In 1959 they bought a ranch in the Clarks Fork Valley near Belfry, Mont., and operated a feedlot there.
Ada enjoyed her family and friends, doing crossword puzzles, traveling and all phases of ranch life. She loved the great outdoors and especially the mountains. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Bridger, and the former Clarks Fork Valley Women’s Club.
Survivors include two daughters, Virginia (Coleman) Murnion of Jordan and Linda (James) Peters of Belfry; 23 grandchildren, 45 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Slim, three grandsons, four brothers and two sisters.
A rosary was held Sept. 27, 2004, and Mass of Christian Burial was Sept. 28, 2004 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Belfry. Burial was in the Belfry Cemetery.
Arrangements were with the Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home.
ANDREW “ANDY” POLLOCK
Andrew “Andy” Pollock passed away peacefully Sept. 24, 2004 at Billings Health and Rehab after a long battle with COPD.
Andy was born March 4, 1916 at his grandparents’ home in Scotch Coulee in Bearcreek to Andrew and May (Darrow) Pollock. He attended grade school in Bearcreek and one year of high school in Red Lodge before joining the Civilian Conservation Corps. He later worked for various farmers, and as a lumberjack and sawyer in Red Lodge.
Andy and Elsie (Brickman) were married at the Methodist Parsonage in Red Lodge in 1943. In 1954, Andy and his family moved to Billings where he went to work for Consolidated Freightways. He worked there until 1977 when he retired on a medical disability.
Andy’s hobbies were fishing, rock hounding and bowling. Andy and Elsie joined the First United Methodist Church in the fall of 1954.
His parents, brothers Frank, Dave and Bill, and his sister, Alice, preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Elsie; his brother Leroy (Shirley) of Pompey’s Pillar; a sister, Margaret (Dale) Cox of Weippe, Idaho; his sons, James (Evelyn) Pollock of Duluth, Minn., John (Diana) Pollock of Billings and Lee (Linda) Pollock of Bartlesville, Okla.; his grandchildren, Miranda (Jonathan) Edel, Drew (JoAnn) Pollock, Brenna (Aaron) Nelson, Shawn (Francie) Pollock, Heather (Tiny) Lee, Brian (Tiena) Pollock and Jennifer (Andrew) Haas; an aunt, Jessie Wallis of Red Lodge, seven great-grandchildren and numerous cousins.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service was held at the First Methodist Church Monday, Sept. 27, 2004.
Memorials may be made to the church, the Rescue Mission, PO Box 3232, Billings, MT 59103, or a charity of one’s choice.
