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LEROY IRVIN LAUGHERY
LeRoy Irvin Laughery, 88, of Billings, passed away at St. Vincent Healthcare on November 24, 2005 as a result of a farm/ranch accident.
He was born October 20, 1917 in Billings to Irvin and Adelaide (Balder) Laughery.
He married Helen LaFurge on February 14, 1944 in Billings. Five children were born of this marriage. On March 9, 1976 he married Fern (Fly) Hardy. He had many interests and hobbies. He was always busy building something. His main interest the past few years was to establish bird habitat plots east of Billings, on the ranch he and Fern owned. He was always planting trees of various types to entice wildlife.
LeRoy is survived by his beloved wife, Fern; two sons, Lloyd (Phoebie) of Whitehall and Levi (Julie) of Laurel; two daughters, Lois (Gene) Millhouse of Billings and Leona (Garth) Bascom of Roy; sister, Mabel Haworth; brother, Kenneth; and many grandkids and great grandkids, whom he was always happy to see. He was preceded in death by his third son, Roger, in 2002; also by three sisters and one brother.
Funeral Services for LeRoy were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary. Burial followed at Rockvale Cemetery. A luncheon was held at Fort Rockvale following the burial.
Memorials may be made to the Clarks Fork Valley Museum, c/o Joan Anderson, 679 Joliet/Fromberg Rd., Fromberg, MT 59029.
The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, and medical staff at St. Vincent’s ICU for all their love and caring for their father.
Michelotti-Sawyers was in charge of arrangements.
MARY CUNNINGHAM
MONTROSE, Colo. — Mary Cunningham of Montrose died on Saturday, July 2, 2005 at The Homestead at Montrose at the age of 84.
Mary Gasser, the daughter of Frank and Mary (Mochnik) Gasser, was born Oct. 7, 1920 in Washoe, Mont., where she spent her childhood. She graduated from Carbon County High School in Red Lodge, Mont. on June 1, 1946. Mary was united in marriage with Arthur J. Cunningham in Columbus, Mont. In 1965, Mary, a homemaker, and her husband, Arthur, moved from Page, Ariz. to Montrose, where they remained until the time of their deaths. Arthur preceded Mary in death in November, 1995. Mary belonged to local bridge clubs. She greatly loved and enjoyed her family. Mary also loved playing bridge, cooking, collecting recipes, reading and taking daily walks.
Surviving family members who were blessed and honored to share Mary’s life include one son, Jack Cunningham and wife Peggy of Lakewood, Colo.; one daughter, Sharon and her husband, Jerry Maloney of Sun City West, Ariz.; one grandson, Jack Cunningham, and one sister, Fran and husband Howard Harmon of Casa Grande, Ariz. Mary was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.
A funeral service in loving memory of Mary’s life was to be held Thursday, July 7 at Crippin Funeral Home Chapel, with interment following the service in the Grand View Cemetery west of Montrose.
Memorials may be made to the donor’s choice. Arrangements were being made care of the Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory of Montrose.
RICHARD S. HURTT
BELFRY - Richard S. Hurtt, 78, of Belfry, died Monday, June 27, 2005 at Beartooth Hospital Long Term Care Unit in Red Lodge from complications of a stroke suffered last year on Fathers Day.
Richard was born on February 3, 1927, in Belfry, Montana, a son of Keeven and Ferne Hurtt. He was raised and educated in Belfry.
Richard married Alice Louise Becklen on January 16, 1947. They made their home in Belfry where they raised three sons and three daughters. A U.S. Army veteran, he served with the occupational forces in Germany. After the service, Richard worked in the Elk Basin oil field for 36 years. He served for a number of years on the Belfry School Board, and also served as chairman.
Richard enjoyed working in his flower garden. He loved his dogs and was known to adopt more than one stray dog that wandered into Belfry. Playing cribbage with the men in the family was also one of Richard’s favorite things to do. He was known for his occasional creative pegging, which was always given away with a wry smile.
Richard is survived by his children: Richard Hurtt (Danna), Alice Ann Brown (Ben), Jerilyn Meidinger (Bob), Kathleen Webber (Roger), Keeven Hurtt and Chris Hurtt; his grandchildren: Randy Hurtt, Ryan Hurtt, Hud Hurtt, Chad Hurtt (Jennifer), Boe Brown (Carlin), Amber Pfeifer (Ken), Brandi Webbinger (Drake), Aaron Meidinger (Mechelle), Artie Meidinger, Chi Krieger (Adam), Josh Webber (Dacia) and Andrew Castillon; and his great grandchildren: Gabby and Zoey Hurtt, Max Brown, Sam and Ellie Pfeifer, Mckenzie and Jakob Webbinger and Chesae Meidinger. He is also survived by one brother, Gordon Hurtt (Esther) of Spokane, Wash.
Preceding Richard in death was his beloved wife, Alice Louise; his parents, Keeven and Ferne Hurtt; a brother, Martin Hurtt; a sister, Dorothy Tews and a great grandchild, Samantha Jean Krieger.
“Daddy, we love you and may you finally be at peace.”
Cremation has taken place, and there will be a graveside service at 11 a.m. Friday, July 8 at the Belfry Cemetery. Smith-Olcott Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be given to the Beartooth Hospital Long Term Care Unit, Box 590, Red Lodge MT 59068.
LINDA WEISGERBER
BRIDGER – Linda Weisgerber, 57, of Bridger, passed away Sunday, July 3, 2005 due to complications of her brief battle with cancer.
Linda was born on August 5, 1947 in Havre, a daughter of Elmer and Charlene Lehrman. On February 10, 1990 she married Dick Weisgerber, and they enjoyed 15 wonderful and happy years together.
Linda had a passion for art and was an accomplished artist herself, painting many pictures for family and friends. She loved her animals, especially her dogs, Bubba, Sissy and Thumper; her cats, Fat Cat and Pud; and her horses, Louie, Annie and Keno.
She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters, Wanda Larson and Verna Welch.
Survivors include her husband, Dick Weisgerber of Bridger; her children, Tina Hair (Ronald) of North Carolina, Tiffany Christman (Than), Tess Baughman (Shawn Sanford), Fred Moench (Cheryl), and Tim Moench (Tiffany), all of Bridger, Sami Weisgerber of Kodiak, Alaska, and Kacey Kosel (Lynn) of Jamestown, North Dakota; brothers, Dick and Ron Lehrman; sisters, Deb Hutzenbieler, Jeanne Sanner and Judy Stores; and grandchildren, Billy, R.J., Amber, Tyler, Ashley, Shelby, Hailey, Kaydence and Cooper.
Cremation has taken place, and private family services are planned. Smith-Olcott Funeral Chapel of Red Lodge assisted with arrangements.
Memorials may be sent to P.E.A.K.S., c/o Northern Rockies Radiation Oncology Center, Box 369, Billings, MT 59103.
THOMAS ALBERT BECK
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Thomas Albert Beck, age 79, passed away Thursday, June 30, 2005.
He is survived by his wife, Grem Beck; two sons, Thomas A. Beck, Jr. and Jerry Beck, both of Albuquerque, N.M.; a daughter, Barbara Beck-Azar of Tucson, Ariz.; a sister, Anita Williams of Sarasota, Fla.; and two grandchildren, Daniel Brockett and Michael Brockett of Albuquerque.
Thomas was a fighter pilot in the Air Force for 24 years, with service including World War II, Korea and two tours in Vietnam, and was a member of the Red River Rats. Thomas was an electrical engineer at BDM. He loved golf and was a master club maker.
Burial of cremated remains will be at Santa Fe National Cemetery.
JANE WORTH FERGUSON
A kind and generous light has been extinguished. It is with great sorrow we bear the passing of Jane Worth Ferguson, following a canoeing accident on May 25 in the wilds of northern Ontario. She is survived by husband Gary Ferguson of Red Lodge, Montana, her brother, Tom Stewart and mother Virginia Stewart of Greensburg, Indiana, half-sister Juanita Rynerson of Albany, Calif., a close extended family, and countless friends across the country.
Jane was born on May 14, 1955, in Greensburg, Indiana, the daughter of Gilman and Virginia Stewart. She and Gary Ferguson were married on June 21, 1980 in the beautiful Sawtooth Mountains of Idaho. Having fashioned lives in Idaho, Arizona, and Colorado, they settled in Red Lodge in November of 1987.
From the time she was a little girl, building tents out of sheets in the yard of her home in southern Indiana, Jane took both solace and inspiration from nature. She received a masters degree in Alternative Education from Indiana University in 1982, then went on to work in a variety of outdoor settings, including the Center for American Archaeology in Cortez, Colorado, and as an instructor for both the Voyageur Outward Bound School in Red Lodge, Mont., as well as in Yellowstone National Park. A strong advocate of community service, Jane was a certified Wilderness EMT, served as vice president of Carbon County Search and Rescue, and was a volunteer with the Red Lodge Ambulance Service. In 2002 she co-founded Café Regis in Red Lodge with partners Martha A. Young and Sharon Phipps, trading days spent in nature for the chance to build new connections to her much-loved community. Yet she remained fiercely devoted to the backcountry, continuing to explore wild nooks and crannies from the Rocky Mountains, to the North Woods, to the Arctic Circle.
Jane often expressed the hope that when her life came to an end, it would be somewhere in the wild, doing what she loved. It is our wish that all who cared for her will take comfort from her bright spirit, that in time their hearts will fill with the joy and kindness she radiated throughout her life.
Memorial services will be held Friday, June 10 at 4 p.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church in Red Lodge, followed by a potluck celebration of Jane’s life at Café Regis, located in Red Lodge at 16th and Word. Donations in Jane’s memory can be made to Absaroka Search Dogs, Box 22081, Billings, Mont., 59104; or Billings Planned Parenthood (Attention: Development), 2125 Fourth Ave. N, Suite 201, Billings, Mont., 59101. To continue spreading the light of her spirit, we also encourage people to donate a couple hours of their time to something they care about — in their neighborhoods, in their communities, and the world.
GARY BYRON ANDERSON
BRIDGER — On Wednesday, May 26, 2005, the Lord called our friend and father home. Gary Byron Anderson, 56, passed to a better place at St. Vincent Hospital after a four-month battle with heart failure.
Gary was a beloved and devoted husband, a caring and compassionate father and an understanding and helpful friend to all. Everyone who met Gary was somehow touched by this wonderful man. Gary lived his life to the fullest and shared his love of the Lord and life with everyone. He was, to most, the strongest man we all knew, with the biggest heart.
Gary was born in Plentywood, Mont. on Jan. 22, 1949 to Kenneth A. Anderson and Elaine H. (Belisle) Anderson Klein. He was middle child of eight children, but was a leader to all of his siblings.
His father and mother, a sister, Linda, a brother, Dale, and a nephew, Justin, preceded Gary in death.
Gary is survived by his loving wife and soul mate of 34 years, Vicky; sons Byron (Jill) of Bridger and Robert of Billings; daughter and best friend, Sarah, of Bridger; grandson, JR; granddaughter Anna Lee; brothers Kenneth, Richard and Sheldon; sisters Lorraine and Cher; mother-in-law, Pat Croston; sister-in-law, Laurie Mylan, fishing and hunting buddies, and nephews, Scott and Jason. Gary also is survived by many loving uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and family.
Gary served in the U.S. Army as Sergeant in the Motor Pool. After serving one term in Korea, Gary moved back to Montana and met the love of his life, Vicky. They were never apart and spent almost every day together for 34 years. After suffering a debilitating accident while serving as the plant and engineering manager at the former Carbon County Healthcare Center. Gary then devoted his time to teaching his children a love of life and the outdoors. The Andersons were always camping, hunting, fishing and laughing. Without him, we will never be the same, but we will always have him in our hearts.
Funeral services were held May 31 at Cremation or Funeral Gallery in Billings, with burial following in the Joliet Cemetery.
OTTO ANDREW SALO
Otto Andrew Salo, 83, passed away May 21, 2005 due to heart failure.
He was born Nov. 22, 1921 in Big Horn County, Montana, and moved to Red Lodge, Mont. when he was two years old. He remained in Red Lodge though elementary and high school, and graduated from Carbon County High School in 1939. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in January, 1941. He went into combat against the Germans in WWII with an infantry rifle company, after several other assignments. Sgt. Salo was discharged in December, 1945. He earned the Combat Infantry Badge.
Otto went to work for a California Union Oil refinery in April, 1946, and retired in May of 1981. He began as a laborer and went on to become a foreman for many years thereafter. His retirement years were spent in Santa Maria and Grass Valley, Calif., and, for the past five years, in Battle Ground, Wash.
He was preceded in death by his father, Otto Jalmer Salo and mother, Getrude Jane Salo, both of Red Lodge; brothers, Nathan Salo of Denver, Colo., Mike Salo of Deer Lodge, Mont., and Albert Salo of Torrance, Calif.; a son, Jeff Salo of Santa Maria, Calif., and a granddaughter, Michelle Patterson of Santa Maria, Calif.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jean Salo of Battle Ground, Wash.; daughters, Sue Blackburn of Battle Ground and Connie Evans of Portland, Ore.; sons, Greg Salo of Santa Maria and Jim Salo of Grass Valley; a sister, Eva Farnham of Laurel, Mont., nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, and many loving nieces, nephews and family.
Cremation has taken place, with burial to be at Clear Creek Cemetery near Red Lodge.
We all love him and miss him very much.
