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Iris B. Madison
Poker Jim Community Ñ Iris B. Madison, 76, a life-long resident of the Poker Jim-Bennie Pierre area in the Squaw Gap Community, died Sunday, July 27, 2003, at the Sidney Health Center Extended Care Facility. She had suffered from failing health the past three years.
Mrs. Madison was born on July 30, 1926, to Ernest and Anna (Eldridge)Kemna, early-day homesteaders of the area. She was the second and last child born to this union. A sister, Eleanor, was born 12 years earlier. Her father died when she was a young girl leaving his wife to provide for the family. Mrs. Kemna, as she was always called, continued to run the Searing Post Office, which was located on their place; she was post mistress of this rural post office from 1927-1954. She also kept a few cows, a milk cow, and had a big garden.
Mrs. Madison attended several rural schools in the area, often riding on horseback several miles to school or boarding with neighbors if the school was very far from home. She attended Sidney High School and graduated in 1944. She taught at the nearby Stevenson & Leland schools for 1944 to 1947.
On July 26, 1947, she married Henry (Hienie) Madison of the Skaar Community. He moved up to her folks' place, and together they raised their family and ranched for the next 37 years. He died in 1984.
Mrs. Madison was considered a good sport and would try anything. She loved her family, especially her grandchildren, who were very special to her. She loved her place along the creek, the only place she ever lived. She greatly appreciated her neighbor lady friends. She enjoyed old-time music and dancing and reminiscing. Mrs. Madison preserved much of the area and family history by filling many scrapbooks with pictures and clippings.
She served as clerk of the local school district for several years and also sat on the election board. She was a member of the Sidney Moose Lodge, Grace Lutheran Church of Skaar, and the Grace Women's Circle.
Mrs. Madison is survived by her son, Bill Madison on the home place; her daughter, Linda (Gary) Anderson of Miles City; her grandchildren, Ward (Alisha) Anderson of Billings, Scott (D'Lon) Anderson of Shepherd, Leah Madison of Forest Lake, Minn., and Laurie Madison of Thornton, Colo.; two great-grandsons, Kade and Danny of Billings; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and sister.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, August 2, 2003 at the Pella Lutheran Church, with Pastor Betty Mawbey of the Grace Lutheran Church of Skaar officiating.
Interment will be in the Richland Memorial Park Cemetery in Sidney under the direction of the Fulkerson Funeral Home of Sidney.
Donald 'Don' Redmond
Forsyth - Donald "Don" Redmond, 85, of Forsyth, formerly of Bozeman, died Monday, July 28, 2003 at the Rosebud Health Care Center in Forsyth.
Mr. Redmond was born September 3, 1919 in Beach, N.D., the son of Dominick and Anna Kukacka Redmond. He spent his youth and attended schools in Garrison before coming to Forsyth at the age of 9. He continued his schooling in Forsyth, graduating from Forsyth High School in 1938. He entered the U.S. Army on February 27, 1941, serving during World War II as a mess sergeant.
Following his honorable discharge on December 20, 1945, Mr. Redmond returned to Forsyth and purchased a bakery, later known as Don's Bakery. In 1960, he sold his bakery and lived in Columbus before moving to Bozeman, where he has continued to live since.
Mr. Redmond had a fascination with trains at an early age, and later began collecting railroad memorabilia, and soon to follow real-sized railroad cars. He was a member of the Montana Railroad Association, as well as the Washington State Railroad Association. He, with his good friends Jim and Donna Edgerly, had a scaled-down version of a train that they would set up for kids to ride. He was also a member and very active with the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Bozeman.
He is survived by his brother, Patrick (Carmen) Redmond of Billings; two sisters, Carolyn Schiffer of Poway, Calif., and Marjorie (Willie) Benner of Bozeman; numerous nieces and nephews; as well as three special friends, Jim and Donna Edgerly, and Wes Myers, all of Bozeman. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Jim Redmond.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, August 1, 2003 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Forsyth. Interment will follow in the Forsyth Catholic Cemetery. Beals Mortuary of Forsyth is assisting the family with these arrangements.
Lawrence R. Spang
Lawrence R. Spang, VeKesohvo Komaestse (White Bird), 72, of Lame Deer died Saturday, July 26, 2003, at his daughter's residence in Billings with much of his family by his side.
Born July 6, 1931, in Lame Deer, he was the son of Wilfred and Jennie Limberhand Spang. He attended grade school in Lame Deer and graduated from Colstrip High School in 1951.
In 1953, he and Barbara One Bear were married. They later divorced.
He worked for the federal government for many years. Mr. Spang also worked for Montana Power as a laborer and for Indian Health Service as a medical records clerk.
He was a superb athlete in basketball and football in high school. Mr. Spang also played fast pitch with his brothers as a young man. An avid fisherman and hunter, he also loved to read. He spent much of his later years doting on his grandchildren.
Survivors include two sons, Alan Spang, and his wife, Joleen, and Richard Spang, and his wife Bridgette, all of Lame Deer; four daughters, Kathleen Beartusk of Colstrip, Judy (Dean Allen) Spang of Lame Deer, Robyn Spang and Francine (Dennis) Bear Don't Walk, all of Billings; 21 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Survivors also include five brothers, Norman Spang, and his wife, Clarice, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Alonzo Spang, and his wife, Clarice, of Birney, James Spang, and his wife, Aladine, and Leo Spang, and his wife, Maxine, all of Muddy Creek, and Zane Spang, and his wife, Sandy, of Ashland.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral and graveside services will be held on Thursday, July 31, 2003, at 9 a.m. in the family cemetery at Muddy Creek. Wake services will be Wednesday, July 30, 2003, at 7 p.m. in the Mennonite Church in Lame Deer.
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Forsyth has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Raymond Rance Jonas
Funeral services for Raymond Rance Jonas, 82, of Terry were held Tuesday afternoon, July 29, 2003, in the New Hope Wesleyan Church in Terry. The Rev. Harvey Bybee officiated. Interment followed in the Prairie County Cemetery.
Mr. Jonas died Thursday, July 24, 2003, at his home after an extended illness.
He was born to Joseph and Mary Watipka Jonas on July 14, 1921, at the family homestead north of Terry. He left home at the age of 16 years and joined the Civilian Conservation Corps before entering the military. He joined the Army on Sept. 26, 1942, and served in the 897th Field Artillery Battalion. He was stationed in several areas including Normandy, where he served in the Normandy landing, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. He was honorably discharged on Nov. 30, 1945.
On Sept. 17, 1952, he and Etta Elaine Huseby were married in Miles City. To this union five children were born. The family ranched and farmed there for nearly 50 years before health reasons forced him to move to town.
Mr. Jonas was a member of the American Legion and Wesleyan Church.
He enjoyed playing cards, visiting friends, dancing, playing pool and reading a good book. Mr. Jonas always had a kind word and a helping hand for his neighbors and friends.
His survivors include his wife, Elaine of Terry; and their children, Yolanda Ferguson, and her husband, Paul, and Duke Jonas, and his wife, Barb, all of Miles City, Rolane Christofferson, and her husband, Larry, of Terry, Shayne, and his friend, Lynn, also of Terry, and Rance Jonas, and his wife, Pam, of Vernal, Utah; 17 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Mamie Macioroski; two half-brothers, Ed and Louis Mertle; and a half-sister, Audrey Young.
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Terry was entrusted with the arrangements.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Prairie County Library in Terry or to the charity of one's choice.
