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Glenn Albert Williams
Glenn Albert Williams died Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2004, at Friendship Villa in Miles City.
Mr. Williams was born to George and Minerva Williams in Leesville, La., on April 8, 1927. Upon graduation from Beaumont High School in Beaumont, Texas, he enlisted in the United States Navy and saw action in the Pacific and Korea during World War II. After his transfer to the Naval Reserve he attended McNeese Junior College and Louisiana State University where he earned a bachelor's of education degree. He and Alice F. "Faye" Smith were married on Nov. 8, 1946. Mr. Williams returned to active Navy service during the Korean War and served as a Chief Petty Officer until his retirement in 1974. Upon his retirement from the Navy, Mr. Williams taught NJROTC for three years at Billings Senior High School before attending the University of Montana-Missoula where he received a master's of education degree with a specialty in counseling. In his 20-year career as a counselor and educator, Mr. Williams served as principal and superintendent at Richey schools, counselor in Leesville, La., Hysham and Rosebud. After retirement as an educator, Mr. Williams retired to Forsyth where he served as a city alderman and as president of the Forsyth Development Foundation during the time in which Riverview Villa was created. He was elected and was serving as Illustrious Grand Master of the Cryptic Masons of Montana upon his death. He was also a past District Commander of the American Legion and an active member of the Disabled American Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
His survivors include his wife, Faye, of Forsyth; his sons, Tim, and wife, Joyce, of Keller, Texas, Steve, and wife, Cindy, of Fort Worth, Texas, Patrick, and his wife, Jackie, of Billings, and Bryan's wife, Michelle, of Chula Vista, Calif., his daughters, Sue Miles, and her husband, Tim, of Miles City, Glenda Cady, and her husband, Randy, of Park City, and Kathleen Jones, and her husband, Vernon, of Helena; 23 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Alene; his sons, Bryan and Robert; his daughter, Katherine; and grandson, Will Jones.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the family to establish an educational scholarship fund in memory of Mr. Williams. Funeral services will be Saturday, Sept. 18, 2004, at 10 a.m. in the chapel of Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Forsyth. Interment will follow in the family lot of the Forsyth City Cemetery.
Kenneth Larkin Gardner Jr.
Kenneth Gardner, 70, of Miles City died Sunday, Sept. 12, 2004, at the Holy Rosary Healthcare in Miles City.
Kenneth was born in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 14, 1933, the son of Kenneth Sr. and Helene Sally Faber Gardner. He attended schools in Manhattan Beach, Calif., and sixth grade through 12th at Lywood/Compton Academy Bible School where he graduated. He then attended Miles Community College. Mr. Gardner worked in Aero Space Industry in central California on advanced Rocket Systems until he retired and moved to Miles City. He worked in Ashland for St. Labre Mission as a teacher and electrician for three years, but made Miles City his home.
His survivors include his mother, Mary Gardner of San Diego, Calif.; a daughter, Ivette Santino of Gilroy, Calif.; three brothers, Mark Gardner of Las Vegas, Nev., Keith Gardner of Fontana, Calif., and Bruce Gardner of San Diego; two sisters, Julie Solarski of Sacramento, Calif., and Beverly Gardner; and two grandchildren.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, Sept. 17, 2004, at 2 p.m. in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Miles City. Interment will follow in the Custer County Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice.
Stanley Earl Nelson
Stanley Earl Nelson, 81, of Miles City died Monday, Sept. 13, 2004, at his home due to natural causes. He was born Nov. 30, 1922, in Riverton, Wyo., the eldest child of John and Hazel Martin Nelson. When he was eight years of age, the family moved to homestead in Regent, N.D.
Following his high school graduation in Regent, N.D., Mr. Nelson enlisted in the Navy and served four years in the South Pacific during WW II. He was a "Life Member" of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars in addition to 48 years of membership with the Miles City Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie No. 885. Mr. Nelson retired from the Miles City Star Printing Supply as a commercial printer. Family and friends were an important part in Mr. Nelson's life. He loved to play cards and in his younger years he hardly missed a dance.
His survivors include his wife Arlene of 53 years; his son, Walter, his wife, Carol Nelson and their children, Justin and Jennifer of Helena; and daughter, Marlene Huckins, and her daughter, Amber of Miles City; along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hazel and John Nelson; and sisters Faye Gordon and Avis Richardson.
Cremation took place in the Bullis-Graves Eastern Montana Crematory. Following cremation a private family service will be held. Bullis-Graves Memorial Chapel of Miles City has been entrusted with the arrangements. Memorials may be made to Holy Rosary Hospice in Miles City or to the charity of one's choice.
Gerald "Gerry" John Salinas
Funeral Mass for Gerald "Gerry" John Salinas, 82, of Missoula, former Miles City resident, was held Wednesday morning, Aug. 4, 2004, in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ronan. Mr. Salinas died Friday, July 30, 2004, of natural causes.
He was born Nov. 11, 1921, in Miles City to Michael and Loretta Hines Salinas. Mr. Salinas was proud to have been born on Nov. 11, a date that became a time for honoring veterans. Mr. Salinas attended schools in Miles City and graduated from Custer County High School. He also attended Miles Community College. While in Miles City, he was a paper boy, delivering the Miles City Star for many years. He worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps camp at Nine Mile in 1939. Mr. Salinas then attended the University of Montana-Missoula for a year before entering the United States Navy and serving from 1942 to the end of World War II. Following the war, Mr. Salinas graduated from UM in 1948 with his master's degree in biology. From the 1950s to the 1980s, Mr. Salinas worked as a biologist for Montana Fish and Game. He was a major contributor to the development of the Freeze Out waterfowl preserve near Choteau. Mr. Salinas and June Boyd Farrier were married in 1961 and he soon served as state biologist at Nine Pipe near Charlo until he retired. During his career, Mr. Salinas made many friends and acquaintances while working for the Montana Fish and Game, most notably Harold and Gail Knapp of Polson, Bob and Virginia Halgren of Lake Mary Ronan and Don Sheppard of Ronan. For the last several years, Mr. Salinas has lived at Mullan Meadows Assisted Living Home, enjoyed his lfie and friends. Mr. Sullivan brought him Holy Communion each Tuesday and he received kind care there, especially from Mark and J.C. and his hospice care. Mr. Salinas spent much of his life in the outdoors. He reflected his appreciation for its beauty through his artwork including pen sketches of wildlife, particularly waterfowl. He exhibited his works in art shows across the United States.
Survivors include his step-son, Merel, and Trudy Farrier; a step-daughter, Sonya Jensen; a sister, Virginia; three nieces, Joan, Diane and Barbara; three nephews, Lee, James and David; 11 grandchildren; and 36 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, June; a special grandson, Thomas Farrier; his parents; and an older brother, James Salinas.
Wilma D. Schnad
Wilma D. Schnad, better known as just "Willie," 92, of Billings, formerly of Miles City and Ismay, died Saturday, Sept. 4, 2004, at Specialty Retirement Care Home in Billings.
She was born into a family of eight in Ismay on Aug. 15, 1912, to William and Mattie Spear. She graduated from Custer County High School in Miles City with honors. In 1933, she earned a teacher's certificate from Eastern Montan College-Billings and taught school in Forsyth. She later met and married her beloved husband, Erwin, in 1938 in Miles City and then moved to Garryowen to begin her new life as a wheat farmer's wife.
Life in the beginning was not easy building a large wheat farm. There were the cold winter nights and handling the many chores that came with the work. She could always be counted on for the sturdy meals served to the hired men at harvest time. As the farm and family grew, the family relocated the home base to the Billings area. Mrs. Schnad became one of the leaders in Eastern Star and was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was known for her graceful and classy demeanor. Her passions were social contact whether it was bridge clubs, golf or dinner parties with her friends. She was passionate about golf and won the championship at the Hardin Country Club as well as recording a hole-in-one at their retreat in LaQuinta, California. Mrs. Schnad loved to get dressed up and go dancing with her husband.
She was happily married for 55 years to Erwin Schnad, her only love. She had two children, Kenneth Schnad who resided in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Myrna Schnad who resides in LaQuinta, Calif. Her sole surviving sister, Cecelia McCray, resides in Maryland.
Memorial services were held Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2004, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary at Billings. Private burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens at Billings. Memorials may be sent to either Help For Homeless Pets, P.O. Box 1282, Billings, MT 59103, or Boys and Girls Club of Yellowstone County, 505 Orchard Lane, Billings, MT 59101, or charity of one's choice.
E. Lucille Varnado
E. (Edna) Lucille Varnado, 93, of Miles City died Friday, Sept. 10, 2004, at Holy Rosary Extended Care in Miles City.
Mrs. Varnado was born March 1, 1911, in Skedee, Okla., a daughter of Vinton and Susie Lancaster Wildman. The family traveled to Montana by train shortly afterwards, arriving March 11, 1911. They homesteaded northeast of Knowlton, Custer County, where she attended grade school. She also attended school at Sumatra where her brother, Herb, was a teacher. She was employed by the Bradshaw Ranch and as a housekeeper by Miles City physician Dr. Andrews. She and Orvel Lloyd Campbell were married on June 11, 1928. They ranched on Powder River until their divorce in April 1947. She then moved to Miles City where she worked for JC Penney. On March 4, 1953, she and Grayson Varnado Jr. were married. They lived in Buffalo, Wyo., and Louisiana before settling in Billings. Mrs. Varnado worked for Sears and at Cole's Department Store as a seamstress. She also sold Stanley Home Products. Mr. Varnado died in 1968. She continued to live in Billings until the late 1970s when she returned to Miles City and her historic home on South Strevell Avenue. She lived there until a week before her death. An accomplished cook, Mrs. Varnado took pride in setting a beautiful table. She enjoyed taking photographs and captured precious scenes of ranch and family life on Powder River. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were dear to her. In later years, she found joy in making latch hook rugs.
Her survivors include her daughter, Alice F. (John) Janssen of Miles City; a daughter-in-law, Patricia Campbell, of the Powder River ranch; a brother, Everett Lee Wildman, and his wife, Sue, of Penngrove, Calif.; her grandchildren, John R. (Lana) Janssen, Jeri L. (Rob) Dobrowski, Dallas (Connie) Janssen, Cassie (Bill) Erickson and Carmen (Chuck) Cavill; her great-grandchildren: Jennifer and Brian Dobrowski, Rosalie and Andrew Schanz, Libby Erickson, Cody, Cara and Catie Cavill, John Wyatt and Dillon Janssen. In addition to her husband, Grayson Varnado, she was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Kenneth Campbell; her brothers, Herbert (Stella) and Elmer (Rachel) Wildman; her sisters, Alma (Frank) Conner, Dorothy (Clarence) Brown, and Margaret (Herman) Klickman; three grandchildren, Carson Campbell, Kary Schanz, and Diane Janssen; and three great-grandchildren, Bruce Dobrowski, Vaughn Schanz and Emily Erickson. Funeral services were Friday, Sept. 17, 2004, at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment followed in the Custer County Cemetery in Miles City. Memorials may be sent to the Range Riders Museum, Route 1 Box 2003, Miles City, MT 59301.
