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Geraldine J. Nelson
Geraldine J. Nelson, 97, of Miles City died Sunday, Feb. 20, 2005, at the Holy Rosary Extended Care Facility in Miles City.
Mrs. Nelson was born in Holmes, Iowa on Jan. 23, 1908, the daughter of Bert and Victoria Worra Johnson. That year, the family moved to a homestead in North Dakota. Mrs. Nelson attended a rural school in Billings County and then furthered her education in Stark County, getting her bachelor degree in 1932 at the Dickinson State Teachers College in North Dakota.
She taught school in the Missouri Slope area for twenty some years, taking time out to serve in the Army during World War II.
On April 4, 1947, she and Nels were married. They ranched at Williston, N.D., before moving to Montana.
Mrs. Nelson was baptized in 1908. Her confirmation was in 1921. She was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary No. 1579.
Her survivors include her daughter, Serena Cottrell of Cleveland, Ohio; a grandson, Troy Cottrell of Cleveland, Ohio; two brothers, Dr. Zach Johnson of Salmon, Idaho, and Loering Johnson of Tarriffville, Conn.; 11 nieces and nephews; and nine great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a sister; two brothers; and two nieces.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2005, at 10 a.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Veterans Section of the Custer County Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Holy Rosary Extended Care Facility, 2600 Wilson St., Miles City, MT 59301.
Helen Stallard
Helen Stallard, 87, formerly of Miles City, died in Phoenix, Ariz., on Saturday, Feb. 19, 2005.
Mrs. Stallard was born on Feb. 21, 1917, at Fort Randall, S.D. She was the youngest child of Leo Emmett Scanlon and Margaret Leona Kirwan Scanlon. Her mother died during the influenza epidemic of 1918, so Mrs. Stallard was raised by her father and by various relatives in Nebraska and South Dakota. She attended schools in both states, and graduated from Ceresco (Neb.) High School in 1935.
During and after high school, Mrs. Stallard visited her sister, June Metz, in Miles City on a number of occasions. It was during one of those visits that she met the love of her life, Melvin Berl Stallard. Mr. Stallard decided that she was the woman for him. In the months that followed, he wrote to her many times. Early in 1936, Mr. Stallard sent her father an engagement ring and a note. The note asked Leo Scanlon to give her the ring if she, and he, approved of the marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Stallaed were married at the Sacred Heart Church on June 17, 1936. They were married 60 years.
Mrs. Stallard was determined to be the best wife and mother possible. The couple had six children, and Mrs. Stallard was always involved in schools, scout troops and music lessons. One of her goals was to ensure that all of her children had college educations, something she felt was necessary especially for her girls so that they could support themselves. To that end, she and Mr. Stallard sent all of their children through Montana colleges and raised five teachers.
Mr. and Mrs. Stallard entertained often. In fact, she always had a meal ready because out-of-town clients were frequent visitors at her dinner table.
She and her husband belonged to the Miles City Club and the Miles City Town and Country Club where she was an avid bridge player and golfer. She was a member of the Birthday Club, and volunteered as a member of St. Anne's Altar Society at Sacred Heart Church. Wherever she was, there was a lot of laughter. She loved to laugh.
Mrs. Stallard was a veteran traveler. She traveled with her husband to Europe and the Middle East several times, visiting countries from England to Turkey. They also sailed through the Panama Canal, and vacationed in Hawaii and the Caribbean over the years. Traveling was one of their favorite pastimes together, especially traveling to visit family.
Mrs. Stallard sold her home in 1999 and moved to Billings to be near her daughter, Cynthia. She lived at Aspen View for a year, and then moved to Phoenix to live with daughter, Linda, and her husband, John Santoro. She continued to travel with her daughters and grandchildren until last summer, when she fell and broke her leg. An infection set in from which she was unable to recover. She was a resident of Phoenix Mountain Nursing Center at the time of her death.
Her survivors include her children, Linda Santoro (John) of Scottsdale, Ariz., Margaret Pike of Highlands Ranch, Colo., Berl E. Stallard (Carol) of Tacoma, Wash., Sandra Kern (Fred) of Easton, Md., and Cynthia Jessee (Terry) of Billings; her grandchildren, Judy Santoro Lutz (Larry), Jason, Kevin (Tracie), and Stephanie Pike, Megan and John Curgis Jessee, Melanie Tarr (Chris) and Fritz Kern (Rachel); and by her great-grandchildren, Jimmy, Sandy, Christian, Jameson, Gregory, Kirsten and Madison.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Margaret; by a son, Timothy Dean; by her husband Berl; by her brother James; and by her sister June Scanlon Metz.
A Vigil Service will be held on Thursday, Feb. 24, 2005, at 7 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, Feb. 25, 2005, at 3 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Rite of Committal will follow in the Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Stallard-Scanlon Scholarship Fund at Carroll College. This scholarship is available to any student from Montana who wishes to attend Carroll College. Memorials should be sent to: Carroll College in care of Stallard-Scanlon Scholarship Fund, 1601 N. Benton Ave., Helena, MT 59525.
Charlotte W. Vergine
Charlotte W. Vergine, 80, of Helena, died peacefully surrounded by her daughters Friday, February 18, 2005 of natural causes.
Charlotte was born February 1, 1925 in Bellingham, Washington to Charles and Nellie Pearl Vimont. She attended school in Rosebud and Forsyth, Montana.
Charlotte's life was spent caring for her own daughters as well as over 50 foster children. She was a foster parent for many years in Billings, Miles City and Rosebud. Additionally, Charlotte provided elderly care and child care for several families. Her sense of humor and laughter will be missed! She had the uncanny ability to see the funny side of life.
Charlotte is survived by her sister Elizabeth Ronning (Warren) of Miles City. She is also survived by her daughters Connie Jacques, Marcia Wall (Mike), Cynthia Mulvaney (Roy) all of Helena and Stephanie Lodman (Steve) of Tacoma, Washington. Grandchildren: Chad Oddy (Cassy), Loreen Skinner (Mike); Monique Bertram (Rein), Cleve Malmstrom, Kevin Wall; Sheri Erhardt (Mike), Holly Gerstle (Lawrence) and Carter Lodman. Great Grandchildren: Josh Oddy, Brooklyn and Skyler Skinner, Cole and Kaden Bertram, Ava and Ella Erhardt and Jayce Gerstle. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews from the Forsyth and Miles City area and her devoted cat Gracie.
The family would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Bill Batey, the Staff at Big Sky Care Center, Aspen Gardens, Hospice and Lowell Bartels who took such good care of Mom.
A celebration of Charlotte's life will be held Tuesday, February 22, 2005 at Retz Funeral Home at 2:00 p.m. A family internment service will be held in Billings at Sunset Memorial Gardens at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 23.
Memorials can be made in Charlotte's name to The Angel Fund, 816 South California Street, Helena, MT 59601 or to the Lewis and Clark Humane Society, P.O. Box 4455 Helena, Montana 59604.
Lydia Young
Lydia Young, 90, longtime Miles City resident, died Thursday Feb. 17, 2005, at Friendship Villa.
She was born Nov. 9, 1914, in Rhea, Okla., a daughter of Michael and Katherine Hoerth Schmitt. She moved with her family to Miles City in 1915 and they made their home in the Meredith area. She attended schools at the Hartwick School and later attended business college for one year.
Mrs. Young worked for Sol Heren at the Dodge garage for several years, then for Love Motors in Miles City, before beginning a career with the Production Credit Association as a bookkeeper.
She and Paul Young were married in 1943 and the couple ranched north of Locate. Mrs. Young loved to read, write and was the family historian and genealogist.
Her survivors include her brother, Ernest Schmitt of Fromberg; her nephews, Claude (Karen) Adamson of Glendive and Jim Herzoz of Laurel; her nieces, Molly Chapin of Miles City, Bobby Anderson of Billings, Irene Matteucci of California and Juanita Kelley of Washington; as well as members of the Young family.
She was preceded in death by her husband; sisters, Kathryn Herzog, Freda Friesz and Stella Kuester; brother, Emil Schmitt; and granddaughter, Gloria Young.
Cremation has taken place in the Bullis-Graves Eastern Montana Crematory.
Family and friends will gather at 12:45 p.m. Thursday Feb. 24, 2005, at the Bullis-Graves Memorial Chapel in Miles City and proceed to the Custer County Cemetery for Memorial graveside services.
Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Miles City Hospice. Bullis-Graves Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements.
