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LeRoy Ellig, 75
Funeral Services for LeRoy J. Ellig, 75, will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Hope Lutheran Church in Bozeman. Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service is handling arrangements.
Mr. Ellig died Sunday in Bozeman, where he lived for more than 40 years.
He was born in Mayer, Minn., Sept. 5, 1927 to Herbert and Lenora Ellig. He was the oldest of five children. His father moved the family to Webster, S.D., where Mr. Ellig grew up. He briefly served in the U.S. Army in 1946 and '47 before going to South Dakota State University, where he earned an undergraduate degree.
He then earned a Master's degree in wildlife biology and management from Montana State University in 1953. He married Wanda Bayers, of Twin Bridges, in 1954. The couple lived briefly in Nevada before moving to Billings were Mr. Ellig began full time work for the Montana Department of Fish Wildlife and Parks in 1955. In 1960, Mr. Ellig accepted a job with the Bozeman office of FWP. In 1964, he was appointed the first full-time supervisor of FWP's Region 3, which encompasses most of southwest Montana. He believed strongly that Montana's wildlife belonged to all the people of the state. Under his leadership, 59 fishing access sites totaling 4,450 acres were acquired for public use along with nine state parks totaling 1,800 acres at Bannack, Spring Meadow, Beaverhead Rock, Black Sandy, Clark's Lookout, Elkhorn, Missouri Headwaters, Parker Homestead and White Earth. The majority of fishing access sites that anglers enjoy today in southwest Montana were purchased under his leadership. He believed there could never be too much public access to Montana's rivers, lakes, streams and wild places.
In the early ‘70s, he stood behind the research of fisheries biologist Dick Vincent to eliminate hatchery-raised fish from Montana's rivers. Today, southwest Montana is recognized as having some of the best trout fishing in the world due to its wild-fish policies. He was instrumental in purchasing big game winter range to ensure that future generations would have access to deer and elk to hunt in the mountains throughout southwest Montana. Thirteen wildlife management areas and game ranges totaling 104,000 acres were purchased under his watch for public benefit.
They include the Madison Bear Creek, Gravelly Blacktail, Robb Ledford, Bridger, Dome Mountain, Mt. Haggin, Fleecer, Wall Creek, Kirk, Lake Helena, Gallatin, Sourdough and Mill Creek Conservation easements. He stood by what he believed was best for wildlife and for the average Montanan. He retired from Fish Wildlife and Parks in 1989. Then-Gov. Stan Stephens praised him for his commitment and professionalism and, in an official proclamation, declared Friday, Sept. 29, 1989 as "LeRoy Ellig Day." In his retirement, he and Wanda traveled to Italy, and Russia. He remained active his entire life.
Every fall he went goose hunting in northern Alberta and deer and antelope hunting in Montana. Every spring, he took a week-long walleye fishing trip to Fort Peck. He went halibut fishing off the Olympic Peninsula and made three trips to the Bahamas and Mexico bone fishing. He was a crossword puzzle addict, a voracious reader _ especially of Montana history _ and made great soup.
He loved spending time with his family and went on countless fishing and hunting trips with his four sons during his lifetime.
He is survived by his wife, Wanda; son Dan, daughter-in-law Sarah; son Mike, daughter-in-law Becky; son Clay, daughter-in-law Celeste; and son Tracy; and three grandchildren: Moriah, David and Katie.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Montana Wildlife Federation, P.O. Box 1175, Helena, Mont., 59624 or to the Bozeman Public Library Foundation, 524 E. Mendenhall, Bozeman, Mont., 59715.
Dwight Richard, 53
BOZEMAN — Dwight E. Richard lost his battle with cancer at Mountain View Care Center in Bozeman on Friday.
Dwight was born Jan. 14, 1950, in Dillon to Dean and Doris (McAdam) Richard. He received his education in the schools there and graduated from Beaverhead County High School. He also attended the University of Montana-Western.
During his high school and college years, he worked for Dan Ibey Construction. Following school, he moved to Bozeman, where he continued his woodworking career.
He was preceded in death by his father and his grandparents.
Dwight is survived by his mother, Doris of Dillon; brother, Don (JoAnn) of Miles City; sisters, Darlene (Eric) of Oklahoma City and Deanna (John) of Missoula; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A time of remembering for friends and relatives will be 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 26, at Dokken- Nelson Sunset Chapel, 113 S. Willson Ave., Bozeman
Memorials: charity of the donor's choice.
Victor Rauh Jr., 67
Victor "Buddy" Rauh Jr. died June 9 in Denver.
Born July 13, 1936, in Brighton, Colo., he was the eldest son of Victor and Catherine Rauh. They moved to Butte, where Buddy attended Lincoln Elementary and Butte High School.
In 1956, he joined the Army and served in Japan. He married Margaret Cestnik in Butte on March 4, 1961. They moved to Denver, where Buddy worked for Gates Rubber Co. for 33 years and nine years with Office Depot. He fully retired in August 2002.
In December 2002, he was diagnosed with esophagus cancer.
He is survived by his wife Margaret; children, Victor and wife Diana, Julie, Michael and wife Adrienne, and five grandchildren, all of Denver; sister, Dorothy (Frank) Hill of Denver; brothers, Richard (Dawn) of Reno, Nev., Ken (Gladys) of Butte, and Larry (Mary Ann) of Reno; sister-in-law, Marilyn (George) Parrett of Butte; brothers-in-law, Ken (Linda) Whorley of Longmont, Colo., Robert (Delayne) Whorley of Helena, and Larry (Danette) Whorley of Tacoma, Wash., and father-in-law, Robert S. Whorley.
Burial was in Fort Logan Military Cemetery in Denver on June 16.
The family home is 3101 W. 37th Ave., Denver, CO 80211.
June Ramey, 75
June G. Ramey died Tuesday morning at her home in Butte.
She was born in Lockhaven, Pa., on Sept. 6, 1927, to George and Mae (Mendenhall) McCracken. She was raised and educated in Alabama. She married Henry Lawrence and later Frank Ramey.
June worked as an aide at the state school at Boulder for four years and then worked for the Anaconda Co. for another four years. She worked 18 years as an aide at Warm Springs, until her retirement.
June is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Henry "Butch" and Sharon Lawrence of Butte, Dan Lawrence of Bismarck, N.D., Frank Ramey Jr. of Butte, and Tinch and Charmaine Ramey of Butte; grandchildren, Sean and Yvonne Lawrence, Brad Lawrence, Danyell Schmuck, Tinch Ray Ramey and Desirae Ramey; great-grandchildren, Kendall and Kendra Moore, Brittany Lawrence, Kasandra Brennan, Kodi Brennan and Kaitlyn Schmuck; brother and sister-in-law, Raymond and Brenda McCracken; sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Bernie Lee; and dear friends, Charlie and Kim Wells, Ken and Betty Hurley and Dan and Phyllis Hargrove.
She was preceded in death by her twin sister, Jane McCracken; husband, Frank Ramey; parents; brother, Haley McCracken, and two grandchildren, Frank Ramey III and Jason Lawrence.
June's remains have been cremated in Butte. Private memorial services will be conducted.
Memorials: Highlands Hospice.
Edward Kane, 70
Edward Francis Kane died Wednesday in Deaconess Hospital in Billings.
He was born May 17, 1933, in Butte, the youngest of seven children born to Dr. Patrick and Frances (Driscoll) Kane. He attended the Imma-culate Conception Grade School and graduated from Boys Central High School in 1951. Following high school, he entered the Army, serving with the 1st Infantry Division in France and Germany from 1953-1955.
He returned to Butte and married Patricia Burns on Nov. 26, 1955. Ed was a well known body-man for 25 years, working at Kane's Body Shop, serving his apprenticeship with his brother Dick. He also worked at D.R.S., Jim Kraut Chevrolet, Lyons Motors and Milo's. He was an insurance adjuster for Farmers Insurance Group for 15 years, retiring in 1995.
Ed was a Boy Scout leader and baseball coach. He was a member of St. Ann's Parish and the Butte Trap Club and was a volunteer at Butte Historical Society and the Butte-Silver Bow Archives. He helped construct the Granite Mountain Memorial. He also enjoyed bowling, trapshooting, hunting, fishing and spending time with his family at his cabin in Wise River. He was a passionate Denver Broncos fan. After retirement, he became an avid reader and attained his first library card at the age of 66.
He was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Edward Francis Kane Jr.; brothers, Dr. William Kane and Richard Kane; father-in-law, James Burns; brothers-in-law, Mike Blinn Sr., Bob Torpey, John "Big" Fitzpatrick; sisters-in-law, Shirley Kane and Katherine Burns.
Surviving relatives include his wife, Patricia; daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Bob Hodge and their children Sam and Haley; son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Debbie Kane and their children Cerissa and Patrick Kane; son, CW2 Dan Kane and fiancée Mindy Schleeman and children Nicole and Drew; brother and sister-in-law, John Pat and Madeline Kane; sisters and brother-in-law, Mary Lou Fitzpatrick, Frances and Luke Campeau, Sheila Torpey; mother-in-law, Judy Burns; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Dan Burns and fiancée Irene Kirk; Shirley and Don Ellis.
Relatives and friends may call after 9 a.m. Saturday in St. Ann's Catholic Church. Liturgy of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 a.m. in St. Ann's Catholic Church. Entombment will follow in the Holy Cross Mausoleum.
Memorials: Friends of the Archives, Butte Emergency Food Bank or the Ronald McDonald House.
Ida Schumacher, 100
DILLON — Ida Christina Schumacher, 100-years-and- six-months old, died early Thursday in Parkview Acres, Dillon, where she had been a resident for the past nine years.
Ida was born Jan. 13, 1903, to Adolph T. Muckenhern and Ida Christine Johnson, immigrants from Scandinavia, in Hudson, Wis. She was reared in Hudson with her seven siblings and attended school there.
In 1919, she came to Bozeman to be with her sister, Elizabeth. The rest of her days Bozeman was her heaven on earth.
Ida was widowed three times. Her first husband Ira D. Lilly died in 1926 leaving her with two small children, Vivian and Marshall.
In 1929 she met and married a Bozeman farmer, Isam N. Love, a widower with two small children, Mack and Gertrude. They became the Love family on a ranch five miles west of Bozeman. The Loves were very active in all the agricultural and social affairs of the community for many years; Isam died in 1976.
After retiring from the ranch, Ida was employed as manager of the women's wear department of McDonald's in Bozeman for 15 years.
She was a devout member of Hope Lutheran Church in Bozeman.
In November 1989 she married retired businessman Ernest Schumacher; he died six months later.
Verna Asbury, 84
DILLON — Verna Lawrence Asbury died Wednesday in Dillon.
Verna was born June 24, 1919, to John and Laura Mae Lawrence in Butte.
She married Henry (Hank) Moran Oct. 3, 1936, and they had three daughters. Verna moved to the Portland, Ore., area where she was a welder in the shipyards. In 1945, she returned to Butte, where she owned and operated Hank's Place (Alibi Inn) at the Five Mile. She also worked at the Town Talk Bakery and Downey Drug. Verna and Hank later divorced. She married Robert (Bob) Penny on March 15, 1952, and they moved to the Seattle area in 1956, where Verna worked for Boeing. Bob died in 1973. Verna married Kirk Asbury on July 18, 1975. He died in 1996. In 1997, she moved to Dillon to be closer to her daughters.
During her life, Verna enjoyed many hobbies, including fishing, crocheting, knitting and gardening.
Survivors include her daughters, Karlee Miller-Holden (Scott), Helena, Bette Grose (Ken), Dillon, and Jackie Lloyd (George), Helena; stepson, Bart Penny (Valie), Alaska; 15 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and her canine companion, Jazz.
At her request, there will be no services. Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society or charity of donor's choice.
Verna will be dearly missed by all.
Martin Hagenson Jr., 89
Martin Sigmont Hagenson Jr. of Butte died Tuesday in St. James Health-care. He had entered that morning following cardiovascular complications.
He was born Jan. 5, 1914, in Great Falls to Martin Hagenson Sr. and Hazel Schoenfeld Hagenson. He moved with his family to Butte at the age of 8. The family lived on Floral Boulevard and for many years at the family home on Garrison Avenue next to the Emerson School. His father, Martin Sr., became co-owner of the Board of Trade on East Park Street.
He attended Butte High School, where he played football and was one year from qualifying as a Diamond B. He also attended the Montana School of Mines.
He married Nettie Mae Johnson Aug. 23, 1937. She was his lifelong love, and they had two sons, Martin III and Harold, both of Seattle. He was often referred to lovingly as "Big Mart" to distinguish him from his son.
He worked for the Works Progress Administration as an engineering assistant and surveyor and then worked for Metropolitan Life for 38 years, until he retired as an agency manager. He then engaged in selling real estate with his wife until age 85. A member of the "greatest generation," he served in World War II as a quartermaster on a torpedo patrol boat in the Philippine Islands.
Martin was a happy, people-loving and fun-loving person and a devoted husband and father. He enjoyed sporting events and many community and church activities and reading. He relished his daily swimming and swam only weeks ago with his sons and grandchildren at Stodden Park and Homestake Lake. Following his usual routine the day before he died, he went to Mass at St. Joseph's, had breakfast at the Gold Rush Cafe, swam at Stodden Park and dined with his dearly beloved Nettie Mae.
Were he here to comment, he would likely have described his life and parting in words of gratitude he often voiced: "The Lord has done great things for me, and holy is his name."
He is survived by his wife; sons; sister Lucille Healy of Reno, Nev.; grandchildren Holly, and twin boys Griffen and Cameron; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Dorothy Johnson, Virginia (Sister Martinita Marie) and Audrey Stergar.
Liturgy of the Resurrec-tion will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Ann's Church, preceded by hosting of visitors at 9 a.m. A reception at the Red Lion Hotel will follow at 11:30 a.m. All are cordially invited to all or any of these events to celebrate Martin's life. Interment of ashes will be done privately by family at a later date. Duggan Dolan Mortuary is in charge.
Memorials: Our Lady of the Rockies or charity of donor's choice.
