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Vernon Lee Hofer
LAVINA - Vernon L. Hofer, 65, left to be with the Lord on Oct. 26, 1998, at the St. Vincent Hospital in Billings after a long battle with a brain tumor. Vernon was born Dec. 4, 1932, in Steger, Ill., to Otto and Mary Elizabeth (Handley) Hofer. He was raised and educated in Chicago Heights, Ill.
On April 3, 1954, he married
Jeanette Brown in Corinth, Miss. He worked in construction for 50 years.
He moved from Monee, Ill., in May of 1980 to Lavina to fulfill a longtime dream of 18 years.
Vernon is survived by his wife of 44 years and three children: Laura (Ralph) and only grandson, Andrew Ruhbeck of Lavina, Vernon L. Jr. (Chris) of Westchester, Ill., and Charles of Branford, Conn.; two brothers, Bill of Beecher, Ill., and Roy of Steger; one sister, Pearl Stilts of Steger; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Visitation will be from 5-9 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, 1998, at Wier Funeral Chapel. Funeral Services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1, 1998, at the First United Methodist Church in Lavina. Pastor Ed Toenyes will be officiating. Interment will follow at the Lavina City cemetery. Wier Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Rose W. Ennis
KALISPELL - Rose W. Ennis, age 82, passed away Thursday, Oct. 29, 1998, at her home in Kalispell. She was born April 30, 1916, in Billings, to Edward and Wilhelmina Lehman Wegner. She was the seventh child of that union and the first to be born in America.
Rose married
James H. Ennis on Sept. 10, 1938, and supported the war effort of the '40s with him. She was a loving and caring person. Her family and her home were the center of her life. She was a true historian who could recite births, anniversaries, deaths and special dates of her immediate and extended families. Rose loved to share her many memories. One of her greatest prides was having an article published relating the story of her family's life in Russia and immigration to America.
Rose was preceded in death by her husband, James in 1991, her parents, and her sisters, Dorothy Ottolino and Minnie Chapman. She is survived by her daughters: Susan Ennis of Kalispell and Marcia Mack of Billings, and two granddaughters, DeeAnna Holmes of Kalispell and Misty Rose Mack of Billings. She is also survived by her brothers, Carl Wegner of Billings, Edward Wegner of Joliet, Solomon Wegner of Powell, Wyo., and Earl Wegner of Bremerton, Wash.; her sisters, Amelia Nauman of Billings and Mary Knuettal of New London, Wis.
Memorial services for Rose Wegner Ennis will be Friday, Nov. 6, 1998, at 12 noon at the American Lutheran Church in Billings with Pastor Paul Erdal officiating. Urn burial will be in the Sunset Memorial Gardens in Billings. The family suggests memorial gifts be given to Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 400 W. California St., Kalispell, MT 59901; the American Lutheran Church, 5 Lewis Ave., Billings, MT 59101 or to the charity of the donor's choice. Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Crematory, Kalispell.
Kim Allen Nave
LOCKWOOD - Kim Allen Nave, 43, of 1727 Canary Ave., passed away at home on Dec. 19, 1998.
He was born Jan. 8, 1955, in Billings, to Lawrence E. "Red" Nave Sr., and Mary Jane (Rademacher) Nave. He was a lifetime resident of Lockwood. He enjoyed bird hunting with his Labs and fishing with his son, nephews and the neighborhood children. He enjoyed the outdoors, friends and family and horses.
He worked at the sawmill in Roundup, Mont., until joining the labor union where he worked for Schultz & Meyer Construction Co., in Wyoming. Upon returning to Billings he joined the Teamsters Union, working for various companies in Montana. He also worked for the Lockwood Irrigation Company, Roods Construction Company and Western Sugar.
Survivors include his wife Val (Welk) Nave of Billings; son Rodney of Billings; two brothers, Edward of Denver, and Steve of Billings; two uncles, Donald (Ruth) of Billings, Clarence (Ellen) of Springfield, Ore., and also numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Lawrence Jr.; and a niece, Tawnya Lee.
Kim, you'll always be loved and missed. Love you, Val and Rod.
A gathering for friends and family will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 28, at Torres Cafe, 6200 S. Frontage Road, Billings.
Hollis 'Holly' Gilmore
BASIN, Wyo. - Hollis "Holly" Adele Gilmore, 77, died Tuesday, Dec. 22, 1998, at the Bonnie Bluejacket Memorial Nursing Home.
Visitation will be 1-5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 24, at the Atwood Family Funeral Chapel. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 26, at the First Baptist Church with interment in Mount View cemetery.
Bernard F. Dust Sr.
LODGE GRASS - Bernard F. Dust Sr., 52, of Lodge Grass, director of facilities for the Crow Tribe, died Tuesday, Dec. 22, 1998, in the Crow Agency IHS Hospital.
He was born June 6, 1946, in Crow Agency, a son of Clive and Nellie Mountain Pocket Dust. He was raised in the Lodge Grass area and attended school in Lodge Grass, Flandreau Indian School in South Dakota and the St. Labre Mission School. Following his education, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and later received his Honorable Discharge.
Bernard married
Zona M. Takes Enemy on Nov. 16, 1969, in Sheridan, Wyo., and the couple made their home in Lodge Grass. He worked as a custodian for the Crow Agency Public Health Service, and as a cook for the Lodge Grass School. In 1990, he became director of facilities for the Crow Tribe.
He was a member of the Catholic Church, Greasy Mouth Clan, a child of the Peigan Clan and a Believer of the Holy Ghost Church. He loved to participate in arrow throwing events.
Bernard was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Zona; two sons, Bernard "Big Boy" Dust Jr. and Ira LaForge of Lodge Grass; two daughters, Bernadine Dust and Bernadette (Claude) Dust-Dawes of Lodge Grass; four brothers, Clive (Maudine) Dust Jr. of Crow Agency, Kevin Dust of Paris, France, Victor (Dorothea) Dust Sr. and Joseph Dust Sr. of Lodge Grass; he raised Tim Dust of Fort Smith as a son; two sisters, Claudine and Tonya Dust of Lodge Grass; one grandson; a special granddaughter, Olirose Stewart; his adopted mother, Henrietta Pretty on Top of Lodge Grass; an adopted brother, John Pretty on Top of Lodge Grass; two aunts, Amy Red Star of Pryor and Edna Dust of Lodge Grass; three uncles, Tex Good Luck Sr. of Pryor, Henry Bright Wings Sr. and Archie Bear Ground of Lodge Grass; and special friends, Arnold "Lucky" Costa, Bob and Fedelia Cross, Garrett Stewart, Johnny Stops and Ronnie Pease Sr.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated 2 p.m. Saturday in the Lodge Grass Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church. Interment with military honors will follow in the Lodge Grass cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Harry A. Hamilton
POPLAR - Harry A. Hamilton passed away Dec. 22, 1998, at Deaconess Hospital in Billings. He was born July 19, 1934, a son to Harry Hamilton Sr. and Nellie Killsspotted in Poplar.
Harry grew up in the Poplar community and spent most of his life there. He attended schools in Frazer, Poplar, and graduated in 1952 from Busby. After graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1956. He was a member of Legion Post No. 54 in Poplar.
Harry was employed by BIA Roads for 27 years and was foreman of construction for the past several years. He enjoyed rodeos and participated in team roping up to this past summer.
He is survived by his brother, Larry Hamilton of Poplar; his sister, Sharon Dixon of Portland, Ore.; and his special friend, Faye Peterson of Poplar; four sons, Howard and Mike Hamilton of Lame Deer, Richard Hamilton of Colstrip, and Raymond Jay Hamilton of Wolf Point; four daughters, Tina Hamilton of Lame Deer, and Chrissy Hamilton, Sandi Lee Azure and Tessie Kay Hamilton of Wolf Point; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Harry was preceded in death by his parents, and two sisters, Dorothy and Judy.
Visitation will be Sunday, Dec, 27, 1998, from 4 p.m. until midnight, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at the Poplar Cultural Center in Poplar. Funeral services will be Monday Dec. 28, 1998, at 2 p.m. at the Poplar Cultural Center with Rev. Curtis Reese officiating. Burial will be at Chelsea cemetery in Poplar, with military services being held by Poplar Legion Post No. 54. Clayton Memorial Chapel in charge of arrangements.
James Elling Warner
LIVINGSTON - James Elling Warner, 56, of Livingston, cashed in his chips on Sunday, Dec. 20, 1998, at his home in Livingston.
He was born April 25, 1942, in Harlowton, a son of Kirk Railsback and Hellen Louise Indreland Warner.
Cremation has taken place at Cremation or Funeral Gallery, a private family scattering of the cremated remains will be held.
William L. 'Bill' Morgan
William L. "Bill" Morgan, age 92, of Billings died Wednesday, Dec. 23, 1998, at Valley Health Care Center.
Bill was born May 3, 1906, near Springfield, Mo., the son of Tom and Margaret Frazier. He moved to Montana as a child. On May 23, 1927, he married
Leda F. Adler in Billings. Bill worked as a mechanic and was in the trucking business for many years.
Survivors include three sons, Dan Morgan and his wife, Nancy, and Bob Morgan and his wife, Claudia, both of Billings, and Tom Morgan and his wife, Gwen of Mossyrock, Wash.; three daughters, Margaret Smith and her husband, Mike, Pat Malek and her, husband, Richard, and Phyllis Reno and her husband, Art, all of Billings; a son-in-law, Jack E. Morton of Billings; two sisters, Clara Howell of Billings and Estina Hoffman of Bozeman; 21 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Leda, in 1994; a daughter, Lois J. Morton; and a grandson, Scott Morton.
Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 28, in Section 9 of Mountview cemetery. Visitation will start Saturday at Smith's Downtown Chapel.
Rosalie M. Heitzman
HARDIN - Rosalie Heitzman, 75, of Hardin, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 22, 1998, in the Big Horn County Memorial Hospital, after a short illness with cancer.
She was born March 20, 1923, in Atkinson, Neb., a daughter of George and Mary Brown Hibnes. She was raised in the Burwell-Taylor, Neb., area. Her mother died when she was four years old and she was raised by her older brothers and sisters. She graduated from Taylor High School and then attended Normal College in Lincoln, Neb., receiving her teaching certificate.
Rosalie moved to the Hardin area in 1938 with her brothers. She married
Harry Heitzman in Billings on Dec. 7, 1940, and the couple made their home in Hardin. She worked as a clerk at the Hardin Safeway Store for several years. She and Harry moved to Fort Smith in 1962, where they lived for 24 years. While living in Fort Smith, she taught ceramics at Rosalie's Ceramics for 10 years, until moving to Hardin in 1986.
She was a member of the First Congregational Church and the Mayflower Circle. She was preceded in death by four brothers and a sister.
Survivors include her husband, Harry; four children, Larry and his wife, Arlene Heitzman of Billings, Darrell Heitzman and his fiancÈe, Sally Endris of Elk River, Minn., Marilyn and her husband, Larry Fox of Laurel, Cindy and her husband, Jim Wilkins of Otter; four sisters, Leona Kaiser of Hardin, Mildred Brenneman of Ainsworth, Neb., Evelyn Johnson of Arcadia, Neb., and Doris Cronk of Sidney, Neb.; a brother, Herbert Hibnes of Nicasio, Calif.; her grandchildren and spouses, Kim and Glen Waipa, Melinda and Tom Keely, Marshall and Karin Heitzman, Kendall Heitzman, Tiffany, J.D. and Lacy Rose Wilkins, Clayton and Heather Fox, Chad and Jessica Fox, Jeremy and Talia Fox; her great-grandchildren, Samantha, Jesse, Jayme, Justin, J.J., Josh, Roger, Jordan, Kasey, Haley and Hayden; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Interment will be in the Fairview cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Should Friends desire, memorials may be made to the Big Horn County Historical Society or the Congregational Church.
"Thanks for the memories, the joy, and the fun, thanks for your love and the nice things you've done. Thank you for being all that you are - the finest, most wonderful wife, mother and grandmother by far!"
James Charles Griebel
James Charles Griebel, 64, of Billings died Monday, Nov. 30, 1998, peacefully at home after a year-long courageous battle with cancer. He was born April 1, 1934, in Billings, a son of Charles and Elizabeth Stieber Griebel. Jim graduated from Senior High and lived in Billings his entire life. In 1954 he married
Jacqueline M. Kelly. Jim later married
Rose Ann Berger Hoffmann in Billings on Feb. 17, 1979. He was employed by Pierce Packing for 23 years. He later worked for St. John's Lutheran Home from May of 1976 until retirement in 1997 due to ill health.
He was a member of the Little Flower Catholic Church and had belonged to the Moose Lodge and Yellowstone Rifle Club. He loved his grandchildren and enjoyed hunting, fishing, and playing music in dance bands.
Survivors include his wife, Rose Ann; two sons, David Griebel of Great Falls and Dwight (Deb) Griebel of Henderson, Nev.; two stepsons, Bob (Janine) Hoffmann of Redmond, Wash., and John (Colleen) Hoffmann of Billings; one stepdaughter, Patty (Byron) Shinazy of Billings; and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Vigil service is 7 p.m. Wednesday and Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Thursday at Little Flower Catholic Church. Rite of Committal will follow at Holy Cross cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Home, Little Flower Catholic Church, or Big Sky Hospice. Arrangements were made by Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
Edward W. Wolfe
LIVINGSTON - On the morning of Saturday, Nov. 28, 1998, Edward Washington Wolfe went to live with the Lord after a long illness. Born on June 17, 1918, Ed was the second child born of the marriage of Francis Philibec and Washington M. Wolfe. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, sister and many dear friends.
Edward worked at many jobs during his lifetime but moved to Jardine, Mont., in 1958, where he owned and operated the Jardine Bar with his wife, Fern. He went to work for the National Park Service at the same time and remained with them until his retirement.
Ed married
Fern Shumaker on June 14, 1941, and together they had three daughters: Judy Walker of Helena, Bev (Herb) Welton and Bette Wittman of Billings. They later divorced and Ed married
Helen Taylor on Nov. 26, 1976. Ed and Helen were married
for 22 years and she nursed him at home through these last years.
Ed is survived by his wife, daughters, three grandsons(Jim, Tim and Wade), a great-grandson (Drake), stepsons Bobby (Anna) Pierce of Massachusetts, DJ Pierce of Billings, Dorothy (Hughie) Junkie of Livingston, stepsister Lil (Bud) Stene of Billings, many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews and his dearest special friend Bill Hape of Gardiner. He will be greatly missed by all of his family and close friends in Gardiner and Billings.
Memorial services in Gardiner and Billings are planned at a later date. Memorials can be made in Ed's name to Gateway Hospice of Livingston.
Gertie J. Dannels
SHERIDAN, Wyo. - Gertie J. Dannels, 80, died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 1998, at her home.
Family services will be held at a later date. Ferries Funeral Home is in charge.
Susie Einer
THERMOPOLIS, Wyo. - Susie Einer, 85, died Monday, Nov. 30, at Hot Springs County Memorial Hospital.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, at Mortimore Funeral Home with interment in Monument Hill cemetery.
Kenneth Lee Twing
QUEENSLAND, Australia - Kenneth Lee Twing, 57, formerly of Buffalo, Wyo., died Tuesday, Nov. 24, 1998, at the Gold Coast Hospital.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Adams Funeral Home Chapel with interment in Willow Grove cemetery, both in Buffalo.
Eugene (Gene) Harry LaFlex
LAUREL - Eugene (Gene) Harry LaFlex died Dec. 1, 1998, peacefully at home after a courageous battle with cancer.
He was born in Gordon, Wis., on Dec. 1, 1928, to Harry and Mildred LaFlex; he was the fifth of nine children.
Gene enlisted in the Air Force in 1948. After his discharge in 1952, he moved to Jardine and logged with his brother Fran before becoming a carpenter. He was a member of Local 1172. His work includes the cabins at Olympic Village in Yellowstone Park, many of the bridges and overpasses on I-90 between Billings and Livingston, and the beautiful finish work in one of the courtrooms in the Yellowstone County Courthouse. He retired in 1990 after 35 years of carpentry. His profession was also his hobby.
Gene married
June Wentz on Nov. 10, 1962, in Livingston. They have since resided in Laurel.
Gene is survived by his loving wife, June; daughters, Marian (Clayton) Frank of Silesia, Susan (Richard) Dvorak of Sun Valley, Nev., Elaine (Bill) Popelka of Laurel; sons, Hank (Sue) Anderson of San Francisco, Calif., Russel (Denise) LaFlex of Columbus; sisters, Vi (Amos) Pretzel of Wisconsin, Ethel Poppe of Minnesota, Harriet (Wayne) Ylicopsa of Minnesota and Margaret Jarve of Minnesota; a brother, Robert (JoAnne) LaFlex of New Mexico; 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Fran and George; and a sister, Lorraine.
Services will be held at Smith Funeral Chapel, Laurel, Saturday, Dec. 5, 1998, at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Big Sky Hospice or Northern Rockies Cancer Center. Visitation will begin Friday, Dec. 4.
S. Eileen Haley
SHERIDAN, Wyo. - S. Eileen Haley, 48, died Tuesday, Dec. 1, 1998, at her home.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4, at Kane Funeral Home.
Kay C. Weber
LEWISTOWN - Kay C. (Kochivar) Weber, 56, of Lewistown, died Tuesday, Dec. 2, 1998, at St. Vincent Hospital in Billings of natural causes.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4, in the Cloyd Funeral Home Chapel.
Virginia M. Thompson
Virginia M. Thompson, 47, died Nov. 30, 1998, at the Deaconess Hospital following a long illness.
She was born May 24, 1951, to Mansfield and Virginia Walker in Great Falls. She is survived by her son, Brandon B. Thompson of Billings; siblings: Patricia R. Mallette of Cheyenne, Wyo.; Michelle L. Walker of Great Falls; Lynn Walker of Central City, Ore.; Sam Walker of Castle Rock, Colo.; Darrel Maney of Rogue River, Ore; various cousins and other family in Great Falls.
Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Smith Downtown Chapel. Cremation has taken place. Memorials to her son, Brandon Thompson, P.O. Box 1232, Billings, MT 59103.
