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Edgar E. Larson
Edgar E. Larson, 84, of Billings, passed away Monday, Dec. 14, 1998. He was born Aug. 8, 1914 in Ashcroft, S.D., the son of Charles and Caroline Benson Larson. He was raised and schooled in North Dakota where he met and married
Ethel Klope June 6, 1936, making their home in Jamestown, N.D.
Ed began a boxing career at age 17, working his way up to the semi-professional ranks. He started working a "temporary" two week position on July 13, 1935 for the Northern Pacific which turned into a 40 year railroad career, retiring from Burlington Northern in 1974 in Laurel. After retirement, they moved to Roy, Utah; Red Lodge, Mont.; Salt Lake City, Utah; wintering in Hemet, Calif.; and finally settling in Billings.
Ed and Ethel loved to square dance and danced a beautiful waltz. In 1948 Ed began calling square dances in Jamestown and continued until 1957 when the railroad transferred him to Laurel. He loved to hunt, fish, golf, and play bridge. Music was always a big part of his life. He had several harmonicas and was always happy to play a tune or recite a poem.
He belonged to the Star in the West Masonic Lodge and Venus Chapter OES, both in Red Lodge, and the Elks in Jamestown. He was a member of the Red Lodge Community Church until moving and transferring his membership to Mayflower Congregational Church in Billings.
Ed is survived by his wife, Ethel; two sons, Thomas (Jill) of Seeley Lake, Dr. Robert (Sharmon) of Billings; and one daughter, Eleanor (Lee) Wahl of Billings; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Boris of Concord, Calif., and Orville of Jamestown. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, and one sister.
Funeral service will take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Mayflower Congregational Church, 2940 Poly Drive. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to charities of choice. Arrangements were made by Cremation or Funeral Gallery.
Richard Allen Atkins
CUT BANK - Richard Allen Atkins, 60, of Cut Bank, Mont., passed away Friday morning, Dec. 11, 1998, in Billings. The son of Alva and Rosemond (Broadhead) Atkins, he was born in Great Falls, Mont., May 11, 1938.
Richard married
Patricia McCoy on Dec. 1, 1957, in Miles City. He farmed on the family farm at Cut Bank until 1982, when he began working as a petroleum product salesman. He loved spending time with his family in the mountains, riding motorcycles, hunting and fishing. His faith was very important to him and he was an active member of the Jehovah Witness Organization. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Joan Snortland, his granddaughter, Jamie Atkins, and his parents.
Survivors include his wife Pat; his sons, Paul Atkins and his wife Amy of Deer Park, Wash., and Joel Atkins of Billings; his daughters, Jill Charter and her husband Mike of Shepherd, Mont., and Sarah Atkins of Billings; his brothers, Roger Atkins of Tacoma, Wash., and Russ Atkins of Baker, Mont.; his sister Carol Bealer of Cut Bank; five grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, in the Cut Bank High School Auditorium. Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist Alderson Chapel has charge of the local arrangements.
Ada (Sally) Kapinos Kuebler
Ada (Sally) Kapinos Kuebler passed away at home on Dec. 12. Sally was born to William and Edna Tatman in Basin, Wyo., in 1910. She graduated from Billings Business College in the early 1930's. In 1934, she married
August F. (Kap) Kapinos in Glasgow, Mont. He preceded her in death in 1958. In 1965, she married
Elmer Kuebler. He preceded her in death in 1982.
Sally was a 50+ year member of Eastern Star. She organized the Montana Ceramics Association and became the first Association president. Sally was a member of the Bozeman Gem & Mineral Club. She enjoyed sewing, cooking, gardening, hunting, fishing, ceramics and lapidary. Family rock hounding excursions were a favorite activity.
Survivors include her son Kip Kapinos and his wife Barb of Bozeman; daughters Liz Banister and husband Larry of Missoula, and Kathryn Kuebler of Portland, Ore.; grandsons Kelly Kapinos, Ben Banister and James Banister and two great-grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place. At Sally's request no services are planned. A private family scattering will be set for a later date. Memorials may be sent to the American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association or the charity of the donors choice.
Christine (Scotty) Ann Wolke
FORSYTH - Christine (Scotty) Ann Wolke, 85, of Forsyth, passed away Sunday, Dec. 13, 1998 at the Rosebud Health Care Center.
Scotty was born Jan. 24, 1913 in Bismarck, N.D., the daughter of Colin and Kate MacLean MacKinnon. She moved with her family to Miles City, Mont., where she attended schools, graduating from Custer County High School.
In 1937, Scotty married
Harvey Wolke in Miles City. She lived most of her married
life in Forsyth where she and Harvey owned and operated the Roxy Theatre. They moved to Miles City in 1965 and following Harvey's death in 1971, Scotty lived in Glendive and Livingston before returning to Forsyth this year.
Scotty was an avid reader and seamstress as well as enjoying all sorts of needlework. She was a proud woman and always true to her Scottish heritage up to the time of her death.
She is survived by her son Harvey Colin Wolke and his wife Joyce of North Hills, Calif.; two daughters, Toni Murray of Billings and Stephanie (Stevi) Schuster and husband Joe of Forsyth; seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Rosary will be recited 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, 1998 at the Beals Mortuary Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 2 p.m. following the Rosary at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church with Father Tony Schuster Celebrant. Interment will follow in the Forsyth Catholic cemetery. Beals Mortuary of Forsyth is in charge of the arrangements.
Ben Eckloe III
Ben Eckloe III was born in Billings on Dec. 27, 1942, the son of Ben M. Jr. and Evelyn Huddleston Eckloe. After a long and valiant fight against M.S., he lost the struggle and died on Dec. 13, 1998.
His parents and sister lived in Badger Basin, Wyo., at the time of his birth but moved to Powell when he was 4 months old and later the family moved to Billings.
Ben was always a very active individual who never knew the .......work fear. He was fond of sports, especially baseball, and was known as the "Bubble Gum Pitcher" when he played Little League for A.B.C. Kiddie Shop. Always kind to others and ready to help, Ben shoveled snow and liked to help others as he worked his paper route as a young man. He attended Washington, Lewis and Clark, and Senior High Schools in Billings.
In 1960 he enlisted in the Army and spent 21/2 years in Germany during the time of the Berlin and Cuban Crisis. Ben tried to see as much of Europe as possible and especially enjoyed Denmark. After his discharge in late 1962, he worked for U.B.S. in both Columbus and Billings; and the camera department of Bennett Drug Store.
Mr. Eckloe always dreamed of going to Alaska and went to Fairbanks in 1964. He worked there for United Geophysicals and Monte's Department Store, at Barter Island on the Dew Line, in Anchorage for Goodyear and later on the Mobile platform. Ben treasured the memories of his time spent in Alaska.
In 1970 he moved to San Francisco and worked for Roos Atkins for whom he was working in 1973 when stricken with multiple sclerosis. On May 8, 1971 he married
Kristine Wilson and together they moved to Billings in 1975. Ben entered Western Manor Health Care Center in 1983 and has resided there since that time.
Ben was always cheerful with a ready smile and an infectious laugh. He never complained of his lot in life and gave courage and strength to those who knew and loved him. He gave more than he asked for, finding his greatest joy and blessing in the love and joy he shared with his daughter Ericka in the last few years.
Along with Ericka, Ben is survived by his mother, Evelyn; a special and dear sister, Karen and her husband Ed McQueen; two nephews, Eddie and his wife Machelle, and Jeff; a niece, Kim and her husband Mark; and two grand-nieces, Maddie and Mckinsey. He also leaves a great number of friends who cared for him, especially Dr. Donald L. Hicks and the loving staff at Western Manor. Ben was preceded in death by his father, Ben M. Eckloe Jr. on Sept. 14, 1998.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 16 at the Western Manor Health Care Center, 2115 Central Ave. Memorials are suggested to the American Lutheran Church or Western Manor. Smith Downtown Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Lois I. Kurtz
CODY, Wyo. - One of Cody's oldest surviving members of a pioneer family passed away at age 93 on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 1998, after a short illness. A celebration of her life will be held at the Cody United Methodist Church at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10.
Lois Ingraham Kurtz was born to Frank and Darlene Newton Ingraham at the newly completed "Nearby Ranch" on Feb. 9, 1905. The Newtons were early day settlers of the Cody Country and southern Montana.
Lois' parents had met Buffalo Bill in Chicago in 1900 at one of his famous tent shows and at his invitation moved to Cody in 1902. One of Lois' earliest memories was being hoisted up by Buffalo Bill to reach the mailbox at the post office.
Lois attended grade school in 1910. She was one of the oldest surviving graduates of Cody High School (1924). After attending Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, for three years, she graduated from tine University of Wyoming with a B.S. in home economics in 1927.
She met Marlin Kurtz of Buffalo at UW and they were married
on May 19, 1929, after her first year of teaching home economics at Cody High School. Their early married
life took them to Powell, Lander and Cheyenne, but the couple returned to Cody in 1942 when they were on the staff of the Heart Mountain Relocation Center where many long-lasting friendships with Japanese were made. Lois was the librarian and home economics teacher.
In 1945, they started Pawnee Supply and Irrigation Co. where Lois was a full partner, managing the books and other aspects of the business.
After 46 years of marriage, Marlin passed away in 1973 but Lois continued a full life of involvement in the Cody United Methodist Church, Community Concert Association, Senior Playreaders, Republican Women, University of Wyoming Alumni Association, and Eastern Star. She served as Chairman of the Red Cross and was a 68-year member of P.E.O. Chapter D.
She was involved in Republican politics during Marlin's legislative years, especially when he was speaker of the Wyoming House of Representatives in 1963.
She and her husband Marlin were strong supporters of the University of Wyoming and were proud of the fact that their three children, four grandchildren, many cousins, and brothers and sisters were all UW graduates.
She had a daily ritual of exercise and yoga that kept her young well into her '90s and she enriched her life through art, music, travel and a love of nature.
She is survived by her three children, Don Kurtz and his wife, Beverly of Cody, Oleta Thomas, and Martha Rakestraw of Casper and her husband, Bob. She has seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Cody United Methodist Church., P.E.O. Sisterhood Chapter D, c/o Mrs. Ralph Newell, 807 23rd St., Cody or The University of Wyoming Foundation, Laramie, WY 82071 (Department of Home Economics).
Donald Augustus Wood 'Gus'
Donald Augustus Wood "Gus" passed away peacefully at his home after a long battle with cancer Wednesday morning, October 7, 1998. Gus was born December 18th 1950, in La Junta, Colorado. He graduated from Great Falls High and spent 18 months in the Army, he then attended the College of Great Falls with a degree in Business and a minor in Accounting. Gus was employed by Buttrey Food and Drug for 30 years, during this time he was promoted from Great Falls to Butte as Manager and transferred to Billings in 1993. At the time of his death he was manager of Store #3833 on Grand.
Gus was a devoted husband and father, and had an incredible way with people. He enjoyed bowling, fishing, reading, dancing and Schlitz beer.....if you can imagine. Gus married
Mitzi Susan McGaugh in Tacoma, Washington, on August 15, 1974. Gus and Mitzi lived in Great Falls where they were blessed with a daughter TanDee R. Wood, and while in Butte were again blessed by the birth of a son, Cody J. Wood.
Survivors include his wife Mitzi, daughter TanDee, and son Cody of the family home. His parents Don and Greta Wood; 4 sisters, Noreen, Kathy, Marci, and Tracy, all of Seattle. Sisters and brothers-in-law, Pennie and Roger Curtis and Terry and Margaret Ann McGaugh of Great Falls; 3 nephews, Bob McGaugh, Scott McGaugh and Jeff Harvey; 3 nieces, Amanda Harvey, Marissa Gastwirth and Misty McGaugh, numerous Aunts and Uncles and other loving relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Friday, October 9th at Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist Alderson Chapel. Interment will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Mount Olivet cemetery, Great Falls.
Memorials may be made to Big Sky Hospice.
Celestia Adler
HARDIN - Celestia Adler, 85, longtime Big Horn Valley resident, passed away Monday evening Dec. 14, 1998 in the Big Horn County Memorial Hospital.
She was born June 1, 1913 in Spaulding, Neb., a daughter of Clark and Nora Schamp Jones. She was raised in Erickson, Neb., and moved with her family to a homestead near Bonella, S.D., in 1925, where she completed her education.
Celestia married
Jake Adler on June 28, 1931 in Billings and the couple made their home on a farm north of Hardin in 1932. Mr. Adler died in 1973 and the following year, Celestia moved into Hardin.
She was preceded in death by two daughters, Bernice Word and Nedra Adler.
Survivors include two sons, Ernest (Joan) and Ted Adler of Hardin; two daughters, Lorraine Armington of Billings and Janice Smith of Ossea, Wis.; 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Thursday in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow in the Fairview cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Sollie Reid
Red Lodge - Sollie Reid, 86, of Red Lodge, died Monday afternoon, Dec. 14, 1998, in St. Vincent Hospital and Health Center in Billings following a brief illness.
Born on June 29, 1912 in Byesville, Ohio, he was a son of Henry Sol and Jenny Wilson Reid. At age five he came to Red Lodge with his family in a stagecoach. They lived at Washoe and Bearcreek where he was raised and educated. As a young man Sollie worked on the construction of the Beartooth Highway, and also worked in the area coal mines for several years.
He married
Mary Berta on January 20, 1934, in Red Lodge.
In 1954 he began his career with Montana Power Company, working as a mechanic and maintenance foreman at Absarokee and Dry Creek. He retired in 1977. Sollie helped establish and was a long-time member of the Absarokee Volunteer Fire Department, and later was active in the Red Lodge Volunteer Fire Department. He also belonged to the Beartooth Elks Lodge.
One of Sollie's greatest joys during his retirement years was golfing with "the buffalo herd" at the Red Lodge golf course.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Reid of Red Lodge; two daughters, Michelle Edge of Powell, Wyo., and Marilyn Otter of Concord, Calif.; one son, Richard Reid of Sundance, Wyo.; 12 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a son, Larry Reid of Kalispell in 1990.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, in the Olcott Funeral Chapel. Interment will be in the Red Lodge cemetery. Memorials may be given to the charity of one's choice.
Jay Gamrath
Jay Gamrath, 71, passed away in Billings on Dec. 10, 1998. The son of Chris and Sigrid (Hansen) Gamrath, he was born on Aug. 8, 1927.
He was raised and educated in the Opheim area. He graduated from Opheim High School in 1945. After graduation, he attended Montana State University in Bozeman, Luther College in Iowa, and the University of Washington in Seattle. Mr. Gamrath was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Jay also served in the U.S. Navy.
Jay's extensive travels led to an interest in cooking. He also enjoyed playing bridge and conversing with his friends.
Survivors include his brother Bob, of Seattle, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by both his parents and two of his brothers.
Cremation has taken place. No public services are planned. Private interment will take place at a later date.
