Search Archived Marriage Records
Frances Claire Haggerty Bidwell
Frances Claire Haggerty Bidwell, age 96, of Billings and formerly of Glendive, died Wednesday, Nov. 4, 1998, at the Valley Health Care Center in Billings, where she had been residing for the past year.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, 1998, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glendive with Father Joseph Ponessa officiating. Rite of Committal will be in the Dawson County cemetery in Glendive. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive is entrusted with arrangements.
Frances was born on March 22, 1902, in Houlton, Wis. At age 17, her parents moved their family of nine children to Glendive. Frances completed her high school education at Dawson County High School and went on to get a teaching certificate at Dillon Normal School. While teaching at the Bidwell School, she met her future husband, James Francis Bidwell. They courted for two years and were married
on Jan. 3, 1923, in Glendive. Frances had also taught at schools in the Bloomfield area. Jim and Frances farmed in the Union community until 1937 when they moved the house off of the farm to west Glendive where they continued to raise seven children.
Frances was an active member in the Democratic Women's Club and the Women of the Moose where she held the office of grand senior regent. For many years she was a 4-H leader and managed the 4-H booth at the Dawson County Fair. She worked at Anderson's Clothing Store during the late '50s and early '60s. Frances enjoyed playing bridge and became an avid duplicate bridge player.
Frances was preceded in death by her husband, James in 1990, and two daughters, Bernice Strand in 1992 and Marjorie Winchell of Billings passed away on Nov. 5, 1998.
She is survived by her five children, Dora Jean McDonough of Helena and Green Valley, Ariz., James Bidwell of Bozeman, Bernard Bidwell of Spokane, Wash., Kenneth Bidwell of Kalispell and Janet Palen of Missoula; her sister, Margaret Fornall of Rexford; her two brothers, Charles Haggerty of Salem, Ore., and Thomas Haggerty of Missoula; 27 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials are suggested to the Frontier Gateway Museum, P.O. Box 1181, Glendive, Mont. 59330.
Harold 'Hod' Bigelow
SHERIDAN, Wyo. - Harold J. "Hod" Bigelow, 65, died Friday, Nov. 6, 1998, at the VA Medical Center.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at the First Baptist Church. Ferries Funeral Home is in charge.
Lester W. Booth
LIVINGSTON - Lester W. Booth, 82, of Livingston, died Wednesday, Nov. 4, 1998, at the Fort Harrison Medical Center.
Services will be at a later date. Nicholson's Cremation was in charge.
Henry (Hank) Davis Creekmore
GREAT FALLS - Henry (Hank) Davis Creekmore, 63, died of cancer Nov. 5, 1998, at home with family nearby. A small graveside service will be held Saturday, Nov. 7, 11 a.m. at Highland cemetery. Family and Friends are invited to gather later that day at Moose Lodge in Black Eagle at 2 p.m. Cremation will be handled by Croxford and Sons.
Memorials are suggested to Peace Hospice, 125 Northwest Bypass, Great Falls, MT 59404.
Hank was born in Great Falls on Nov. 18, 1934, and was educated in Great Falls schools. Hank served in the Army from 1953 to 1956 in the Airborne Infantry. In 1956, he married
Beverly Schock and they had three children together. They later divorced. In 1983 he married
Sharon Brown. Hank worked for Mountain Bell and AT&T in Great Falls and Billings for 30 years until his retirement in 1986.
He was an avid Western history buff, storyteller, talented painter and sculptor of Western art. He enjoyed fishing, camping, golfing, playing pool and jogging. He also enjoyed a good, cold beer at the end of the day.
Hank is survived by his wife, Sharon; two sons, Mark Creekmore of Lafayette, La., and Cliff Creekmore of Deer Park, Wash.; one daughter, Kathy Mahoney of Great Falls; a stepson, Christopher Brown of Seattle, Wash.; four grandchildren; and two brothers, Robert Creekmore of Great Falls and Floyd Creekmore of Billings.
Philomene Demarais
MALTA - Philomene Demarais, 96, died Thursday, Nov. 5, 1998, at the Phillips County Good Samaritan Center of natural causes.
Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Adams Memorial Chapel. Mass will be at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Mary's Catholic Church with interment in the Malta cemetery.
Donna Freeman
LIVINGSTON - Donna Freeman, 62, of Livingston, died Thursday, Nov. 6, 1998, at Deaconess Hospital in Billings.
Services are pending. Nicholson's Cremation is in charge.
Stella C. Lux
CHINOOK - Stella C. Lux, 86, passed away Nov. 5, 1998, at Northern Montana Hospital in Havre due to natural causes. Funeral services will be Monday, Nov. 9, 1998, at 11 a.m. in the United Methodist Church of Chinook with burial following in Kuper Memorial cemetery. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.
Mrs. Lux was born to Andrew and Julia Paulson on Sept. 24, 1912, in Gillette, Wis. She moved to Shelby in 1929. On Dec. 20, 1930, she married
Fred Lux in Shelby and they moved to Blaine County in 1932. They farmed southeast of Chinook, moving to Paradise Valley in 1938. They farmed until Fred became ill, and they moved to Chinook in 1960.
Stella worked for 18 years as a sales clerk in Chinook stores after her husband died in 1965. Stella was the first resident to move into the Grande Villa in 1979. She spent the last years making quilts and afghans for friends and family. She was a very caring woman who loved to cook and share it with others. You never left Stella's home empty-handed.
Mrs. Lux is survived by two sons, Lee Lux of Miles City, Ron Lux of Glasgow; two daughters, Sandi Sundsted of Culbertson, Judy Howe of Craig, Colo.; one sister and brother, both from Wisconsin; 12 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Mrs. Lux was preceded in death by her husband; two sons, Richard and Leonard; one grandchild and one great-great grandchild. She will be missed by all.
J. Delbert Miller
LIVINGSTON - J. Delbert Miller, 87, died Thursday, Nov. 5, 1998, at Livingston Health and Rehab Center.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at the Franzen-Davis Funeral Home Chapel with graveside committal and interment of the cremated remains in Mountain View cemetery.
Odbert Linder Shell
SHERIDAN, Wyo. - Odbert Linder Shell, 83, died Thursday, Nov. 5, 1998, at the VA Medical Center Nursing Home.
Cremation has taken place and interment will be at a later date. Kane Funeral Home is in charge.
Reuben Stickel
TERRY - Reuben Stickel, 65, formerly of Fallon, died Thursday, Nov. 5, 1998, at the Prairie Community Nursing Home.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9, in the Community Presbyterian Church with interment in the Prairie County cemetery. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home is in charge.
James D. Wiseman
BAKER - James D. Wiseman, age 54, of Baker, passed away Friday, Nov. 6, 1998, at the Fallon Medical Complex Hospital.
Survivors include: his wife, Lorraine of Baker; three sons: Jeff Wiseman of Baker, Todd Wiseman of Billings and Jase Wiseman of Terry; a daughter: Jamie Wiseman of Terry; his mother, Alice Wiseman of Baker; a brother, Russell Wiseman of Grand Junction, Colo.; a sister: Leona Irvine of Billings; four grandchildren, Matthew, Michael, Jonathan and Reiny Wiseman.
A Vigil Service will be held Sunday, Nov. 8, 1998, at 7:30 p.m. in the Stevenson's Funeral Home in Baker. A Funeral Service will be held on Monday, Nov. 9, at 11 a.m. at the St. John's Catholic Church in Baker. Interment will be in the St. Anthony's Catholic cemetery in Plevna. Stevenson Funeral Home of Baker is in charge of the arrangements.
Frances Bidwell
Frances Bidwell, 96, formerly of Glendive, died Wednesday, Nov. 4, 1998, at Valley Health Care Center.
Vigil service will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Rite of Committal in the Dawson County cemetery, both in Glendive.
Mary Lorine Birkeland
Mary Birkeland, 79, of Billings died at Western Manor on Thursday, Nov. 5, 1998, after a prolonged illness complicated by congestive heart failure. Born Aug. 23, 1919, in Opheim, Mary was the daughter of John and Mary Stellflug. She was raised and received her education in Opheim.
Mary and Ingvald O. Birkeland were united in marriage on Sept. 14, 1937. They lived most of their married
life in Glasgow until moving to Billings in 1989 to be closer to their family.
Mary was a very active lady in her church, Avon and other sales. She and Ingvald were avid bridge players enjoying party and duplicate bridge. There are recollections of Mary riding to a country school on horseback, taking a team of horses across the Canadian border to dances, and hunting trips with her husband and children. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
Survivors include her husband, Ingvald; children, Chet (Claire) Birkeland and John (Linda) Birkeland; six grandchildren, Dani (Steve) Johnson, Toni (Gary) Gaudreau, Jami (Pete) Grosz, Tyler, Janna and Lisa Birkeland; and six great-grandchildren, Megan, Emily, Gabriel, Joshua, Jordan, and Noah. She is also survived by her sister, Alice Dokken of Glasgow, and many nieces and nephews. Preceding Mary in death were her parents; four brothers, Joe, Paul, Ed, and her twin brother, John; two sisters, Verna and Mildred; and two grandsons, Chris and Barry.
Rosary will be Sunday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. at Dahl Funeral Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Thomas the Apostle Church on Monday, Nov. 9, at 10:30 a.m. followed by a luncheon. Private committal in Mountview cemetery. Dahl Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Big Sky Hospice, Box 35033, Blgs. 59103 or Barry Birkeland Memorial at BACET, Box 31158, Blgs. 59107.
William 'Bill' Giese
FAIRVIEW - William "Bill" Giese, 86, died Thursday, Nov. 5, 1998, at the Sidney Health Center-Extended Care Facility.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at the Zion Lutheran Church with interment in the Fairview cemetery. Fulkerson Funeral Home of Sidney is in charge.
Gladys Kite
POWELL, Wyo. - Gladys Kite, 84, died Thursday, Nov. 5, 1998, at the Powell Nursing Home.
Cremation has taken place and services are pending. Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home is in charge.
Lucille Peters
Lucille Peters, passed away Nov. 5, 1998 at Butte Convalescent Center. Born in Butte on Aug. 13, 1918, she graduated from Butte Central in 1937 and MSU in 1941. She married
Carl B. Peters Sr. in 1941. After WWII they moved to the family homestead in Lockwood to farm.
Lucille was an accomplished artist, seamstress and musician and enjoyed family, friends, her artwork, piano, reading and the outdoors. She was a past member of Yellowstone Art Center, a docent for Butte Art Center, and member of Marian White Arts & Crafts, Montana Institute of Arts and St. Ann's Catholic Church. Her family values her paintings of familiar country scenes and family portraits.
Survivors include her children and spouses, Carl (Martha) Peters of Billings, Yvonne (Bob) Leipheimer of Butte, Joan (Steve) Booras of Billings and Jim Peters of Littleton, Colo.; a sister, Geri (Ray) Campana of Butte; two brothers, Ed (Eileen) Guay of Big Fork and Maury (Pat) Guay of Missoula; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Butte at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9, 1998. Memorials may be made to The American Cancer Society. Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home is in charge.
Wylie L. Thomas
CODY, Wyo. - Wylie L. Thomas, 92, died Wednesday, Nov. 4, 1998, at his home.
A private family graveside service will be held with interment in Riverside cemetery. Ballard Funeral Home is in charge.
Marjorie M. Bidwell Winchell
Marjorie M. Bidwell Winchell, 74 of Billings, passed away Thursday morning, Nov. 5, 1998, at St. Vincent Hospital following a long illness. The daughter of James and Frances (Haggerty) Bidwell, she was born Nov. 20, 1923, in Glendive. She was the oldest of seven children and was raised and educated in the Union and Glendive areas. Prior to World War II, Marge attended Montana State University in Bozeman.
In 1946, while attending a dance at Sam's Place in Glendive, she met a dashing young veteran named Tony Winchell, who had recently returned from Europe. After giving their hearts to one another, they were married
on Feb. 15, 1947. Following their marriage, the young couple moved to Billings, where Tony went to work for Central Sheet Metal.
Marge and Tony were blessed with four children. Together, they watched them grow. Amongst tying shoes, wiping noses, changing diapers, helping with homework, and attending school functions, Marge always seemed to keep things in perspective and enjoy life. One of her main objectives was to teach her family (the pride of her life) the value of staying close. Her sense of love, care, and duty to husband and family were always present. She enjoyed camping and boating, getting together with family and friends, and hosting holiday get-togethers where everyone was welcome. Her hobbies included playing cards and games, reading, working crossword puzzles, sewing, and baking.
In the early 1960s, Marge returned to school, earning her degree in education from Eastern Montana College. She pursued a fulfilling career as an elementary teacher for the Billings Catholic Schools. After retirement, both Tony and Marge enjoyed camping and fishing with their family and friends. They often traveled to Washington and Colorado to visit a daughter and a son. During this time, Marge also spent much time playing with and caring for her grandchildren, whom she was totally devoted to.
"We love you Mom. Your laughter and love will fill us always. We know we'll be with you and Dad again one day."
Marge is survived by her two sons and two daughters and their families: Bob and his son, Zach of Denver; Dennis of Billings and his sons, Carl Shaia (wife, Haley, and great-grandchildren, Jenna and Jared) and Gerald Shaia; Beverly Wicknick and her husband, John of Quilcene, Wash.; Joan Grauman and her husband, John and their children, Elizabeth and Jack of Billings; her two sisters, Dora Jean McDonough (Russell) and Janet Palen (Dar); her three brothers, Bernard Bidwell (Pat), Jim Bidwell (Rosalie), and Kenny Bidwell; and numerous nieces and nephews. Marge's mother, Frances, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 4, 1998, the day prior to her own death. In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by her husband, Tony; her father, James; and one sister and her husband, Bernie Strand (Archie).
A Vigil Service will be held 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, at Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist Alderson Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9, at St. Pius X Church with Rite of Committal in Holy Cross cemetery. Memorials may be directed to BACET, Billings Area Catholic Education Trust, P.O. Box 31158, Billings, MT 59107-1158.
Geronimo Crazy Horse Lopez
Born Dec. 5, 1977, at St. Vincent Hospital in Billings, the son of Raul Lopez, Jr. and Marlene Gardipee, Geronimo loved his brothers and sisters, Felicia Amanda Lopez, of Four Oaks, N.C.; Francina Lynn Lopez, Fort Collins, Colo.; Mandy Lopez, Billings Mont.; Priscilla Camelia Lopez, Selma, N.C.; Amy Lou Lopez, Casper, Wyo.; Camelia Queida Lopez of Abeline, Texas; and Delilah Marie Lopez, of Abeline, Texas; Raul Lopez III, Valeriano Lopez, Lucy, Mary and Belinda Lopez, all of Fort Collins, Colo.; A favorite uncle, Sonny Gardipee, Deer Lodge, Mont.; Merle Gardipee, Great Falls, Mont.
The love of his life, Jackie Garcia of Billings, and his daughter Francina Lynn aka Beaner. His inspiration, his father, Raul Lopez, Jr. of Billings and his mentor and best friend Steve Martinez of Billings and Victor Nava, who always looked after him.
He loved his car, an '83 Grand Prix, and loved to cruise the South Side of Billings. He felt that this was his home and loved all the people of the South Side. He always had the strength of a lion, but the soul of a lamb. He loved his cars, his family and his barrio and especially his sister Mandy, his best friend and his strength. His uncles Sonny Gardipee, Merle Gardipee, Jay Gardipee and Richard Gardipee.
Favorite nieces Val, Miss and Maria Gardipee, who loved him dearly. Lisa and Chanty and his favorite Vanessa Ferda and Kissy Hensley. Nephews Lamont Lopez, Trenton and Miles Hensley, Montana Ferda, all of North Carolina; Santana, Eric, and Nave Santiago; Mikey and Roro Lopez, of Billings and all nieces in Montana.
Even though he is gone, Geronimo would want his sister, Mandy, not to grieve, but to give her inspiration to go on in life and find God.
His life was short but what he gave to the world will always be remembered by the people of the South Side. He will always be cruising South Park. His love lives on.
Any contributions can be sent to Croxford Funeral Home, Great Falls, Mont.
