Miscellaneous Montana Obituaries
CEMSEARCH - OBITUARY CENTRAL - GENEALOGYBUFF.COM - SURNAMESEARCHUTILITY.COM - U.S. NEWSPAPER DIRECTORY
CEMSEARCH - OBITUARY CENTRAL - GENEALOGYBUFF.COM - SURNAMESEARCHUTILITY.COM - U.S. NEWSPAPER DIRECTORY
Edgar Louis Bowers died at the age of 100 years
February 17, 2000, at Roosevelt Memorial Nursing Home in Culbertson, Mont.,
following a short illness.
Born Nov. 3, 1899, Edgar attended schools in Culbert
son and then attended Montana Wesleyan College in Helena where he participated
in track, football and basketball.
Edgar was an active mem ber of the Masons for 78 years
and was honored recently for being the oldest living Mason in Montana.
Edgar is preceded in death by his parents, Bert and Cora
Bowers; his wife, Ruth Bowers; and four grandsons.
He is survived by his chil dren, Jack Bowers of Cave
Springs, Ark.; Ellen Babbitt of Wahalla, SC; Alberta Clawson of Plentywood,
Mont.; Mar jorie Burkitt and her husband, Bill, of Bellingham, Wash.; Joyce
Erickson and her hus band, Wayne, of Polson, Mont.; and Edgar Bowers Jr.
and his wife, Karen, of Hele na.
He is also survived by many grandchildren, great and
great-great grandchildren.
Services have already taken place.
Sy (Sylvester) J. Landwehr of Bullhead City and
Helena passed away Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2000 at Yuma Regional Medical Center
in Yuma. He was born in St. Cloud, Minn. On March 23 1921, to August and
Henrietta Landwehr. Raised and educated in Min nesota, Sy served in the
South Pacific from 1942 to 1946. He was a life member of the VFW and a
member of St. Margaret Mary's parish of Bullhead City.
Sy and Valerie Baxter, who preceded him in death, were
married at Verndale, Minn. in 1954. On June 17, 1978, he and Frances Warner
were united in marriage in Helena where they lived until his retirement.
Sy was a Communications Lineman with the Northern Pacific
and Burlington Northern Railways for 33 years, retiring in 1981. After
retir ing, Sy and Frances enjoyed the winters of Arizona and summers of
Montana and Minnesota.
He is survived by his wife Frances; daughter Nancy Allen
(Larry) of Little Falls, Minn.; sons, Mike Landwehr (Marion) of Anacortis,
Wash., Jerry Landwehr of Indio, Calif.; step children, Harley Warner (Donna)
and Glenda Craft of Helena, sisters Olivia Foster, of St. Cloud, Minn,
Loretta Landwehr of Little Falls, Minn., Agnes Chaney of Zimmerman, Minn.,
Rose Messing (Martin) of Edmonds, Wash., Florentine Raichel (David) of
Venice, Calif.; brother Gilbert Landwehr (Frances) of Enum claw, Wash.;
sister-in-law Euladia Landwehr of Wadena, Minn.; 13 grandchildren and 20
great grandchildren.
Rosary and Mass of the Resurrection will be held at St.
Margaret Mary's, 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 29. Mass will be celebrated by
Father Peter Dobrowski.
Burial of the ashes will be held in Montana at a later
date.
Wanda L. Petersen, 74, of Helena passed away Feb.
24, 2000, at St. Peters Hospital.
Wanda was born in Flora, Ill.
On March 31, 1925 to Earl and Agnes (Wathen) Creek. The
family moved to Prior, in the 1930's. After completing her education in
Quapaw, Okla., she moved back to Montana.
In 1988 she retired from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of
Montana in Helena. After retirement she enjoyed gar dening, fishing and
oil paint ing.
She is survived by her three sons, Jerry Nash of Helena,
Gordon Nash of Harlowtown, and Randy Nash; brother Lloyd Creek of Billings;
sister June Reich of Oregon; five grandchildren including John Nash of
Helena; several nieces and nephews
She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Thelma
McHaftery.
A Private Funeral Service is planned at Linden's Herrmann
and Company Funeral Home at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, please remember the St. Peter's Hospital
Dialysis Unit.
Ray William Fenton, a former writing and design
consultant, died Monday, Aug. 20, 2001, at his home in Helena. He was 80.
A memorial service is 11 a.m. Friday at the Veterans
Memorial Cemetery at Fort Harrison. Retz Funeral Home of Helena is in charge
of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund is being created
in Ray and Mary’s names for the School of Journalism at the University
of Montana.
Born on June 25, 1921, in San Diego, Calif., Ray was
the only child of Virgil and Georgia Fenton. He attended Fort Benton High
School where he graduated in 1939. He then attended the University of Montana,
receiving a B.A., cum laude, in journalism in 1943. While at the University,
Ray met Mary Bukvich, whom he later married at Farragut, Idaho, in April
1946.
During WWII, Ray served in the Pacific Theater as an
officer in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1942 through 1946. He received the
Bronze Star (decorated with a “V” for valor), three Purple Hearts, and
a Navy Unit Commendation. After the war, he continued to serve in the Marine
Corps Reserve, serving as the commanding officer in Great Falls from 1958
until he retired as a lieutenant colonel in 1959.
Following the war, Ray was an instructor for the University
of Montana’s School of Journalism. In 1948, he joined the staff of the
Great Falls Tribune-Leader as a telegraph editor. In 1960, he helped form
and served as the executive director of public relations associates, the
first accredited public relations firm in the state of Montana.
In 1982, he and his wife, Mary, formed a new partnership,
Fenton and Fenton, communications consultants specializing in public relations
and presenting communication seminars throughout the northwest United States.
During this partnership, Ray refined his contemporary writing techniques
which were created to make writing more readable. This lead to several
publications that he authored for agencies in Montana and Washington to
assist in creating readable governmental documents.
Ray was preceded in death by his wife, Mary, who died
in 1984.
He is survived by four children: Neil of Bozeman, Bruce
and his wife, Beth of Rochester, N.Y., Ross and his wife, Pam of Kirkland,
Wash., Janis Kollar and her husband, Bill of St. Louis, Mo.; six grandchildren:
Chad, Clint, Noah, Nick, Katie and Kelly; several nieces and nephews including,
Carol Perkins of Helena and Margie Judd of Butte; and his longtime companion,
Foxie the dog.
Throughout his life, Ray was active in the community,
including service as the fund drive chairman for the Cascade County Heart
Association, participation in the Boy Scouts of America as a scoutmaster
and an executive board member for the North Central Montana council. He
also participated on the advisory council for the Montana district Red
Cross, and served as an advisor for the AARP.
Dorothy M. Turner, 72, of Billings, passed away
Aug. 21, 2001, at Horizon Hospice Home. The daughter of Chris and Mildred
Miller, Dorothy was born Sept. 18, 1928, in Townsend.
Following graduation from Helena High School, Dorothy
became a cosmetologist and owned and operated salons in Billings and Great
Falls.
Dorothy was an active member of the Montana State Cosmetologists
Association for 46 years. She served the MSCA as its president in 1955-56
and 1968-69 and held each of the other offices at one time or another.
Survivors include her daughter, Connie (Frank) Isambert
of Tucson, Ariz.; sisters, Margaret Tokarski of Aurora, Colo., Edith Ann
(Fred) Foster of Chinook, Phyl Miller of Billings; six grandchildren; and
16 great-grandchildren. Her parents and brothers, Ernst and Philip preceded
her in death.
Cremation has taken place. Private inurnment will be
at Deep Creek Cemetery in Townsend. Memorials may be made in her memory
to the Horizon Hospice Home, P.O. Box 35033, Billings, MT 59107 or Deep
Creek Cemetery Assn., P.O. Box 12, Townsend, MT 59644, The family can be
contacted at P.O. Box 51043, Billings, MT 59105.
Brian Joseph “BJ” Wreggelsworth, 32, of 1534 Mineral
Road, a route salesman for Meadow Gold Dairies, died unexpectedly at home
Monday, Aug. 27, 2001.
Brian is survived by his wife, Kae Wreggelsworth; two
daughters, Brooke and Brittany; and a stepson, Tanner Erdmann, all of Helena;
his parents, Bud and Rosie Wreggelsworth, three sisters and one brother,
all of Michigan.
BJ’s pastime was building, as he was a skilled carpenter,
and he loved to sing country music. We will miss you.
Services will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2001, at
The Liberty Baptist Church on the corner of Green Meadow and Sierra Drive.
A viewing will be held at the church beginning at 2 p.m. with a funeral
service to follow at 3 p.m. Retz Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements.
Edward W. Mantel died Wednesday, Aug. 28, 2001,
of complications from myelofibrosis and acute myelogenous leukemia (AML).
Ed was born in Townsend April 24, 1943, to Josephine and John Mantel. He
joined four siblings: Mike, Mary Jane, Annabelle (Muggs) and Dorothea Sass.
A sixth sibling, Judy Guffey, completed the family with her birth in 1947.
After second grade, Ed’s family moved to Helena where
Ed completed high school in 1961. He then went to Wheaton College in Wheaton,
Ill., receiving a BA degree in 1964. After a year of graduate schoolwork
at Roosevelt University, Ed began teaching English and social studies at
Harrison High School on Chicago’s southwest side.
After five years at Harrison High School, Ed moved in
1970 to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. There he taught Department of Defense dependents
for two years. He then transferred to a Department of Defense high school
in Nuernberg, Germany. He met and married on April 24, 1973, his wife Mary
Jane. They had two sons, Mark born in 1976, and Michael born in 1978.
While teaching at Nuernberg High School, Ed continued
his studies. He received his master’s degree from the University of Arizona
in 1975 and his doctor of education degree from the University of Southern
California in 1979.
In 1983, Ed became an administrator at Nuernberg High
School. In 1985, he was transferred as an assistant principal to Osterholz
American School near Bremen, Germany. In 1988, he was transferred as principal
to the Illesheim Elementary/Middle School.
He served there until January 1998, when he was diagnosed
with ideopathic myelofibrosis and medically retired. His wife and he then
moved to Layton, Utah, so she could work with the Army recruiting station
in Salt Lake City.
Ed was preceded in death by his mother Josephine Guffey
(July 2000), his biological father, John Mantel (April 1955), and his sister
Judy Guffey Zuroff (November 1994). He is survived by his wife Mary and
his two sons, Mark of Wixom, Mich., and Mike of Shawnee, Okla. He is also
survived by his father Charles Guffey of Helena; his brother Mike Sass
of Helena; and sisters Dot Gilbert of Helena, Muggs Bridgewater of Shelton,
Wash., and Mary Jane Anstine of Greenacres, Wash. He is also survived by
14 nieces and nephews, ten grandnieces and nephews and four great-grandnieces
and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Aug. 30, at 4 p.m.,
in the Ogden United Church of Christ (Congregational), 3350 Harrison Blvd.,
followed by a dinner. Ed will then be transported to Helena. An interment
service will be held on Aug. 31, at 4:30 p.m., at the Forestvale Cemetery,
followed by dinner at Jorgenson’s.
The Rev. Carla Gilbert will officiate both services.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the church or charity
of your choice. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Myers Mortuary
of Layton. Send condolences to family at: www.myers-mortuary.com.
Christiane Bliss Bovee Roemer - Chris was born
July 15, 1952, in Minneapolis, Minn., to Kermit D. Bovee and Beverly J.
(Bowman) Bovee. She moved with the family to Helena, where she graduated
from Helena High School in 1970.
Chris completed her degree in social work from the University
of Montana in 1975. During that time she met her former husband, John Roemer,
and the couple was married in 1975 in Missoula. She died on Tuesday, Aug.
21, 2001, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Green Bay, Wis.
Chris worked several years for the 4B’s Corporation as
a computer operator and as bookkeeper at Roemer’s Tire and Auto Centers
in Missoula. Through her gourmet cooking and energetic conversation, Chris
made friends easily wherever she worked and played. She was a loving mother,
caring friend and was known for having a soft heart for the “underdog.”
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Christopher
and Mikiko Roemer of Athens, Ga., and their children Kaito and Julia; her
daughter, Andrea Roemer of Missoula; mother, Beverly Bovee of Helena; and
brother, Brent Bovee. Her father, Kermit, and her brother, Kevin, preceded
her in death.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, Sept. 7, 2001,
at 7 p.m. at the University Congregational Church, 405 University Ave.,
Missoula. The family asks that memorials be sent to the charity of your
choice.
Darrell Loren Davis met with a tragic death at
the age of 36 while hiking in the Elkhorn Mountains southeast of Helena.
An area where he loved to recreate and the family owns a cabin.
Darrell was born March 11, 1965 in Helena and was educated
in the Helena school system. After graduation in 1983, Darrell worked at
his father’s business. He married Annette Larson to which a son and daughter
were born. He joined the United States Army on Sept. 15, 1987. His tour
of duty included Fort Sill, Okla., for basic training and four years at
Fort Carson, Colo., and he accomplished a rank of E-4. Darrell graduated
from Non-Commissioned Officer’s School and spent 13 months with “Hardship
Tour” in the DMZ zone of Korea where he was promoted to the rank of SGT.
His next tour of duty was four years at Fort Hood, Texas. Darrell achieved
many certifications and medals while in the service of his country and
was honorably discharged on Aug. 8, 1995.
Darrell loved his children and spent every moment possible
with them. He spent much volunteer time and was a member of the Last Chance
Stampede Committee.
Darrell is survived by his daughter, Heather; his son,
Devon; and his fiancé, Dawn Dunaway; as well as his mother, Avis
and stepfather, Bob Dickens, of Washington, his father, Loren; brothers,
Wesley, Joel and his wife, Bobbie; Brett, and his niece, Tori, all of the
Helena area, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
A memorial service in celebration of his life is scheduled
for 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2001, at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church,
1400 Stuart, with Pastor Loren Gustafson officiating. A graveside rite
with military honors will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5, at the
Montana State Veteran’s Cemetery. By request of the family, memorials may
be sent to the Veteran’s Museum, Ft. Harrison Museum Foundation and Montana
Military Museum, P.O. Box 125, Ft. Harrison, MT 59636-0125. Retz Funeral
Home is in care of the arrangements.
E. Pearl Ingram, 78, of Missoula, passed away Thursday,
Aug. 30, 2001, at the Village Health Care Center of natural causes.
Pearl was born Feb. 13, 1923, in Billings, to Roy G.
and Vivian Dale.
At two she moved to a ranch in Park, Wyo., following
the death of her mother. Upon her father’s remarriage, she moved to Helena,
where she was educated and graduated from Helena Senior High School.
During World War II, she moved to Seattle where she worked
and attended technical school. Back in Helena after the war, she met and
married Orrin Frank “Ty” Ingram, to whom she remained married until his
death in 1983. Together they raised three children and she became deeply
involved in numerous service and charitable activities. She was Past Matron
of Miriam Chapter, Eastern Star of Helena and Past Matron of Electra Chapter,
Eastern Star of Missoula. She also belonged to Sapphira Temple, Helena,
Daughters of the Nile and was a member of the Egyptian Oriental Band.
Active in churches, schools, and children’s organizations
in Helena and Missoula, she also volunteered at the Montana State Library
and the Missoula Historical Museum, tutored refugees in English, delivered
Meals on Wheels, and spent her life serving her community.
An avid traveler, she visited Africa, the Middle East
and Europe. She developed a special interest in Spain, attending college
Spanish classes and hosting visiting Spanish students. She was an accomplished
gardener, seamstress, hand embroider and china painter. Throughout her
activities, she demonstrated a firm allegiance to Montana, its history
and its people.
Preceded in death by her husband, Ty Ingram and her sister,
Francis Dickson of Billings, her survivors include brother Bill Dale and
sister Lois Maris; daughter Jody Ratchford and her husband, Tom Racthford
of Missoula; son Frank Ingram and his wife Patti Ingram of Rochester, Minn.,
and daughter Patricia Ingram and her husband, Thomas Pegram of Baltimore,
Md.; and four grandsons, Dean and Christopher Ingram and Tavish and Rafferty
Pegram.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Garden City Funeral
Home, Missoula and 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Masonic Temple, Helena.
The family suggests memorials to the Shriner’s Hospital
for Children, N. 820 Summit Blvd. Spokane, WA 99201; the Masonic Home of
Montana, 2010 Masonic Home Rd., Helena, MT 59602 or the Missoula Historical
Museum, Fort Missoula.
Sandra Copeland, beloved wife, mother, sister and
grandmother passed away Sunday, Sept. 2, 2001, at her home after an extended
illness.
Sandra was born August 7, 1937, in Bozeman to John W.
and Helen L. Schofield. The family moved to Helena while she was still
a small child. She attended Helena schools graduating from Helena High
School in 1955.
She married Larry Copeland in Helena on Sept. 29, 1957.
At that time, she began the most important career of her life — that of
a homemaker. Larry and Sandy’s marriage was blessed with three children.
Sandy worked as a secretary in the Helena School district
for 27 years retiring in 1997.
She worked at Jefferson School, Smith School, C.R. Anderson
and ended her career with 12 plus years at Four Georgians.
She was an avid bridge player, a lifelong member of the
First Presbyterian Church, and enjoyed cross-country skiing. With the help
of her friends at Heritage House she recently became a published author.
The Copeland/Schofield family enjoyed an annual weeklong family reunion
at Seeley Lake, Montana. This tradition was started in 1963 by Sandy’s
oldest brother John and was an event that she treasured.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father; brother,
John Schofield, Jr.; sister-in-law, Helen Schofield; granddaughter, Jessica
Leppink; and great-grandson, Alec Kaufman.
Sandra is survived by her husband of 44 years Larry E.
Copeland; daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Mark Starr of Helena; son
Curt Copeland of Burke, Va.; daughter, Pam Leppink and her special friend,
Martin Garlick of Lewistown; her brothers and sisters-in-law, Dan and Lu
Schofield of Fresno, Calif., and Bob and Pat Schofield of Boulder City,
Nev.; her sister, Jinks Schofield of Spokane; grandchildren: Chris Starr,
Sarah Bartholome, Kayla Copeland, Lane and Moira Copeland; and sister-in-law,
Ruby Lee Kasman.
Sandy’s family was her pride and joy as she was ours.
She was a kind, loving, and giving woman who will be deeply missed.
Services will be held this Thursday at 11 a.m. at the
First Presbyterian Church, 535 N. Ewing, Helena. There will be a reception
lunch at the church with interment at Forestvale Cemetery to follow.
The family suggests memorials to Hospice of St. Peters,
do St. Peter’s Hospital, 2475 Broadway, Helena, MT 59601 or Heritage House
Adult Day Care, 309 N. Rodney, Helena, MT 59601
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Hagler Anderson
Funeral Home.
William Frank Donaldson, 81, of Montana City formerly
of Tucson, Ariz., passed away at his son’s home following an extended illness
with cancer.
Frank was born July 9, 1920, in Spur, Texas, to the late
Mock and Lou Donaldson. He attended schools in both Texas and graduated
from Tucson High School. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Survivors include his two sons, Jim Donaldson and his
wife, Terri of Helena and William Frank Donaldson Jr.; and a daughter,
Anita Raney and her husband, Mike, both of Tucson.
There were no services in Helena with the body being
forwarded to the South Lawn Mortuary and Cemetery in Tucson for funeral
services and interment.
Arrangements were entrusted to Hagler-Anderson Mortuary.
Dr. Rae Joseph Johnstoh, 71, of Missoula passed
away while on a heli-hiking trip in the Canadian Rockies on Saturday, Sept.
1, 2001. Arrangements will be announced by the Cremation Society of the
Rockies, 2510 Spurgin Rd., Missoula, (406) 543-5595.