Mildred "Milly" Raffety passed away May 5, 2021. She was born on October 25,1925 to Mathias and Eva Theisen on a farm in LaMoure, ND, delivered by her second oldest brother Wilfred. Milly was eighth in a line of ten children. She attended a country school, walking three miles each way (both directions uphill, she insisted). Milly learned at a very young age to cook, bake, can, milk the cows, and tackle whatever else needed to be done. She also helped the neighbors at threshing time. With four brothers in the service during World War II, she worked hard indeed. Mildred came to Bozeman in 1945, where she met the love of her life, Lloyd Raffety, studying at Montana State College. They were...

On May 3, 2021, our beloved father, husband, and friend Pierre Martineau Sr. went to that Great Baseball Diamond in the sky. Son of Pierre and Lenore, he was born July 5, 1935 in Memphis, TN. The family moved to the Chicago area where he grew up playing baseball, hockey and going to Cub games. He also met his one and only, his true love Jane. They were married and inseparable for 64 beautiful years. No two people could have possibly cared for or loved each other more. From 1958 to 1969, Pierre worked in Yellowstone. He started on the garbage trucks and then became the head Bell Captain at Old Faithful Inn. There, he made many lifelong friends and left a legend. In the winters, he Bell...

Esta Marlene (Briggs) Harris, a resident of Bozeman, Montana, formally of Livingston, passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side on April 29, 2021. Esta was born in Livingston, Montana on September 25, 1938 to Herbert Anson Briggs and Thelma Louetta (Snavely) Briggs, she was the youngest of their four children. She was a 1956 graduate of Park County High School. She met Erlynn while working for the telephone company. He worked for the railroad and they both worked night shifts. He would have a list of crews that needed to be contacted and the telephone operators were the ones who made the calls. He was attracted to the sound of her bubbly voice and they quickly became...

Val Antony Mencas was born on January 7, 1976 and passed away on April 26, 2021. Val was a beautiful human, never turning down a deep conversation or a chance to be a true friend! A left hander by nature, he had a gift for baseball and carved out a pitching career for himself in high school and university. He was named after his Grandfather Tony Weih and his Father, Valdimar Mencas. They were strong, amazing men, both proceeding him in death. Val lived his younger years in San Jose, California, where he was born to Dianne and Valdimar Mencas before moving with his family to Southern Oregon in 1980. Here, he graduated from North Medford High School and went on to Oregon State University on a...

Bonnie Lutes Recktenwald died April 24, 2021 at the age of 85 from Alzheimer's Disease. She was born December 5, 1935 in Bozeman to Ernest H. and Marjorie Gamble Lutes, the second of three children and a fourth generation Montanan. Her given name was LaVonne, but she always went by her nickname "Bonnie". She attended local schools, graduating from Gallatin County High School and Bozeman VoTech. Bonnie was married to Tom Border and there were three children born of this union, Shelley, Les and Julie. They were later divorced. She married John Recktenwald in 1971 and a daughter, Jennifer, joined her family. Bonnie and John were married for 50 years and lived in Bozeman during that...

Petie (Teresa Kathleen) Koerber Rockafellow passed away on April 24, 2021. She was born on June 3, 1935, in Manhattan, MT to Joseph Koerber and Emma (Simonyi) Koerber, one of seven children. She was raised in the Manhattan area and graduated from Manhattan High school in 1953. After graduating high school, Mom went to work at Mountain Bell as an operator. She fondly remembered this time of her life as being one of the most enjoyable. It was there that she met and married Dad, Rocky, who also worked there. She was amused that they dated for a short time, 100 days in a row, and being that it was 'leap year' the woman was allowed to ask the man for his hand in marriage?she did this...

Arlan Ralph Wentzel of Bozeman, MT passed away on April 23, 2021 at the age of 86. Arlan was born on February 22, 1935 to Melvin and Marie (Lengel) Wentzel in Reading, PA. Arlan married Estelle Mason in 1954 and they had two children, Deborra and David. He moved his family to Bozeman in 1968. Arlan was a cabinetmaker by trade. He married Rosetta Hanson in 1977. Arlan loved the outdoors and always having his Jack Russell, Scooter, by his side. Arlan is survived by his wife Rosie; brother Michael (Carol) Wentzel and sister Melissa (Ed) Holland of PA; daughter Deborra (Ed) Henderson and son David Wentzel of CO; grandchildren Amanda Frazier, Justin (Brianna) Krebs, Marc (Heather) Henderson of...

A dear friend to everyone she met, Erma gave away hugs and served as confidant to many. While living in Billings, MT between 1960 and 2012, she was active in Red Hatters and Mayflower Congregational Church. Erma worked as a temporary switchboard operator and secretary for numerous Billings companies. She enjoyed sewing clothing for many years and designed and made beautiful wedding dresses for her daughters and daughter-in-law. Her Siamese cats and flower gardens were special. Through Friendship Force and her husband Hap's MSU-Billings students, they made lifetime friends from all over the world. Hap and Erma visited most states in the US and especially enjoyed trips to New Zealand,...

Connita Linn Harlow, 56, of Belgrade, went to join her Savior, Jesus Christ, on April 20, 2021, after a lengthy battle with pulmonary hypertension. Connita was born on March 6, 1965 to Larry and Gerry Hawkins in Mexico, MO. It is there that she met her lifelong partner and husband Charlie. They were married on June 27, 1987 and soon relocated to Montana, where their family expanded with the birth of three wonderful children. Connita's faith and family were two of the most important things in her life and she was the best mother, wife, sister, and daughter that anyone could ask for. Connita loved the outdoors and always enjoyed the family outings, either camping or floating the local...

Erica Corlan Bowles, 36, died in a single car accident on April 17, 2021. Above all she was a dedicated and loving mother. She is survived by her son, Dexter Williams, 11, of Belgrade, her parents, Steve and Susie Bowles of Livingston, her sisters, Stacy Stenzel of Portland, OR and Kari Bowles of Livingston, her grandmother Elinor Bowles of Bozeman, and an extended network of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews as well as many lifelong friends whose hearts are all broken at her loss. If you knew her, you loved her. Erica was born on June 8, 1984. She grew up and lived her life in and around Belgrade, Montana. Throughout her life, she loved having adventures, particularly when they...

Christopher James Rangel, 57 years old, went to be with the Lord April 16, 2021. There will be a service for him at the Belgrade Church of Christ, 909 Nevada Street, Belgrade, MT on Saturday April 24, 2021 at 11:00 am. The service will also be live streamed on the Belgrade Church of Christ Facebook page - http://belgradechurchofchrist.com. Condolences & memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlcares.com.

Jason D. Hodill passed away April 15, 2021 of natural causes in his home where he loved living surrounded by the mountains and trees. Jason proudly served in the US Navy after high school. He currently lived in Big Sky, MT with his wife LaTawnia and four dogs (Otis, Baby, Sig & Tac). Jason was a man of few words but loved by many. If you did not know him, he seemed intimidating. He was really just a big teddy bear, with a heart of gold and unique sense of humor. He is survived by his mom Jennifer, brother Nick (Beth) and their two children Gallagher and Sedona. Condolences & memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlcares.com.

Leslie Ann Alexander, 68, of Pasco, WA, passed away April 12, 2021. She was born January 26, 1953 in The Dalles, OR to Edith (McAllister) and Rex Osborne and graduated from Toppenish High School in 1970. Out of high school, Leslie worked as a waitress at the Hubba Hubba in Toppenish, WA before moving to Washington Beef, where she was the first female pen rider ever hired. In 1984 she joined the Washington State Dept. of Agriculture as a Livestock Brand Inspector and worked her way up to Program Manager. After 31 years, she retired in 2015 with the goal of spending more time helping Alan with the cattle, traveling and spending time with her grandchildren. Leslie has lived in The Dalles, OR,...

A golden heart stopped beating, hard-working hands at rest. God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best. (by Frances M. Coelho) Mike Steiner passed away on April 9, 2021 under the grace of God, surrounded by the love of his eight children. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth, his parents and his 14 brothers and sisters. Mike was a devout Catholic who never wavered in his faith. His greatest joy was to be near his family, especially the babies who always found a place on his lap and an ice cream cone in his hand. Mike was a kind, caring, generous man with a ready smile and a willingness to serve. No one was a stranger to Mike when help was needed. Mike...

Lynda Groscop, 73, of Belgrade, MT, passed away March 27, 2021, with family and friends by her side. She was born to Wesley and Viola Kellogg, May 19, 1947, in Billings, MT. Lynda graduated from Laurel High School in 1965. She married Glenn Fink April 30, 1966 and later divorced. She went on to marry Rich Groscop on November 2, 1979. Lynda is survived by her brothers; Les, Lonnie, Cody, and David, as well as her three children; Scott and Julie Fink, of Missoula, MT; Annette and Ken Kunda, of Belgrade, MT; Chad Fink and Delaine Becker of Billings, MT. She is also survived by twelve grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren. Lynda was predeceased by her loving husband, Richard in...

Thelma McCarthy Petrik, a Sidney native and Bozeman resident for the last 21 years, passed away at the grand age of 94 on March 24. She died peacefully holding her daughters' hands and surrounded by her devoted family. Thelma Jean "Tommy" was born January 15, 1927 in Sidney to William J. McCarthy and Ethel Walter McCarthy. She attended public school in Lambert and graduated from Lambert High School. Thelma married her high school sweetheart, Donald Petrik, in 1945, and they moved to a farm several miles from Lambert. They raised four daughters - Yvonne, Loretta, Pamela, and Cheryl - on three farms in the Lambert and Crane areas throughout the years. After the three oldest girls grew up and...

It is with great sadness we share that Nicole "Koko" Ann Bakich, age 48, of Bozeman, MT, passed away March 21, 2021, from COVID-19 pneumonia. Nicole was born in Red Lodge, MT, October 27, 1972, the daughter of Mily and Gerry Bakich. She was the youngest of four children, and grew up on a ranch just outside of Belfry, MT. Growing up Nicole was involved in many activities including basketball, track, volleyball, cheerleading, FFA and 4-H. She also had a passion for skiing and bowling. Nicole graduated from Belfry High School in 1991. After high school, Nicole attended MSU Billings for two years, studying business. During this time, she discovered her passion for cosmetology. She moved to...

Benjamin David Dirks came into this world singing on September 8, 1928, in Moundridge, KS, and continued using his voice to encourage others until his death on March 20, 2021. He and his four sisters grew up in rural Kansas as pastor's kids. Orlo and Dorothy Dirks pastored and held tent meetings which provided Ben many opportunities to minister in song. While attending Wheaton College, Ben met Jerolyn Seelye. They were married in Gary, IN, on July 26, 1947. In 1948 they attended Northwestern College in Minnesota where Ben was a pioneer in religious radio at KTIS. The couple traveled throughout the South and the Midwest with Ben serving as minister of music and senior pastor in various...

Warren Philip Scarrah, 85, a longtime Bozeman, Montana resident and a Butte (Montana) Rat to the core, earned his angel wings on March 13, 2021. Warren was born on April 29, 1935 in Billings, Montana to Philip and Evelyn (Thomson) Scarrah. He attended Catholic schools in Butte and Billings, graduating in 1953 from Butte Central High Boys School (now Butte Central Catholic High School). In his sophomore year, he asked Patsy McDonald to one of the Friday night Central High School mixers, and it was the beginning of a loving relationship that lasted seventy years. Following high school, Warren enrolled at Montana State College (now Montana State University) in Bozeman, where he earned a...

Ronald Douglas Greenig passed away on March 3, 2021 at home with his family. A Celebration of Ron's Life will be held at the Christian & Missionary Alliance Church, 205 W. Cameron Ave., Belgrade on Friday, March 26 at 11AM; live streamed at www.belgradealliance.com and on You Tube channel Belgrade Alliance. Condolences & memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlcares.com.

On March 3, 2021, Ron Greenig went to be with the Lord. He passed peacefully at home with his loved ones after an eleven-year battle with complications from injuries received in a car accident. He was born on December 13, 1943 to Alan and Pearl Greenig, the third of four children, in San Diego, California. As a boy, Ron had a warm home life and fond memories of his parents and siblings. He and his brothers enjoyed riding in the hills to hunt and shoot. In high school, Ron's talent on the football field was recognized when he earned all-state honors as a star running back. He then received a scholarship to play football under coaching legends Don Coryell, John Madden, and Joe Gibbs at San...