Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service

Joanne Roberts Borgeson, beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on July 25, 2021, at the age of 86. Joanne was an amazing cook and always found a seat at the table for unexpected guests. She loved reading, a passion she passed on to her brother and daughter, and she made beautiful ceramics for many years. Joanne was an incredibly decent person, and her kindness and love have enriched the lives of all who knew her. She gave us the highest of standards by which to live. To the world she may have been just another person but to her family she was our world. Joanne was a remarkable woman, who overcame a difficult early life to raise four children, maintain a...

Lillian Eleanor Lund (Lilly) passed to her eternity July 24, 2021. She was a much-loved wife and mother of four children. She married Dick (Richard Edgar) January 26, 1957, giving them 64 memorable years together. She was born May 22, 1935, to Delbert and Eleanor (Keating) Davidson on a farm close to Manchester, SD?a railroad stop just west of De Smet, and since blown away by a tornado in 2003. Her older sister, Shirley (Hansen), and brother, Bill, remember the great joy she brought to a poverty-stricken family at the depth of the Great Depression. While making a living was difficult, the effect was compounded for farmers by drought and rampant dust storms. Her family experienced continual...

Thomas Henry Ward passed away at the age of 67 on July 23, 2021, following a brief battle with brain cancer. Son of Robert and Betty Lou (Skank) Ward, Tom was born on December 2, 1953, in Bozeman, MT and spent his life in the Gallatin Valley. He attended Rosary High School from 1968-1972, graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering from Montana State University in 1976 and had a 35-year career at The House of Clean in Bozeman. He married Sue Cooper of St. Regis, MT in 1976 and they welcomed their son, Nathan in 1989. Tom enjoyed woodworking, skiing, fishing, camping, listening to outlaw country music and being with his family, especially his grandson, River who was born in...

Lois Joan Klompien went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on July 21, 2021, at the age of 91. She was born to John and Jennie (DeVries) Geers on December 22, 1929, in Kent City, Michigan. Growing up as the youngest of nine children, Lois attended schools in Grant, MI, as well as Grand Rapids, MI. She went on to graduate with a bachelor's degree from Calvin College. On July 18, 1957, she married the love of her life, Aldert Klompien, in Grant, MI, before eventually moving to Manhattan, MT, where she resided until her homegoing. Lois was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, homemaker, teacher, and farmer's helper. She loved to serve others and was actively involved in her...

Patricia Ann Baumbauer passed away on July 20, 2021 after living a full life for 96 years. Born in Wabash, Indiana on April 11, 1925, she was the youngest child of Orellead Jeremie "Nobby" or "OJ" Aubertin and Wilhemina Marie "Minnie" Gfell Aubertin. Pat grew up in Wabash and met Richard Baumbauer while they were in high school there. She attended St. Mary's College in Notre Dame, Indiana and graduated in 1947. They were married in 1949 after Dick returned from service in the Air Force during WWII and they had three children - Susan, Teresa, and David. An avid bowler and a reluctant golfer, Pat was a homemaker while the family moved several times during Dick's career with General...

Don LaPlant died peacefully in his home July 13, 2021. Donald Louis LaPlant was born to parents Louis LaPlant and Helen Retzlaff LaPlant on April 19, 1939, the fourth of seven children on a farm near Jessie, ND. The family later moved to a farm near Binford, ND. He graduated in 1957 from Binford High School where he excelled as an athlete. In 1962, he and his sister, Joanne, headed to Montana to "Seek Their Fortune", eventually settling in the Gallatin Valley. His career included seasonal work on the Alaskan Pipeline where he was a Foreman. He and his partner, Jerry Meyers, formed a successful company, L & M Construction, and built roads all over western Montana. He was considered an...

Karalee Ann Ringo Mulkey, 74, entered heaven's gates on Tues., July 6, 2021. Karalee was born on May 18, 1947, in Omaha, Nebraska to parents Earl and Lois Ringo. She was the eldest of 6 children. Karalee graduated from Washburn High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1965. She earned her bachelor's degree in Sociology from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington. Karalee later earned a master's degree in Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO and was ordained in Broadus, MT in the summer of 1994. Reverend Karalee Ringo Mulkey served the community of Broadus as pastor of the United Church of Christ for 20 years. She was passionate about the youth and worked...

Thomas Alan Regan was born April 23, 1986, in Corvallis, Oregon, to Dave and Lynne Regan. He attended school in Corvallis, graduating from Crescent Valley High School in 2004. He loved being in the Boy Scouts, obtaining his Eagle Scout award. He attended Montana State University studying Chemical Engineering until his health caused him to drop out in 2007. He remained in Bozeman, Montana, until his death in July of 2021. He loved hiking in the mountains of Oregon and Montana. He leaves his parents; his brother, Peter; grandparents; eight aunts; eight uncles; and seven cousins. No memorial is planned at this time but cards can be sent to Dave and Lynne Regan at 1321 NW 30th, Corvallis,...

Marshall Dean Erickson, 90, of Bozeman, Montana passed away Saturday, July 3, 2021. He was born August 31, 1930, in Waukegan, Illinois to Marshall and Alice (Nealy) Erickson. He attended West Grade School and graduated from Waukegan Township High School in 1948. He attended University of Illinois, where he earned his bachelor's degree and graduated with his master's degree in Music Education in 1953. He also had an additional 32 hours in Music, English, and Administration. In 1953, Marshall enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served at Sampson Air Force Base in Geneva, New York, and then Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado. He was honorably discharged in 1957. Also in 1953, he...

Elizebeth "Liz" Ferrall, 60, of Three Forks, Montana passed away on Friday, July 2, 2021. She was born December 17, 1960 in Frederic, Wisconsin to James and Irene Bailey. The family moved around a bit, but Liz finished out her life at one of her favorite places - her cabin. Liz started her schooling in Gallatin Gateway and completed college at DeVry University in Phoenix, Arizona. She worked various jobs, and for a time she was a waitress. Her last job was as a diagnostic technician at Dynojet. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Evelyn Bailey. Survivors include her sons, Colt and his wife, Sarah (Killgore) Doornbos, and Lance and his wife, Ronalee (Zieske) Doornbos;...

George Roy Smith, 94, of Gallatin Gateway passed away Friday, July 2, 2021. He was born November 24, 1926 in Gallatin Gateway to Ed and Daisy (Poor) Smith. George graduated from Gallatin County High School. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1945. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Montana. He married Patricia Anne McDonnell in February 1958 in Idaho Falls, ID. George was a hard-working rancher in Gallatin Gateway for most of his life. He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Smith; son, Roy Smith; brothers, Ed Smith, Chuck Smith, Bill Smith, and Larry Smith; and sisters, Wilma (Boots) Schmitz, Rose Smith, Lyla Anderson, and Shirley Torez. Survivors include...

Harold Picton passed from this life in the early hours of Monday morning, June 28, 2021, attended by his three sons and surviving family. Harold was born in Bowman, North Dakota on October 6, 1932, but became a Montana citizen just ten years later when the family moved to Red Lodge, displaced by the depression. He was the youngest son to his mother, Lillie Ruth (n?e Odell) Picton, and father, Paul Oliver Picton, who was taken from the family in the later years of WWII succumbing to a long battle with leukemia. Older brothers, Paul and John, were able to return from Duty in the European theater of war in time to see their father. Harold did well in school, and eventually aspired to be a...

Walter S. Ainsworth, 93, of Big Sky, Montana passed away peacefully June 27, 2021 in his residence. Born in 1928 in Sewickley, Pennsylvania, Walter spent his childhood in Watertown and the Thousand Islands area of upstate New York. He attended Cornell University, graduating in 1950 with a BA degree. He was on the ski team in both high school and college, where he met his wife, Catherine Denton, while competing at the St. Lawrence University Winter Carnival. They were married December 27, 1951. Walter was proud of his four years of service in the Army Artillery Division, serving in Korea during the War. He was commissioned as an officer at Fort Sill Military Base, Oklahoma and is a recipient...

Ben (Robert Henry) Robinson, 61, passed away on Friday, June 25, 2021 at his home in Bozeman. He was born in Pottstown, PA on December 29, 1959. There will be a Celebration of Ben's life and memorial car show later this summer. Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service.

Tel Riley Perkins was born in Bozeman, MT on May 18, 1994. He passed away June 24, 2021 of natural causes at his home in Townsend, MT. Tel was a quiet man with a kind soul and a mischievous smile. He loved animals, reading books, and playing video games. Most of all he loved his family. He enjoyed playing pranks on his little sister, Cyd, like wrapping her gifts up in so much paper and duct tape she had to gather tools to get them open. She got even with him later though, by welding one of his gifts inside a pipe. Tel liked to learn and was a good student. During his high school years, he enjoyed being part of the wrestling team and other school activities until his graduation in 2012...

January 18, 1932-June 22, 2021 She lived, she loved, she died. Ruth believed that if you didn't know her in life, you didn't need to know her in death. A celebration of her life will be held Wed, June 30, at 3 pm at Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service. Should friends desire, memorials in Ruth's name may be made to the Bozeman Senior Center, 807 N. Tracy Ave. Bozeman 59715. Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service. www.dokkennelson.com

Pamela C. (Baker) Noel, 82, of Bozeman, passed away June 19, 2021. She was born May 25, 1939, in Lewiston, ID. In her youth, she lived in Grangeville, ID and later, the Vancouver area of Washington. Around 8th grade her family moved to Missoula, MT where Pam attended Missoula County High School graduating in 1957. She attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri for a year, then moved back to Missoula where she attended the University of Montana, earning a Teaching Certificate in Education in 1961. She married the love of her life, Sam Noel, during this time, and moved out to the Seattle area. She had two sons, R. Todd Noel and Colin W. Noel. Pam taught at Seattle's Van Asselt...

Gregory (Greg) Allan Creek passed away on Friday, June 18, 2021, in Bozeman. He was born June 13, 1951, in Billings, MT, to Lloyd and Shirley Creek. From an early age, he and his brothers enjoyed all Montana had to offer and hunting and fishing quickly became one of his greatest passions. As a teenager he developed his father's love of fast cars, owning (and sometimes crashing) many of his own. In 1970 Greg's daughter, Natalie, was born. Greg later lived in Gardner, MT, working as a guide, and spending time hunting and fishing with his nephews, Nathan and Arlyn. He eventually found his forever home in the mountains high above the city of Bozeman. Greg remained humble despite his many...

Samuel Rogers passed away on June 16, 2021, due to old age and heart issues, despite the heroic efforts of the staff at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. Sam was born in Florence, Arizona on November 5, 1934, to David Rogers and Rowena Beach. His father was employed with the Agricultural Extension Service that served the Navajo Nation by giving crop advice. David Rogers' administrative skills led him to establish the first agricultural mission in 1944 between the United States and Saudi Arabia, which included several meetings with Ibn Saud, the original King of Saudi Arabia. The Rogers family moved to Bard, California, just across the Colorado River from Yuma, Arizona. Sam planted acres of...

Jeffrey (Jeff) Harlan Shryer, 73 years old, left this earthly world much too soon in June. He was born to Melvin Charles Shryer and Evelyn Rose Greenbaum Shryer in Los Angles, California. He never married nor had children, but instead decided as a young man to devote his life to stewarding resources, wildlife species, and land conservation. He had a long professional career as a wildlife biologist and warden that took him around the world, working to protect wildlife and the habitats they need to thrive. Jeff began his career working with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), conducting research on condors and the desert tortoise in the ecosystems of Nevada and California. He then went to...

Kendall Wayne Korthuis was born in Grand Rapids, MI on May 13,1958 to Bob and Elaine (Stremler) Korthuis. His older sister, Tamara Leep, and her husband, Sherwin, from Bozeman, MT; his younger sister, Michele Lincoln, and her husband, Gary, from Maui, HI; and numerous nephews and nieces, many other relatives, and friends were all part of his family. His formative years were spent in Lynden, WA. He graduated from Manhattan Christian High School which was followed by a short stint in Colorado School of the Bible. Throughout his life he worked at various jobs in construction, dairying, and landscape maintenance. He was very particular about his work, dependable and trustworthy, but also very...