Missoulian

Dennis Ray Monroe Sr. left this life on October 13, 2021, in Bozeman, MT. Born in Alton, IL he always considered Montana, specifically Stevensville, his home. Dennis lived a full and incredibly interesting life, which started in the construction field at an early age. He loved baseball and had an opportunity to play for a major league baseball team, however, he declined this opportunity and chose to remain close to home as a devoted husband and father. At the age of 21, he became a police officer for the City of San Bernardino, CA. Then later relocated to Arizona and was promoted to Sergeant with the Arizona Highway patrol, serving communities such as Parker and Flagstaff. After departing...

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our father, husband, son, brother, "Grumpa," and friend, John Clark, as the result of a tragic motorcycle accident. It's not too often that you meet someone truly larger than life. Someone who has never met a stranger and is always willing to lend a helping hand. Someone who is fiercely loyal, and loves with everything they have. Someone who is not only a hard worker and a family man, but also a true friend. This is who John Clark was to his core. John has born in Ronan, Montana, to Hester and Charles Clark, on November 28, 1962. Soon thereafter, they moved to Lolo where he spent most of his childhood. In 1981, he graduated from Big...

William "Bill" Byrne passed away peacefully on August 13, 2021, in Bozeman with his family by his side. Bill was born on December 20, 1926, to James and Margaret (Douhan) Byrne. He was raised on the family farm in Creston with his two sisters Francis "Mickey" and Margaret "Dottie" and cousin John Brady. Growing up and working on the family farm, Bill attended Cayuse Prairie Grade School and graduated from Flathead High School in 1944. He was active in FFA serving in various elected positions including Chapter President. Following high school, Bill served an unprecedented two years as Montana State FFA President. In the early years after high school, Bill had two interests besides farming...

Everett W. Lemm, 81, of Anchor Point died Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at his home with family by his side. Ev was born November 30, 1939 to Lloyd and Elsie Lemm in Meeteetse, Wyoming. He moved to Montana at an early age with his family. He graduated from Drummond High School in 1957 and enlisted in the US Army the same year. He served with the 94th Engineering Battalion in Germany as an Equipment Operator during reconstruction. He had many stories of his time in the Army, most of which are not printable. Upon his discharge he returned to Montana where he worked multiple different jobs some of which were the pipeline in Dillon, the Cominco Mine, as a guard at the Deer Lodge Prison and for the...

Timothy R. "Tim" Schmitz, age 67, of Dubuque, passed away at 4:55 p.m., on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at UnityPoint Health Finley Hospital. To celebrate Tim's life, the family will hold a gathering at a later date. Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main Street, is assisting the family. Tim was born on September 2, 1953, in Dubuque, Iowa, son of LeRoy J. and Rosemary (Basten) Schmitz of Potosi, Wisconsin. Tim attended Potosi High School before joining the U.S. Army in March of 1971, to honorably serve his country. After his service Tim went to work for Caradco and then St. Regis Paper in Dubuque. He was united in marriage to the love of his life, Linda Halverson, in 1975. They were blessed with 2...

Timothy John Burke of Lithia Springs GA and Helena Montana fought a hard battle but due to complications of Covid19 died the morning of April 30, 2021. He was a beloved son and brother, a kind- hearted soul, a Christian, friend, pilot and car enthusiast, and Montanan to the end. Tim was born to Marlene (Cresien) and Robert (Bob) Burke on March 16, 1958 in Missoula, Montana. His parents considered naming him Patrick, but because he arrived one day shy of St. Paddy's Day, the name Timothy won out. It was a fitting name for the good Irish Catholic boy he was and the fine man he would become. Tim joined two older brothers, Bob and Dan, and younger brother Mike arrived a few years later....

Glenn Braatz of Billings, Montana passed away quietly in his sleep at the age of 81 on April 25, 2021. Glenn was a life-long truck driver with a passion for the road. He could tell you the mile marker of every interstate caf?, who had the best biscuits and gravy, or the cheapest cup of coffee. He loved the road and his trucks. He often competed in semi-truck shows and won Grand Champion with his customized 1971 Peterbilt Tractor in 1978. Glenn also enjoyed sitting on the seat of his John Deere tractor. While living in Missoula, Montana he grew hay to sell to the local ranchers. Glenn was born in Litchfield, Minnesota the oldest child of Gerald and Beulah Braatz. He is survived by his...

Gordon "Wayne" Torno, 89, of Billings passed away Saturday, March 27th at Riverstone Hospice House, a week short of his 90th birthday. To view a full obituary and leave condolences for the family please visit www.cfgbillings.com.

Walter Bruce McRae passed away at home on December 14, 2020, surrounded by his family following a battle with cancer. He was born September 1, 1940, in Jordan, Montana, to Jack and Mary (Kerr) McRae and spent his early years on his family's sheep ranch. He and his twin sister Jackcee were the youngest of eight siblings. Both of his parents passed away when he was a child, after which he and the other three youngest siblings were supported and cared for by their older brothers and sisters. He graduated from the University of Montana in 1965 with a degree in Chemistry. He also attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH, from 1958 through 1961. While a student at the U. of Montana, he worked as...

James 'Jim' Kinsey, 80, of Park City passed away December 10, 2020. Cremation has taken place, and no services are planned at this time. He is survived by his wife of 54 years of marriage, Nancy, 3 children, 10 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.

Gay Estelle (Huffman) Fischer passed away at the age of 92 on December 6, 2020 at Bozeman Lodge Assisted Living Home in Bozeman, Montana. At the time of her passing and throughout her life she was dedicated to her family, Catholic faith, community, and friendships. Gay was born June 30, 1928 to Rod and Star (Neu) Huffman in Philipsburg, Montana, the youngest of three children. She attended Philipsburg schools and graduated from Granite County High School in 1944, valedictorian of her class. Following high school she studied nursing at Carroll College for one year before returning to Philipsburg and working in a local attorney's office. Gay had many good memories of her school days and...

William Pauly Corette, Sr. passed away September 22, 2020, in Bozeman, Montana at the age of 81. As a third generation Montanan, he was born in Butte America to John Earl Corette II and Elsie Pauly Corette. Bill married the love of his life, Deborah West Corette, in November 1965. They shared 55 wonderful years together, raised four beautiful children and are blessed with six adorable grandchildren. After graduating from Butte High School, Bill entered the Army. Following the service, he received a B.A. from the University of Montana in Missoula where he became a Sigma Chi. Bill was also a star player and the coach of the tennis team. Bill began his investment banking career in New...

Tom Duffy, the owner of Excel Drilling and Bozeman Hot Springs gave his life in a helicopter crash while fighting fires in Oregon on August 24, 2020. He was 40 years old and died a hero. Anyone who knew Tom knew he was larger than life, both in stature (6'10") and in everything he did. When God opened a door he didn't walk, he ran. Tom was born and raised in Bozeman, MT. He attended Mount Ellis Elementary, Mount Ellis Academy and then played basketball for the Bobcats at Montana State University. As a sophomore, Tom led the Big Sky Conference in blocked shots and the team in 3-point field goal percentage. He did this while missing half the conference games because, as a Seventh-day...

...And just like that, the world got dimmer and heaven got brighter... On May 6, 2020, after 91 years, the heart that she had used to enrich the lives of so many others, finally needed rest. Mom was born on August 29, 1928 to Gustav and Mary (Winter) Hannemann in Harvey, North Dakota. She told us she was the only one in the family to be born in a hospital because, "Ma couldn't make it back to the farm." She married Wendelin Piatz on October 27, 1947. They spent their life together in Harvey and Bismarck, ND and in 1968 moved to Missoula, MT because Dad loved the beauty of the mountains. Together they had four children but, tragically, in 1971 cancer took Dad's life and Mom was left...

Earl B. Peterson, 85, passed away on May 4, 2020 at his home in Chandler, AZ following a lengthy battle with cancer. Earl was the third child and oldest son of Joye Obert and Ruth Francis (Woodard) Peterson, born in Albia, Iowa on May 19, 1934. This being the depth of the Great Depression the family moved between the paternal grandparent's farm home in Beach, North Dakota and Iowa. He started school at the age of five - reportedly another child was needed to keep the school open and operational that fall. The family moved to the Sandpoint, Idaho area in December of 1939 where he attended grade school during World War ll. They then returned to the family farm in North Dakota in the winter...

"People will tell the story about a man who lived. He was a son, a dad, a grandpa to many. He was a congressman, the best one if I do say so. He was loved by many." -Olivia Helland, Granddaughter Former Congressman Ron Marlenee passed peacefully Sunday, April 26, 2020 in Bozeman, Montana. He was surrounded by his wife, Cindy, his three surviving children, and some of his grandchildren. Ron was born August 8, 1935 in Scobey, Montana to Charles and Margaret (Darchuk) Marlenee. He was later joined by brothers Bob and Lanny. The family homesteaded in a tar paper shack north of Scobey while Charles with his wife, Margaret, started and operated a farm through both a depression and a world war....

Ann "Blake" Smith, 73, died peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, February 5, 2020 in Bozeman. Blake is survived by her sisters, Valerie (Jack) Olson and Lorinda (Ray) Moholt; aunt, Tomme Lou Warden and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. At her request, cremation has taken place and a private family gathering will be held this spring in Butte. Should friends desire, memorials in her name may be made to the Montana Wounded Warriors, www.montanawoundedwarriors.org or to the Humane Society of Butte, at www.buttehumane.org. Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service. www.dokkennelson.com

Dennis Claude Kraft, 81, of Aberdeen, passed away Sunday, January 26, 2020, at Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD. His wishes were to be cremated. Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, February 1, 2020, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 409 3rd Avenue SE, Aberdeen, with Father Mark Lichter, Celebrant. Burial will take place at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Aberdeen at a later date. Schriver's Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen is in charge of arrangements. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Friday, January 31st, at the mortuary, with a liturgical wake service beginning at 7:00 p.m. Visitation continues one hour prior to Mass at the church on...

Marvel Weggenman, 81, born on October 20, 1938, passed away on Thursday, January 2, 2020, at her daughter's home in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Marvel was born in Billings, Montana to Francis E. & Marvel A. Lowrance. She obtained her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Montana in Missoula and her Master's Degree from Eastern Montana College in Billings. Marvel's job after receiving her Master's was in Lewistown, Montana where she established the first Head Start program there. Marvel, and her husband Mark, then moved to Helena where she worked for the State of Montana as a Community Organizer. Marvel established a myriad of youth programs including the Attention Home and the...

Eric Capanna, 60, formerly of Missoula, passed away unexpectedly on December 15, 2019 in Akron, Ohio. He is survived by his children Erica & Christian Capanna; grandchildren Maddox & Teagan; brother Bob (Christine) Capanna and sisters Michelle & Renee, as well as many nieces & nephews. Eric was preceded in death by his loving mother & father Robert Sr. & Karen Capanna & brother David. Eric has been cremated and his wishes were to have his remains laid to rest back in the state he loved, Montana. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in Eric's memory to the Poverello Center, which serves the homeless of Missoula, by going to...

Kenneth L. Anderson passed away at his home on the morning of October 7th, 2019. Kenny was born to Virginia Kittle and Virgil Anderson in Portsmouth, VA on February 18th in 1944. He moved to Long Beach, CaliforniaKe when he was 12 years old, where his mother started one of the country's most successful sports bars. He graduated from Banning High School in 1961 and enrolled in Long Beach City College afterwards, where he became a Junior College All-American defensive halfback on the football team. He started working for Exxon in the harbor in Long Beach and retired 34 years later as a Supervisor at the tank facility in Bozeman, Montana. Kenny was a true mountain man. His heroes throughout...