Bozeman Daily Chronicle

The world became a much quieter place on April 16, 2024, when Nancy Kay Young Lund went home to be with her Heavenly Father. Heaven, however, will never be the same. Anyone who knew Nancy knew of her ability to never allow a lull in a conversation, and any newcomers were quickly questioned on their present and past lives, and made to feel right at home. A Memorial Service will be held Friday, April 19, 2024, at Springhill Presbyterian Church (the in-town location) at 10 am. Burial will take place on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at 2 pm at the Augusta Cemetery, reception following at Augusta Community Church. Nancy never met a stranger and was sure she could find common ground or at least a...

Karen Marie Ostrum went to be with the Lord early Monday, April 15th. She passed peacefully surrounded by her family due to complications of cancer. Karen was born March 24, 1946, in Havre, MT to Morris and Marie Anderson. She grew up on a wheat farm near Joplin and graduated from Joplin High School. She was blessed growing up to be surrounded by many aunts, uncles, and cousins and had a special relationship with her double cousin Mary Meldrum. She was raised on the farm until she attended MSU Bozeman where she met Robert. They married in September of 1965. Later they moved to Fishtail and began a career in ranching. Karen was an excellent caregiver of the newborn calves and lambs and of...

Micheal "Mike D" David Durant was born on July 16, 1990, in Loveland, Colorado. He passed away in Bozeman, MT, on April 14, 2024. He was 33 years old. Michael was the type of person that could light up a room with his amazing smile and kind eyes. His sense of humor and his laugh could do nothing but make you laugh with him. He was kind hearted, compassionate, and always had a great sense of duty to anything he took on, whether that was work, play, or just entertaining himself. He really enjoyed both of the main jobs that he held here; Gibson Guitar, which allowed him to use his musical knowledge and incorporate it with his work, and he truly loved Earth Elements, using his hands to create...

We are sad to announce that David Allen Coey, 82, peacefully passed away on Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Bozeman. A native Montanan, Dave was born in Sidney, MT on December 7, 1941, to Edward "Ted" and Ethel Coey. Dave grew up in Livingston and Billings and graduated from Billings High School. Following high school, Dave settled in Bozeman in 1962, a town he would call home for over six decades. Dave met the love of his life Evelyn at a church function, and they shared over 50 beautiful years of marriage. Together they had three children, Sherie, Ed, and Janie. He worked at the Trapper's Cabin Ranch in Gallatin Canyon where he oversaw operations for almost 30 years as the foreman ensuring...

Our precious daughter Steffanie Mashell Morales transferred into the Kingdom of GOD on Wednesday, April 10th, 2024.She passed peacefully at home with family after a courageous battle with a brain tumor. She was born in Montebello, CA on September 15th, 1973, to George and Linda (Tapia) Morales. She went to school at the South Hills Academy, and Linfield Christian School. While in California, Steffanie took the time to volunteer at the Women's Homeless Shelter. Steffanie attended Beauty College where her passion for cosmetology led her to become the successful salon owner of Hip on Main in Bozeman for over 20 years, where she touched the lives of many through her talent and kindness....

Joseph Thomas LaForge, III - better known as "Ondag", passed April 7, 2024, in Bozeman, Montana. His Crow Indian name, received from his Grandpa LaForge, was A-Bit XAXAH, meaning Spotted Crane. Ondag was born April 08, 1963, to Joseph LaForge and Sarah "Jenny" (Nepine) in Anaconda, MT. He is survived by his children Lucky "Black Bear" (Michelle) & Leroy "Black Hawk" (Cassie), Dillon "High Buffalo Fat," Bronson "Magpie Walking" (Iris); his grandkids, Triston (Lucky), Julieanna "Rain in the Sky" and Brycen (Leroy), and Amarii (Bronson); and his adopted Grandma Nannie (Bell) Whiteman. He loved to laugh, joke, play with his grandchildren, eat Grandma Nan's frybread, and listen to Indian...

Samuel C. Gesko, Jr. was born on December 7, 1926, in Detroit, Michigan to Samuel C. Gesko, Sr. a Detroit police officer, and Barbara (Fuleki) Gesko. His early education consisted of 9 years at a Lutheran parochial school plus 2 years at a Detroit high-school, graduating in 1944 from Brooklyn, Michigan high-school, near the farm to which the family had moved following his father's retirement from the Detroit Police Department. The Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor on his birthday in 1941 precipitating the US entry into WW II. He enlisted in the Navy, served as a hospital corpsman and was honorably discharged in 1946. Upon his discharge, he enrolled at the University of Michigan but...

Bert LeRoy Redd was born in Grand Junction, CO on November 10, 1956, to Bert W. Redd and Faye V. Redd. The family lived in Mesa, CO and there Darrell Redd, his younger brother joined the family. They moved to Twin Falls, ID when he was in Junior High and then moved again to Kimbery, ID shortly after. This is where he met Gene Montgomery in their 9th grade Math class. The two were married two years later in the beginning of their Junior year. The young couple moved back to Twin Falls and then to Wenatchee and Quincy, WA. LeRoy joined the Washington National Guard on March 3, 1975, where he served as a cook and Military Police. He was discharged on October 13, 1977, and continued his service...

Jo Ann Kemmis- Kemmis, 69, of Portland OR, passed away on Thursday, April 4 , 2024.

Deborah "Debbie" Donnelly Goltz passed away on April 2, 2024 at the age of 96, surrounded by her children and grandchildren. Deborah was born October 18, 1927 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Stanislaus and Martina (Vicenta) Donnelly, the youngest of their four children. A vibrant and forever curious woman, she never stopped expanding her horizons, right up until her final moments. Her passion for life inspired her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren to do the same. Her many interests included activities reflecting her spirit and love for the outdoors; figure skating, biking, hiking, tennis, swimming, downhill and cross country skiing, plus bridge and pinochle. But making music, and...

Marjorie Kay (Busman) Visser was peacefully called home to her Lord and Savior on April 2, 2024 at the age of 82. Marge was born in Grand Haven, Michigan on March 7, 1942, to Keith and Margaret (Timmerman) Busman and is survived by her younger siblings, Carolyn (John) Sak and Jack (Betty) Busman. They lived on a dairy farm on the outskirts of Coopersville, Michigan. Marge attended a one-room schoolhouse during her early years and graduated from Coopersville High School in 1960. Growing up she had several years of piano lessons and it was a delight to the family whenever she would play. She also had a beautiful voice and sang in many choirs throughout the years. Marge briefly attended...

Norman Howard Rognlie was born on January 8, 1930 in Minot, North Dakota to Fridjof Rognlie and Clara Muri Rognlie. He grew up on the family farm outside Churchs Ferry, North Dakota alongside brothers Charles, Barney, and Homer. He attended high school in Churchs Ferry and Maddock, graduating in 1947. He was very proud of his Norwegian heritage. He was full blooded! He lived 94, healthy, strong years until Covid knocked on the door. He passed to the afterlife on April 1, 2024. Dad had endless stories of growing up on the farm. After school he worked as a carpenter with his father building churches and houses until he enlisted in the Air Force in 1951. He is a Korean wartime veteran...

David Ridgway, 75, of Belgrade passed away Monday, April 1, 2024. David was the first-born son of Earnest Augusta and Grace (McLaughlin) Ridgway on October 25, 1948. He was later joined by his brothers Robert, born January 8, 1951, and Dean, born April 6, 1953. David was a lifelong resident of Montana where he graduated from Bozeman Senior High in 1970. He spent many years as a member of Boy Scout Troop 669, sponsored by the Grace Bible Church. One highlight of scouting was in 1964 while in Grand Teton National Park, they got to meet First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, and Secretary of the Interior, Stewart L. Udall, on her Beautify America Tour. Working at the Cattlemen's Stockyards on Story...

Natalie Kathryn Kern, 51, passed away on Saturday, March 30, 2024, in Bozeman, MT. Natalie was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer in July of 2023, and she fought courageously. She never complained or asked for help, she was a very independent woman. Natalie was born in Billings, MT on November 22, 1972. She attended schools in Billings and Bozeman where she graduated from Bozeman High. She also graduated with her BA from Rocky Mountain College. Natalie worked in the service industry her entire life including waitressing at various jobs in Billings and Bozeman. Most of her professional career was spent with several large insurance companies in claims benefits. After relocation from Des...

Lois McFeters died on Friday, March 29, 2024, in Kirkland, Washington, at the age of 85. Lois is survived by her son Michael (Diana); two grandsons, Nicholas and Nathan; sister Mary (Phil) Erickson of Apache Junction, Arizona, her brother Ronald (Patricia) Dow of North San Juan, California; brother Russell (Sheri) Dow of Canyonville, Oregon; brother Richard Dow of Prescott Valley, Arizona; brother Randall Dow of Dallas, Oregon; brother Robert (Raechel) Dow of Dallas, Oregon; and sister Virginia (Charles) Cavalli of Rarity Bay, Tennessee. She is preceded in death by her son Kelvin, husband Gordon, and first husband Duane (d. 1960). Lois was born on November 10, 1938, in Los Angeles,...

James (Jim) Joseph Wantulok, a devoted outdoorsman and gifted artist, peacefully passed away on March 28th surrounded by his family after battling health complications. Jim was the youngest of two children born to Joseph and Sally Wantulok on April 14, 1949. He graduated from Bozeman High School and attended college at Montana State University - Eastern. Jim married Judy Lynn Christenot in 1971, whom he loved and cared for until her passing in September 2022. Jim's true passion lay in art. He began painting in high school and continued throughout his life. As a professional wildlife artist, he skillfully captured the intricate beauty of nature with every brushstroke. His artistic talents...

Jerry (Jerome Cutler) Rankin nearly traveled 90 years before Old Brain caught up with him. This genuinely Montana boy could have been born inside Glacier Park had not his mother, Gwen, nine months pregnant, snowshoed from their winter cabin across Lake McDonald to catch the train at Essex. Bound for Cleveland to stay with in-laws Lulu and Jimmy Rankin, she returned with newborn Jerry to join husband Barney, an engineer on Going to the Sun Highway, in a canvas tent surrounded by wires hooked up to a car battery to deter grizzlies. Jerry's early ears were landscaped into the parks of Montana; the toddler child lived at Rocky Boy Reservation, then at Lewis and Clark Caverns until the Army...

Jennifer "Jenn" Sample, 58, passed away on March 26, 2024. Jenn was born on May 22,1965 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Tamara Frank and Charles Iaun, Jr. She moved to Gallatin Gateway, Montana with her family when she was 6 years old and lived most of her life in Bozeman. Jenn spent the last 10 years living at the ranch in Big Timber with her significant other, Stewart Drange. Jenn has always had a calling to help others and a passion for the outdoors. One of her first jobs was a nanny for a family at Big Sky Ranch. She trained to become a CNA and she knew this was what she was meant to do. She worked in public nursing homes and care centers as well as with private families, during her...

Eileen Ann Cavanaugh Story of Emigrant, Montana passed away peacefully at home on Monday, March 25, 2024. She was 87 years old. Born to Francis J. Cavanaugh and Anna Ryder on May 17, 1937 in Philadelphia. She was the youngest of eight in an Irish Catholic family. Only one sibling, Jean Sawyer, is still living at 98. She attended Little Flower Catholic High School without incident until that one time she skipped school to dance live on American Bandstand and would have gotten away clean were it not for wearing her school uniform on TV. When visiting her sister in Southern California, Eileen met her husband, Peter Story, while he was at the Naval Academy. After a long-distance courtship,...

William Kehler- J Kehler, 79, of Butte, Mr. Kehler's funeral service will be held at the K&L Mortuary in Harrison, MT on 4/6 at 11 followed by a graveside service and a reception at the Harrison Community Church.

Marion Beley passed away on March 22nd, 2024 in Bozeman, Montana with family at her side. She was born on November 18, 1940 in Big Timber, Montana, the second of five children, to Jaretha (Jeefie) Jarrett Beley and Hans (Bunny) Beley. She was a fourth generation Montanan. Her great grandparents and both grandmothers came to Montana in covered wagons where they became cattle and sheep ranchers. Marion grew up on the family ranch near Big Timber and enjoyed helping with haying, herding sheep, riding horseback and doing all the things ranch kids do. She was involved in 4-H and chose mainly beef projects. Her favorite horse that she owned was a palomino named Gold Dust. Marion...