OBITUARIES

Dec 25, 2018

Dec 21, 2018

Dr. Wyman Carl Schmidt, born September 9, 1929, passed away peacefully on December 21, 2018 after a long life characterized by love of family, music, career, and his maker. He was born and raised in Ocheyedan, Iowa, where his parents Carl E. & Ida Schmidt farmed. A love of music unified the large Schmidt clan and Wyman sang from an...

Dec 18, 2018

Alan James MacDonald was called to his Heavenly home on December 18, 2018. Alan was born July 10, 1945 to Army Lt. James Albert and Sallie (Nichols) MacDonald in Saranac Lake, NY. After being stationed in Falls Church, VA, Ft. Hood, TX, and Anchorage, AK, the family retired to Security, CO where Alan graduated from Widefield High School and met...

Dec 17, 2018

We said “goodbye” to Mom on Monday, December 17, 2018, when she joined her loving husband, Don, who preceded her in death in 1992. She’d be the first to say to all of us, “don’t be sad – I had a good run!” She was with her children and grandchildren when she said “goodbye” to us, and nothing gave her...

Dec 15, 2018

Sarah Elizabeth Stevens, 29, of Bozeman passed away December 15, 2018. She was born May 20, 1989 in Seattle, WA to Eric and Sandy Stevens. She graduated from North Kitsap High School in Poulsbo, WA in 2007; received her Bachelor of Architecture in 2012 and her Master of Architecture with Honors in 2014 from Montana State University. From childhood on,...

Dec 14, 2018

Jean Marie Coley passed away December 14, 2018. She was born in Los Angeles, CA to Warren Coley and Barbara Lacalle on March 3, 1961 and grew up in Orange County. Jean attended Montana Tech in Butte, MT and earned her Associate in Applied Science Degree. She worked for Keller Williams Realty for a short time and was a waitress...

Dec 13, 2018

On December 13, 2018, Jim Bienvenue succumbed to complications from Parkinson’s Disease. He spent his final days surrounded by his wife, children, grandchildren, friends, and Highgate caregivers. James Irving Bienvenue was born on August 11, 1944 in Waterbury, Connecticut to Dorothy and Irving Bienvenue. He spent his formative years in Prospect with his five sisters: Linda, Nancy, Jan, Jean and...

Dec 13, 2018

Margaret peacefully passed into eternal life on Thursday, December 13 surrounded by her children. She is now with her Savior, husband Joe, and daughter Vickie. She was born on the family farm in Braddock, North Dakota to Myron S. Baker and Jessie E. Perry in December 1925. She lived on the farm until entering nursing school in Bismarck, North Dakota....

Dec 7, 2018

Roland “Clark” Payne, 86, of Livingston, passed away of natural causes on Friday, December 7, 2018. He was born April 2, 1932 in Elton, MT, just east of Livingston, to Harry and Anna Opal (Walter) Payne. Clark was one of 14 children and was raised on the family ranch. Clark enlisted into the US Army during the Korean War and...

Dec 7, 2018

Chamomile Jo “Chammi” Gonzalez McCord, 1, of Bozeman, passed away Friday, December 7, 2018. Chammi was born September 9, 2017 to Rio and Andrea Gonzalez McCord. Chammi is survived by parents Andrea and Rio; big brother Ezra Shanafelt; grandparents Tamala and Pete, Michael and Amber; some great-grandparents and many aunts and uncles. A celebration of Chammi’s life will be held...

Nov 22, 2018

Joaquin "Quin" Ortega, 60, of Manhattan, MT died of cancer November 22, 2018. His greatest joy in life was his family, his music and his movies. Quin was preceded in death by his parents Manuel and Audelia and his sister Elsa. He is survived by his wife Cathy, his daughter Lauren Ortega, his two sons Ryan and Garret Ortega and...

Nov 22, 2018

Vernetta Ruth Kommers passed away on November 22, 2018 in the embrace of her family. She had deep roots in Montana. She was the daughter and granddaughter of coal miners, the fourth child of William and Jennie Shepard, following sister Velma, and brothers Jim and George. Born on Sept. 24, 1917, in a one-room homestead in Roberts, Montana, her early...

Nov 22, 2018

Wayne was born in Camp Crook, South Dakota on October 28, 1932 to Ida Ewalt Brewer and Wesley Brewer. He was raised on the family ranch between Ekalaka, Montana and Camp Crook. Wayne was a proud third generation Montanan, his grandparents having homesteaded in the Ekalaka area in 1900. As a young man he stayed in the area working on...

Nov 21, 2018

John “Bernard” Dahl, 93 of Billings died November 21, 2018 surrounded by his loving family. Bernard was born February 28, 1925 in Rhame, North Dakota to Danish immigrant Emil and Irish homesteader Alice (Kane) Dahl. Bernard was the youngest of five children. Bernard and his family spent his early years in Rhame and moved to Bozeman, MT in 1939. He...

Nov 21, 2018

Joseph Vincent Basile, 92, passed away peacefully with family by his side on November 21, 2018, in Hillsboro, Oregon. Joe will be remembered for his commitment to serve others, humility, dry wit, sharp mind, quiet presence, impeccable integrity, and his devotion and love for family, friends and oatmeal. Joe had well-worn clichés for almost every encounter he had with friends...

Nov 17, 2018

George Alexander Keremedjiev passed away on November 17, 2018 after an unsuccessful heart surgery. He was 66 years old. George led an extraordinary life and was truly one of a kind. He was a sharp intellect and forever championed knowledge and curiosity. George was like a comet— a wondrous spot of light that fills the sky with brilliance and that...

Nov 12, 2018

Elizabeth (Libby) O’Driscoll passed away in the comfort of her home on Monday, November 12th, after a hard-fought 13-month battle against cancer. She was surrounded in spirit and presence by her husband of 53 years, Robert (Bob), and her five daughters, Jane, Karen, Julie, Ann and Teresa. Libby was an extremely strong and caring person. She placed great value on...

Nov 9, 2018

Grace Thompson was born on May 17, 1920 in Karlstad, Minnesota and graduated from high school there in 1938. She was the only child of Albert and Gena (Peterson) Thrane. After high school, she attended beauty school in Minneapolis and moved to Chicago in 1940. She worked as a beautician and later an office worker for the Milwaukee Railroad. Grace’s...

Nov 5, 2018

Charles William "Bill" Keith passed away November 5, 2018. He was born in Helena, Montana December 30, 1929 to William Adam Keith and Pauline Dennis. They lived in Forsyth, Sidney and Miles City, Montana. In 1948 Bill graduated from Sidney High School; during his High School years he enjoyed sports and especially loved football. After high school Bill served in...

Nov 2, 2018

Margaret Gavin Zirbel passed away peacefully on November 2, 2018 in Roseville, California at the age of 82. She was born April 12, 1936 in San Francisco, California to first generation Irish immigrants, Hannah and Eugene Gavin. Margaret was raised in Redwood City, California, graduating from Sequoia High School. She met her husband, Clyde “Bus” Zirbel, while working a summer...