Obituaries

William Evan Jones

William Evan Jones

Nov 9, 2025

MISSOULA ~ William Evan Jones, 93, of Missoula, passed away Sunday, November 9, 2025.

Arrangements are under the care of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home and Crematory in Missoula.

Melody Kay Cram

Melody Kay Cram

Nov 1, 2025

Melody Kay Cram, 68, passed away on Saturday November 1, 2025 (All Saints Day) at Hot Springs Health and Rehabilitation Center in Hot Springs, Montana, of natural causes.

She was born January 5, 1957, in Spokane, Washington, to Viola and Archie Cram. Her infancy was ordinary. We did not know that she was developmentally disabled until she was a toddler. But...

Ellen Lorraine Bloomgren

Ellen Lorraine Bloomgren

Oct 31, 2025

MISSOULA ~ Ellen L. Bloomgren, 96, of Missoula, passed away Friday, October 31, 2025 in Missoula. Ellen was born in Libby, Montana August 10, 1929. She was the oldest of three daughters born to Claude and Ruby (Hansberry) Norris. They have preceded her in death. Her childhood was spent in Lincoln County, Montana and five years in western Washington during...

Thomas Robert Micheletto

Thomas Robert Micheletto

Oct 30, 2025

MISSOULA ~ Thomas “Tom” Robert Micheletto passed away on October 30, 2025, at the age of 93. He was born in Sidney, Montana, on August 6, 1932, to John and Anna Micheletto. Tom attended school in Sidney, and after graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Army and proudly served in the Korean War.

Upon returning home, Tom married the...

Brent Christopher Hinds

Brent Christopher Hinds

Oct 24, 2025

MISSOULA ~ Brent Christopher Hinds, 52, of Missoula, passed away on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025 at his home. He was born on November 20, 1972 in Aurora, IL to Carl and Linda Hinds. As a young boy, he moved to St. Louis, Missouri and lived there until 2022. Growing up, Brent was very active in scouting, along with his father...

Clinton "Butch" O. Carver

Clinton "Butch" O. Carver

Oct 18, 2025

MISSOULA ~ Clinton O. "Butch" Carver, 79, of Missoula, passed away Saturday, October 18, 2025 at Community Medical Center in Missoula.

Arrangements are under the care of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home and Crematory in Missoula. 

Carol Joan Walker

Carol Joan Walker

Oct 16, 2025

MISSOULA ~ Carol Joan Walker, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, passed away on October 16, 2025 at the age of 81. Born in Kalispell, Montana to Keith Oscar and Loraine Emerance (Van Laecken) Shew, Carol grew up in the Flathead Valley. She attended St. Matthew’s School through 8th grade and graduated from Flathead High School in 1962. Shortly...

Jerome Massee Walker Jr.

Jerome Massee Walker Jr.

Oct 16, 2025

The man stopped backpacking at eighty. No event, save that birthday triggered this. He reasoned that, eleven miles say into the backcountry on foot, things could go wrong that he might not survive. It was years later, consulting a doctor for knee pain that Jerome was advised to stop jogging. He did. But he still hiked. He canoed. He sailed...

Elmer Renz

Elmer Renz

Oct 11, 2025

MISSOULA ~ Elmer, a resident of Missoula, Montana, went home to be with his Heavenly Father and his loving wife of 69 years, Delores, on October 11, 2025.

Elmer was born in Beulah, ND and had 2 brothers and 2 sisters.

During his life he served 3 years in the Air Force and worked various jobs, including the Service Department at a...

Mary Lou Pastian Olbu

Mary Lou Pastian Olbu

Oct 10, 2025

MISSOULA ~ Mary Lou Pastian Olbu was born on December 26, 1946, to Edwin and Hertha Pastian in New Leipzig, North Dakota. In 1953, her family moved to Missoula, Montana, where she lived for the remainder of her life.

She attended Hellgate High School and enjoyed a happy childhood filled with memories, family, and friendships that lasted a lifetime. One of...

Richard "Rich" Varner

Richard "Rich" Varner

Oct 6, 2025

Richard “Rich” Allen Varner, 77, of Missoula, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, October 6, 2025.

Rich was born in Butte, Montana, on August 5, 1948, to Preston and Selma Varner. He graduated from Butte High School in 1967. Soon after, he enlisted in the United States Navy and proudly served aboard the USS Independence in the Mediterranean Sea until...

Lorraine Alexander

Lorraine Alexander

Sep 27, 2025

MISSOULA ~ Lorriane Rall Alexander, 92, of Missoula, Montana, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at the Hope Hospice Center in Missoula. She was surrounded by family and loved ones.

Born in Hurdsfield, North Dakota, she spent her early years there before her family moved to Montana. Eventually, she set her roots in Missoula where she created a welcoming...

Carol Jean Harmon

Carol Jean Harmon

Sep 22, 2025

MISSOULA ~ On September 22, 2025, Carol Jean Harmon, age 80, passed away peacefully at her home.

Born June 21, 1945, in Washington to John and Cecila Van Allen, Carol lived a full life enriched by family, friends, and simple joys.  She grew up in Missoula, attending Willard Grade School and Missoula County High School. In 1965, she married Jim Harmon...

Robert Lawrence "Larry" Helean

Robert Lawrence "Larry" Helean

Sep 9, 2025

MISSOULA ~ Robert "Larry" Lawrence Helean was the first born of his family on August 11, 1936 in Spokane, Washington to Bernard James and Marie Lenoue Helean. Larry, or Bobby as friends and family called him in his early years, attended grade school in Spokane then spent one year at Gonzaga Prep High School. After his family moved to Missoula...

Shawn Christopher Hayes

Shawn Christopher Hayes

Sep 8, 2025

MISSOULA ~ Shawn Christopher Hayes was the first-born son of Steve and Sandy Hayes, beginning his life journey on October 12, 1969 in Niagara Falls, New York. He was soon joined by his brothers Jay (Julie) and Clint (Kim). Shawn absolutely loved being a big brother, and the three boys shared a close bond, playing sports and having adventures in...

Arthur Gordon Crum

Arthur Gordon Crum

Sep 6, 2025

Arthur “Art” Crum, 89, of Missoula, Montana, passed away peacefully at home on September 6, 2025, of natural causes.

He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Grahm Crum, and his mother, Hazel (Seaman) Crum.

Born in Missoula on February 22, 1936, Art spent his entire life in the community he loved. At just 14 years old, he became the Marble...

Linda Kay Papke

Linda Kay Papke

Sep 5, 2025

MISSOULA ~ Linda Papke, 87, of Missoula, passed away on Friday, September 5, 2025 at the Village Senior Residence of complications from dementia.

Linda’s roots to Montana ran deep. She was born on September 21, 1937 in San Diego, California to Russ and Delores Conkling, followed a short time later by brother, Charles. And while she was born a California girl,...

Leah Christine Hartley

Leah Christine Hartley

Sep 3, 2025

MISSOULA ~ Leah Christine Hartley, of Missoula, Montana, passed away on September 3rd. Born in California, Leah was the beloved daughter of Deborah Hartley and the late William McCormick, and a devoted sister to her younger brother.

Leah spent her early years in Washington, where she studied early childhood development and was recognized for her outstanding work with children. Her time...

Vernon Wayne Rusk

Vernon Wayne Rusk

Sep 3, 2025

SUPERIOR ~ Vernon “Vern” Wayne Rusk, 79, of Superior, Montana, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, of natural causes.

Born in Colorado Springs, Colorado, on May 18, 1946, Vern’s family soon settled in Missoula, Montana, where he grew up alongside his brother Randy and sister Julie. From an early age, Vern developed a deep love for the outdoors. He...

Jeffery "Jeff" Noal Wankier

Jeffery "Jeff" Noal Wankier

Aug 29, 2025

LOLO ~ Jeffery (Jeff) Noal Wankier, 66, the only child of Weldon and Marilyn Wankier, passed away in Missoula, Montana on August 29, 2025 due to complications following what was to have been a relatively simple robotic surgery.

Jeff grew up in Corona del Mar, CA. He was a Cub Scout and Boy Scout. He graduated from Corona del Mar High...