Obituaries
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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...
Ruby Ruth Roehl-Baylor
Aug 25, 2025
Ruby Ruth Roehl-Baylor peacefully entered into Heaven August 25, 2025. She was born November 12,1937 on a farm in New Leipzig, ND. She was the fourth youngest of 13 siblings. The family moved to Missoula, MT in 1945. She attended Willard Elementary and Missoula County High School (now Hellgate). Her first job was at a potato chip factory. She loved...
Sarah Anne Harmsworth
Aug 22, 2025
MISSOULA ~ Sarah Anne Harmsworth, 31, passed away on Friday, August 22nd, 2025, at her home in Missoula, Montana of alcoholism-related illness. She was born on January 13,1994 in Farmington, Utah, but moved with her parents to their property in the wilderness of northwest Montana later that year. Possibly because of those early years in the wilderness, she retained a...
Lorene "Bootsie" Pearl Rewey
Aug 14, 2025
MISSOULA ~ Lorene "Bootsie" Pearl Rewey was born to Tordy and Maxine Baldwin - Bootsie loved her mother dearly and emulated her loving, caring qualities.
Bootsie grew up in Cumberland, Virginia in a small farmhouse complete with outdoor plumbing. Her stories of childhood included "plugging" watermelons to see if they were ripe (eating it if it was, turning it over to...
Lonna Rae Knight Fox
Aug 13, 2025
MISSOULA ~ Lonna Rae Knight Fox, 74, of Missoula, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at her home at Riverside Health and Rehabilitation, of natural causes.
She was born on January 15, 1951, in Provo, Utah, to Ray and Dee Knight. Lonna’s childhood was filled with love and family gatherings throughout Utah. She cherished visits with her Grandma Pete,...
Joyce Caroline Baughman
Jul 30, 2025
MISSOULA ~ Joyce Carolyn Baughman (née Pickens), born on October 16, 1940, in Missoula, Montana, passed away on July 30, 2025, at St. Luke’s Extended Care in Montana. She was 84 years old.
Joyce grew up in Missoula, where she attended elementary school and later Missoula County High School. With a passion for the arts, she pursued further education at the...
George Loren Reynolds
Jul 21, 2025
George was born in Sandpoint, Idaho on August 20, 1930, to Stephen Ray Reynolds and Edna Boles Reynolds. He was the 15th of 16 children. Three of those children died as infants and 13 lived to marry and have children. George passed from this life on July 21, 2025, after a short illness while at home surrounded by his loving...
Violet May Schneider
Jul 18, 2025
KALISPELL ~ Violet May Schneider, 77, of Kalispell, passed away Friday, July 18, 2025 at her home.
Arrangements are under the care of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home and Crematory in Missoula.
Vincent "Mark" J. Markalonis
Jul 17, 2025
MISSOULA ~ Vincent J. “Mark” Markalonis, passed away suddenly on July 17, 2025 at the age of 94. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio to William Joseph Markalonis and Stella Polisky Markalonis, one of four children. He attended private Catholic school, where he excelled in academics. His family relocated to a farm outside of DuBoise, PA where he graduated high...
Donald Louis Knight
Jul 13, 2025
MISSOULA ~ Donald Louis Knight, 93, of Missoula, passed away Sunday, July 13, 2025 at his home.
He was born January 27, 1932 at his parent’s home on the Fairfield Bench. He was the 5th child of Ernest and Edith (Coyle) Knight and baby brother to Gene, Betty, Bob, and Jack. He was a good natured boy that was always up...
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