Obituaries

May 25, 2016

Obituary for Melba Slenes

Mom died peacefully on Wednesday, May 25, 2016, at Brookdale Assisted Living in Missoula where she resided for the past 10 months. Mom was born in Seattle on Oct. 7, 1920, to Curtis and Katherine Hillis. After her father's death the family moved to Deer Lodge. Mom graduated from Powell County High School in 1938....

May 24, 2016

Obituary for Mary Kearney (Pannebecker) Means

– Mary Means passed away in Missoula on Tuesday, May 24, 2016. Mary was a very kind, caring and loving wife, mother, grandmother, friend and colleague. She always had a sparkle in her eye and anyone close to her knew that she had a great sense of humor and an easy smile. She...

May 20, 2016

Obituary for Robert Eugene Pipinich

Robert, Bob, Pipinich, 80, joined his wife in Heaven on Friday May 20, 2016. He had recently been hospitalized at St. Pats and was under great care of the staff at Riverside Healthcare Center to regain strength and mobility in order to move into assisted living but his heart failed suddenly while sleeping. Bob...

May 9, 2016

Obituary for Alice Bateman

Alice Marie Bateman, 82, of Turah, passed away on Monday, May 9, 2016, in the comfort of her home with family by her side. She was born May 24, 1933, to Margaret and Miles Hiatt in Kimball, Nebraska. Mom was 6 months old when the family moved to St. Ignatius, and various other places in...

Apr 30, 2016

Obituary for Chester Shellenberger

– Chester R. Shellenberger, of Milltown, passed away at St. Patrick Hospital on Saturday, April 30, 2016, at the age of 89. He had wished to live to 104-years-old but sadly did not make it. Chet, as he liked to be called, was born in Donnally Mills, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 24, 1927, to Chester Raymond...

Apr 27, 2016

Obituary for Virginia Ragsdale

Virginia L. Ragsdale left this earth on April 27, 2016, to be reunited in heaven with her beloved husband, Norman, wearing her red two-piece swimsuit she wore in 1953 that turned Norman’s head. Virginia was born July 4, 1920, in Lawrence, Kansas, to Ura Ethylin Bowers and Byron Norton Roberts. When she was 17, they...

Apr 27, 2016

Obituary for Ronald Buchman

Ronald William Buchman, 74, passed away Wednesday, April 27, 2016, peacefully at his home in Missoula. Ronald, called Ron by his friends and family, was a caring husband, father and grandfather throughout his lifetime. Ron was born June 21, 1941, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to parents Lloyd and Burnett Buchman. Ron spent his childhood and received...

Apr 22, 2016

Life Story for Duane Jones

Apr 17, 2016

Obituary for Alfred Geesey

Al Geesey was born Aug. 25, 1923, in Fairview and died Sunday, April 17, 2016. He was 92 years young. Al grew up on a beet farm. He left home when he was 16 with a couple of neighbor boys. They stopped in Townsend where Al was able to get work harvesting grain. At 18...

Apr 13, 2016

Obituary for Daniel Barth

– Dan was born to Michael and Mary Barth on a farm just south of Minot, North Dakota, on Sept. 12, 1923. He passed at 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 13th, 2016. He is survived by his two daughters, Sonja Manley of Polson and Dawn Rossai of Morgan Hill, California; a brother, Anthony "Tony" of Fairbanks,...

Apr 13, 2016

Obituary for Herbert Ritchey

Herbert D. “Jim” Ritchey, 86, of Missoula, passed away Wednesday, April 13, 2016, of natural causes. Jim was born Jan. 3, 1930, in Perry County, Pennsylvania, to Eldie and Bessie Ritchey. As a young boy he worked with his father on the family dairy farm. Jim married Jean Kauffman on April 14, 1951, in Hagerstown,...

Apr 5, 2016

Obituary for Joseph Eugene "Sonny" Stetka

“Be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.” (Shakespeare) MISSOULA – Tuesday, April 5, 2016, marks the passing of a “great” man, our father, Joseph Eugene “Sonny” Stetka. Joe passed away peacefully during the night, at his home in Missoula of natural...

Apr 2, 2016

Obituary for Corrin Alma Magruder

Corrin Alma (McCann) Magruder, 90, of Missoula, passed away Saturday, April 2, 2016, at St. Patrick Hospital of natural causes. She was born to Joseph L. and Alma C. (Opsal) McCann on June 16, 1925, in Plentywood. The family moved to Circle and then Fort Peck, where her father was in charge of housing...

Mar 17, 2016

Obituary for Kermit Loraine "Kirt" Wheeler

Kermit Loraine "Kert" Wheeler, 74, has gone home to join his heavenly father Thursday, March 17, 2016. Kermit was born in Gravel Point, Illinois, on Nov. 8, 1941, to Lloyd L. and Mary Ruth (Banning) Wheeler. Kermit moved to Missoula in 1959 with his parents and three siblings; that summer year he did...

Mar 9, 2016

Obituary for Jerome Steyee

Jerome Orland Steyee, age 57, a loving husband, father, grandfather, friend and longtime diesel mechanic from Missoula, passed away on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, at St. Patrick Hospital. Jerome was born on July 24, 1958, in Shelby, where he grew up and completed his early education. He then attended Helena Vo-Tech where he attained a...

Mar 7, 2016

Obituary for Velma Johns

Velma Jean Johns passed away at St. Patrick Hospital of Missoula from natural causes on Monday, March 7, 2016. She was born in Missoula Aug. 12, 1930, to Walter and Ella Sanders, just one year after her older brother Jim. She had a younger sister Betty, who died of illness as a toddler. Velma attended...

Feb 25, 2016

Obituary for Gary Lane Hendricks

Gary L. Henricks, 63, of Missoula, passed away Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, at his home. Gary was born in Tomah, Wisconsin, on Nov. 15, 1952, to Edgar and Vivian Henricks. He was the second eldest of four sons. An avid outdoorsman, Gary moved from the farmlands of Wisconsin to the mountains of Montana in...

Feb 22, 2016

Obituary for Charlene Frey

Our beloved mother, wife, sister and grandmother Charlene Terry Frey, 62, passed away Monday, Feb. 22, 2016, at home with her family. She was born in Missoula to Charles and Bernice Wilson on March 7, 1953. Charlene married Gary Frey in 1972. They had two children, Brandon and Kimberly. Char loved unconditionally and she offered...

Feb 22, 2016

Obituary for Wesley Cross

Wesley Dakota Cross, 20, of Missoula, earned his angel wings Monday, Feb. 22, 2016, surrounded by his family. He was born March 19, 1995 in Libby, the youngest son of Daniele Huff and Christian Cross. Wesley was a beautiful young soul, kind, generous, brave and courageous, a hero to many. Wesley spent his life in...

Feb 20, 2016

Obituary for Judy Kern

Judy Marie (Lowry) Kern, 75, died surrounded by her family on Friday, Feb. 19, 2016. She was born on Nov. 14, 1940, in Cardston, Alberta. She moved to Missoula with her family when she was a teenager. As a young woman, she found purpose in the numerous jobs she worked—most notably as a nurse’s assistant...