Obituaries
Christian F "Chris" Kuntz
Mar 14, 2022
MISSOULA ~ Chris F. Kuntz, 89 of Missoula, passed away on Monday, March 14, 2022 at the Ivy in Deer Lodge of cancer. He was born July 31, 1932 in Moise, Montana to Chris A. and Anna (Gress) Kuntz. He grew up in Moise Valley with his three brothers. Chris proudly served in the United States Navy from 1951 until...
James Harold Whalen
Mar 11, 2022
SEELEY LAKE ~ James Harold Whalen was born November 2, 1939 in Minneapolis to Harold and Elizabeth Whalen and brought up with his siblings Carole, Bob, and Mary (Midge) in St. Louis Park in an Irish family where Himself was in charge (when Betty allowed him). In his youth, he stayed with his uncle near Billings when he could and...
Frances Marion "Fran" Gallagher (Ryan)
Mar 5, 2022
Mom was born Frances Marion Ryan on November 11, 1932 in Laurin, Montana, the second of four children born to James Patrick and Marion Kathryn Ryan. She grew up in Dillon, Montana, attending Beaverhead County High School. Mom was an avid student and an expert typist, typing close to 100 wpm in school. During high school Mom worked at the...
Jean Audray Sobolik (Smith)
Mar 5, 2022
Jean Audray Sobolik, daughter of Vernon and Genevieve (Bahl) Smith, was born October 13, 1939 in Arthur, North Dakota. She grew up on a small, self-sufficient farm near Arthur. Jean graduated high school and continued her education at Mayville State College. After one year, her marriage took her overseas to Germany followed by moves to Minnesota, North Dakota and Montana....
Marilyn Joyce "M.J." Wells
Mar 1, 2022
HELENA ~ Marilyn “Joyce” Wells, 87, of Long Beach California, passed away on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. Joyce was residing at Bee Hive Homes of Helena. She was born July 13, 1934 in Grandville, ND. Joyce moved to California as a young woman and went to business school. She began her career with AT&T and worked her way up from...
Ronald "Ron" Vander Veen
Feb 26, 2022
MISSOULA ~ Ronald D. Vander Veen, age 74, of Missoula, Montana, went to be with his Lord and Savior on the 26th of February, 2022 after a valiant battle with a long illness. He passed away in his home surrounded by his wife and children. He was born on April 2, 1947, in Norfolk, Virginia, to Marjorie and Don Vander...
Janet Lee Hiller
Feb 8, 2022
Janet Lee Hiller (Nee: Burton), 77, of Missoula, Montana, passed away on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at Missoula Health and Rehab. Janet was born in Cottonwood Falls, Kansas to the late Roy and Kate Burton, one of four children. The family moved to Montana when the children were young and Janet made her home here. She met and married Delbert...
John Lewis Buelow
Feb 6, 2022
MISSOULA ~ John Lewis Buelow, 68, of Missoula, passed away on Sunday, February 6th, 2022 at St. Patrick Hospital after a short battle with cancer. John was born on November 19, 1953 in Omak, WA to Leonard W. and Nora Jean Buelow. The Buelow family had a farm and orchard in Omak and John had many fond memories of his...
Laura Lee Wood (Wordsworth)
Feb 5, 2022
SEELEY LAKE ~ Laura Lee Wordsworth Wood, 59, of Seeley Lake, passed away February 5th, 2022 of heart failure. She was born on September 3, 1962 in California to Eileen & Charles Wordsworth. As a young person, she enjoyed every aspect of being a California girl... camping with Girl Scouts, swimming, and beach days with friends. She was the trailblazing...
Richard Anthony Zientek
Jan 30, 2022
MISSOULA ~ Richard A. Zientek, 71, of Missoula passed away on Sunday, January 30, 2022 at his home in Missoula. He was born September 5, 1950 in Hazleton, Pennsylvania to Michael and Helen (Fritzinger) Zientek. After living in Hazleton, he moved to Center City, Pennsylvania. From there he moved to Montana he met and married his wife, Lucy. She survives....
Dorothy Marie Baber (Burger)
Jan 29, 2022
MISSOULA ~ Dorothy Marie Baber, of Missoula, passed away on Saturday, January 29, 2022 at her home. She was 98. She was born in Missoula to Nick and Kathryn Burger. She was married to Donald Baber who preceded her in death & is survived by her 3 daughters & their families. Per her wishes cremation has taken place. In lieu...
Edwin Arthur "Ed" Truax Sr.
Jan 18, 2022
MISSOULA ~ Edwin Arthur Truax Sr. passed away January 18, 2022 surrounded with the love and support of his adoring family. Ed loved Jesus with all his heart, his final testimony to Christ was when he looked up and said, "oh wow, I see Him. What a trip!" with joy plastered in his expression . Then he said home with...
Susanne Leppmann Bessac
Jan 17, 2022
MISSOULA ~ Susanne Leppmann Bessac died January 17, 2022, in her home of over fifty years in Missoula. She was born November 9, 1929, in Waldheim, Germany. Her father was Joachim Leppmann (a civil engineer), and her mother was Marianne Hempel Leppmann, M.D. (a physician). In 1933 Germany decreed that no Jews could be employed in civil services—with the result...
Eric Warren Hefty
Jan 15, 2022
MISSOULA ~ Eric Warren Hefty, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother, left this world on Saturday, January 15. He was 77 years old. Born in Great Falls, Montana, in 1944, Eric spent most of his working life in Missoula, Montana, where he raised three children with his wife Cheryl, to whom he was married and devoted for 53 years....
Nancy Noel Matthews (Henneberger)
Jan 7, 2022
MISSOULA ~ Nancy Matthews, wife of a diplomat and ardent supporter of the arts in Missoula and internationally, passed away on Friday January 7th due to complications from a hip injury. Born Nancy Noel Henneberger December 24th, 1927, in Chambersburg, PA, she was the daughter of Thomas and Francis Henneberger of Chambersburg. Nancy was raised in Caldwell, NJ where her...
Gerald Anthony "Gerry" Wustner
Jan 3, 2022
MISSOULA ~ Jerry Wustner, 71, of Missoula passed away on Monday, January 3, 2022 at his home in Missoula. He was born March 16, 1950 in England to Frances Josephine Devine. He moved with his mother to Montana in 1954. He attended St. Anthony’s Grade School and Loyola High School in Missoula. After High School he enlisted in the Navy...
David F Newbigging
Dec 29, 2021
MISSOULA ~ David Francis, the 2nd of 9 children, was born to James and Thelma (Waddell) Newbigging in his grandparents’ home, near Sheridan WY, on March 9, 1926. He grew up in the rural ranch country of Montana, learning a lifelong work ethic mixed with the youthful camaraderie of his brothers and sisters. By January 1943, he felt compelled to...
Janet Irene Earll (Bailey)
Dec 24, 2021
MISSOULA ~ Janet Bailey (Irene) Earll, of Missoula, passed away on Friday, December 24, 2021, at the Springs Missoula of natural causes. She was born in Red Lodge, Montana on June 20, 1933, to Joe and Audrey Bailey. Janet flourished in her hometown, along with her younger sister Donna Kaye. After graduating from high school, Janet attended The University of...
Brandon Edward Knudson
Dec 20, 2021
MISSOULA ~ Brandon Edward Knudson, 54, of Missoula passed away unexpectedly Monday December 20, 2021. Brandon was born on June 6th, 1967 in Missoula MT to Carol and Edward Knudson. He attended Big Sky High School, where he went on to become the 1983 Class AA State Wrestling Champ at 98 lbs. Brandon loved the Missoula community; an avid Big...
Elaine Carol Geiser (Martin)
Dec 19, 2021
MISSOULA ~ Elaine C. Geiser, 70, of Missoula, passed away Sunday, December 19, 2021 at her home. Elaine is survived by her husband Vernon Geiser: her daughter, Stephanie Hackney; her grandchildren, Robert (Kayla) Geiser-Hackney, Jared Hackney, Zach (Hannah Lyn) Hackney; her two great-grandchildren, Carter and Jaxson Geiser-Hackney; two sisters, Dora Lynn Gustafson, Lilian Phillips and one brother, William Robert Martin...
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