Mike Ruddy, age 67, of Glendive, passed away at his home in Glendive on April 3, 2017. 

Services are pending and will be announced when completed. Silha Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Herman Walter Brown, age 75, of Glendive, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at the Glendive Medical Center Extended Care in Glendive. 

Visitation will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 7, 2017 at Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Glendive with Bishop Armondo Murato officiating. Interment will be held in Dawson County Cemetery in Glendive. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Herman was born March 26, 1942 in Dickinson, N.D. to Dorothy Elizabeth (Feldmann) Brown and Raymond Walter Brown. He was the oldest of the four boys LeRoy, Donald and Roger. They were raised on the family farm north of Beach. 

Dad’s education started at the Little Beaver School (one of five students). He attended there through the eighth grade, then went on to Beach High School and graduated with the class of 1961. After graduation he stayed and worked on the farm. In 1964 they moved  southwest of Glendive to start a dairy farm. Ray, his dad, passed away soon after and the boys decided it was time to move on to greener pastures. That is when dad found his true passion, the oilfield! He would spend the next twenty years doing what he loved the most. He “got to travel from one end of the good old U.S.A. to the other. From the frigid cold of Alaska to the desert heat of west Texas.”

In 1972 and 1973 he would find his next passions in life. He was baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and married Linda Hochberger of Fairview, Mont. When he married Mom he also got a daughter (LaDonna) to call his own and in 1974 they had a son, Timothy. They made our home on Jefferson School Road in 1975 and life was great!

Dad broke his ankle in the early 1980’s and life never seemed to be the same for him. Injury after injury and declining health led him back to college at DCC in Glendive, and he then became a college graduate in 1988. From 1990 until his retirement in 2010 he was the head custodian for Jefferson School. In retirement it was all about his grandkids. Taking care of Cory after school and traveling to see Eli, Hailey, Jenna and Aiden were very important to him. Over the years he held many positions in the church and being a young men’s leader was where he left his mark. He touched and changed so many lives with the work he did.

Dad was a great husband, father, grandfather, worker and friend. He never forgot a name and had a story to tell everyone. But if his lips were moving he was probably lying and he would lie to anyone who would listen! He taught us never to be late, so we were always an hour early to everything, you worked hard, and you thought of others before yourself. He will be remembered for his old yellow and black pick-up, love of guns, Harley Davidson motorcycles (with sidecars), taking his dogs Twister and Slugger for ice cream, river raft rides, and his fantastic steaks. He was the Best. We will miss you Dad!

He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother Donald Brown. 

He is survived by his wife, Linda Brown of Glendive; a daughter, LaDonna (Sean)Wootan of Glendive; a son, Tim (Meredith) Brown of Twin Falls, Idaho;  brothers, LeRoy Brown of Belle Fourche, S.D., and Roger (Susan) Brown of Prescott Valley, Ariz.; sister-in-law, June Brown of Tucson, Ariz.; grandchildren, Cory Wootan of Glendive, Eli, Hailey, Jenna and Aiden Brown of Twin Falls, Idaho; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.   

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.

Reverend Larry Duncan Preston, age 85, of Glendive, passed away on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at the Eastern Montana Veteran’s Home in Glendive.  

A memorial service will be held on Friday, April 7, 2017 at 2 p.m. at the Westside Baptist Church in Glendive with Pastor Dan Pust and Pastor Ron Derksen officiating. Interment will be in Sheridan, Mont. at a later date. Silha Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. 

Larry was born on April 9, 1931 in Sheridan to Lawrence “LB” and Elaine (Duncan) Preston. He was raised in Sheridan, and lived in Bozeman, Dillon, Waterloo, Melrose, Divide, Butte and Glendive, Mont. He graduated from Sheridan High School in 1949, and enlisted in the Navy He was a decorated Korean War Veteran who served on board Tank Landing Ship, LST-883; and was honorably discharged in 1953 as Electronics Technician Third Class. He earned a Bachelor of Science in 1957 from Montana State College in Bozeman. He next pursued education at Baptist Bible College in Denver, Colo., and in 1975, he earned a Master of Science in Education from Western Montana College in Dillon. Larry was a much-loved teacher at East Jr. High in Butte. He was an ordained minister, and pastored churches in Iliff, Colo., then in Sheridan, Waterloo and Melrose. Larry also served in various pastoral capacities in both Butte and Glendive. Larry was a member of VFW Post 1125 and American Legion Post 28 in Glendive.

He met Mildred Hale of Manhattan during his time at Montana State College and they married on November 26, 1953. They had six children; Duncan, Shelley, Evelyn, James, Michael and Elisabeth. Their marriage ended in 1979, and he married Dorothy Funk of Sheridan on April 24, 1981. After her passing in 2007, he met Eva (Libby) Walker of Glendive, and the two were married on June 13, 2009 in Billings. 

Larry’s deep appreciation of  Creation was evidenced by his keen interest in fishing, hunting, hiking and identifying edible mushrooms. He collected rocks and fossils, and greatly enjoyed his time spent volunteering as a docent at the Creation Museum in Glendive. His passionate interests in history and music were passed on to many of his children and grandchildren. He was very sociable, and “never met a stranger,” but his most important relationship was with the Creator, as revealed in the Bible.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents; his second wife, Dorothy; and his brother, Garry.

Larry is survived by his wife, Eva; his children, Duncan (Ellen) Preston of Oceanside, Calif., Shelley Greening of Colorado Springs, Colo., Evelyn (Kennon) Nilsen of West Memphis, Ark., James (Margaret) Preston of Voluntown, Conn., Michael (Wendy) Preston of Belfair, Wash., and Elisabeth (Bill) Penney of Haverhill, Mass.; 21 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and 5 nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages memorials to Gideons International to support their diligent service of placing Bibles around the world.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.

Glendive lost a very kind and generous man on Tuesday, April 3, 2017 when Mike Ruddy passed away at his home. 

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glendive, with Father Francis Schreiber officiating. Interment with military honors will be held in Dawson County Cemetery. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements. 

Mike was born on June 19, 1949 in Glendive to parents Cliff and Cecelia (Brunelle) Ruddy. He was raised and educated in Glendive, and went to elementary school at Sacred Heart Catholic School. During high school, he worked at Midland Lumber Company. He graduated Dawson County High School with the class of 1967. After high school, he enlisted in the United States Marines and saw action in Vietnam. He served from 1968 to 1970, and was honorably discharged. He then enrolled in Northern Montana College in Havre from 1972 until 1974, and majored in technical engineering. In 1975, Mike hired out with Burlington Northern Railroad as a rail detector operator. He was based out of Minneapolis, Minn. His work took him all over the rail system. Mike enjoyed this work and he loved going to different places, meeting people and taking in the culture and natural beauty of the area. Later, the railroad moved him to Fort Worth, Texas, where he finished his career after 25 years of service. He then moved to Austin, Texas where he worked as a track engineer specialist for Hamilton Associates. In 2005, he retired completely and moved back home to Glendive.

 Mike was first and foremost a proud Democrat. He was the vice chairman of the Democratic Party. In 2016, he ran for the Montana House of Representatives for the counties of Dawson and Wibaux. In this calling, Mike was the voice of the people who work hard for a living. Mike believed everyone deserved a chance at a better life. He was never judgmental and always willing to help in any way he could. He was a big supporter of small businesses in Glendive. Mike was a lifetime member of the Friends of Makoshika and at the time of his death he was working tirelessly to try to get water into the park. Mike served as a trustee on the Dawson Community College board, and was a member of the Kiwanis, VFW Post 1125, and The American Legion Post 28. 

Mike enjoyed world travel together with his good pal Ken Kubesh. They enjoyed taking cruises, and loved taking in the culture and diversity of the many countries they visited. They especially loved the food! When Ken sailed his own boat around the world, Mike met him in Italy, and together they sailed around the Mediterranean Sea.

To the people who loved him the most, he was simply ‘Uncle Mike’. He loved spending time with his nephews and nieces. He was especially close to his sister Susie’s children. In 1993, Susie and her family moved to Minneapolis and lived close to Mike. Some of the most fun and memorable times came when Mike would come home to Minneapolis on Fridays. Mike, Derek, Jason and Kelsi took in many Vikings and Twins games at the Metrodome. During the week, while on the detector car, he would find all of the tourist traps around Minn. On the weekends they would go fishing, boating, river rafting or anything else that was fun and exciting. If the weather didn’t cooperate, there was always something around the Minneapolis area to do. Joining them on many of their adventures was Buster, the family basset hound. Mike was a dog lover but was unable to have one of his own due to his life on the railroad taking him away all week. Buster fit the bill for Mike. When Mike showed up, Buster was the first to jump into his car and would not take “no” for an answer. Mike insisted that Buster come along for the fun.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Cliff and Cecelia Ruddy; and his brother, Dan Ruddy.

 Mike is survived by his sisters, Anne Ruddy of Portland, Ore. and Susie (Les) Frank of Glendive; sister-in-law, Kris Ruddy of Glendive; 3 nephews; and five nieces, including Kelsi Frank, who Mike was very close too. Family and friends knew who Mike was talking about when he would refer to her as “Bestest.”

Memorials in Mike’s name are suggested to the Dawson County Food Bank, 112 W. Benham, Glendive, MT 59330.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhome.com.

Brandon Scott Birkley, 33, of Circle, passed away in Aurora, Colo. on April 1, 2017 after a brief but hard fought battle with leukemia. 

Visitation was held from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, April 7, 2017 at the Circle High School Gymnasium. Funeral services were held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 8, 2017 at the Circle High School Gymnasium with Pastor Gene Erickson officiating. Private family interment will be at a later date on the family ranch. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements. 

Brandon was born in Wolf Point on January 9, 1984, to Randy and Shelley (Arnston) Birkley. He graduated from Circle High School in 2003 and attended Montana State University in Billings and North Dakota State University in Fargo. A gifted athlete, he excelled in basketball, football and track while in high school and received college scholarship offers in all three. When he wasn’t on the field participating in sports he played the drums in the band to support the other athletes. 

He worked at Lithia Dodge in Billings as a mechanic and at construction companies in Miles City and Minn., but his lifelong dream was to raise cattle and continue his family’s long held ranching tradition. 

In 2013 he began building his own herd of cattle on the newly formed Crazy Three Ranch near Circle. On June 6, 2015 he married the love of his life, Jennifer René Trotter. Together they planned to raise a family in the ranching tradition and he felt he was living his dream. He spent much of the last year building a new barn with Jennifer on their new ranch and was proud to have finished it by calving season this spring. He loved the old-fashioned ways of the ranching life, loved to ride his horse and move cows on horseback with his cow dog Harley by his side. He loved to go out with Jennifer onto the ranch and look at the cows while watching the sunset on the spot they had chosen to build a house and raise their family. 

Brandon was curious about many things and became very skilled at metalworking, woodworking and mechanics. Jennifer’s Grandpa Bob gave him an old White tractor that everyone thought would never run again, and Brandon restored it and soon had it running like a top. He loved a good cup of black coffee, country music, especially Dwight Yoakum, and movies. Loyal to those he loved, he was always willing to help a neighbor or friend in need expecting nothing in return. In everything he did he gave his all and lived his life with zest and courage. Brandon will be missed by all who knew him. 

Brandon is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Clifford Arnston. 

He is survived by his wife, Jennifer of Circle; parents, Randy and Shelley Birkley of Circle; sister, Lorena (Tommy) Stypula of Sheridan, Wyo.;  maternal grandmother, Helen (John) Rabenberg of Wolf Point; paternal grandparents, Wayne and Colleen Birkley of Hawk Springs, Wyo.; niece, Emmy Lynae Stypula of Sheridan, Wyo.; mother and father-in-law, Karen and Mike Trotter of Richey; many aunts, uncles and cousins as well as brothers and sisters-in-law, grandparents-in-law; and his beloved dog, Harley.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.

Dorothy Huft passed away peacefully in her sleep on April 6, 2017. She had recently celebrated her 96th birthday.

Dorothy was born March 31, 1921 in Vanstel, Mont., the third of eleven children born to Wilhelm and Emilie (Mittelsteadt) Saur. The family homesteaded north of Vananda, Mont. After her father passed away in 1936, the family moved to Marsh, Mont.  While living in Marsh, Dorothy would take the train to Glendive in order to work to support her family, returning on the weekends. In Marsh, she met the love of her life, Ernest Huft. Ernest and Dorothy were married on March 20, 1943 in Medford, Ore. After Ernest’s return from WWII, the couple lived in Glendive. Two children were born to this union: Gordon and Caryn. The family lived in Fallon, on Cracker Box Route and primarily in Glendive. Dorothy worked for many years cutting meat at People’s Market and Warehouse Grocery as well as working at Coast to Coast.  Ernest passed away in 1992.  Dorothy continued to live in Glendive until 1999 when she moved in with her daughter Caryn where she resided until her death.

During her life, Dorothy was a member of Hope American Lutheran Church and Zion Lutheran Church, as well as Hill and Dale Homemaker’s Club. She taught Sunday school for many years, was a member of the Ladies Aide groups and enjoyed making quilts for the church.  She loved singing with her siblings and putting together jigsaw puzzles with her family. She also loved making kuchen for family reunions.  Dorothy was always happiest when she was with her family.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Huft; her parents, and step-father, Louie Nygaard; her brothers, Gerhard Saur, Jacob Saur and William Saur; and sisters Ruth Huft and Anita Koschel.

Dorothy is survived by her son, Gordon (Mitzi) Huft of Townsend, Mont; daughter, Caryn (Doug) Rein of Terry; five grandchildren, Paula Rein of Terry, Pete (Heather) Rein of Shepherd, Vondra Iverson of N.D., VaNessa (Tambouzi) Green of Georgia, and Buster (Sarah) Strauser of Billings; 9 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great-grandchild; brother, Dan (Lorraine) Saur of Cheyenne, Wyo.; sisters, Christine Gaetz of Billings, Marie Dalke of Wash., and Viola Brausser of Ore.; and sister-in-law, Elna Saur of Billings.

The family would like to thank Rita Plann for her years of working with Dorothy. 

Visitation will be held on Monday, April 10, 2017 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Terry followed by a prayer service at 6 p.m.  Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 11, 2017 at 2 p.m. at the Hope American Lutheran Church in Fallon. Interment will follow in the Dawson Memorial Cemetery in Glendive. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Terry is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.

Should friends desire, memorials may be made to Hope American Lutheran Church in Fallon, MT.

Ginger V. Nerison, age 69, passed away Thursday, April 6, 2017 in his home in Glendive surrounded by his family.

Ginger was born an identical twin on November 13, 1947 in Fargo, N.D. Growing up, Ginger attended school in Glendive. Following his school years, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1964 and served alongside two of his brothers on the Aircraft Carrier USS Saratoga in the Mediterranean. In 1968, Ginger was honorably discharged from the Navy.

In Ginger’s early days, he was successful at off-road racing, that won him the cover page of OFF-ROAD Vehicles and Adventure magazine in January 1974.

Ginger enjoyed numerous careers throughout his life.  Ginger and his twin brother Pepper owned and operated Nerison Steri Steam Carpet Cleaning from 1981 to 1985.  Ginger managed and operated the Hub Bar in Binford, N.D. and the Bowling Alley Café in McVille, N.D. He retired from Platte Electric in Everett, Wash. in 2009.

Ginger enjoyed spending time with Elaine at their winter home in Brenda, Ariz.  While there, they spent many hours riding their razor in the desert, and making many life-long friends. Ginger was also a huge fan of NASCAR, and also loved to watch sprint car racing. 

Ginger is survived by his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Elaine Beeler of Glendive; twin brother, Pepper (Sandie) Nerison of Brenda, Ariz.; sons, Cj (Stacey) Nerison of Glendive and Justin (Tricia) Nerison of McVille, N.D.; daughters, Leah Lassey (Jesse Buth) of Strandburg, S.D. and Ashlee Lein (Brad) of Gwinner, N.D.; 11 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; uncle, Jim Molmen of Glendive; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Ginger is preceded in death by his parents, Hazel and Cameron Nerison; brothers, Skip, Sterling and Scott Nerison; and grandson, Cameron Nerison.

Memorial services will be held Thursday, April 20, 2017 at 11 a.m. in McVille Lutheran Church, McVille, N.D. Visitation will be one hour prior to services in the church. Military honors will be by the Ole Semling American Legion Post #135 and the North Dakota Military Honors Team.

Arrangements are by Stanley-Iverson Funeral Home, McVille, N.D.

Paul Milton Mandigo, age 78, of Glendive, passed away Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at the Eastern Montana Veteran’s Home in Glendive, with his wife Margie by his side. 

Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 17, 2017 at the Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glendive with Father Francis Schreiber officiating. Rite of Committal will be held at a later date in St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Dickinson, N.D. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Paul was born July 5, 1938 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in St. Paul, Minn. to Milton and Dagmar (Carlson) Mandigo.  In his early life Paul worked with his father and siblings on the family farm near Braddock, N.D., and was an avid baseball player. In high school Paul discovered his thirst for knowledge that later in his life became a passion to help others learn as well. He graduated from Braddock High school in 1955. He then joined the US Army in 1958. He attended military training at Ft. Ord, Calif. and again in Ft. Lee, Va. He was stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in Spearfish, S.D. as part of a Nike Hercules Missile battalion, ensuring our nation’s defense. He was honorably discharged in 1960 and served in the military reserves for another 2 years. After his service, he taught for a couple years before enrolling at Dickinson State University in his pursuit of higher learning in their education program. He graduated in 1967 with a bachelor’s of science degree in education and taught in Spearfish  for a short time before coming to Glendive. He taught school at Lincoln Elementary from 1968-1994. During his time there he met the love of this life, Margie Nester, who was teaching third grade at Lincoln. Margie and Paul were married August 12, 1971 at the Methodist Church in Glendive; and in December of 1975 adopted their first child, Chad. Three years later they adopted a second child, Marni. 

Paul was a very influential and involved parent with both of his children, and the best father his children could ever have hoped to have. He enjoyed playing catch in the back yard, teaching his son how to play baseball as one of his coaches in his early years. He attended nearly every game, whether at home or away, all the way through Babe Ruth baseball. He enjoyed watching his daughter Marni learn and perform classical and jazz dance, and attended swim meets for both of his children on weekends all over N.D. and Mont.  Paul was also very supportive of the fine arts. He attended multiple concerts and personal performances for his children throughout their school years, and was a member of the Glendive Community Concert association until his death. 

Paul was active in the community as a member of the Elks, Lions and Fraternal Order of Moose; he supported the community and youth of Dawson County by lending a hand wherever needed. In retirement Paul spent time working in Makoshika State Park as a maintenance technician, and helped keep up the park so others could enjoy its majestic splendor. His thirst for knowledge and love of western literature was evident in his acquiring and reading the entire works of Louis Lamoure. His collection of those works encircles his home office to this day.

Paul is preceded in death by his mother, Dagmar; father, Milton; brothers-in-law, Ronald C. Wiley, Mike Gutensohn, and Paul Lang; and good friends and neighbors, Darwin Diede and Doug Handtmann. 

Paul is survived by his wife, Margie of Glendive; son, Chad (Nichole) and grandson Sean Mandigo of Firestone, Colo.; daughter, Marni (Rich) Chaska and her children Caden Mandigo and  Jace and Kendra Linder of Glendive; sisters, Jenny Lang, Lynn Gutensohn and Audrey Wiley; brother, Tom Mandigo; and several nieces and nephews.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.

Marty L. Gehrts passed away on Saturday, April 8, 2017 in Billings.

Marty was born August 7, 1955 in Wyo. Through his life, Marty worked a number of different jobs. At one point in time he owned a mechanic shop. He worked for Century Construction out of Lewistown for several years. Then in 2012 he started at Trailstar Truck Stop as the head of maintenance where he remained until the time of his passing.

His years of experience made him a welcomed asset to Trailstar. Marty was always willing to share his knowledge with anyone willing to listen and learn, and if you listened, you did learn.

He was preceded in death by his partner, Linda Archuleta in 2012.

Marty will be greatly missed by his friends, Kenny and Bev Fennel, Harry and Sandy Austin; Mitch O’Connor and all of his friends and co-workers at Trailstar.

Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Helen Hoffman, age 91, of Richey, passed away at the McCone County Health Center in Circle on Saturday, April 22, 2017. 

Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at the Richey Alliance Church. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at the Richey Alliance Church with Pastor Paul Sponheim and Pastor Vaughn White officiating. Interment will be in the Richey Cemetery. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements. 

Helen Mae was born November 7, 1925 the daughter of Cecil and Katie Johnston in Central City, Neb. In 1929 the family moved to Retah table near Richey. She attended Mt. Pleasant School thru the 8th grade. She attended St. Paul Bible College where she received her GED and also graduated college. She married Edwin J. Quade in Minnesota on July 25, 1951 and he died November 25, 1951 while serving in Korea. She returned to Richey and married Harold Hoffman on February 28, 1953. They farmed in the Richey area until 1956 when they moved to Sidney. In 1962 they moved to Great Falls and returned back to Richey in 1978. 

She is survived by her husband, Harold, of Richey; sons, Mark (Janice) Hoffman of Ulm, Mont. and Jerry (Judie) Hoffman of Richey; daughter, Judy (Ken) Moss of Minot, N.D.; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; two brothers, Johnny and Ruben Johnston; and one sister, Ella Anderson. 

She was preceeded in death by her parents, Cecil & Katie Johnston; first husband, Edwin; brothers, Dave, Eugene and Lawrence; sisters, Ruth, Mary and Marjorie; and grandson, Derek Hoffman.

Memorials in Helen’s name are suggested to Sunrise Women’s Clinic, P.O. Box 1086, Sidney, MT 59270.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.

Ruth Viola Schwarz, a lifetime resident of Glendive, passed away on Friday, April 21 at the Eastern Montana Veteran’s Home in Glendive at the age of 94. 

Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at the Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, April 28, 2017 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Glendive with Brother Guy Pontoriero officiating. Interment will be held in Dawson County Cemetery. Silha Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Ruth was born to Ivar and Emma (Swanson) Johnson on October 23, 1922. Her parents were original homesteaders 15 miles southwest of Glendive. She and two sisters, Ruby and Anna, all attended Kinsey Grade School and graduated from Dawson County High School. After she graduated, Ruth married John Schwarz, another lifetime resident of the area and a veteran of World War II. They enjoyed rock hunting and traveling together. 

Over the years, Ruth enjoyed many community activities and hobbies. She enjoyed gardening and was a member of the local gardening club. She also enjoyed art, especially oil and watercolor. Miniatures were a favorite of hers in both art and floral arrangements. She was also a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ.

Ruth is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John; and sisters, Ruby and Anna.

Ruth is survived by three step-children, Diane Ehman of Fallon, David Schwarz of Terry, and Richard Schwarz of New York; four grandchildren, Erin, Tracy, Tim and Elissa; nephew, John Norberg of the Seattle, Wash. area; and two nieces, Carolyn Stackhouse and Elizabeth Murphy, both of the Seattle area.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.silhafuneralhomes.com.

His mother called him her “little Valentine” as Edward T. Jonutis was born on February 14, 1921, the second son of Stella and Joseph Jonutis, in a simple, two-room log cabin southeast of Miles City, miles from town and neighbors. His grandmother acted as midwife. Since no doctor was present for Ed’s birth, his parents had to apply for a Delayed Birth Certificate for him from the Custer County courthouse. Ed passed away in Billings, at age 96 on April 20, 2017.  

Ed grew up a true cowboy on horseback on several homesteads along the Powder River. He loved his horses, Red Eagle and Dolly. As a child Ed had an encounter with a feral cat, which severely injured his right eye, but he managed to fool the doctors and joined the U.S. Army in 1942. While driving an Army jeep a wayward rock struck Ed’s left eye; now the vision of both eyes was compromised. Ed served as a combat medic in the Philippines until honorably discharged in 1946.  

On return to Montana, Ed attended the Butte School of Mines while also working deep in the Butte mines on a blasting crew. He met Anne Kierzek at a dance in Miles City and they married in 1947. On the day of his wedding he was hired by the Miles City division of the Montana Highway Department. He explained about his wedding and the Department chief graciously granted him immediate time off for a brief honeymoon before starting work. After a short stint in the Miles City MDOT office, Ed was reassigned to the Glendive division where he became the first Chief Soils Engineer. 

Ed and Anne purchased a few acres at the intersection of the Sidney and Bloomfield Highways. After a full day’s work at the Highway Department, he and Anne would toil long hours into the night and every weekend building fence, planting trees, designing and eventually constructing their own home.

After 27 years, Ed retired from the Montana Department of Transportation.  Upon his retirement, Ed and Anne started Country Auto Sales, and operated this small business for the next twenty years from the horse pasture next to their home.

Flying was Ed’s passion.  He loved watching meadowlarks and other birds in flight, which led him to become a pilot in 1960, no small feat considering his vision issues.  He eventually owned several different airplanes, but he loved his Beechcraft Bonanzas the most. Ed and Anne made many flights together around the lower 48 states. 

Anne and Ed recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

They were blessed with four children who survive him:  Bobi (Gene) Allard, Stan Jonutis, Jo Anne (Gary) Herem and Jim (Donna) Jonutis. They have four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Ed is also survived by his younger brother, C. John Jonutis and close childhood friend of 90 years, Norman Ovitt. 

Ed’s older brother, Joe Jonutis, Jr. and younger sister, Lillian Jonutis, preceded him in death.

Ed was proud of his military service. The family would like to thank those many strangers who, upon observing the “WWII Veteran” hat Ed always wore, anonymously paid for his restaurant meals, put him to the front of a line, or made other respectful considerations. He never failed to mention these thoughtful acts to family and friends. In fact, for those who wish to make a memorial, the family requests you pay forward these kindnesses to military personnel.

Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of arrangements. The family is planning a private Catholic service with burial at the Eastern Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Miles City at a later date. And Dad, from Mom and your kids:  “Iniibig Kita.”

Daryl Nunberg, age 56, most loved son and brother, passed away on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at his dearly loved group home in Miles City. 

Visitation was held on Monday, April 24, 2017 at the Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. A Rosary service was held on Monday, April 24, 2017 at the Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Mass of Christian Burial took place on Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glendive with Father Francis Schreiber officiating. Rite of Committal will be in the Dawson County Cemetery. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements. 

Daryl was born April 4, 1961 in Glendive. Daryl’s early years were spent growing up in Glendive and Miles City. When he was 16 he moved to a group home in Plentywood. Daryl lived there until July of 1986, when he moved to a group home in Miles City. He resided there until his passing. Daryl loved his group home family very much, he enjoyed his work at EMI, especially drinking coffee and bugging Scott and Quentin and his EMI managers. He was quite the jokester and loved to make others laugh. Daryl will be greatly missed by his family. He loved coming home for visits, especially for the holidays. His favorite past time was listening to his walkman with his headphones, singing, “Take This Job and Shove It” at the top of his lungs. He loved it when his Mom, sister Cindy, and brother-in-law Dan would come to Miles City and visit him. Those visits always included a trip to Walmart, where Daryl was Cindy’s official cart pusher. It never failed that Daryl would see someone that knew him and would stop and say hello. Daryl was always so friendly that way. After the Walmart shopping excursion, there was always a trip to McDonalds for cheeseburgers and fries. 

Though Daryl’s life was filled with many ups and downs, he was loved by many and will be greatly missed by those lives he touched. He is now at home with his Dad, no more struggles and perfect in every way!

Daryl is preceded in death by his dad, Allie; maternal and paternal grandparents; and numerous aunts and uncles.

Daryl is survived by his mom, Marijean Nunberg of Glendive; his sister Cindy and brother-in-law Dan of Glendive; brothers, Kent (Lisa) of Billings, Tim (Gene Martin) of Anchorage, Alaska; Terry (Tara) of Livingston, Paul (Vicki) of Bozeman, and Kelly (Jessica) of Belgrade; he is also survived by lots of nieces, nephews and cousins galore.

Daryl is leaving a very big hole in all of our hearts, and will be dearly missed. Rest in peace, sweet loving soul! 

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.

Ruth Bjerkreim Anderson passed away at the Eastern Montana Veteran’s Home in Glendive on April 22, 2017 at the age of 91.

Ruth was born April 10, 1926 to Torleif and Bertra (Steen) Bjerkreim in Glendive. She lived in Glendive until she met and married Robert Lee Anderson in 1948. They shared their 56 years together in Billings, remaining each other’s “better half” until Bob’s passing in 2004.

Ruth was a charter and active member at Atonement Lutheran Church and Sons of Norway.

She is survived by daughter, Dorothy (Paul) Sturlaugson; son, Gerald (Scotta) Anderson; six grandchildren: Jeremiah, Jacob and Benjamin Anderson, Ryan and Andrew Sturlaugson and Megan Sturlaugson (Danny) Coryell; three great-grandchildren: Cameron, Collin and Claira Coryell; sister, Betty Downs of Lindsay; brother, Andy (Sue) Highland of Littleton, N.C.; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 6 at the Atonement Lutheran Church in Billings, followed by a graveside service at Sunset Memorial Gardens and a fellowship luncheon at Smith Funeral Westend Chapel. Memorials can be made to Atonement Lutheran Church or a charity of one’s choosing. Smith Funeral Chapel is entrusted with arrangements.

Michael Jay Gaub, 54, of Billings, passed away on April 26, 2017, at Billings Clinic, surrounded by his wife and twin daughters, Erin and Emily. 

He was born on June 15, 1962, in Glendive, graduating from Dawson County High School.

Michael worked for the Glendive Police Department for 20 years and the State of Montana for the last 11. He trained hundreds of law enforcement officers through his years of instructing at Dawson Community College. He married his wife, Misti, in 2004, and settled in Billings, where they started their family. Michael enjoyed every minute with his daughters. He enjoyed camping with his three beautiful girls and spending time at home.

He is survived by his wife, Misti Robertson-Gaub; his daughters, Erin and Emily Gaub; and brothers, Gary (Paula) Gaub and Robert (Debra) Gaub. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Janice Gaub.

The family offers a special thank you to the ICC at Billings Clinic, especially Diane Jones and Ramona Bruckner, for their help and care.

A funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 29, at St. Patrick Co-Cathedral, 215 N. 31st St. Interment will follow in Yellowstone Valley Memorial Park.

Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary is assisting with arrangements. Condolences may be made online at www.michelottisawyers.com.

Lillian Ebel, age 91 of Williston, passed away peacefully early Wednesday morning, April 26, 2017, under the care of hospice, at the Bethel Lutheran Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center in Williston.

Her funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 1, 2017 at Light of Christ Lutheran Church in Williston with Rev. Scott Neumann officiating. Interment in Big Lake Cemetery, East of Homestead, Mont. will take place at 2:30 central time on Monday afternoon.

Lillian was born to Burnie and Julia Urdahl in McIntosh, Minn. on August 5, 1925. The family moved to the Homestead, Mont. area where she was raised and educated.

Lillian met Herman Ebel, the love of her life, just before he went to the Army to serve in World War II.  After the war and many love letters having been written, they were united in marriage on October 30, 1946. Born to this union were Duane, Marilynn, Sharon and Dwight.  

Lillian enjoyed gardening, canning and cooking.  She enjoyed spending time and entertaining family and friends. In 1986, after Herman’s death, she moved to Williston to be closer to family and where she formed many more friendships. Lillian was very devoted to her family, and her children and great-grandchildren were the light of her life. Throughout her life she held several jobs in the Medicine Lake, Plentywood, and Williston areas. She was also a member of Light of Christ Lutheran Church, and the VFW.

Surviving her are daughters, Marilynn (Jim) Knapp of Glendive and Sharon Ebel of Fargo, N.D.; son, Dwight Luane Ebel of Williston; daughter-in-law, Marla Ebel of Belfry, Mont.;  eight grandchildren, Shari (Steve) Droll, Michelle Harrington, Shannon Hogenson, Seth (Christy) Ebel, Lanae Ebel, Damian (Angie) Ebel, Thea (Aaron) Holter, and Kara (Anthony) Benson; granddaughter-in- law, Felicity Ebel;  twenty-eight great-grandchildren, Cody, Kayla, Clayton and Kassidy Droll, Ariana, Abriele and Breylon Harrington, Preston, Ethan and Liam Hogenson, Alyse, Jon, and Leah Ebel, Felicity Ebel, Dawson, Dominic and Dalton Ebel, Jocelyn, Annabelle, Olivia, Gracie and Brody Ebel, Carson and Maggie Holter, and Asher, Oakley and Jonah Benson; one great-great-grandchild, Brynn; three sisters, Blanch, Gladys and Leona; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

She was preceded in death by her parents, Burnie and Julia Urdahl; husband, Herman; son, Duane; grandsons, Scott Christensen and Dana Ebel; brothers, Stanley  Urdahl, Leonard Urdahl, and Oliver Urdahl; and sister Lila Engberg.

Friends may call at Everson-Coughlin Funeral Home on Sunday afternoon, April 30, from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. and for the hour preceding the service at the church on Monday.

Friends are welcome to visit www.eversoncoughlin.com to share memories of Lillian or leave condolences for her family.

Cindy Kolberg, of Bozeman, formerly of Glendive, passed away at the Glendive Medical Center in Glendive surrounded by family and friends on April 22, 2017, surviving almost a year after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. 

Cindy was a free spirit and such a lover of the Earth, it was only fitting that she would choose “Earth Day” as her day to exit. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, 2017 at Zion Lutheran Church with Pastor Will Johnson officiating. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Cindy was born into a close-knit family in Glendive and she enjoyed spending time on the family farm near Bloomfield. She attended grade school in Glendive and graduated from Dawson County High School in 1975, where she was a member of the first basketball team (boys or girls) to win a Montana State championship in her sophomore year. Additionally, Cindy was also a member of  swim and diving teams, the drill team, the cheerleading squad and track and field.

Following graduation, Cindy attended and graduated in 1982 from Montana State University-Bozeman with a Horticulture degree.  This degree naturally complimented Cindy’s love of all things green and she often delighted both family and friends by gifting them with plants and flowers she raised from seedlings or tiny transplants. She was truly a “plant whisperer”.

Cindy was married to John Short for 31 years.  While the marriage ended, it was not before raising three amazing sons in a cabin located near Bridger Bowl. Cindy was a loving mother to Mike, Ryan and Axel and the family enjoyed many years nestled in Bridger Canyon exploring, hiking, skiing and engaging in all manner of adventure and shenanigans.

Cindy loved the country; and her deep appreciation for nature’s gifts was unmatched. She possessed a deep personal strength and had an abiding faith in God.  Her zest for life and the examples she set for all of us in learning to enjoy the little things in life will never be forgotten. Cindy was also an animal lover and her family pets always accompanied her in her travels—even back to Glendive to visit Mom and Dad. During this time Cindy worked as a baker at Bridger Bowl ski resort where her  “Bridger Bars” were a hit among the ski crowd and others.

Cindy spent forty years in and around Bozeman and leaves behind many wonderful and dear friends who were always by her side, but never more so than in this last year after her diagnosis.  Despite the challenges of terminal cancer, Cindy’s spirit never faded as she continued to live life to the fullest.

Cindy was preceded in death by her brother, Brad Kolberg of Glendive; her youngest son, Axel; her grandparents; and several aunts and uncles.    

Survivors include her sons, Mike Short of Anaconda and Ryan Short of San Diego, Calif.; her former husband, John Short of Bozeman; parents, Gordon and Gert Kolberg of Glendive; sister, Cheryl Kolberg and her partner Maggie Copeland of Glendive; brothers, Greg Kolberg of Glendive, Darren Kolberg of Three Forks, and Guy Kolberg and his finance Vickie Crane of Glendive. Cindy is also survived by childhood friends Lorna Milne and Peggy Roe as well as many nieces, nephews and special sisters—you all know who you are! Additionally, we remember her core of Bozeman friends, Karen, Ruth, Cyndi and Sarah who always cared for Cindy especially through the last year.

The family would like to thank the Hospice angels in Bozeman and Glendive who took such tender care of Cindy, her friends and co-workers at Joe’s Parkway who donated and raised money for her while she was undergoing treatment, and everyone who brought flowers, food, stopped for a visit, or sent up a prayer for Cindy and our family during this time.

Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Glendive or Bozeman, Gift of Life House at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.; or The Heart of Valley Animal Shelter in Bozeman.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.

Wesley Lyman Egeness, of Glendive, passed away at home on April 29, 2017.  

A private graveside service with military honors at Dawson County Cemetery will take place at a later date. Silha Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

He was born January 18, 1938 to Theodore “Tex” Egeness and Marie “Bobbie” Gonshorowski. He attended the Egeness school of Lindsay.

He worked in construction on the Glasgow Air Force Base where he met and married Sharon Christiansen on January 3, 1959. Two children were born, Brian Eugene and Pamela Mae.

Wes joined the Army in 1960. Wes was stationed in Fort Eustis, Va. for two years. After his military discharge, while living in Seattle, Wash., he was employed by Sears & Roebuck Company installing chain link & wood fences in the area with his brothers, Bud & Tim. In  1970, Wes and his family moved to Glendive where he worked building the I-94 Interstate Bridge over the Yellowstone River in Glendive and for Crisafulli Pump Company where he received an award from the Governor of Montana for services during emergency flood conditions where homes and lives where in jeopardy.

Wes was a talented musician who loved playing the steel guitar, rhythm and lead while singing songs by Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard, to name a few. His family and friends would often join in the festivities. He was quick to point out any rhythm that was off and if you were out of tune, he’d tell you about it.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Brian Eugene Egeness; two sisters, Janet Egeness and Carol Ann Egeness; three brothers, Leslie Egeness, Carl Egeness,  and David “Bud” Egeness; and his second wife, Pamla Arlene Rollman.

He is survived by daughter, Pamela Mae Egeness of Glendive; sister, Marie (Ervin) Lovaas and brother, Tim (Charlotte) Egeness all of Glendive; 4 grandchildren, Brad Egeness of Billings, Jami Franks of Idaho, Sara Egeness of Glendive, and Tara Egeness of Denver, Colo.; 4 great-grandchildren; and very special friends Sharon Unruh and Clayton Shields.

The family offers a special thank you to Dr. Trotskey of the VA in Miles City, Kristi Murphy and Leslie of Hospice, and  Doug of Silha Funeral Home for your compassion and care in our time of need.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.silhafuneralhomes.com. 

On April 30, 2017, Jeanette Malarchick, a dearly loved woman, merely two weeks before her 87th birthday, passed away after a long and valiant battle with breast cancer. Though her chair rests empty, our lives remain full because of her. She did not feel that she was anything special, nor did she boast about being the best mom or grandma, but she was, and she taught us what it means to love unconditionally. Was the world a better place because she was here? She would never say, but we will. She loved life and strived to live it according to the scriptures. She followed the golden rule and she loved her God, Jehovah, with her whole heart, strength and might, and her neighbor as herself. (Matthew 22:37-39) She was an excellent teacher of the Bible, and more than a few improved their lives because of her efforts.

She was born in 1930, and she worked hard her entire life, doing what she loved, taking care of her family and of the land she owned. She prided herself to have lived over 50 years in the home she helped build.

Whether it was a smile or a tender look, kindness was felt across the room even from one time zone to the next. Page after page, her life is filled with stories, tales of color and love written in Wisconsin, origin and adventure stories penned in Montana. We all had the pleasure of laughing with her, crying with her, and of course, being enveloped in her heartfelt hugs. With every moment, a memory was placed, unwavering and unbreakable. Those memories were diamonds she held in her eyes and now have become our inheritance.

This was a life that was rich in the many ways that, in the end, are truly important, love for God, family and friends. Mom was one that lived a life of understanding that success and wealth were not associated with money or property, but were accumulated through hard work, warm hugs, and good food.

In a tearful blink, she is gone. She now sleeps for a time, awaiting her call to life again, not to a world of disease and injustices, but to a perfect paradise when God’s will is finally done here on earth. (John 5:28, 29 Revelation 21:3, 4) She will live again, and all her friends will be there to welcome her home. She ran the race and she won. (2 Timothy 4:7) We don’t cry for her, we cry for each other. We lost a wonderful mom, grandma, sister and friend. Until we see her again.

She is survived by her sons Steve and Allen; daughters-in-law, Ann and Debbie; her daughters, Mary, Laura, Stacey and Rachel; sons-in-law, John, Jim, Scott and Preston; her sister, Loretta; her brothers, Bud, Fred, Phillip and Bill; her fourteen grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and many other wonderful family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Ervin; sister, Viola; and brother, Carl. 

Per her wishes, no services will be given.

Len Abbott Fuqua has been set free and passed away from this earth on Saturday morning, April 29, 2017. At home, peacefully, like a good book, it ended at the right time but his stories...amazing stories will be read over and over. Len could imagine and dream of more things than anyone and he passed this passion on to his six children.

He was born in Higgins, Texas to Frank Duane Fuqua and Idyleglenn Abbott on January 4, 1938. He graduated from Texas Tech University and entered OCS  stationed in San Diego, Calif. as a Lieutenant JG on the US Valley Forge and legal officer for SeaBees. This is where he met his lifelong partner, Carole Anderson, a kindergarten teacher, and began their journey of almost 53 years. They were married the day after school was out in Pacific Beach on June 20, 1964. The marriage was later solemnized for time and all eternity in the Los Angeles Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. To this union was born their crown jewels, Stephanie (Dustan Diede) of Livingston, Eric of Glendive, Hunter (Toni) of Fort Meyers, Fla. and Lolo, Mont., David of Glendive, Jonathan (Bethany) of Billings and Christopher of Billings. They have 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Len was employed with the family business, Anderson’s Dept. Store in Glendive for many years but his lifelong pursuits were in his writing. He encompassed his world travels in stories of fact and fiction to the entertainment of his family. He leaves a legacy of devotion to family, a fascination of the world both spiritual and temporal. He was a remarkable pianist, talented swimmer and tennis player, which he shared by coaching the youth of Glendive. He taught many how to play Chess and they visited the house often for a challenge. He introduced Karate to his friends and family as well as Dr. Pepper to Butterys (Alberstons) with the help of then manager, Pat Moran. He obtained his pilots’ license in 1971 at the Glendive Airport and enjoyed many flights over the Eastern Montana terrain. Even performing emergency runs to Billings for friends.

He fought non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma for 17 years but it was the Alzheimer’s that finally over took his beautiful brain and body. He never complained, not once, and was often able to laugh at himself. He was the center of laughter and the heart of his family. He will be greatly missed.

His family expresses great thanks to the loving care of Riverstone Hospice. Aliica, Judy, Amber, Melissa, Kathy and Bob you made his days so much happier.

We are grateful to the Veterans Healthcare System who took care of Len for so long from his eyes to his toes in Miles City, Fort Harrison, Billings and Salt Lake City.

Len is survived by his  wife and children, grandchildren and five younger brothers, Rob Fuqua (Judi) of Kimberling, Mo. Murray Young (Jane) of Denver, Colo. and Mark, Gregg and Daniel  Fuqua of Texas.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on June 24 at the Glendive Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with Military Honors.

Arrangements are by Cremation & Funeral Gallery. Condolences can be sent through www.cfgbillings.com through “Our Families.”