Obituaries

Apr 7, 2013

Obituary for Pete Dodson

MISSOULA – Pete Dodson passed away unexpectedly at his home on Sunday, April 7, 2013. He was born July 13, 1961, to Dee and Leta Dodson. Pete had a great love for animals. He had a huge heart and was always willing to help anyone that needed it. Pete is survived by his only daughter,...

Apr 7, 2013

Obituary for Lora Jean Simmons

MISSOULA – Lora Jean Simmons, 98, of Missoula, passed away on Sunday, April 7, 2013, at Hunter's Glen. She was born on March 20, 1915, in Sula to Lora May and Charles Henry Wetzsteon. She went to nursing school at St. Luke's in Spokane and later worked at Deaconess Hospital. Later she moved to...

Apr 5, 2013

Obituary for Edward Besel

MISSOULA – Edward Besel passed away Friday, April 5, 2013, in Missoula, after a short illness. He was five months shy of his 100th birthday and maintained his sharpness of mind and self-effacing sense of humor until the end. He lived independently until seven weeks before his death. Ed was born on Aug. 10, 1913,...

Apr 3, 2013

Obituary for James Daniel Axe

MISSOULA – James "Jim" Axe, 53, of Missoula, passed away Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at his home in St. Ignatius in the presence of his loving family. Jim is now at rest after a heroic 10-month battle against cancer. He was born June 21, 1959, in Billings to Lois Artzis and Harley Axe. He...

Apr 1, 2013

Obituary for Chance Geery

MILLTOWN – Chance James Geery, 18, of Milltown, was taken suddenly on Monday, April 1, 2013. Chance was born on May 30, 1994, in Missoula to loving parents Todd Geery, 52, and Teresa Burch-Geery, 47. Chance was everything to Todd. His hero. Proud, beyond words, of his handsome son. His character, accomplishments, his huge potential...

Apr 1, 2013

Obituary for Carol Jean Wetzsteon

MISSOULA — Carol Jean Wetzsteon, grandmother, mother, sister, auntie, companion, friend ... passed away suddenly and peacefully in her home Monday, April 1, 2013. She will be greatly missed by those who were blessed to know her in this life. She was a treasure of a woman: inspiring, guiding, mentoring, giving unconditionally to all...

Mar 30, 2013

Obituary for Margaret Ann Stelling "Mugs" Pieters

Our beloved mother, grandmother & great grandmother, Margaret Ann "Mugs" Stelling Pieters, joined her parents, Anna & Herman "Rocky" Klingler and her brother Lloyd (Jane) Klingler in heaven on her 85th birthday, March 30, 2013. Born in Havre, MT, on March 30, 1928, she attended what was then MSU in Missoula and...

Mar 30, 2013

Obituary for Yvonne Powell

MISSOULAâ�,��**– Our beloved mother, Vonnie Powell, 84, went to sleep in death on Saturday, March 30, 2013, after a lengthy illness. Vonnie was born in Missoula on March 3, 1929, and was a lifelong Missoula resident. She married Al Powell in August 1946 and began a 52-year union with a ride down Higgins Avenue in...

Mar 30, 2013

Obituary for Robert Earl Sampson

MISSOULA – Robert Earl Sampson, 82, of Missoula, passed away at home Saturday, March 30, 2013, after struggling with heart disorders and Parkinson's disease. He was born July 7, 1930, in Saffordville, Kan., to Albert and Bertha Sampson. Robert was a lifelong Christian and an active member of First Christian Church in Missoula. Robert...

Mar 30, 2013

Obituary for Lorene M. Rothfusz

Lorene Rothfusz, born Lorene Mathilda Entzel, entered this world June 15, 1933, & departed this world, joining her dear Heavenly Father, March 30, 2013. Lorene was the first-born child of Henry & Mathilda Entzel, followed by seven treasured siblings. She is survived by three brothers & two sisters; Arnie Entzel (Jan-Coon Rapids, MN), Marjean...

Mar 30, 2013

Life Story for Frank L. Schwindt

Mar 28, 2013

Obituary for Jesse Ginn

MISSOULA – Jesse Ginn went to live with the Lord on March 28, 2013. He died of natural causes sitting in his favorite chair. Jesse was 80 years old. He was born in Hamilton on July 20, 1932. He lived most of his childhood in the Bitterroot and would walk from his cabin down to...

Mar 28, 2013

Obituary for Evelyn Louise Ochsner

T. REGIS – Evelyn Louise Ochsner, 65, passed away Thursday, March 28, 2013, at her home in St. Regis. She departed this life peacefully in her sleep of a heart attack. She was born July 6, 1947, in Miles City to Frank and Elsie Zawada. Evelyn attended Missoula County High School and after graduation...

Mar 28, 2013

Obituary for Robert E. "Bob" Ruthford

SUPERIORâ�,��**– Lt. Col. Robert E. "Bob" Ruthford, 88, died of natural causes Thursday, March 28, 2013, in Superior. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, friends and wife of 63 years, Doris Ruthford (Mencel). Lt. Col. Ruthford was born March 28, 1925, to the late Scaffy and Arba Ruthford in Chicago,...

Mar 27, 2013

Obituary for Margie M. O'Toole

ALBERTONâ�,��**– Marge lived with her husband, James, on the Clark Fork River in Alberton since 1985. She was born May 9, 1925, in Iowa, where she lovingly raised a family of four and created a home and career. She was a benevolent being and cultivated great lifetime friendships with everyone who crossed her path....

Mar 24, 2013

Obituary for Jack Thomas "JT" Liesz

RINCON, Ga. – Jack Thomas "JT" Liesz, 30, died unexpectedly on Sunday, March 24, 2013 in Bluffton, S.C. JT was born April 23, 1982 in Pullman, Wash. to Jan Hook Julin and Tom Liesz. Jan and Tom welcomed JT's little sister Nissa into their family on April 25, 1986. The family lived in...

Mar 24, 2013

Obituary for Joan B Barker

POTOMAC – Joan B. Barker, 79, of Potomac, went home to be with her Lord and loving husband Bill on Sunday, March 24, 2013, surrounded by her family. She was born on Feb. 27, 1934, in Chicago, Ill., to William and Vera Daley. She grew up in Chicago, facing a great deal of loss,...

Mar 22, 2013

Obituary for J.R. "Bits" Stephenson

J. R. "Bits" Stephenson died of natural causes on March 22. He was born in Missoula on May 4, 1923 to William and Marie Stephenson. Growing up in Missoula, he attended Missoula County High School (class of 1941), and the University of Montana. He served in the Army during WWII in the 3rd Army...

Mar 21, 2013

Obituary for Margaret E. Kirkpatrick Gerlach

MISSOULA – Margaret E. (Kirkpatrick) Gerlach, 81, of Missoula, passed away on Thursday, March 21, 2013, at Edgewood Vista of natural causes. She was born on Dec. 9, 1931, in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, to Harold (HB) and Eleanor (Marrs) Kirkpatrick. On Dec. 27, 1952, she married Frederick L. Gerlach in Vancouver, B.C., Canada....

Mar 18, 2013

Obituary for Donald F. "Doc" Bauer

Donald F "Doc" Bauer, 80, of Huson, passed away Monday, March 18, 2013 at his home in the arms of his loving wife and other family members after a long battle with lung cancer. He was born on Sept. 22, 1932 in Helena, to Frank Donald and Juliet DeBree Bauer. He graduated from...