Obituaries

Oct 27, 2024

Cherryl Ruth Kohler, 96, of Missoula, passed away peacefully in her home on the evening of October 27, 2024. The second to the youngest in a family of 10 children, Cherryl was born in Missoula on December 9, 1927. Some of her greatest memories with the family was when they lived in a wall tent all summer while her mom...

Oct 23, 2024

Tina Marrie Tucker, age 62, passed away peacefully on October 23, 2024, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on June 16, 1962, in Fort Belknap, Montana, to William Henry Tucker and Lucille Candace Tucker. Tina was deeply connected to her Native roots and spent over three decades traveling the pow-wow circuit, a tradition that became even more...

Oct 22, 2024

Gary passed away at his home in Missoula on October 22, 2024 at the age of 82.

Gary was born August 12, 1942 in Helena, Montana and graduated from Helena High School in 1960. He attended the University of Montana from 1960 to 1966 and served in the Montana Army National Guard for 36 years. In 1967 he joined the First...

Oct 22, 2024

John David Wittkopp, 74, of Missoula, passed away at his home on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, surrounded by love. 

Oct 22, 2024

Leona Lee Hestekind (Lee), 84, passed away on October 22, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. She was born March 3, 1940 in Powell, Wyoming, the daughter of Laura and Leon Banks. Lee harbored a passion for crafts evident in her elaborate miniature dollhouses and she enjoyed a good crossword puzzle. She also enjoyed foreign travel with her husband and...

Oct 21, 2024

David Richard Fortner, 47, of Huson, passed away on Monday, October 21, 2004, at his home.

He was born on January 24, 1977, in Lincoln, Nebraska to Richard and Bernadette Fortner. He was the last to join his siblings Susan, Ellen, Mike and Patrick.

In 1997 he moved to Missoula to go to college. He loved Montana and made this his home....

Oct 18, 2024

Dr Kelvin “Kel” Snyder was born in Maryland October 16, 1952, and died in Missoula, Montana, October 18, 2024, two days after his 72nd birthday. 

 Kel grew up in the Pittsburgh area of Pennsylvania, the only child of Kenneth and Mildred Gartland Snyder. He graduated from Beaver High School and Vanderbilt University and then served two years in the U.S. Navy....

Oct 18, 2024

Bruce Wayne Lytle, born on May 12, 1958, in Fort Eustis, VA, passed away on October 18, 2024, at the age of 66 in Drummond, MT.

Bruce, an avid outdoorsman who loved fishing, snorkeling, and being in the forest, worked as a Network Analyst in the Medical Manufacturing field. He found joy in his job since it involved foreign travel. While...

Oct 18, 2024

Kenneth “Ken” Allen Jonas, 62, of Florence, MT, passed away on October 18, 2024, with family by his side. 

Ken’s life was one of love, loss, and resilience. Born in Juneau, Alaska, in 1961, he spent his childhood in Anchorage before moving to Montana in 1976. In 1980, he met Donna Schroeder, the woman who captured his heart. Their joy was...

Oct 17, 2024

It is with deep sorrow that we announce the sudden passing of Susan Elizabeth Hogan (Rich). Our beloved mother, Nana and friend, passed away October 17, 2024, at 60 years old. Susan gained her angel wings peacefully at her home in Missoula, Montana.

Susan was born December 10, 1963, to Leslie and William Rich in Missoula, where she would forever call...

Oct 16, 2024

Darrel D. Johnson died October 16th 2024 at home with family by his side at age 91.

He was born August 25th 1933 in Burlington Junction, Missouri to Herman and Etta (Parish) Johnson. His mother moved him from Quitman, Missouri to Council Bluff, Iowa where he was raised with two half brothers Donald and Dennis Dannat and one half sister Lolita...

Oct 16, 2024

Jamie Catherine (Scoville) Phillips died on October 16th, 2024 in her hometown of Missoula, Montana, after a long illness. She was born in Great Falls, Montana on November 15th, 1962, and raised by James and Jacqueline Scoville of Missoula. She shared her childhood home with her brother Jimmy, and together they spent many days at the family cabin on Flathead...

Oct 15, 2024

Harlan Erickson, 76, of Missoula, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at his home surrounded by loved ones.

Born on March 21, 1948, in Minot, North Dakota, to Orris and Evelyn (Kittleson) Erickson, Harlan was the eldest of five children and a devoted champion and protector of his younger siblings.

In his early childhood, Harlan’s family moved to Missoula, where...

Oct 14, 2024

Modesta Chavez Villarreal, 81 años, falleció el lunes 14 de Octubre, 2024, en Missoula, Montana, en casa rodeada de sus seis hijos. 

Ella nació el 2 de Enero del 1943 en Satevo, Chihuahua. Fue la tercera hija de Ramon Villarreal y Juana Chavira. Modesta tuvo cuatro hermanas y tres hermanos. 

Modesta se casó con Mauricio Chavez Carbajal un 6 de Enero del...

Oct 11, 2024

Patricia Bandimere (Pat), 88, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on October 11, 2024.

She was born on September 21, 1936, in Little Falls, Minnesota, to Oscar and Alice Holden. On June 27, 1959, she married Bill Bandimere. They had one son, Paul.

She was active in Children’s Ministry and Christian Women’s Club for many years.

Pat was preceded...

Oct 10, 2024

Oct 9, 2024

Katherine Jean Schmidt, age 86 was born in Chandler, Oklahoma, to Lorne A. F. Morris and Lillie B. Morris. She was baptized in March 1951 at the Arcadia First Baptist Church.

She married Mr. Gene L. Schmidt, August 11, 1998, and together they made their home in Dickinson, Texas.

Katherine had a deep passion for creating beautiful works through crocheting and knitting,...

Oct 7, 2024

Henry "Hank" Gabel, Jr., 93, of Missoula passed away Monday, October 7, 2024 at Bitterroot Health in Hamilton with loved ones by his side. A visitation will be held from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m., Thursday, October 10, 2024, at Garden City Funeral Home. The Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 11, 2024, at Garden City Funeral...

Oct 6, 2024

Jenny Bergit Lillebo, 94, of Missoula, passed away on Sunday, October 6, 2024.

Our hearts are broken.

She was born on August 9, 1930, in Brooklyn, New York to Gudrun and Olaf Olsen. When she was a baby, her family moved back to Lista, Norway where her parents were from. It was difficult times in Norway, so her mother moved back to...

Oct 5, 2024

Matthew Ryan Dutra, son of Lori Dutra was born in La Habra, California. He attended Heritage High School and later obtained his High School Diploma from an online High School program. He worked most of his working career in the Roofing Industry. Then in 2020, started his own Contracting Business, MRD Contracting. Matt always made a quick connection with all...