Obituaries

Sep 14, 2019

Isaac Ruiz, 84, of Great Falls, passed away on September 14, 2019. Isaac was born in Rincón, Puerto Rico to Nicholas Ruiz and Juana Muñoz on March 25, 1935. Throughout his life, he enjoyed spending time with his family, playing baseball, bike riding, and playing dominos. In 1979, Isaac started working at the City College of New York City as...

Sep 14, 2019

Patricia Kruse, a life-time resident of the Great Falls area, died peacefully, Saturday, September 14, 2019. She was born to Lee and Elizabeth Akers in Great Falls, July 3, 1927. Patricia graduated from Great Falls High School in 1945. She began working at the Kress Store in downtown Great Falls, during high school and continued full-time after graduation. She was...

Sep 12, 2019

Jean Eileen Strong, 83, of Great Falls, passed away on September 12, 2019.She was born on July 23, 1936, in Lewistown, Montana to Wilmer and Margaret Hertel.Jean attended Trout Creek Rural Grade School as well as Moore High School in Moore, Montana.She grew up on her family's ranch outside Moore where her family still resides. She met her husband of...

Sep 11, 2019

Leendert Lourens Tankink of Great Falls, Montana, passed away on September 11, 2019, at the age of 93. Leendert Tankink was born in Jakarta, Indonesia on January 11, 1926, to Adriana and Leendert Tankink Sr., and he had one brother and two sisters. During WWII, Leendert endured great hardship and deprivation as many civilians were imprisoned by the Japanese in...

Sep 10, 2019

Rudolph “Lyle” Larson of Great Falls passed away on September 10, 2019, of natural causes at Peace Hospice. Lyle was born on December 2, 1929, in Windham, MT to Rudy and Martha Larson. He attended school in Windham through junior high school and then graduated high school from Stanford, MT in 1947. After graduation, he was drafted into the Army....

Sep 6, 2019

Ellen Viola Johnson-Kempa was born in Big Timber, Montana to Sigard and Berget Johnson. She grew up in Virginia City and Neihart Montana with her siblings, Joan and Carl. Ellen had plenty of time to explore the mountains where she took great solace at times, having lost her father at a very young age. Ellen had many talks with God...

Sep 6, 2019

Vernon J. Gusick, 90, of Bozeman, passed away on September 6, 2019. Vernon was born in Great Falls on August 11, 1929. He attended school at Four Corners Grade School, Highwood School, and then for senior year, attended and graduated from St. Mary’s High School. He later went on to serve his country in the United States Marine Corps. In...

Sep 5, 2019

Harold Ralph Nelson, 82, passed away peacefully in his home in Great Falls on September 5, 2019, under Hospice care. Harold was born in Akron, Ohio, to William R. and Gladys (Lockhart) Nelson.Harold was a resourceful kid and worked diligently as a Boy Scout, earning the coveted Eagle Scout award. Asa teenager, he loved people and singing in a mixed...

Sep 5, 2019

Clifford Chester DeZort quietly passed away on September 5, 2019, at Peace Hospice in Great Falls. He was born on June 21, 1932, in Cut Bank, MT to Chet and Dorothy DeZort. Cliff attended Meadowbrook School in North Cut Bank for grades 1 through 8. He attended Cut Bank High School for three years. He moved to Fairfield for his...

Sep 5, 2019

Karen Quirk, 83, of Black Eagle, Montana, passed away September 5, 2019. She was born on March 29, 1936, to Harry and Muriel Sorensen in Muskegon, Michigan. Her family moved to Great Falls, Montana in 1951. She was a ballet, tap, and toe dancer, as well as, a dance instructor starting at a young age. She met the love of...

Sep 5, 2019

Michael Roy "Papa" Ryan, 64, of Great Falls, MT passed away September 5, 2019. He was born to Dewain and Lauretta Mae Ryan (Reynolds) on February 9, 1955. He grew up on Reynolds Ranch in the Highwood Mountains and graduated from Highwood High School in 1974. He married Judy Lynn Wilhelm of Swan Valley on February 14, 1980. He was...

Sep 3, 2019

Patrick Edward Cahill, 74, of Great Falls, MT passed away on Tuesday, September 3, 2019, at home surrounded by his loving family after a 2½ year battle with cancer. Pat was born on January 30, 1945, in Los Angeles, CA to Edward and Alice Cahill.He grew up in Portland, OR and Petaluma, CA. In 1964, Pat enlisted in the Navy...

Sep 1, 2019

Nancy Carroll Shell Tuss, 89, of Great Falls, passed away in her home on September 1, 2019 from congestive heart failure. Nancy was born in Pocahontas, Virginia on December 2, 1929, to Harry and Nannie Sue Shell and the family moved to Great Falls in 1944. She graduated from Great Falls High School in 1947, and attended one year at...

Aug 31, 2019

Jim passed away on August 31, 2019. He fought a long hard fight with courage and humor, always. His love of family and friends kept him fighting hard. He taught us all to be strong. He will be loved and missed forever. A celebration of his life will be held at the Geyser Community Hall on September 20, 2019, at...

Aug 31, 2019

Judith Joy (Russell) Audet passed away August 31, 2019, in Great Falls. Judith was born July 18th, 1940, to Marion and Opal Russell in Great Falls. She graduated high school from Geraldine MT.Judy married Dave Audet in 1959, and they resided in various locations in Montana. They later divorced. Judy worked at various jobs, but her main focus was on...

Aug 30, 2019

Aug 30, 2019

Joanne K. Tripp, 72, of Cascade, passed away Friday, August 30, 2019. Joanne was born March 26, 1947 in Great Falls to Carl and Delphine Tripp.She graduated from Great Falls High School, married and had two sons. Joanne was a caregiver at heart and she loved taking care of everyone and was always there to help. Joanne was a talented...

Aug 29, 2019

John Dennison Houghton, 86, died in the loving arms of Jesus while surrounded by his family on August 29, 2019. Born November 27, 1932, in Great Falls, to Harold and Olive Houghton, John attended Great Falls High School and the College of Great Falls, earning a degree in mathematics before entering the United States Army and becoming an agent in...

Aug 28, 2019

Our beloved mother has been taken by her cherished angels away from all her family and friends. She has gone to her eternal home to her loving God, and to be with those that she has missed since they left this earth. A funeral liturgy will be held on September 4, 2019, at 11:00 p.m. at St. Ann's Cathedral. Carole...

Aug 27, 2019

Our beloved mother, Mary Valacich, age 93, passed away on August 27, 2019. She has gone on to her beloved God in her eternal home. A visitation will be held on Thursday, September 12, 2019, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Schnider Funeral Home. A funeral liturgy will be held on Friday, September 13, 2019, at 12:00 p.m. at...