Obituaries

Nov 2, 2023

JoAnn Mary (Martinez) Kelleher of Great Falls, Montana, passed away on November 2, 2023, at the age of 90. The funeral will be held at St. Ann’s Cathedral (715 3rd Ave. North, Great Falls, MT), on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at noon. The burial will take place at Mount Olivet Cemetery.

JoAnn was born on October 17,...

Oct 31, 2023

Alice went home to be with Jesus on October 31, 2023, after a long illness. She was born to Randall and Julia Birchfield at Columbus Hospital in Great Falls on November 1, 1951. She was the second of six children born to Julia.

The family moved around a lot when she was young, so she attended many...

Oct 31, 2023

Shirley A. Merkel of Great Falls, Montana passed away at the age of 87 on October 31, 2023. Shirley was born January 22, 1936, in Moorehead, Minnesota to Clarence and Annie Rinke. In 1953, she married Bennie Braaten. They moved to Great Falls and were blessed with 4 children. They later divorced. Shirley worked for Social Services for several...

Oct 31, 2023

James Herbert “Jim” McCune of Great Falls passed away on October 31, 2023, at the age of 90. A private graveside service will be held.

James was born June 22, 1933, to Rose and James McCune in Boston, MA. He had two brothers and one sister.

James entered the Air Force in 1951 and served...

Oct 31, 2023

Phyllis Joyce (Shikany) Johnson, 86, passed away peacefully on October 31, 2023, at Peace Hospice in Great Falls, Montana.

Phyllis was born February 24, 1937, to Philip and Victoria (Forzley) Shikany in Great Falls, Montana. She attended local grade schools and Great Falls High. She loved tap dancing, sports, and hanging around with her cousins. She was...

Oct 30, 2023

Suzanne Kristine Schumacher passed away from natural causes on Monday, October 30, 2023.

Suzanne was born on December 23, 1952, in Seattle, WA to Richard and Joanne (Tripplet) Kuro. She was the eldest of three children and graduated from Enumclaw High School in 1971. She married Christopher Schumacher in October of 1971 and had two sons, Aarron...

Oct 27, 2023

Alden Ellsworth Armstrong, 87, of Great Falls, Montana passed away peacefully on October 27, 2023, at Peace Hospice.  Alden was born on January 22, 1936, in East Helena on the family dairy ranch to Roy William Joseph and Vara Lytle Armstrong.  He often stated he was born during an earthquake which in his words “shook him out on his...

Oct 27, 2023

Ardis “Faye” Mitchell Moss was born July 10, 1925, on a ranch near Landusky, Montana, to Vivian and Essie Mitchell. She peacefully passed away on October 27, 2023, at the age of 98.

Faye attended school in Landusky and Malta, where she graduated from Malta High School in 1943. In 1944, Faye and her sister, Kathryn moved...

Oct 27, 2023

Ronald “Ron” Herman Kicker passed away peacefully on October 27, 2023, at the age of 78 at a local care facility.

Ron was born on April 5, 1945, in Wadena, Minnesota to Herman and Evelyn Kicker. At the age of 11, his father passed away, and his mother moved him, his twin brother (Raymond) and their older...

Oct 27, 2023

Harley Reinhold Wuest passed away on October 27, 2023, at Peace Hospice in Great Falls, Montana at the age of 83 years old. He was born on May 4, 1940, to Reinhold Jacob Wuest and Alvena Lorenz. He grew up in Savage, Montana. Harley graduated from Savage High School, where he was an all-around athlete. He helped around the...

Oct 26, 2023

Eliane D. Tome passed away on October 26, 2023. She was born on October 16, 1954, and adopted by Robert and Denise Warner in Sacramento, California. Eliane worked as a waitress and enjoyed bowling, sewing, and camping.

Eliane is survived by her husband; Jay Tome; daughter; Lynnette Spicer; Son, Jon DeRego. She is preceded in death by...

Oct 23, 2023

Katherine JoAn Maeder, 95, of Great Falls, Montana passed away peacefully on October 23, 2023, at Benefis.

JoAn was born December 10, 1927, to John and Etta DeKoning in Malta, Montana. She attended schools in Malta and later at the College of Great Falls. She was a loving mother, dedicated to her family, providing care and was...

Oct 23, 2023

Rev. Walter J. Kirkegaard of Great Falls, MT passed away on October 23, 2023, at the age of 94.

Walt was born on August 31, 1929, in Littleton, CO to Anton and Helen Kirkegaard. He graduated high school in Aurora, CO in 1947. After high school, he moved to Northern California for work in a logging mill...

Oct 22, 2023

Richard “Dick” M. Azure of Great Falls passed away on October 22, 2023, at the age of 97. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel.

Richard was born on May 27, 1926, to Alec and Mary Jane Azure. Richard grew up in Harlem, Montana and...

Oct 20, 2023

Scott T. Schaefer, age 62, passed away on October 20, 2023. Scott was born in Great Falls, Montana to Gil and Evelyn Schaefer (nee Walker).

He attended CMR High School and joined the U.S. Army.

Scott is survived by his beloved daughter, Samantha Schaefer; mother, Evelyn Schaefer; two sisters, Tanya Schaefer and Stacey Schaefer; good...

Oct 19, 2023

James Russell Waddell of Great Falls, MT passed away in his sleep on October 19, 2023, at the age of 49.

James was born on June 2, 1974, in Charleston SC, to Susan and Russell Waddell. He was a bright and playful child, always leaving smiles on the faces of anyone who had the pleasure of meeting...

Oct 15, 2023

Pamela Jeanne Schaaf passed away October 15, 2023, after a fourteen-year battle with ovarian cancer, a challenge she met with incredible courage and optimism.

Pam was born on August 14, 1959, in Cooperstown, North Dakota, to Bernie and Phyllis (Gooderum) Schaaf and joined her two brothers in the family. When she was three months old, the family...

Oct 13, 2023

Sandra Lyle Heser (formally Miller), aged 63, died unexpectedly on Friday, October 13, 2023, with her loved ones by her side. Sandy was born on September 15, 1960, in Great Falls, Montana, to Dwayne and Jane Miller. She attended local schools and graduated from Great Falls High School in 1978. She worked in various jobs over the years, such...

Oct 13, 2023

Katie Kellen Turner passed away on October 13, 2023, in Great Falls, Montana. She was born on September 26, 1996, in West Bloomfield, New York to Lynn and Rickie Bock.

She was a member of the Montana Air National Guard from 2019 to present. She worked as a bartender for 5 years and a dental assistant for...

Oct 11, 2023

Nancy J. Reichelt was born in Havre, MT on May 28, 1946. She was the first-born child of Gene Reichelt and Frances Henderson. They lived in Big Sandy throughout her childhood, attending elementary school and graduating from Big Sandy High School in 1964.

On October 24, 1964, she married Donald Gasvoda, and to this union, 4 boys...