Obituaries

Feb 25, 2024

Mary Helen Tropila, 89, peacefully passed away February 25, 2024, at Great Falls Clinic Hospital in Great Falls, Montana.

Mary was born April 28, 1934, in Medicine Lake, Montana to Russell and Helen Evans. She graduated from Medicine Lake High School in 1952 and continued to Kinman Business University in Spokane, Washington, earning her secretarial degree.

Feb 24, 2024

William Lee “Bill” Coyle passed away suddenly at his home in Great Falls, on Saturday evening, February 24, 2024, with his wife Joyce at his side. Bill was born on June 17, 1936, to parents Edward and Lena Minette Coyle in Lewistown, MT, the youngest of six children. He spent his childhood in Lewistown and graduated from St. Leo’s...

Feb 22, 2024

Judith C. Jonas, 85, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother went to meet her husband, Al Jonas, in heaven for a long-awaited reunion on February 22, 2024. Al died on June 22, 2021.

Judi had a long history of lung disease brought on by organ failure and further complicated by COVID. She passed away in her...

Feb 22, 2024

Tanner William Fairhurst Kralich, Tanman, was born on February 29, 1996, in Great Falls, MT to Paula Fairhurst Kralich and Joza Kralich. From the minute he was born, Tanner was a kind soul to all who met him.  Everyone was Tanner’s friend.

Throughout childhood, Tanner gave himself the nickname- the King of Krash, which fit perfectly. He...

Feb 22, 2024

Karen Motil was born on November 22,1939, and passed away on February 22, 2024.

She was not a frilly kind of girl. She grew up out in the Gulch. Sand Coulee and Centerville were her stomping grounds. She worked for U.S. Bank after graduating and stayed put for her entire career. She stopped a couple times to...

Feb 21, 2024

Iris Beverly Goudy, 86, of Great Falls, Montana passed away on February 21, 2024.

Beverly was born on July 16, 1937, in Jeffreys, Newfoundland, Canada. While working as a civilian at Ernest Harmon Air Force Base in Stephenville, Newfoundland, she met the love of her life, Ambrose H. Goudy. They married on June 17, 1961, in Troy,...

Feb 21, 2024

Gary Allen Clevenger, lifelong Montana resident, passed away on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at Benefis Peace Hospice in Great Falls, MT. Gary was born in Billings, MT on October 27, 1950. He was the first of four children born to parents, Clarence and Lucy Clevenger. The family lived in Shepherd briefly before settling in Missoula in 1955 where Gary...

Feb 21, 2024

Matthew E. “Matt” Johnson, aged 61, passed away of natural causes on February 21, 2024.

Matt was born on November 3, 1962. He attended C.M. Russell High School, Montana State University, and graduated from DeVry Institute of Technology in Phoenix, AZ. He most recently worked in communications in Las Vegas, NV. Matt served in the U.S. Marines....

Feb 20, 2024

Lorena Ann Lauritzen, age 92, passed away peacefully in her home in the early hours of February 20, 2024.  She is survived by her husband and the love of her life, Richard (“Dick”) Lauritzen; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and David Shotwell; son and daughter-in-law, Jonathan and Lori Lauritzen; grandsons, Derek Ditora, Erik Lauritzen and Andrew Lauritzen; step-grandson, Christopher Shotwell;...

Feb 20, 2024

Early in the morning of February 20, 2024, Blythe Brandvold, a dedicated and unwavering wife, mother, grandmother, and educator, physically lost her seven-year battle with head and neck cancer. For those who knew her well, she never surrendered.

Blythe was born on October 14, 1937, to William and Annie Earl. She graduated from Great Falls High School...

Feb 19, 2024

Jack R. Hutchinson passed away on February 19, 2024. He was born on February 16, 1946.

Today we gather to honor Jack R. Hutchinson who passed peacefully with his family holding hands in his final time with us. Jack was the youngest of 5 brothers, born in Ione, Washington. Before moving to Great Falls, he attended schools...

Feb 19, 2024

Joy R. Wear, 93, of Great Falls, passed away on Monday, February 19, 2024.

Joy was born on October 15, 1930, in Exeter, Missouri to Orville and Idella (Chapin) Ringen. She went to work at Buttrey Foods before it became Albertsons for 25 years. She met and married Leon Wear. He passed away in 1993.

...

Feb 18, 2024

Paul William Bowe, age 43, tragically passed away in a motor vehicle accident on Sunday, February 18, in Great Falls, Montana. Paul dedicated 10 years of his life as a manager on the oil rigs, demonstrating his commitment and skill in his profession. He was also known as a proficient machine operator and a hardworking mover. Paul was a...

Feb 18, 2024

Our beloved dad, grandfather, uncle, and friend passed away Sunday, February 18, 2024, aged 90, in the presence of his loving children. His spirit shines on. Now he is rejoined with his lifelong love, our blessed mother, Marie Armande.

Dennis Ronald Fisher was born on November 14, 1933, in tiny Griffin, Saskatchewan, Canada, the fifth of eight...

Feb 18, 2024

William Joseph Laux, Jr. passed away peacefully on February 18, 2024, at the age of 93, in Great Falls, Montana, with his wife and son at his side. Bill, as he was known, was born on March 30, 1930, to William and Madeline (Saling) Laux in Omaha, Nebraska. His family moved from Omaha to Des Moines and then Cedar...

Feb 17, 2024

Shirley A. Alex passed away on February 17, 2024, in Great Falls, Montana. Shirley was born on June 29, 1936, in McCone City, Montana to Victor Puckett and Esterina Perry Puckett.

Shirley spent many years as a Travel Agent in Havre, Billings, Great Falls, and Las Vegas. She was the owner of Havre Cycle. Her most memorable...

Feb 16, 2024

Gladys Gregoire, 100, of Great Falls passed away peacefully on Friday, February 16, 2024, at Peace Hospice. Per her request, no services are planned.

Gladys was born on May 11,1923, in Square Butte, MT to Martin and Josephine Moe. She was a 1940 graduate of Fort Benton High School. Soon after she made the move to Great...

Feb 15, 2024

Gary “The Mayor” Thorson passed away on February 15, 2024, in Great Falls, Montana at the age of 71.

Gary was born on May 3, 1952, in Great Falls, Montana to Alfred Thorson and Helen Osterman. He graduated from Great Falls Central High School and went on to be a painter. Once he retired, he became the...

Feb 15, 2024

Janet Ada Bielen, 89, of Great Falls and Fort Benton passed away peacefully at home of natural causes on Thursday, February 15, 2024.  She was born December 24, 1934, in Zurich, Montana, later growing up in Shelby, Montana. She graduated from Shelby High school in 1953 and married her high school sweetheart, Ronald Bielen on February 6, 1954.

Feb 15, 2024

A joint memorial service will be held for Ron and Janet Bielen at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel on Friday, June 14, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. The service will be followed by a luncheon. The final resting place will be at Valley View Cemetery in Shelby, Montana.

The family is requesting memorial contributions be sent to Fort Benton,...