Obituaries

Feb 27, 2023

August “Gus” Author Habets began his journey to Heaven on February 27, 2023, at 93 years old. Cremation has taken place at Schnider Funeral Home. Gus’s celebration of life will be on March 18, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at the Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel.

Gus was born on August 7, 1929, in Conrad, Montana to August and...

Feb 23, 2023

Monida Mae Beck Stevens was born on May 30, 1938, to Lois Elizabeth Gottfried Beck and Elmer “Rusty” Beck in Choteau, MT. She was raised in Fairfield, MT along with her sibling Robert “Bob” Beck. She married Rodney Phillip Stevens, the love of her life, on February 7, 1957. Together they shared 61 glorious years and spent their years...

Feb 22, 2023

Katherine “Kathy” Dugan Pickens passed away on the evening of February 22, 2023. A new angel was called into service to watch over four of her children with spouses; 18 grandkids; 12 great-grandkids; and one ON the way. Kathy lost a hard fight against COPD. She left behind a legacy of people from a lifelong obsession with helping anyone...

Feb 21, 2023

Donna Kay Hill, 65, passed away peacefully surrounded by beloved friends and family at Peace Hospice on February 21, 2023.

Donna was born September 6, 1957, to Ray and Joyce Mayberry in Great Falls, Montana.  She married Jerry Hill on March 4, 1999, in Las Vegas, Nevada, “honeymooning” at the Nascar races that weekend.  The marriage blended...

Feb 21, 2023

Phillip E. Thompson, a Great Falls native, passed away peacefully in his sleep with family and friends at his side on February 21, 2023. He was 87 years old.

Phillip was born on February 27, 1935. He was a Navy veteran, Safeway meat butcher, brick mason with the Anaconda Company, and an independent business operator with the...

Feb 20, 2023

Mary Jacquelyn “Jacque” Thompson, mom, nana, aunt, friend, and strong Christian went to be with her Lord and Savior on February 20, 2023.

She was born in Fort Benton, Montana to Carl E. Bramlette and Thelma M. (Lehman) Bramlette on July 14, 1929. She was the eldest of five children.

Jacque graduated with honors from...

Feb 19, 2023

Sandra "Sandi" Louise Medved was born in Great Falls, Montana with her twin brother David to George and Edith Strainer on August 18, 1947. She was raised in Black Eagle, Montana. She attended Collins School, St. Mary's, and Great Falls Central Catholic High School. She was married to the love of her life, Jerry Medved, on September 23, 1967,...

Feb 17, 2023

Shirley June Keyes passed away on February 17, 2023, at the age of 85. She was born on June 17, 1937, in Anamoose, North Dakota to Walter and Freda Kapfer. She worked as a hairdresser and enjoyed gardening, cross stitching, going to garage sales, shopping at thrift stores, camping, and spending time with family.

She is survived...

Feb 17, 2023

Joseph A. Hocevar, 97, passed February 17, 2023, at Benefis Peace Hospice. He was born January 31, 1925, in Sand Coulee, MT to Joseph and Frances (Slemberger) Hocevar. He grew up during the depression and the hardships of the era. Joe enlisted into the Navy at age 17, proudly serving during WWII.

Upon his return, he began...

Feb 16, 2023

Therese (Toeckes) Van Auken, 95, passed away at the Benefis Teton Medical Center in Choteau, Montana on February 16, 2023.

Born on June 21, 1927, Therese was the first child to Math and Edith (Tempel) Toeckes of Power, Montana. She and her five brothers and four sisters grew up on the homesteaded farm North of Power raising...

Feb 14, 2023

Mattie “Sue” Loma Barrett, 88, of Cascade, passed away on Tuesday, February 14, 2023. Mattie has been laid to rest alongside her husband, James, at Hillside Cemetery in Cascade, MT.

Mattie was born in Great Falls, MT on August 8, 1934, to Carl and Dorothy Berg. She worked at the local bank in Great Falls early on...

Feb 14, 2023

Kathleen Ann (Hall) Shelton was born in Billings, MT to Harry and Gladys Hall on January 29, 1954.

Kathy attended local parochial school from 1 st through 9 th grade and graduated from Great Falls High School in 1972. She then continued her education, graduating from the College of Great Falls in Biology and Pre-Med. Then she...

Feb 12, 2023

Claudia Jean (Strainer) O’Connell passed away peacefully at home surrounded by the love of her family on February 12, 2023, from complications from dementia.  She was 77 years old.

Claudia was born in Great Falls, Montana on May 15, 1945. She was raised in Black Eagle and attended Collins, St. Mary’s, and Great Falls Central Catholic High...

Feb 12, 2023

Dennis William McGurran, aged 87 of Vaughn, passed away early Sunday morning on February 12, 2023, the last remaining child of Henry Daniel McGurran and Florence Ura Bresnahan. His beloved Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl that afternoon.

Dennis was delivered by a mid-wife on June 18, 1935, the 7th of 9 children, on the family...

Feb 10, 2023

Vicki Sue Charles Foster passed away in the company of her loving family in Great Falls, MT on February 10, 2023, due to health complications.

Vicki was born on April 9, 1950, in Fairbury, IL on Easter Sunday. Her upcoming 73 rd birthday this year would have fallen on Easter Sunday. Vicki and her family moved to...

Feb 9, 2023

Charles “Bob” Gardner, 91, joined his wife in heaven on February 9, 2023. He was born in San Antonio, Texas on August 5, 1931, to Dora and Aubrey Gardner. He spent his childhood in different Texas locations residing between his parents and his special aunts and uncles. They all adored “Bobby” and influenced his young life in many positive...

Feb 7, 2023

Vicki L. Forsman. 58, passed away unexpectedly of a pulmonary embolism at Benefis Hospital on February 7, 2023. She was born on May 26, 1964, in Great Falls, to Karl and Ilene (Berkram) Ingebrigtson. Vicki had two children, Krystal Steiner and Cody Forsman. She faced many obstacles in her life and tackled them all with a smile and a...

Feb 6, 2023

Joyce Marie (Knaup) Frantzich passed away on February 6, 2023, unexpectedly and on her own terms, at the age of 87. She was known for her strong will and independent spirit until the very end, refusing her medications, calling every doctor she encountered a quack, and fiercely upholding her DNR. For the last decade she had commonly used the...

Feb 5, 2023

Beatrice B. Andrews passed away peacefully in her sleep early Sunday morning, February 5, 2023.

Beatrice is survived by her brother, Ralph Prellwitz; sons, Lloyd N. Andrews, Lonnie C. Andrews, and Merlin R. Andrews; daughter, Gayla R. Clos; and grandson, Jason Clos.

Beatrice requested that there be no service and that her ashes, along with...

Feb 4, 2023

In the early hours of February 4, 2023, the world became slightly dimmer when Sherry Lynn (Adams) Holman, aged 68, passed away at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls, MT, surrounded by family. In the last few years of Sherry's life, she was diagnosed with various illnesses, so even though her passing was sad to those she left behind, for...