O obits for Fergus Co. Mt. Submitted by gmom.distad@aol.com USGenWeb Project NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, aslong as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format forprofit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express writtenpermission from the author, or the submitter and from the listed USGenWeb Project archivist. *********************************************************************88 Kenneth Eugene Obie - 1999 Surname: OBIE, SCHAFF, KAISER, SIMONSON, MALSBURY, LINK Kenneth Eugene Obie Billings Gazette Vitals 2-3-1999 Billings, MT WHITEWATER - Kenneth Eugene Obie, 48, died Sunday, January 31, 1999, in a two-car collision 41 miles north of Malta. He was born March 31, 1950, in Billings. His family lived in Shepherd at that time. He was the fourth son of Louie and Florentine Schaff Obie. When he was four years old, his family moved to a farm south of Hardin. He graduated from Hardin High School in 1968, and attended Eastern Montana College. He served in the National Guard. On February 26, 1972, Ken married Kathy Mae Kaiser of Hardin. Two years later on their anniversary, their first child, Jennifer Leah, was born. Jennifer was the apple of her father's eye, and he was her hero. Ken and Kathy farmed in Hardin and Ekalaka until they moved to Winifred in 1974, where they operated a farm ranch operation with Ken's brother, Donald L. Obie. During their stay in Winifred, Ken served on the Farmers' Union Board, Catholic-Methodist Church Board, was vice president of the Montana Foster Parents' Association, and ran for a position on the National Cenex Board. In 1976, son, Joshua Levi was born, followed in 1980 by Jacob Luke. While living in Winifred, Ken and Kathy and their family served as foster family for several foster children. Ken was involved in the Cursillo movement in Lewistown. Through this, his faith in Jesus was enriched. His Christian faith and love for children led to his becoming the administrator of the Northern Montana Youth Ranch in Whitewater. He served in this position from 1986 until 1998. Ken's gentle spirit and compassion, his fairness and firmness influenced many troubled youth to strive to reach their full potential. At the time of his death he was employed by the Lynn Simonson Ranch at Whitewater. Ken was an avid collector of Indian and Western Art and classic cars. Favorite time-off activities were camping, hiking, snowmobiling, and rafting with friends and family. He was a member of the Phillips County Ambulance Service at Whitewater. Ken is survived by his wife, Kathy and son, Jake of the family home northeast of Whitewater; son, Josh of Havre; and daughter, Jennifer of Galena, Alaska. He is also survived by his mother, Florentine and her husband, Ken Malsbury of Billings; and brothers, Richard and Donna Obie of Ekalaka, Ed and Naomi Obie of Juneau, Alaska, and Donald and Sandra Obie of Winifred; and several nieces and nephews. Over the years the Obie household was also home to 10 foster children; a niece and nephew, Holly and John Link; and two foreign exchange students. A Rosary will be at 5 p.m. at the Adams Memorial Chapel in Malta on Wednesday, February 3, and Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 4, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Malta with a reception immediately following the Mass at the Whitewater High School. Burial will be Friday, February 5, at 12:30 p.m. at Fairview Cemetery in Hardin. Adams Funeral Home of Malta is in charge of arrangements. A reception will follow burial at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hardin. Ken will be buried beside his father. "Well done thou good and faithful servant." Matthew 25:21. ******************************************************************** Kate O'Brien Lewistown paper 12-16-1974 Vital Statistics Mrs. Kate O'Brien, 92, Moore, died Thursday evening at the central Montana Hospital after an illness of two weeks. ******************************************************************** Edwin M. Olsen - 1998 Surname: OLSEN, BENTLEY, FITZARROLD Edwin M. Olsen Billings Gazette Vitals 8-23-98 Billings, MT Edwin M. Olsen, 79, of Billings, died Friday, Aug. 21, 1998, at Deaconess Billings Clinic of cancer. He was born Nov. 11, 1918, to Martin and Hazel Bentley Olsen at Gerhard, northeast of Winifred. His formal education was at the Gerhard School. In 1938, he was a member of the CCC at the Nine Mile Camp, west of Missoula. Edwin operated the family farm until 1988 when he moved to Billings upon retirement. During the years on the family farm, he was a grain and cattle buyer and involved in his trucking interest. After leaving the farm, he became a self-employed real estate broker. Edwin was preceded in death by his parents, sister, and brother and is survived by his wife of 49 years, Evelyn; four children, Sandy Fitzarrold of Crescent, Ore., Bill (Barbara) Olsen of Missoula, Arnold (Neta Ann) Olsen of Gildford, and Martha Olsen of Billings; and seven grandchildren. Edwin was much loved by his family and will be dearly remembered and missed by family and friends. At Edwin's request, no services are planned. Cremation has taken place at Cremation or Funeral Gallery. ************************************************************ Helen Eline Olson - 1998 Surname: OLSON Helen Eline Olson Billings Gazette Vitals 10-2-1998 Billings, MT BUFFALO, Mont. - Helen Eline Olson, 83, died Wednesday, Sept. 30, 1998, at her home. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, at the Buffalo-Straw Cemetery. Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Buffalo Community Church. Creel Funeral Home of Lewistown is in charge. ************************************************************ Lyle R. Olson - 1999 Surname: OLSON Lyle R. Olson Billings Gazette Vitals 1-6-1999 Billings, MT KIRKLAND, Wash. - Lyle R. Olson, 54, of Kirkland, formerly of Buffalo, Montana, died Sunday, January 3, 1999, at Evergreen Hospital in Kirkland of cancer. Graveside services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, January 7, at the Straw-Buffalo Cemetery. Creel Funeral Home of Lewistown is in charge of arrangements. ************************************************************** William A. Olson Lewistown paper 9-7-1977 William A. Olson 94, Lewistown died Sunday evening at Valle Vista Manor following a lengthy illness. Funeral services will be at 2 p. m, Thursday in the Creel-Morrison-Retz Chapel Rev. Allen G. Haugen will officiate with burial to follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Olson was born Jan 14 1883 in Albert Lea, Minnesota, the son of Sophus and Caroline Olson. On April 30 1906 he married Inga Brox In Litchville, ND. He came to Montana in 1910 and homesteaded east of Roy. He farmed and ranched the homestead until 1936 when he moved to the Bozeman area. He ranched north of Bozeman and at Gallatin Gateway until he retired in the 1940's, living near Bozeman until he moved to Lewistown in 1970. He is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Pearl Christensen, Miles City, Mrs. Grace Rindal Lewistown Mrs. Mabel Phillips, Washington DC, Mrs. Betty Hallam, Bozeman; two son, Robert of Gallatin Gateway, George of Travis Air Force Base, California; 35 grandchildren and 49 great grandchildren He was preceded in death by his wife, Inga in 1974, three sons and one daughter. ******************************************************************* Phyllis Patricia Opitz 1924 Surname: WARE, OPITZ Roy Cemetery book Phyllis Patricia Opitz Death Date: October 17, 1924 1 year, 2 months and 17 days Parents: Albert and Doris Ware Opitz Fergus County, Montana ******************************************************************* Julia H. Oquist Lewistown paper 9-20-1987 Julia H. Oquist, 88, died Tuesday afternoon at Pocatello, Idaho, after a lengthy illness. She was born March 17, 1899, at Camden, Ohio, the daughter of Charles and Amanda Anderson. At the age of one, she moved with her parents to Glenrose, Washington, and attended school there. When she was 12, she moved to Roy with her parents, where they homesteaded nearby. She then attended schools in Roy. She married Charles Oquist in Lewistown in 1920, and in 1948, she moved to Pocatello, where she worked for the Bannock Hotel. She had resided in Pocatello since then. She is survived by a daughter-in-law, Edith Oquist, of Edmonds, Wash.; a niece, Evelyn Pederson of Pocatello; and several nephews. She was preceded in death by a son, Russell Oquist two brothers and two sisters. Graveside services will be held Monday, Oct. 5 at Lewistown City Cemetery at 2 p m. with Rev. Dave McConnell officiating. The Creel-Morrison-Retz Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. ************************************************************** Russell Oquist Lewistown paper 2-8-1976 Russell Oquist, 55, a former Roy resident, died January 21 in Seattle, Washington, after a long illness. He was born July 11, 1920, in Roy, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Oquist. He attended Roy Schools. On January 19, 1942, he married Edith Kauth of Roy in Tacoma, Washington. He served in the United States Navy from 1944-46. After his discharge he returned to Roy for a year. He then moved to the state of Washington, where he had lived since. He was a member of the Roy American Legion, the Steamfitters Union Local No. 32, the Eagles Lodge and several other organizations in Seattle. Survivors include the widow and his mother, Mrs. Julia Oquist, Pocatello, Idaho. Funeral services were held January 26 at the Alderwood Community Church in the Seattle area with burial at Azelea Gardens in Floral Hills Cemetery. Mrs. Lucille Komarek and Mrs. Ava Zahn, sister of the widow, flew to Washington to attend the funeral and spend some time with Mrs. Oquist. Also attending the funeral were another sister and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Woody Woodiwiss and June Larson of Great Falls and Elaine Gautte of Stockett. ****************************************************** Billie O'Reilly Billie O'Reilly, 54 of Roy, died in Billings, Tuesday, May 30 of natural causes. She was born December 10, 1940 in Lewistown, the daughter of William and Rosalie Hailstone. She received her education in Roy, graduating from Roy High School, in 1958. In June of 1958 she was united in marriage to Robert Rindal in Lewistown. They lived in various places in Montana and Wyoming until settling in Billings in the mid 1960's, as he worked construction. In 1969 she moved to Lewistown and on September 24, 1970, she was united in marriage to John O'Reilly in Lewistown. They lived at Roy where she had worked as a cook. Billie was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Roy. She is survived by her husband of Roy; one son and daughter-in-law Lee and Beth Rindal of Billings, one daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Keith Huck of Katherine, Australia; her mother Rosalie McNulty of Roy; four brothers David McNulty, John Hailstone and Howard Hailstone, all of Billings, and Richard Hailstone in Texas; five sisters, Beverly Emery of Roy, Mary Allen of Roberts, Ruby Ennis of Shepherd, Margie Brelje and Rhoda Tombrink, both of Billings; four grandsons, Kris & Kyle Huck, and Reyn and Joran Rindal; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, one son, Curtis and one daughter, Katherine. Funeral liturgy was Saturday, June 3, at 1:00 pm in St Leo's Catholic Church. Interment followed in the Central Montana Memorial Gardens. Vigil services were Friday, June 2, at 7:00 pm in the Cloyd Chapel. The Cloyd Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. ***************************************************** Earl Osborne 1938-1998 Surname: OSBORNE, RHONE, ROBINSON, KOTH, HICKMAN, SPENCER, MEADORS Earl Osborne, 60, of Billings and longtime resident of Lewistown, passed away peacefully at his home after a long and courageous baffle with Multiple Myloma, surrounded by his family and friends. Earl was born May 1, 1938, in Lewistown, the son of Bert and Marie Osborne. He married Jacquelyn Rhone on Aug. 10, 1957. Early in life he worked construction. In 1968 he ventured into the trucking business and was still active in this upon the time of his death. He loved driving his truck and being on the open road. At the time of his death he was leased to Keller Transport. His time with us will always be cherished with fond memories. Survivors include three sons, Rich (Brenda) Osborne of Park City, Rob (Tina) Osborne of Billings, and Ron (Traci) Osborne of Marion; one daughter, Renna (Doug) Koth of Great Falls; 12 grandchildren, Toni, Teri and Kyle Osborne, Ryen and Tyler Osborne, Chandra, Kaylee, Mikala, Kade and Tanner Osborne and Andrew and Wyatt Koth; sister, Delores (Harvey) Robinson of Billings; brothers, Phil (Lila) Hickman of Rockvale, Idaho, Harold (Phyllis) Osborne of Billings; and his mother-in-law, Hazel Spencer of Billings; special cousin, Verlie (Bob) Meadors of Rapid City, S.D.; several nieces and nephews and his many friends. Earl was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Bert; two sisters, Florence and Jean; and one daughter-in-law, Tana Osborne. A Message To Dad: You were a wonderful father in supporting us both physically and spiritually. We know you are in a better place and looking over all of us. You will always be in our hearts. Thank you for being our father, we love you. At his request a cremation has taken place and no services are planned. There will be a gathering at Earl's home at 570 Revolution Ave., to celebrate his life, Sunday, Oct. 18, 1998, starting at 1 p.m. Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist, Heights Chapel has charge of arrangements. Source Billings Gazette