The Independent-Record from Helena, Montana • 58

Ch Jul ab 27 Sunday, July 27, 2008 helenair.com INDEPENDENT RECORD AREA DEATHS Veronica Pauline Miller Veronica Pauline Miller, 81, of Helena, passed away Wednesday, July 23, 2008 at her residence in Helena. Veronica was born Jan. 20, 1927, to Anton and Elizabeth Welk in Rugby, She attended schools in Rugby before her marriage to Whitney M. Miller on March 21, 1949 in Butte, and they enjoyed Miller almost 55 years of mar- Miller riage together before Whitney's passing in January 2004. Veronica loved the outdoors, and fishing, camping and traveling were her favorite pastimes.

She enjoyed sewing and crocheting, but she also loved to garden. Veronica was an avid reader and even spent time playing Keno. Veronica is preceded in death by her parents, Anton and Elizabeth Welk; her husband, Whitney; a sister, Lena; and brothers, Pete, Tony, Joseph and August "Gus." She is survived by her son Tom Christiansen of Helena; her daughters Barbara (Robert) McNeil of Centennial, Joyce (Kim) Childs of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Sue Dalin of Helena and Linda DeClair (Bob Boger) also of Helena; a brother, Nick Welk of Spokane, sister, Jenny Appino of Yakima, eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. A memorial service celebrating Veronica's life is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, July 28, 2008 at the Retz Funeral Home Chapel.

Interment will follow the service at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery, Fort Harrison. Memorials in Veronica's name are suggested to the Shriner's Hospital for Children, Algeria Shrine, P.O. Box 1174, Helena, MT 59624, or the Hospice of St. Peter 2475 Broadway, Helena, MT 59601. To offer condolences to Veronica's family or to share a memory of Veronica, please visit www.mem.com.

Express condolences at www.legacy.com/HelenaIR/. Barbara F. Hininger Barbara (Baer) Hininger passed away suddenly of heart failure on Sunday, July 20, 2008, at St. Peter's Hospital while being treated for an ankle broken in a fall in her home. Barb, who would have been 95 in August, was born in Butte in 1913 and attended Helena public schools, graduating from Helena High in 1930.

She met her husband Tom at a dance in the Helena Valley, and after a short courtship, they were married in 1931. They lived in Townsend during the Great Depression and moved to Helena in 1937 to care for Barb's grandmother. Except for three years during WWII when she and Tom moved to Vanport, with their two children to work in the shipyard, they spent their entire married life in the Helena and Townsend area. She is survived by two daughters, Marlene Rutherford and Shirlie Watne, both of Helena; five grandchildren, Tom, Troy, Holt Tanya Douglas, Eric Rutherford and Roxanne Stewart; 17 great -grandchi and 3 great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom, and brother, Charles Baer.

After Barb retired from Mountain Bell in 1972, she and Tom spent winters snowmobiling in Montana, Arizona and California and summering in Montana at Canyon Ferry and Lake Mary Ronan, returning to their Helena home to care for house and lawn. Barb had a long and wonderful life until her death this month. Cremation has taken place and she will be buried next to Tom in a private ceremony this summer. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to HaglerAnderson Funeral Home. Express condolences at www.legacy.com/HelenaIR/.

Fred Joseph 'Smitty' Schmitz Fred Joseph "Smitty" Schmitz, 80, of Helena passed away at his home Friday morning, July 25, 2008. Smitty was born in Faribault, on Jan. 1928, to Fred Theodore Schmitz and Edith (Ray) Sebmitz. Smitty was the oldest of five children two brothers and two sisters. Upon completion of the eighth grade, Smitty went to work to help support the family.

As a young man, he worked at a garden nursery, steel mill, meat-packing plant, as a truck driver in Iowa and a cook for the railroad. In 1945, at the age of 17, Smitty enlisted for military service and became a cook in the Army. He received an honorable discharge in 1947. In 1949, at the age of 21, work brought him to Marysville. He found jobs at the sawmill in Silver City, Fort Harrison, and helped build the Canyon Ferry Dam.

In 1951, Smitty was hired by Mountain Bell Telephone. This was a job he held until his retirement in 1986 after 37 years of service. As a young man, he hiked tall mountains, dug holes, and climbed poles as a lineman. From that position, he moved on to be a repairman, an installer and finally fixed pay phones. He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers.

Smitty met Beverly Black (formerly of Marysville), and they married on Oct. 6, 1951. She survives him in addition to their five children: Debbie (Pete) Tanna of Littleton, Theresa Jo (Bruce) Parker and their children, Winston and Madison; Pam Schmitz (Mike Kelly); Bob Willard Frison Willard Frison passed on to Heaven on July 22, 2008, to be with his beloved wife, Mary Rita. MA He was born Feb. 9, 1934, to Frances Frison of Eagle Butte, S.D.

He was one of two children. After moving to Sidney, he met and fell in love with school teacher, Mary Rita Schmith. They were married Aug. 10, 1963, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Helena, where they made their home.

They were blessed with one son, Brian, in September 1964. Willard worked for the State of Montana, and U.S. West, where he retired after many years. He had several "coffee stops" that he frequented daily. He enjoyed socializing and joking around with numerous friends, always having a story to tell or a joke to share, he loved to make people laugh! He was preceded in death by his mother, Frances; sister, Marcella, and her husband, Jim (Kris) Schmitz and their chil dren, Shayla and Shanna; and David (Lisa) Schmitz and their children, Tani, Anna and Alan, all of Helena.

Also surviving Smitty are his four brothers and sisters: Eleanor (Marian) Lundel; Gerald (Janice) Schmitz; Florance (Roger) Borwege; and Donald (Lorraine) Schmitz. Smitty was preceded in death by his parents. In 1984, planning for retirement, Smitty and Bev bought land near the silos by Townsend. They built their dream home and lived there for 20 years. Sadly, in 2004, they left that home and moved to the Helena Valley where they could be closer to their children.

Smitty was an excellent cook and gardener. Tomatoes were his favorite food to grow and eat. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing. Cremation has taken place and services are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29, at Hagler-Anderson Chapel.

Internment with military honors will follow the funeral at Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison. Memorials in Smitty's name are suggested to the Telephone Pioneers, Bob McMillan, 105 Wedgewood Lane, Helena, MT 59601. To offer condolences to his family or share a memory of Smitty, please visit www.mem.com. Express condolences at www.legacy.com/ Moore of Wyoming; and by his loving wife, Mary Rita, in September 2007. He missed her terribly and was lost Frison without her.

Survivors include his one son, Brian of Las Vegas; a cousin, Sharon (Tom) Harris of Helena; various aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews. He was very thankful for his very special neighbors, Karen and Dennis Huck, who kept an eye on him, and helped him out in many ways. Willard's quick humor and ready smile will be missed by all who knew him. Cremation has taken place and a celebration of Willard's life will be held at Hagler-Anderson Chapel, Tuesday, July 29, at 10 a.m. Memorials may be sent in Willard's name to the charity of donor's choice.

Express condolences at www.legacy.com/ Peace of RETZ FUNERAL HOME Mind. FUNERAL NOTICES 27, Schmitz Schmitz MONDAY ROWLAN, Ralph 82, of Helena. A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, July 28, at the First Church of the Nazarene with burial to follow the service at Forestvale Cemetery. Memorials in Ralph's name are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice.

To offer condolences to Ralph's family or to share a memory of Ralph, please visit www.mem.com. KUNTZ, Patricia 83, of Helena. A memorial service celebrating Pat's life will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, July 28, at the Elks Lodge at 330 Lolo. Memorials in Pat's name are suggested to the Florence Crittenton Home, 901 N.

Harris Helena, MT 59601; or to an organization of the donor's choice. To offer condolences to Pat's family or to share a memory of Pat, please visit www.mem.com. MILLER, Veronica 81, of Helena. A memorial service celebrating Veronica's life will be 2 p.m. Monday, July 28, at Retz Funeral Home.

Interment will follow at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison. Memorials in Veronica's name are suggested to Hospice of St. Peter's, 2475 Broadway, Helena, MT 59601. To offer condolences to Veronica's family or to share a memory of Veronica, please visit www.mem.com. PENDING LEITZKE, Shirley M.

Foster, 49, of Helena. A celebration I of Shirley's life is pending and will be announced when set. ERDMAN, John 89, of Helena. A funeral service for John is pending and will be announced when set. Retz Funeral Home 442-1550 Patricia Kuntz Patricia Kuntz died Wednesday, July 23, 2008, at St.

Peter's Hospital in Helena of acute myelogenous leukemia. She was 83 years old. Patricia was born in Tacoma, Wash, Oct. 14, 1924. She graduated Helena High School in 1942.

Patricia Ann Bannon Josephine Young Sherlock Johnson Kuntz traveled and worked all over the U.S. and the world with Ireland always calling her back. She made friends everywhere she went and had an amazing talent for creating friends among her friends. She married three wonderful men and had three daughters. Her exhusbands Henry T.

Sherlock and Dave Johnson preceded her in death. She and Bob Kuntz, her third husband, were friends in high school and they married in Las Vegas, on Oct. 14, 2003, her 79th birthday. They have lived in Helena and traveled happily together until her death. In addition to her husbands, she was preceded in death by her parents, Margaret and Lynn Young.

She is survived by her daughters, Lynn Sherlock, Ralph Wesley Rowlan Ralph Wesley Rowlan, 82, of Helena passed away July 24, 2008, at a local care facility after an extended illness. Ralph was born in Haviland, on May 18, 1926, to Elmer and Mary (Finlay) Rowlan. He entered the United States Army on Aug. 25, 1944, at Leavenworth, Kan. He served as a machine gun crewman and was sent to Germany in 1945 where he was assigned to the 709th Military Police Battalion in which he had regular town and traffic patrol duties.

After being honorably discharged from the Army, Ralph moved to Montana where he worked for various ranches, and he also worked for American Chemit until an injury forced him to retire. Ralph was a member of the Helena Mineral Association and was a proud member of the First Church of the Nazarene. Ralph married Ruth Osborne Dudley on Aug. 12, 1966, and they Robert Kuntz, who has five children, Kathie Zanto, Kraig, Kyle, Kelly and Kryss Kuntz. She is also survived by two grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Pat lived her life fully and fearlessly, and as death approached she assured her loved ones that "she was just going on her next great adventure." A memorial service celebrating Pat's life will be held 2 p.m. on Monday, July 28, at the Elks Lodge at 330 Lolo, Memorials in Pat's name are suggested to the Florence Crittenton Home, 901 N. Harris Helena, MT 59601; or to an organization of the donor's choice. To offer condolences to Patricia's family or to share a memory of Pat, please visit www.mem.com Express condolences at www.legacy.com/HelenaIR/. enjoyed almost 42 years of marriage until his passing.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, a sister, and a grandson. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Rowlan of Helena; two daughters from a previous marriage, Christine Bowman of Vancouver, and Virginia McDonald of Helena; four grandchildren; and nine greatgrandchildren. He is also survived by two stepsons, Gene Dudley and Donald (Mona) Dudley of Helena; and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service for Ralph is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday, July 28, at the First Church of the Nazarene with burial to follow the service at Forestvale Cemetery.

Memorials in Ralph's name are suggested to the charity of the donor's choice. To offer condolences to Ralph's family or to share a memory of Ralph, please visit www.mem.com. Express condolences at www.legacy.com/HelenaIR/ MoreObituaries-3F Coroner identifies driver killed in wreck SIDNEY (AP) A man killed in the collision of two tractor-trailers in northeastern Montana has been identified as 43-year-old Kenneth Metcalf of Alexander, N.D. Richland County Coroner Marvin Johnson released the name of Metcalf, killed in the crash Thursday near Sidney. Metcalf, who was driving for a trucking company based in Williston, N.D., died at the scene.

The Montana Highway Patrol says the crash near the intersections of routes 23 and 202 happened as the driver of one tractor-trailer tried to make a left turn and the driver of the other tried to pass in a no-passing zone. HAGLER LINDERSON MORTUARY AND ANDERSON CREMATION SERVICES 442-8520 TODAY SHANKLIN, Patricia 41 of Helena. A memorial for family and friends is planned for today, July 27, at 1 p.m. at 2020 Lockey Drive. Memorials may be made in Patty's name as a donation for adopting a pet at the Lewis Clark Humane Society, P.O.

Box 4455, Helena, MT 59604- 4455. FRISON, Willard, 74 of scheduled at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Anderson Chapel. Cremation may be mad in Willard's name choice. Helena.

Chapel services are July 29, at Haglerhas taken place. Memorials to a charity of the donor's SCHMITZ, Fred 80 of Helena. Chapel services are scheduled at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29, at Hagler-Anderson Chapel. Interment with military honors will be at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison.

THURSDAY ENGLISH, Roberta 61, vices will be conducted from Church, 2410 Belt View Drive, p.m. Cremation has taken in Roberta's name to the Lewis P.O. Box 4455, Helena, MT of Boulder. A Memorial serthe Seventh Day Adventist on Thursday, July 31, at 6 place. Memorials may be sent Clark Humane Society, 59604-4455.

SATURDAY DALY, Irene 79 of Helena. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, Aug. 2, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, 1502 Shirley Road, with interment to follow in Resurrection Cemetery. Memorials may be sent in Irene's name to the Alzheimer's Association, Montana Chapter, 3010 11th Ave.

Billings, MT 59101. Hagler-Anderson Funeral Home 442-8520 Leslie Sherlock and Tara Shannon; her brother, Dr. Robert Young; her sister, Grace Joly; and her husband, Dr. Helen (Eskildsen) Nystrom Gatzemeler Helen Gatzemeler on passed away on July 2008. She was born in the upper peninsula of gan.

She relocated to Detroit and worked Kuntz years for the National Bank of Detroit. Upon discovering Montana, she and her husband Stuart Nystrom relocated to Gatzmeler Canyon Creek. After Stuart's passing, she met and married her second love, Ed Gatzemeler. Helen and Ed became engaged on the first day of the new millennium, and were married later that year. In addition to being the loving wife that she was, she will be remembered by her loving family for her wonderful dinners and fantastic potato salad.

Helen loved dancing, birds, gardening and her flowers. She loved crocheting and was an avid reader. Helen was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great She is survived by a large family including her husband, Ed; daughters, Anne Down of California and Deborah (Peter) Rehmann and Deedee (Gary) Andridge, both of Helena; son, Vic Skelly of Detroit; step-daughters, Lisa (David) Watson of California, Linda Gatzemeier of Helena, and Pam Gatzemeier of Choteau; grandchildren, Nicole Riggs, Camille Down, Rachael Pickett, Danielle Masiak, Linsay Tatum, Ericka Olson, Kyle Matthews, Chase Andridge, Mikayla Andridge, Bryce Watson; 16 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Surviving brothers and sister are Alfred (Betty) Eskildsen, Sigred Peterson and Herb (Charlotte) Eskildsen. She is preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Anna Eskildsen and 18 siblings (seriously Cremation has taken place and a memorial service for family and friends will be Friday, Aug.

1, at 11 a.m. at First Lutheran Church, 2231 Broadway, Helena. Express condolences at www.legacy.com/HelenaIR/. Thomas M. Morris Thomas M.

Morris, born May 16, 1952, died in his Lincoln home on Wednesday, July 23, 2008. Born in Kalispell, Tom graduated from the University of Montana, where he worked for several years before retiring to Lincoln in 2002. An avid golfer and "fixer of backaches," Tom gave his time to his community by helping with the annual VFW Hunters' Stew Dinner as well as numerous tasks related to the upkeep of the Lincoln Community Hall. His gentle nature and willingness to lend a hand will be missed by all who knew Tom. He is preceded in death by his father, Robert Morris, and his beloved dog, Wesson.

Tom is survived by mother, Marion Morris; brothers Bob, Gene and Gary; and several nieces and nephews. No services will be held, as per Tom's request. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Lincoln Community Hall in memory of Tom. Express condolences at www.legacy.com/ TUESDAY Big Sky Cremations Funeral Services 2 West Main East Helena 227-2241 Funeral Services.