Hamilton neighbors: Recently published obituaries
Read through the obituaries published in Ravalli Republic
HAMILTON — Billie Marie Wetherald, 97, of Hamilton, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019, at her home in Hamilton.
Billie was born Aug. 12, 1921, in Townsend to the late William and Helga Hendriksen Kennedy. Following high school she attended Business College. Billie was a member of the Eagles Auxiliary and the Charlos Heights Women’s Club. She enjoyed fishing, bowling, hunting and traveling.
Billie was preceded in death by three husbands, Albert Knez, James Wooley and Harry Wetherald. She was also preceded by her parents, two sons-in-law; brother, Harold; three sisters, Mabel, Grace and Inez and one granddaughter.
She is survived by daughters, Donna Nicholson of Darby and Norma Knez (Bruce Bailey) of Hamilton; grandkids, Jim (Ann) Else of Oklahoma, Mic (Cindy) Else of Virginia., Shelly (Rix) Kordsmeier of Montana, Brad Matteson of Montana, Laurie (Woody) Lehr of Montana; seven great-grandkids and six great-great-grandkids.
Following Billie’s wishes, no public services are scheduled. Urn placement will take place at Riverview Cemetery in Hamilton at a later date. Condolences may be left for the family at dalyleachchapel.com.
HAMILTON — Lawrence “Don” Jones, 78, of Hamilton, passed away Jan. 3, at his residence in Hamilton.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2019, at the Hamilton Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with a reception to follow. Private burial will take place at Riverview Cemetery in Hamilton. Condolence may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.
Judith Anne McCarthy
HAMILTON — Judith Anne McCarthy, 77, of Hamilton, passed away Friday, Jan. 4, at the Discovery Care Centre. Arrangements are under the care of the Daly-Leach Chapel.
Donald Joseph Gifford
HAMILTON — Donald Joseph Gifford, 81, of Hamilton, passed away Thursday, Jan. 3, at the Bee Hive Homes in Hamilton. Arrangements are under the care of the Daly-Leach Chapel.
Mary Winn Simmons
NORTH OGDEN, Utah- Mary Winn Simmons, 92 of North Ogden, UT passed away December 31st at the Seasons Assisted Living Center in Farr West, Utah. Local services and arrangements will be under the care of the Daly-Leach Chapel in Hamilton.
HAMILTON — Frank M. Laurence, aged 74, died peacefully in his sleep on Nov. 5, 2018, in Hamilton, where he lived the last fifteen years.
Frank was born on Christmas Eve, 1943, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He attended Withrow High School, was a graduate of Yale University, received his MFA from the University of Pennsylvania and his PhD in English from the University of Toronto.
In his lifetime, he was a college professor, scholar and author, historian, biographer, critic, playwright, screenwriter and a beloved fifth-grade teacher at Cincinnati Country Day School.
He was also an accomplished music scholar and musician, and played violin and viola with the Missoula Symphony Orchestra and other ensembles across the country and the years.
He is survived by his son, Michael; daughter, Valerie; beloved wife, Sarah and her son Marcus; step-son, Thaddeus; step-daughter, Sherri; and three grandsons, Emerson, Jude, and Dashiell.
“Upon a Further Shore, and In a Greater Light.”
A memorial is being planned for Spring, 2019.
Please share your condolences with the family by visiting www.dalyleach.com under the obituary section.
VICTOR — Louis Henry Marchuk, age 88, of Victor, died Dec. 26, 2018, at St. Patrick Hospital, Missoula, from cancer. He was born Aug. 17, 1930, Baudette, Minnesota, to Nick and Grace Marchuk.
Louis married his high school sweetheart, Iris Koidahl, in 1950, and they were married 62 years until her death in Victor in 2012. He served in the U.S. Army’s Signal Corps in their early years; Louis spent his career in the airline industry, successfully retiring after 33 years with Northwest Airlines (now Delta) as a Captain. During his career, he flew all over the U.S., as well Europe, the Caribbean and Pacific Islands. They lived in various states from New York to California, eventually moving back to Minnesota and then to Montana in December 1975 to begin ranching in the Bitterroot Valley with their son, Keith. They raised Hereford cross cattle and Appaloosa horses, grew and harvested their own hay.
Louis loved to fly, horseback ride, raise quality cattle, and hunt mountain lions, elk and antelope. When living in Minnesota, he hunted pheasants, ducks and whitetail deer. He was interested in astronomy, studied the habits of wild animals and migrating birds, and educated himself on many different topics. He was a private man who prided himself on a job well done, and he passionately loved his wife and their ranch’s panoramic view of the spectacular Bitterroot Mountains.
Louis is survived by his daughters, Lynda (Bob) Zimmerman, Pamela (Scott) Olson, both of Minnesota, and son, Keith (and Hilda) Marchuk, Stevensville, his sister Elouise McKinnon, Minnesota, as well as seven grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Iris C. Marchuk, brother Vernon “Bob” Marchuk, and sisters, Marie (Hanlon) Olson, Lenore (Vern) Olson, and his parents.
The family wishes to thank the staff at Stevensville Senior Center for their friendship, thoughtfulness and generosity through Louis’ recent illness, as well as his friend, Margo Sims, Victor, for her care.
A private interment will be held Tuesday, Jan. 8, at Riverside Cemetery, Stevensville. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at whitesittfuneralhome.com.
David L. Smerkol
STEVENSVILLE — David L. “Dave” Smerkol, 83, passed away in the afternoon, Wednesday, Jan. 2, at The Living Center in Stevensville. Brothers Mortuary and Crematory are honored to care for the family. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.brothersmortuary.com.
Terry D. Beck
HAMILTON — Terry D. Beck, 66, passed away in the evening, Tuesday, Jan. 1, at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital in Hamilton. Brothers Mortuary and Crematory are honored to care for the family. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.brothersmortuary.com.
Al W. DeVeber
MISSOULA — Al W. DeVeber, 91, formerly of Darby, passed away in the afternoon, Wednesday, Dec. 26, at the Dee Hive’s Assisted Living Care Center in Missoula. The private burial has taken place at the Lone Pine Cemetery in Darby. Brothers Mortuary and Crematory are honored to care for the family. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.brothersmortuary.com.
STEVENSVILLE — Douglas James Delaney “Butch”, 69, of Stevensville, died at home of natural causes surrounded by family.
Born to Robert Delaney and Joan (Fifield) Delaney on Nov. 23, 1949, in Hamilton.
Doug was raised by Joan and her husband Cleo Kibler in Ronan and the Bitterroot Valley with his brothers Don, Chuck and Dan. After graduating from high school he joined the Army in November 1967 and was honorably discharged in October 1970. While in the Army, Doug met and married Evonne Walters and had four boys, Paul, Jess, Bob and Todd. In 1978 he attended auctioneer college in Billings which began his passion for the benefit auctions to help those in need. Trucking has also been a passion and a way of life to support his family. Doug and Evonne later divorced in 1984. He then married Deb and they also divorced after sometime. Doug went on to touch many lives and had several kids that were his by blood or not. He loved them all. Doug had a big heart who loved many, loved family, dancing, fishing, hunting and camping with his family. If there was a gathering and he was home, surely you would find Doug there.
Doug was preceded in death by his father, Robert “Bob” Delaney, his brother, Dan Kibler, Dan’s wife, LeAnne Kibler and their son, Jeremy Kibler; his dad, Cleo Kibler and his mother, Joan (Fifield) Kibler; survivors include brothers, Don (Lois) Kibler, Chuck (Sandra) Kibler; son, Paul (Jill) Delaney; daughter, Cherie (Steve) Cassidy; son, Jess Delaney, Robert (Allison) Delaney; son, Todd (Kim) Delaney; grandchildren Kristoffer, Levan, Jake, Clara, Katie, Daniel, Alyssa, Tyler, Dartell, Jace, Austin, Justin, Brandon and Brandon; eleven great-grandchildren; many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family suggests that memorial donations may be made in Doug’s name to the Vietnam Veteran’s Association. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.
STEVENSVILLE — Anthony Wyatt Hudson died Thursday, Dec. 27, 2018, of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident.
He was born in Hamilton on April 29, 1999, and grew up in Stevensville. He attended Stevensville High School and studied auto mechanics at Helena College.
He is survived by his mother and father, Anna and Tony Hudson; his brothers, Evan Hudson, Seth Teasdale, and sisters, Rachel and Tara Hudson.
Services will be held Wednesday, Jan. 2, at 2 p.m. at St. Mary's Mission Parish, Stevensville. Funeral arrangements are in the hands of Whitesitt Funeral Home.
Memorials may be sent to the Foxhollow Animal Project, 155 Fox Hollow, Hamilton. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at whitesittfuneralhome.com.
VICTOR — Following a brief battle with cancer, Earl Simonson, 90, peacefully left his earthly home in Victor for his eternal reward on Dec. 29, 2018, with his family at his side. He was preceded in death by his parents Andrew and Lola Simonson from Montana and his sister Laura (Simonson) Davis from Idaho.
He is survived by his beloved wife Patsy; siblings Roy Simonson from North Dakota; Ruth (Simonson) Hodge from New Mexico; his children Andy and Susan Simonson from Texas; Gary and Lauri (Simonson) Uhland from Texas; Cindy Crofton and Buddy Crofton each from New Mexico; Jeanette Hunter from Montana and Chuck Oliver from Oregon.
The blended family was blessed with three granddaughters, ten grandsons and five great-grandchildren.
Earl was born to a ranching family in Sidney on April 1, 1928, and he kept Montana in his heart his entire life. He graduated from the University of Montana in 1952 with a degree in accounting and accepted a position with Sandia Laboratory in Albuquerque.
His passion for travel and adventure was shaped by his many auditing assignments which took him all over the world. He retired and relocated to Montana in 1989, where he and Patsy have lived for the past 29 years. His favorite pastimes included dancing, boating, camping and woodworking.
He loved the outdoors and he took great joy in maintaining their 20-acre retirement home in Victor which they named Deer Haven. Some of his favorite days were spent in the woods, chainsaw at the ready.
With Patsy by his side, Earl enjoyed many great life-long friendships through square dancing, the Five Valley Accordion Association, dinners at the Elks and the breakfast club at Hamilton’s Coffee Cup.
A celebration of life service will be held at Daly-Leach Memorial Chapel in Hamilton on Thursday Jan. 3, at 10:30 a.m. The family has requested that any donations in Earl’s honor be gifted to the Humane Society. Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.
Patricia A. Burkhardt
STEVENSVILLE — Patricia A. Burkhardt, 55, of Stevensville, passed away at St. Patrick Hospital on Friday morning, Dec. 28. Arrangements are pending and will be announced. Cremation is under the care of Cremation Burial Society of the Rockies.
Harry Richards
FLORENCE — Harry Richards, 70, passed away on Sunday, Dec. 30, at his home surrounded by his family. Arrangements are pending and in the care of Garden City Funeral Home.
