Obituaries

Oct 13, 2022

Loretta Mae Fransen passed away at Peace Hospice on October 13, 2022, with her daughter by her side.

Loretta was born to Vincent and Rose Karsky in Dickinson, North Dakota, on July 19, 1932. She was raised in Dickinson and graduated from Dickinson High School. Upon graduation, Loretta and a friend left North Dakota in search of...

Oct 11, 2022

Bill Wegner, 91, joined our Lord and Savior in Heaven on October 11, 2022. Visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, November 4, 2022, at O’Connor Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 5, 2022, at Trinity Lutheran Church with burial to follow at Highland Cemetery.

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Oct 11, 2022

Roderick “Rick” Zorner, 75, passed away on Monday, October 10, 2022, at his home. Rick was born in Williston, North Dakota to Burlette and Rodney Zorner on December 6, 1946.  The family made the move to Great Falls, Montana when he was four years old.  Rick made Great Falls his home for the rest of his life.

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Oct 9, 2022

Virgil David Laasch, 79, of Ulm, passed away on Sunday, October 9, 2022.

Virgil was born on December 3, 1942, in Eden Prairie, Minnesota to Henry and Hazel (Skillings) Laasch. He was one of thirteen children. After graduating, he joined the US Army. He was 1 st calvary, military police, and a combat mechanic during his enlistment....

Oct 7, 2022

Constance Louise Becker, passed away in the early morning hours, on Friday October 7, 2022. She was 68 years old. Most people knew and will remember her, as Connie.

She was born in Great Falls, Montana to Andrew and Dona (Duncan) Nolevanko, on December 18, 1953. She grew up here, attending Lewis and Clark Elementary and graduating...

Oct 7, 2022

Gale “Red” Eugene Baker, 85, of Great Falls, passed away on Friday, October 7, 2022.

Red was born on December 12, 1936, in Silesia, Montana to John and Edna (Lutch) Baker. He graduated from Billings Senior High School and joined the Naval Reserve. Upon his completion of service, he started working as a mechanic for BF Goodrich...

Oct 7, 2022

On October 7, 2022, Kataunia Marie Edwards-Godat was tragically lost due to injuries she sustained being hit by a vehicle while crossing the roads on an ATV. She was 22 years old at the time of her passing.

Kataunia was born in Butte, MT to Tara Edwards and Patrick Godat. In 2009, Tara and the girls made...

Oct 2, 2022

Matthew G. Cushman, 67, of Great Falls, passed away on Sunday, October 2, 2022.

Sep 25, 2022

Ruby Fritschen, age 88, passed away September 25, 2022.

She was born in Great Falls, Montana in 1934 to John and Alma Kelleher. Ruby spent many years as a Ward Secretary at the then Columbus Hospital and sewed draperies for local stores in Great Falls. She was married to Andrew Fritschen until his death in 2017.

Sep 24, 2022

Marilyn Joyce Jarnot, 88, of Great Falls, passed away on Saturday, September 24, 2022.

A rite of committal service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 9, 2022, at the Episcopal Church of the Incarnation.

Marilyn was born in Great Falls on June 23, 1934, to John and Dorothy (Veen) Jarnot. She graduated from...

Sep 19, 2022

Russell John “Russ” Luoma passed away peacefully at his home on September 19, 2022.

Born to John and Theresa (Ament) Luoma on July 25, 1950, Russ spent his childhood in Great Falls, graduating from Great Falls High School in 1968. He went on to Montana State University in Bozeman where he majored in Agricultural Business, returning to...

Sep 16, 2022

Casey Gunter broke hearts all over Missoula and beyond because his heart was too full of love to be contained, and it failed him in this physical world.

Casey would have met every single one of you if he had the chance, and he sure tried. He would have called you “friend” from the first time he...

Sep 15, 2022

William “Bill” “Shep” Ernest Shepherd, aged 81, passed away on Thursday, September 15, 2022, at 8:38 a.m. We lost a true hero this day. Bill “Shep” was a man of God, an incredible husband, an amazing father, a wonderful grandfather, a loving great-grandfather, a loyal friend, an outstanding community figure, and veteran. Words cannot describe how much Bill meant...

Sep 15, 2022

Laura Mae Wing-Hill, 73, of Great Falls passed away on September 15, 2022, due to a stroke. She was surrounded by family.

To many, she was known as “Indian.” She was born on October 10, 1948, in Fort Belknap, MT to Mary Louise Talks Different and Joseph John Wing. She was well known for her generosity and...

Sep 15, 2022

LaDeen Williams passed away at the age of 76 on September 15, 2022.

She was born on February 15, 1946, to Ruby Lorriane and Merlin Stensrud. She owned a restaurant and bar. She loved painting, stained glasswork, and quilting.

LaDeen is survived by her husband, Robert Williams; daughters, Lashon Abell, Antionette Ocker, and Simone French;...

Sep 9, 2022

Thomas “Tommy” A. Bissell was born on December 5, 1961, and passed away on Friday, September 9, 2022, at the Ivy of Great Falls. He was 60 years old.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 22, 2022, at O’Connor Memorial Chapel with private burial at Manchester Cemetery.

Prior to...

Sep 9, 2022

Darrell “Gene” McGillis, 74, of Great Falls passed away on September 9, 2022.

Visitation will be held on Friday, September 16, 2022, starting at 12:00 pm at the Little Shell Cultural Center, 1529 Stuckey Rd, with a rosary to follow at 7:00 pm. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 17, 2022, at 11:00...

Sep 5, 2022

On May 31, 1980, Joshua Adam Lehnerz came into the world staring as the biggest, little brother.  That would continue to define his life. Known to most of us as Josh or Joshy. During his life, Josh adventured with his 8 brothers and sisters, and many others, that took him to many places. From the Saskatchewan plains to the...

Sep 5, 2022

Amanda Beth Myers, aged 47, passed away on September 5, 2022, at Benefis Healthcare after a short battle with leukemia. She was surrounded by family and friends.

Amanda was born on November 18, 1974, in Plattsburgh, NY to Carole (Napper) and Carl Collins. They were divorced and Carole married Gary O’Brien who was in the Air Force....

Sep 4, 2022

Styler Lee Edwards, 35, of Great Falls, passed away on September 4, 2022.

A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 10, 2022, at the Little Shell Community Center, 1529 Stuckey Rd, Great Falls.

Styler was born on May 2, 1987, in Havre to Leo Edwards Sr. and Tamara Quincy....