B4 Wednesday, March 19, 2014 COLUMBUS — Alice G. BILLINGS: Vandersnick, 97, died peaceMike Kannegiesser, 58 fully at Beartooth CommuLea A. Koerner, 88 Tina Marie Lindenberg, nity Healthcare in Columbus March 17, 2014. She died as 48 she lived, always showing AREA DEATHS: Bozeman: Lyndly Nel- love toward others, full of gentle grace and kindness, son, 88 Buffalo, Wyo.: Cleo and with all the humor she could muster as she soldiered Clabaugh, 95 Columbus: Alice through each year. Her family learned the values of hard Vandersnick, 97 Gillette, Wyo.: Charles work, devotion to each other, and patience with hardship. Oliver Jossens, 72 Glendive: David Paul Her daughters and son Egeness, 55 Lewistown: Leo “Dale” i n h e r i t e d her green Goodan, 84 Malta: Lloyd Irwin Lef- thumb. Her dahl, 91; Henry David Yag- family was by her side er, 77 she Missoula: Erwin C. By- when died. rnes, 85 ALICE Alice was Selfridge, N.D.: Gorborn to John VANDERSNICK don Red Tomahawk, 35 and Bertha FORMERLY OF: Sheridan, Wyo.: Elam in Gallatin Gateway on George John Gosch, 95, March 15, 1917. She was one of a family of ﬁve girls growing Arizona up during the Great DepresLloyd Irwin Lefdahl sion, raised to care for chickens, render hogs, grow nearly MALTA — Lloyd Irwin everything they ate, and sew Lefdahl, 91, of Malta, died their undergarments from Sunday, March 16, 2014, at ﬂour sack cloth. All have Country Home of natural lived into their 90s. causes. She graduated from AbService will be at 11 sarokee High School. She a.m. Friday, March 21, at worked while raising three Malta Lutheran Church. girls and one boy, working a Interment will be at Malta day shift at the Von Ragsdale Cemetery. Bell Mortuary Store, and evening shifts in Glasgow is assisting with waitressing at the Hamburgarrangements. er Hut and the Green Derby. and Crematory Complete Funeral, Crematory and Cemetery Pre-Arrangements with Cremation Niches, Lawn Crypts and Mausoleum. Reception Facilities Available TWO CONVENIENT LOCATIONS IN BILLINGS www.smithfuneralchapels.com SMITH WEST CHAPEL Adjacent to Terrace Gardens Cemetery 304 34TH ST. W 245-6427 4 Blocks N. of Central on 34th St. W. MAYNARD — Henry “Hank” C., 80, of Billings. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Thurs., March 20, at the First Alliance Church; 1835 Central Ave.(3/20) SMITH FUNERAL CHAPEL LAUREL 315 E. 3rd. 628-6858 SMITH OLCOTT CHAPEL RED LODGE 201 N. Broadway 446-1121 LOCKET — Jerry, 67, of Red Lodge. Memorial gathering of family and friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, March 21 at the Rocky Fork Inn, 716 South Broadway in Red Lodge. (3/21) SMITH FUNERALCHAPEL COLUMBUS 35 N. Diamond St. 628-6858 Lyndly Nelson MISSOULA — Erwin C. Byrnes, 85, of Missoula, died Monday, March 17, 2014, at the family residence in Missoula. Celebration of life will be at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 22, at Doubletree Edgewater. Brothers Mortuary and Crematory is assisting the family with cremation services. BOZEMAN — On March 31, 1925, the Lord blessed Merl and Effie Nelson with a precious son, Lyndly Emanuel Nelson. Lyndly met his Lord and Savior on March 15, 2014. He died peacefully with his daughters by his side. Lyndly was born in LYNDLY Flaxville. He NELSON was proud to have grown up and attended school on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Poplar. As a World War II Navy veteran, he served on the USS Wayne. His ship was involved in seven major battles in the Paciﬁc. He was a graduate of Northern Montana College. On May 25, 1946, he married Betty Poling and they enjoyed a loving marriage for 56 years. He retired from a career in the insurance business. As a lifelong Presbyterian, he served for years as an usher/ greeter. He was a Shriner and 50-plus-year member of the Masonic Lodge. Until recently, Lyndly thoroughly enjoyed 10 years as a volunteer at Fort Harrison Veterans Hospital. He and Betty enjoyed traveling and visiting family and friends. Lyndly loved the outdoors and was always ready for a drive to look the country over or simply to sit in the sun and watch the animals and birds. He was an avid hunter, ﬁsherman and golfer. His family was the most important part of his life. He always said he had, “the best family in the world!” Lyndly was kind, loving, cheerful and a devoted husband, father and grandpa. His parents; brothers, Robert, Jack and Jimmy; and his beloved Betty preceded him in death. Lyndly is survived by his daughters, Penny Wastcoat (Tony), of Bozeman, and Nan Walter (Mitch), of Columbus; grandchildren, Jane Fitzwilliam (John), of Bozeman , Kate McDonough (Mike), of Bozeman, and David Walter, of Missoula; great-grandson “JJ” Fitzwilliam, born Feb. 19, 2014, met his Great-Grandpa on Feb. 21, 2014; sister-in-law Shirley Nelson, of Glasgow; step-grandchildren, Mike, Travis and Brad Walter and their children, John and Ty Wastcoat, and their children; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. A graveside service will be held at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison, Helena, on March 20, at 11 a.m. Memorials may be sent in Lyndly’s name to Shriner’s Hospital for Children/ Transportation Fund, c/o Algeria Shrine, 911 W. Fifth Ave., Spokane, WA 99204. Arrangements are in the care of Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service. www. dokkennelson.com How to submit obituaries For obituary information, call 406-657-1241 or 800543-2505. The deadline is 3 p.m. for next day publication. The cost for obituaries is $23.50 per column inch daily and Saturday, $25.50 on Sundays. Payment is required before publication. Free obituaries are also available; please inquire as to guidelines. Mortuary and Crematory Serving All Faiths With Dignity since 1956 Here for you Before, During and After Services 1001 Alderson Ave. 406-252-3417 NEMER — Maury, 94, of Billings. Funeral service 11 a.m. Wednesday, Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary. Interment Beth Aaron Cemetery. Memorials, Jenny Nemer Sibinger Scholarship Fund, c/o the Boys and Girls Club of Yellowstone County, 505 Orchard Lane, Billings, MT 59101.(3/20) YAROSKASKI — Myrtle, 92, of Billings. Visitation, Thurs., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. and Fri. prior to service at church. Funeral, 11 a.m., Fri., Mar. 21, at Harvest Church, Lockwood Campus. Reception to follow. Interment at Sunset Memorial after lunch.(3/21) SAUNDERS — Connie, 63 of Billings. Cremation. Celebration of Life, 12:00 p.m., Sat., Mar. 22, at the Lincoln Center Auditorium. Reception to follow at the Hiland’s Club. (3/22) www.michelottisawyers.com CREMATION & FUNERAL GALLERY Cremation & Burial Society of Montana 29 8th St. W. • Billings • 254-2414 www.cfgbillings.com Absaroka Beartooth Columbarium VANDERSNICK — Alice E. 97, of Abasarokee. Funeral Mass 11:00 A. M. Fri. March 21 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Absarokee. Interment: Rosebud Cemetery.(3/21) She wound up her working career at the Outdoor Supply. She was a member of the Absarokee Sewing Circle, as well as other civic and church clubs. She was a lifelong member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church. She married Clarence J. Vandersnick in 1940. He died in 1997. Preceding her in death were daughter, Sharon; son, Robert “Poogie” Vandersnick; grandson, David Victor Oltrogge; and her sisters, Dee Smith, Mildred Keihl and Bertha Howland. She is survived by her sister, Doris Atkins, of Columbus; her daughters, Jody (Dan Klingenstein) Guptill, of Hardin, Theresa (Dan) Burkhart, of Fishtail; daughterin-law Debbie Vandersnick, of Billings; grandchildren, Kevin (Shannon) Oltrogge, of Billings, Jennifer (Laramie) Baumann, of Hardin, Chad (Bobbi) Guptill, of Hardin, Jason (Kara) Vandersnick, of Lakenheath AFB, England, Heather (Chad) Landon of Billings, Michelle (David) Meinka of Overland Park, Kan.; and numerous greatgrandchildren. Services will be Friday, March 21, at 11 a.m. at St. Michael’s Parish in Absarokee with burial following in Rosebud Cemetery, Absarokee. Arrangements are being handled by Smith Funeral Chapel-Columbus. Erwin C. Byrnes SMITH DOWNTOWN CHAPEL 925 S. 27th 245-6427 HAUCK — Helmer, 76, of Billings. A graveside service will be 2 p.m. Wed., March 19, at Sunset Memorial Gardens; 1721 Central Ave. with military honors. The casket is closed.(3/19) NICKELL — Carl R., 85, of Harlowton and formerly of Columbus. Cremation. No services planned at this time. (3/20) HARDY — Elizabeth “Becky,” 68, of Nye. Cremation arrangements have taken place at Smith Downtown Chapel, Billings. A gathering for friends at Carter’s Camp in Nye, MT on Thurs. 3/20 at 7 p.m.(3/20) LINDENBERG — Tina Marie, 48, of Billings. Arrangements are pending at Smith Downtown Chapel. (3/20) KOERNER — Lea A., 88, Billings. Memorial service 11 a.m. Sat., April 5, at Heights Baptist Church, 810 Garnet Ave. (3/21) Connie Saunders Alice Elam Vandersnick State and Area Deaths Serving Billings Area for 110 Years OBITUARIES 1 SMITH — Dolores. Cremation has taken place. Memorial Friday 11 a.m. at Cremation & Funeral Gallery. 21 Exclusive Provider Cremation with Confidence Guarantee Billings Monument Co. 10 Yellowstone Ave. — 406-248-8807 DICKEY — Oliver B., 86, Billings. Vigil Wed., 5:15 p.m. Dahl Funeral Chapel. Memorial Mass Thurs., 10 a.m. at St. Thomas Church, 2210 Colton Blvd. Interment at Mountview Cemetery. Luncheon to follow at St. Thomas Church. 20 BALDWIN — Vicki, 54, of Billings. Memorial Service pending at Harvest Church. 20 Proudly serving Billings for 115 years! HOURS: 8:30-5:00 MON.-FRI. 406-245-3391 • 1-800-498-3319 Love. Light. Effervescent. Sunshine. These are a few words friends and family use to describe Connie Saunders, who passed away peacefully on March 15, 2014, after a long struggle with cancer. Connie Kirkness Saunders was born on March 31, 1950, in Billings. She was the ﬁrst child of Neal and Norma Kirkness. She and her brothers grew up in a loving and generous family. Connie g raduated from Billings West CONNIE High School SAUNDERS in 1968. In March of 1969, Connie married her high school sweetheart, David Pierce. They were later divorced, but remained good friends. Dave and Connie’s children are Terra, Tony and Trena. In July of 1991, Connie married Lane Saunders, who remained her devoted and loving husband for the rest of her life. Lane and Connie spent 23 years together — working, traveling, nurturing each other as well as each other’s families. Lane was honored to spend the last several months caring for Connie and meeting her day-today needs. Connie loved to bowl with friends and play cards with family. Connie was a wonderful cook and brought delicious food to all gatherings. Children especially loved Connie’s cooking — perhaps because it was made with love, and usually whipped cream. Family and friends admired her optimistic outlook and desire to support and participate in family events. She spearheaded a family road trip tradition to attend her granddaughter’s dance recitals in Lewistown, loved attending any event of the little people in her life, and was always the ﬁrst to call on birthdays. You could count on Connie unconditionally. Christmas was Connie’s favorite holiday, and she loved to lavishly entertain family and friends. In fact, we still think she believes in Santa. Knowing last year would be her last Christmas, the family wanted to make the occasion extra special for Connie. She was overjoyed when Santa paid her a visit the day before Christmas Eve in her home. He presented her with a special Healing Bell of Hope, and the children of the family serenaded her with Christmas carols. It was a beautiful evening. Connie’s career took several paths throughout her life. In 1981, she and Dave bought the Lion’s Den. She continued working at The Den with her daughter Terra until August 2013, but her true passion was her career in health care. Connie worked as a patient representative at Billings Clinic until 2001, when, along with several colleagues, she left the Clinic to pursue an opportunity with a startup company, Revenue Cycle Partners, now known as Avadyne Heath. Connie loved her work at Avadyne. She was known for her compassion and dedication to helping patients, and was well-respected among her coworkers. When Connie required additional time off for hospital stays, her fellow workers donated PTO days so Connie needn’t worry about absences. She was an asset to the organization, and her kind-hearted disposition has been missed. Connie was preceded in death by her parents, Neal Kirkness and Norma Cox; and her brother, Rick Kirkness. She is survived by her loving husband, Lane; daughter Terra Pierce (Rich Wrobel), of Billings; son Tony (Lisa) Pierce, of Lewistown and grandchildren Truman and Morgan; and daughter Trena (Joel) Bohnke, of Belgrade, and granddaughters Tessa and Tiffany, and great-grandchildren Ava and Cash. Connie’s stepsons are Bryce (Angie) Saunders, of Billings, and children Steven, Jarrad and Trent; and Sam (Stephanie) Saunders, of Bozeman. She is also survived by her loving brother, R.D. Kirkness, of Red Lodge and his children, Brandelyn, Britney, BreAnna and Jayde. She also leaves her nephew Richard (Sabine) Kirkness, who was so kind to her during her illness. Connie leaves her dear aunt, Polly Kirkness; cousin Mary (Tim) Bomersbach, of North Dakota, with whom she talked every day and Mary’s brother Greg (Patsy) Anderson, from Wisconsin. Mary made numerous trips to Billings during Connie’s illness. She leaves best friends, Bob and Susie Balko and Marv and Janet Brown, and Rich and Carol Miller, who have shared so many good times. Connie wishes to thank the Pierce family for their love and support, especially Robin Pierce Richter and husband Klaus Richter, who accompanied Connie on every appointment and procedure in the last six months. She is survived by numerous nieces and nephews, and was especially close to Ursula (Michael Ormsby) Richter and Kate (Zach) Richter Green, who have, since they were young, called Connie “Auntie Angel,” because she looked like the angel on a Christmas tree. Services will be held at noon on Saturday, March 22, at the Lincoln Center Auditorium, with a celebration of life reception immediately following at Hilands Golf Club. Connie and the family wish to extend special thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff at St. Vincent Frontier Cancer Center for their compassionate care through this difficult journey, including Dr. Marty Lucas and her favorite nurse, Cassie McBride. Our beautiful Angel has ﬂown from this earth and will be in our hearts for eternity. M i c h e l o t t i-S a w y e rs is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be made online at www. michelottisawyers.com. Myrtle ‘Myrtie’ Yaroslaski Myrtle “Myrtie” May now and is whole again — Yaroslaski, our prayer war- in mind, body and spirit. rior, went to be with her What better way to go than Heavenly Father on March go to sleep and wake up in 17, 2014. She was born on Heaven. July 12, 1921, to Johnnie AlMyrtie was quite the fred and Mary Rose Jones cook. Everyone loved her (Neumann) in Roundup. fried chicken and gravy and She was the tenth of 15 chil- potato salad. To this day dren. her Rice Krispie bars are On June thought of 29, 1947, she fondly. As a married the bride of two love of her years, she life, Vicwas featured tor Vernon in the SepYaroslaski. tember 1949 Shortly afFamily Cirter they cle. She won MYRTIE YAROSLASKI c e l e b ra te d 1st Prize for their 50th her Harvest wedding anniversary, Vegetable Chowder. Vic passed away. She was She was preceded in heartbroken, but to every- death by her mother, father, one’s amazement, she car- all but one sister, and her ried on. grandson Davy. One thing you always She is survived by her knew about Myrtie was that sister Ada McKeen; her if you visited her, your name children, Bob (Maria) Yarowent on her prayer list! And slaski of Reno, Nev., Ida pray she did. There were (Dave) Eichenlaub, of Mistimes she would stay up all soula, Steve (Mayva) Yaronight praying for someone. slaski, of Kelso, Wash., and She loved “Her Jesus” and Sandy (Chris) Brink, of Billread “Jesus books” and her ings. She is also survived by Bible every day. Her favor- 11 grandchildren, Monica ite Bible verse was Romans (Jay), Dahlia (Jared), Darryl 8:28, “And we know that in (Karen), Darren (Michelle), all things God works for the Leah (Corey), Beth (Matt), good of those who love him, Nate (Rachel), Jenny (Jerwho have been called ac- emiah), Josiah, Ben (Emcording to his purpose.” She ily) and Christian; 10 greathad a smile that would light grandchildren, Kayleigh, up the room and you just DJ, Chad, Cole, Staci (Cody), felt better seeing her. She is Brandon (Brittany), Roger, smiling down from Heaven Dylan, Anna and Sean, plus one due in June; and two great-great-grandchildren, Davy and Charlotte, plus one due in July. A special thank you goes to the staff at Aspen Meadows. They provided such loving, compassionate care for Myrtie. We are thankful that Myrtie was part of the Aspen Meadows family. Sandy would like to personally thank them for allowing her to be the daughter again, not the caretaker. That was a blessing that cannot be measured or expressed in words. The family would also like to thank Big Sky Senior Services for the care they provided for Myrtie and Vic during their days living at home. Her friend Marie was everfaithful and came to see her nearly every week. The casket will be open for visitation on Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the funeral home, and prior to the service at church. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., on Friday, March 21, at Harvest ChurchLockwood. Lunch to follow. Interment will take place at Sunset Memorial Gardens after the reception. In lieu of ﬂowers, memorials may be made to Big Sky Senior Services. MichelottiSawyers is assisting with arrangements, and remembrances may be shared with the family at www.michelottisawyers. com. Norvin Rohr Norvin was born Sept. 29, 1920, to Nels and Sadie Rohr in Crary, N.D. He left the family farm at a young age and worked his way west to Laurel. He enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed in England, ﬂying in B-17s during World War II. He married Lilian Welham in England in 1944. Discharged from service in 1946, they relocated to Billings. He spent most of his time training Lab dogs for competition in the ﬁeld trials. He also enjoyed ﬁshing and hunting and made many trips to the backcountry with his horses and mules. After 40+ years and 2.5 million miles of driving trucks over the road he retired from Peavy Flour. Lilian passed in 1989. As a retired widower, he spent his time rebuilding small engines, gardening, watching old westerns, and having coffee with his buddies. Every day after coffee he made a trip with his faithful companion “Skoal” down to his favorite spot on the river. “You gotta keep going!” He was preceded in death by his mother and father; sisters Orleen and Melvina; brothers Art, Clayton, Gordie and Stanley. He is survived by his brother Virgil; sons Les and Roger (Carol); grandchildren Dain, Schyler, Jason, and Angela (Tanner) Everson; great-grandchildren Damon and Diego. The family wishes a special thanks to the VA Clinic and a heartfelt thank you to NORVIN ROHR the Riverstone Hospice for their special care and giving. A celebration honoring “Grampa” will be held at a later date for family and friends followed by a burial service. Arrangements are by Cremation & Funeral Gallery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www. cfgbillings.com through “Our Families.” Please see Obits, B5