Miscellaneous Custer County, Montana obituaries:
Dennis Michels
Services for Dennis C. Michels will be held Saturday, May 27, 2006, at 1 p.m., in St. Paul’s-on-the-Plains Episcopal Church, with Rev. Dr. Steve Sellers officiating.
Dennis C. Michels was born December 28, 1942 in San Diego, California to Dr. Fred E. and Bernice (Hively) Michels.
He graduated from Columbia City (Indiana) High School and held a BSEE and MS in Solid State Physics from Purdue University. He served in the USAF as a Radio Spe#####t from 1963-1967. As a professional engineer, Dennis held engineering positions at Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, South Carolina, and at Methodist Hospital, Compliance Services Group, and Carillon Senior Life Care Community in Lubbock, Texas.
He also was a registered homebuilder and a certified flight instructor with multiple ratings in multiple types of aircraft. He primarily taught international students at Levelland Aviation and private students through ScotFlight School of Aviation. He also served as a corporate pilot for Caprock Pipe in Lovington, New Mexico.
Mr. Michels was a communicant at St. Paul’s-on-the-Plains Episcopal Church, serving as Eucharistic Minister, Eucharistic Visitor, Lector, and Usher. He flew War Birds, volunteered with the Texas Air Museum in Slaton and was a Colonel in the Commemorative Air Force in Midland, Texas. He was a sustaining member of Central Texas Area Museum in Salado, Texas, and served as the Drum Major for the massed bands at the annual Gathering of the Scottish Clans in Salado for many years.
Survivors include his wife, Debbie Michels of Lubbock; his father, Dr. Fred E. Michels of Miles City, Montana; his daughter, Christina Marie Michels of Atlanta, Georgia; and his son, Doran John Michels of Portland, Oregon.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Bernice Hively Michels and his brother, John James Michels.
Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s-on-the-Plains Episcopal Church, Box 2686, Lubbock, TX 79408, and the Texas Air Museum, Box 667, Slaton, TX 79364.
To send online condolences, please visit www.rixfd.com.
James Mount
James Tredwell Timothy “Jim” Mount, 73, of Miles City died Sunday, May 21, 2006, at Holy Rosary Extended Care Facility in Miles City.
He was born June 25, 1932, to James Leighton Wilson Mount and Mildred Alice Combs Mount in Malverne, N.Y., at the family home, built by his grandfather Combs.
He graduated from Valley Stream High School, Valley Stream, N.Y., In 1948. As a junior, he was a co-captain of the football team, made the final touchdown, wining the state championship before a crowd of 37,000 people at Fireman’s Field on Thanksgiving Day.
Following his freshman year at New York State University, Brockport, he enlisted in the United States Navy. He completed flight training at Pensacola, Fla. He flew off the USS Valley Forge and USS Wasp. He was a POW during the Korean War and received a Purple Heart and other Commendation medals. He earned a field commission to Lieutenant.
Upon completing his tour with the Navy, Mr. Mount returned to New York University to complete his bachelor of science degree in physical education. He taught science, physical education and coached high school football, basketball, tennis, lacrosse and track in New York, Colorado and Montana. He received his master’s degree in administration and had begun a PhD program.
He and Vivian Lorraine Gosney were married at St Anthony’s Catholic Church, Longview, Texas, Jan. 12, 1960. They lived in Tomah, Wis., Lexington, Ky., Sheridan, Wyo., and College Park, Md.
The Mounts finally moved to Miles City and bought the Loude family farmhouse with surrounding acreage in 1969. Mr. and Mrs. Mount raised sheep and five children on the banks of the Yellowstone River for more than 36 years.
Mr. Mount’s hobbies included hunting, fishing, graphic arts, stained glass, pottery and coin collecting. These joys were interspersed amongst many years of dedication to the community. He served on the Custer County Federal Task Force. He was first chairman of the Women’s Abuse Victimization Board. Mr. Mount was president of Sacred Heart Parish Council and was president of the Mental Health Council on Aging. He administered the Student Health Grant from the Sisters of Leavenworth for Sacred Heart School. He volunteered for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Colorado. He belonged to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, in Miles City, the Federal Employees Association, the Targhee Sheep Association, and the American Numismatics Association.
His survivors include his wife, Vivian; his daughters, Michelle Muggli (John) of Miles City, Christine Swenson (Mike) of Cortland, N.Y., Barbara McYoung (Bill) of Kempner, Texas, and Linda Leppell (Ken) of Great Falls; a son, Mathew Mount (Liz) of Tulsa, Okla.; his sister, Joan Fraccalvieri, (Peter) of Stoney Brook, N.Y.; his great-aunt, Ruth Dobler of Ft. Pierce, Fla.; and his grandchildren, Elizabeth, Matthew, Timothy, and Andrew Swenson, Thomas and Angela Muggli, Rebecca and Michael McYoung; a nephews, Mike (Darci) Reinert of North Tonawanda, N.Y.; and a niece, Maureen (Gary) Tangen of Setauket, N.Y.
Vigil services will be Thursday, May 25, 2006, at 6 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, May 26, 2006, at 11 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Rite of Committal, with military honors, will follow in the Eastern Montana State Veterans Cemetery.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Sacred Heart School Scholarship Fund or the American Cancer Society.
Irene Wilson
Irene M. Koschel Wilson, 92, of Miles City died Friday, May 19, 2006, at the Eagles Manor in Miles City.
Mrs. Wilson was born Feb. 5, 1914, in Wessington Springs, S.D., the daughter of Reinhard and Ida (Hoenke) Koschel. The family moved to Plevna where they farmed. Her father died when she was young and her mother married Otto Leischner. She lived in Plevna and received her schooling there.
In 1935, she married Alan G. Wilson in Baker. Mr. Wilson worked for the Milwaukee Railroad and they lived in many small communities with the Milwaukee Railroad before moving to Miles City.
She was a bookkeeper for Reynolds Grocery from about 1947 to 1965. In 1965 the family moved to Deer Lodge. Her husband died in June 1975 and she moved back to Miles City.
Mrs. Wilson was a member of the First United Methodist Church and was the treasurer of the church for many years. She also was a member of the Esther Circle of the church. She was a member of the Degree of Honor and also the Past Presidents Club of the Degree of Honor. Her family and church friends and church were very important to her.
Her survivors include a son, James Wilson of Sheridan, Wyo.; a daughter, Virginia Huckins, and her husband, K., of Miles City; seven grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Viola Studer of Billings.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her father; her mother; her step-father; two half-brothers, Orin and Alvin Leischner; a brother, Roland Koschel; a sister, Rosalind Blair; a daughter-in-law, Irene Wilson; and a granddaughter, Kathy.
Funeral services will be Friday, May 26, 2006, at 2 p.m. in the United Methodist Church in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Custer County Cemetery.
Stevenson and Sons FUneral Home in Miles City is in charge of arrangements.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church or to the charity of one’s choice.
Mary Grace Woody
Mary Grace Annalora Woody, 90, of Miles City died Monday, May 22, 2006, at Holy Rosary Extended Care Facility in Miles City.
She was born in Miles City on Dec. 5, 1915 at the family home. She was the third of six children born to Anthony Sr. and Virginia Rizza Annalora. She attended Kircher School and Custer County High School.
On Jan. 20, 1934, she and the love of her life, Paul W. “Butch” Woody were married in Terry. They were married for 58 years when he died.
The couple moved to Washington State in 1957. She returned to Miles City in 2003 to be near her brothers.
Mrs. Woody worked various jobs during her life and was very active in the American Legion Auxiliary and 8-40, holding various offices including Grand Chapeau. She also belonged to TOPS, Kops, serving as president and Den Mother in Cub Scouts. She and Mr. Woody also loved square dancing, belonging to the “4 Squares” Club in Washington State, attending competitions throughout the West Coast and Canada. She also loved bowling, her pets and big family get-togethers for holidays and camp outs.
She is survived by her four children, Gail (Larry) Phelps of Miles City, Lester (Ginger) Woody of Ellensburg, Wash., Patrick (Cindy) Woody of Miles City, and Rebecca (Cyrus) Dodd of Silverdale, Wash.; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.
Survivors also include one brother, Sam (Ruby) Annalora of Miles City; a sister-in-law, Louise Annalora of Miles City; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Paul; her brothers, Frank and Tony; her sisters, Jean and Josephine; and two grandchildren, Paul and Leslie Shawn.
A Vigil Service will be Friday, May 26, 2006, at 6 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Mass of Christian Burial will be Saturday, May 27, 2006, at 11 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Rite of Committal will be in Washington.
Condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Sacred Heart Church or to the charity of one’s choice.
Pearl Bach
Pearl Leona Bach, 91, of Forsyth, formerly of Hysham, died Friday, May 19, 2006, at her home in the Rosebud Health Care Center in Forsyth.
Born Nov. 3, 1914, in New England, N.D., she was the daughter of Julius and Alvina Will. She grew up and attended school in New England, and graduated from high school in 1933.
Following her graduation, she moved to Vashon Island, Wash., where she worked at various jobs.
In 1938, she started nurses training at Tacoma General Hospital and graduated as a registered nurse in 1941. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, she said “now I know what I want to do” and joined the United States Army Nurse Corps in 1942. During her military service, she was stationed in Canada, Alaska and the Philippines and was honorably discharged as a first lieutenant in 1946.
On April 20, 1944, she and George Haugland were married in Tacoma, Wash. They were blessed with four children.
She later married Clyde Taylor on Sept. 8, 1962. Together, they made their home in Hysham.
She worked at the Rosebud Community Hospital from 1962 until her retirement in 1973. While living in Hysham, she also was the Treasure County Public Health Nurse, Hysham school nurse and the nurse for the Migrant School program.
Following Mr. Taylor’s death in 1986, she continued to make her home in Hysham. On April 8, 1989, she and Howard Bach were married. They later moved to Forsyth, making their home at the River View Villa.
After Mr. Bach died in 2001, Mrs. Bach resided there until moving to the Friendship Villa Care Center in Miles City, and later she made her home at the Rosebud Health Care Center in Forsyth until the time of her death.
She was a member of the Hysham Presbyterian Church, the Hysham and Forsyth American Legion Post, as well as the Hysham and Forsyth Senior Citizens.
Her survivors include two sons, Craig (Ruby) Haugland of Gold Canyon, Ariz., and Harold (Linda) Haugland of Missoula; two daughters, Nancy (Jeff) Graff of Waseca, Minn., and Lois (Toby) Johnson of Forsyth; her sister, Joyce (Walt) Schofield of Rainer, Wash.; eight grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; three nieces; a nephew; and a step-daughter.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, George Haugland, Clyde Taylor and Howard Bach; one brother, Floyd Will; and her granddaughter, Doreen Renee Johnson.
Funeral services will be Thursday, May 25, 2006, at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Forsyth. Burial will be in the Hysham Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to Mrs. Bach’s family at www.stevensonandsons.com.
Harold Draine Sr.
Harold Herbert Draine Sr., 86, of Boyes died on the morning of Thursday, May 18, 2006, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.
He was born to Herbert W. and Amanda Ann (Blaylock) Draine on Dec. 2, 1919, on the family home place near the Little Powder east of Broadus. To this union, four other siblings, Ray, Ayche, Nola and Pearl, were born. Mr. Draine’s mother died of pneumonia when he was a young boy. His dad married a lady named Flossie Wilkerson and she brought with her a son named Glen. The couple had three more children, Don, Dale and Gladys.
When Mr. Draine was about three years old, he was injured while riding on a horse-drawn farm implement. He was reliant upon the use of a cane to walk, but it never dimmed his spirit. He attended school at little country school about a mile east of his home. He graduated from high school at Broadus.
When he was about 17 years old, he contacted a doctor to get medical treatment to try to repair the damage to his leg. With the help of the Shriners he received surgery in Billings and spent three months in a body cast. His prognosis of ever walking was grim, but with his determination and drive, he walked shortly after he was released. He attended college in Billings where he received his teaching degree. While at college he met the love of his life, Bernice “Bunny” Larsen of Sidney. She too was earning her teaching degree.
On May 29, 1942, (the day after graduation) they were married in a simple ceremony at a professor’s home. From there, they hitchhiked out to the Seattle area where they worked in the shipyards for a couple of years.
They decided to move back to the Broadus area and lived in a sheep wagon herding sheep on the Beach place. In 1946, they moved a little further south to a piece of land that they purchased from his father. Due to the harsh winters, they moved to where the present day ranch home is located where they farmed and raised sheep and cattle. Life was not easy, but they worked as a team and persevered.
In November of 1951, the couple had a son, Harold H. Draine, Jr. They had two more sons, Larry in October 1953 and Gary in October 1955. There was never a dull moment with this threesome.
Mr. Draine enjoyed being involved with life. He never knew any strangers. If he didn’t know who they were at first sight, he knew who they were before much time had passed. Besides his love for ranching and farming, he was a 4-H leader, a Deacon at the Baptist Church, traveled to Europe in 1972, raised prize-winning Hereford bulls, attended numerous dog trials around the country and even participated in the Montana Drive of ’89. His real passion was raising, training, showing and talking about his beloved Border Collies, which were more than just dogs to him. These special creatures were his constant companions.
Following heart surgery in 1992, Mr. Draine began to slow his pace a bit with the main ranch work, but was always involved with the activities.
He had not only the love of a beautiful woman, but a family of which he was proud. He delighted in the stories and antics of his seven grandchildren, who will miss him dearly.
Surviving Mr. Draine are his wife, Bernice; sons, Harold Jr. and Sacha of Hammond, Larry and Dawn on the family ranch, and Gary and special friend, Dixie Green of Billings; his grandchildren, Colt, Tim, Stacie, James and Corie; a sister, Gladys and Walter Hagensen of Washington; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
His parents, four brothers, two sisters and a step-brother preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be Friday, May 26, 2006, at 10 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Broadus. Interment will follow in the Valley View Cemetery at Broadus.
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Broadus is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com.
Memorials may be made to the Shriners Organization, The Powder River Manor or to a charity of one’s choice.
