Miscellaneous Custer County, Montana obits:
Frances Ruth Hansen
Frances Ruth Hansen, 81, of Glendive died after a lengthy illness on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2005, at her daughter's home in Glendive.
Born Sept. 18, 1924, she was the daughter of Grace and Scoville Lehman of the Union area.
She married Viggo "Vic" Hansen on Oct. 25, 1942. They spent some time farming in the Bad Route area, later moving with their children to Glendive where they spent their remaining lives.
While raising their children, Mrs. Hansen helped support her family by working at several jobs, including many years of loving service to residents of the local nursing home. Later, she enjoyed her job as a bus driver's assistant, transporting handicapped children to and from school.
After her retirement, she spent many enjoyable times with her family and friends, working as a volunteer and participating in activities as well as enriching her faith in the Lord at the Zion Lutheran Church.
Survivors include two sisters, Bernice Bren of Circle and Pearl Russell of Glendive; five children including three daughters, Loretta and Ron Bach of Kingsley, MI, Carol and Ken Sturgis of Glendive and Gloria and Pat Oberg of Billings, and two sons, Donald and Sandra Hansen of San Diego, Calif., and David and Marie Hansen of Gillette, Wyo.
Her survivors also include several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and five siblings, Mary Suepke, Rose Walsh, Marjorie Globstad, Dr. John Lehman and Bert Lehman.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2005, at 11 a.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church in Glendive. Interment will follow in the Dawson Memorial Garden Cemetery in Glendive.
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice.
Jay Hoppe
Jay E. Hoppe, 72, of Miles City, died at his home on Sept. 6, 2005. He was born to Harold "Smokey" and Alice "Berniece" (Snider) Hoppe on November 15, 1932 in Buffalo, Wyoming. Jay attended school in Ryegate, Montana. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in which he honorably served for four years. On January 10, 1975, Jay and Carolyn Newcomer were united in marriage in Norton, Kansas. They would go on to enjoy thirty plus years of marriage. The family moved to Miles City in the fall of 1981 where they have made their home ever since. Jay worked for Mtn. Bell, US West, and QWest, before retiring in 1994. He then went back to work in 1997 until 1999 for CenturyTel. Jay loved life and was a hard worker, but most of all; he loved spending time with his family and friends. Jay knew no stranger and he genuinely enjoyed people. Jay is survived by his wife Carolyn Hoppe of Miles City, MT, his children; Sheryl Dunn of Montana, Michael (Cathy) Hoppe of Virginia, Lori (Wayne) Augustine of Kansas, Kyle (Kim) Hoppe of Kansas, Jerry (Kay) Hoppe of Kansas, Lyle Hoppe of Montana, and Aaron Hoppe of Montana and a brother David Hoppe. He was blessed with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2005 at 2 p.m. at the Assembly of God Church in Miles City. Interment will be held at a later date at the Livingston Cemetery. Should friends wish, condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Hoppe family and will be applied appropriately as per Jay's wishes. They may be sent to Rt. 1 Box 2060, Miles City, MT 59301.
Helen Cutting
Helen Anna Gruner Cutting, 83, of Miles City, Montana died on Sept. 4, 2005 at the Friendship Villa Care Center in Miles City. Helen was born on September 30, 1921 in Bozeman, Montana to George Washington Gruner and Anna Marie Christopherson. She was raised in Bozeman and graduated from Bozeman High School. After graduation, Helen married Don Thompson of Bozeman. With her husband away in the service, she went to Olympia, Washington to work in a store to help the war efforts. After the war, she and Mr. Thompson were divorced and she moved to Miles City where she lived with her Aunt Helen and Uncle Bill Woodcock on their ranch. She loved horseback riding and ranching. Helen worked as a secretary for Love Motors for a number of years. She met and married Gene Cutting in Miles City in 1947, where they raised their children; Doug and Kitty. Helen was divorced in 1966 and moved to the Anderson Apartments above the Yellowstone River, which she called home for 37 years. She moved to the Friendship Villa in Miles City in the spring of 2003 where she lived until her passing. During her life in Miles City, she was an active member in such groups as the Miles City Country Club, the Republican Party, bridge club, Alcoholics Anonymous, helping with developmentally disabled citizens, and others. She worked for Dr. Lloyd Bowman, the Red Rock Village dining room, the Olive Motel, and the Hole in the Wall. She enjoyed traveling to visit her children in California, Philadelphia, and Montana and went on several Princess Cruises with her good friends. Her hobbies were growing plants, and arts and crafts. She had a "green thumb" and a creative talent. She loved the holidays, dressing up and social events with her friends in Miles City. Helen is survived by her son and his family, Doug Cutting and his wife, Peg of Blaine, Wash., their children: Hannah and Jacob and their granddaughter, Chrissie Cutting of Northern California, her daughter, Kitty Cutting of East Helena, a sister, Jeanne Gruner Beattie and her son Clark Beattie residing in Santa Cruz, Calif., a nephew, William E. Woodcock III, and the extended family of Doug and Kitty Cutting: Betty Cutting of Miles City and Cory Cutting of Denver, Colo. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, George W. Gruner and his wife Josephine C. Gruner and her aunt and uncle: Helen and Bill Woodcock. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2005 at 10 a.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home. Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements. Should friends wish, condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Friendship Villa Residents' Activity Fund, the Miles City Holy Rosary Hospice, or to the American Cancer Society.
Christine Lake
Christine Marie Lake, 45, of Miles City, passed away at her home in Miles City on September 3, 2005. Ms. Lake was born on January 13, 1960 in Los Angeles, Calif. to George and Shirley (Youngs) Lake. She was raised in Los Angeles where she went to school and enjoyed family, friends and camping. Ms. Lake moved to Oregon at the age of 16, to reunite with her father, George Lake. She married David James and had a beautiful daughter, Kyla and son LeRoy. She later moved to Great Falls, where she enjoyed homemaker, fishing, camping, and crafting, Then onto Miles City where she worked at the Historic Olive Hotel. Ms. Lake is survived by her two children Kyla James and Leroy James, Oregon; three sisters; Debra Buffington and Phyllis Lake of Montana and Margret Lake of Azusa, Calif., her father George (Sonja) Lake of Oregon and brother George Lake of Oregon. Services will be held at a later date in Great Falls. Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Miles City has been entrusted with the arrangements. Condolences may be set to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
Darnell Jungels
Darnell Henry Jungels, 57 of Miles City died on Saturday, September 3, 2005 in Rapid City, S.D. as the result of a vehicle accident. Mr. Jungles was born on August 28, 1948, in Sharon, N.D. to Henry and Levina (Hoggarth) Jungels. He grew up on a farm in Picker, North Dakota where he attended grade school and later moved with his family to Finley, North Dakota. As a young man, he worked for many area farmers in North Dakota and in 1967, he went to work for Associated Pools of Bismark, North Dakota. In 1984, he moved to Miles City where he worked for many farmers, A & A Electric, Conagra, Inc., Ray Jerrel Inc., and Mike Wacker Trucking. In the fall of 1987, he met Melody Garfield and later married her on July 22, 1988 in Miles City, where they made their home. In 1993, Mr. Jungles fulfilled a lifetime dream of buying his own truck and starting his own business, Jungels Trucking, which he operated until his death. Mr. Jungles loved his family and friends and enjoyed trucking. He loved working with livestock and enjoyed rodeos. During the summer, he would haul rodeo stock for Brookman Rodeo. During his life, he touched many lives. He has too many family members, friends and business associates to all be mentioned here, but please know that to Mr. Jungles, each and every one of you was a unique and special blessing in his life. May the Lord bless and watch over each and every one of you. Mr. Jungles is survived by his wife of 18 years, Melody, of Miles City; his two sons, Wally Jungels of San Mateo, Calif. and Rusty Jungels of Miles City; daughter by choice, Sarah Urbaniak and grandson Dominic, of Billings,; daughter by choice, Denise Sanchez and grandson, Deric of San Mateo, Calif. He also has two sisters; Carol (Ardell) Lovejoy of Finley, N. D. and Diane (Paul) Smith of Las Vegas, Nev., and two nieces, Carlye and Sadie Lovejoy.
Dan Connors
Dan Connors, 74, of Miles City died Saturday, Sept. 3, 2005, in Miles City.
He was born Jan. 8, 1931, in Butte to Irish immigrant parents John and Margaret Holland Connors.
Mr. Connors graduated from Butte Central High School in 1948.
He then attended and graduated from Western Montana College in Dillon. Mr. Connors was named to Western's Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.
He met the love of his life, Suzanne O'Dell, while a student at Western and they were married on May 16, 1953 in Dillon.
In 1953, he was inducted into the United States Army and served in an Army Intelligence program.
Mr. and Mrs. Connors lived in Georgia and Maryland during his Army service years. Their oldest of seven children, Kathy, was born in Georgia.
The couple chose a life in Montana over a career in Intelligence and moved back to Montana in 1956.
He began his teaching and coaching career in Victor where the couple's second daughter Diane was born. The family then moved to Philipsburg where daughter Margaret "Peg" and son John were born.
In 1960, the growing Connors family moved to Miles City where Mr. Connors became head football and basketball coach at little-known Sacred Heart High School.
The couple had three more children in the 1960s - sons Dan and Kevin and daughter Chris.
Mr. Connor's 15-year stint at Sacred Heart was legendary. His many teams won various district, divisional and state championships, but more importantly he selflessly mentored and developed hundreds of young people.
In 1974 he continued his teaching and coaching career at Miles Community College. Mr. Connors spent 18 years at MCC where he continued to use his unique gifts in contributing to young people's development and the greater community of Miles City.
He retired from MCC in 1993. He was named to Montana Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 1984.
Mr. Connors, his seven children and the eastern Montana community lost their beloved Sue Connors to cancer in October 1995. After Mrs. Connor's death, Mr. Connors continued to be involved in the community when he ran for Custer County Commissioner.
He served his commissioner role consistent with everything else in life - an unyielding positive outlook, honesty and integrity, thoughtful intelligence and most notably humor.
In his last years he enjoyed the legacy of faith, family and friends his life had created throughout Montana.
An Irish blessing is appropriate to describe Daniel Joseph Connors - "May your home always be too small to hold all your friends."
His survivors include his children, Kathy (Dale) Rumph of Billings, Diane (Rik) Rewerts of Libby, Peg (Jack) Manning of Great Falls, John (Kathy) Connors of Medina, Wash., Dan (Kerri) Connors of Salt Lake City, Utah, Chris (Carl) Frankel of Kirkland, Wash., and Kevin Connors of Red Lodge; his sisters, Aggie (John) Frankino of Helena, Kay (Bill) Brennick of Spokane, Wash., and Eileen O'Connor of Butte; his sisters-in-law, Berta (Dave) Clowes of Glasgow and Diane Davis of Denman Island, B.C.; 23 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild, as well as many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Margaret Connors; his wife, Sue; his brothers, John and Bill Connors; his sister, Margaret; and his granddaughter, Kelly Manning.
The family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2005 at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City.
A Vigil Service will be held Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2005, at 6 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, Sept. 8, 2005, at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City.
Right [sic] of Christian Burial will follow in the Calvary Cemetery in Miles City with full military honors provided by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1579.
Memorials in Mr. Connors' name may be made to the Connors Scholarship Fund administered by the Custer County Scholarship Foundation, P.O Box 610, Miles City, MT 59301
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com.
