Miscellaneous Custer County, Montana obituaries:
Mary Bernardine Regan
Mary Bernardine Regan, 90, died quietly Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004, in Miles City.
Born to Mae and Clem Sheridan on May 25, 1914, she spent her formative years in Minneapolis, Minn. After graduating from high school, she sang professionally and worked as a secretary.
While visiting relatives (the George and Gretchen Carr family in Miles City), she met, corresponded with, fell in love with, and married Robert T. Regan.
During their 64 years together, they created a family and a community of lively and fun-loving friends and companions. Mrs. Regan actively encouraged her extended family's involvement in academics, music, arts, and sports. She expressed her deep faith by selfless participation in church and community service.
Mrs. Regan genuinely loved and cared for others and, in turn, was deeply loved and respected. She had a contagious gift for sharing happiness and delight in life.
Her survivors include her husband, Robert; sons Joseph, and his wife, Barb, of Miles City, Robert Jr., and his wife, Mary, of Nashville, Tenn., Michael, and his wife, Melissa, of Eureka, Calif., John of Livingston, Pat, and his wife, Cathy, of Cle Elum, Wash., and Dan of Livingston; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Clem and Mae; two maternal aunts, Gretchen Carr and Elizabeth "Biddy" Neuwirth; and her brothers, Joe and Charles.
A Vigil service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004, at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004, at 10 a.m. in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Miles City. Rite of Committal will follow in the Calvary Cemetery in Miles City.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com. Should friends desire, flowers, masses and memorials may be sent to the charity of one's choice.
James L. Fulton
James L. Fulton, 56, of Forsyth died Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2004, near Dillon while on his elk hunting trip.
Mr. Fulton was born April 20, 1948, the son of Robert and Wanda Reese Fulton in Percy, Ill. He was raised and educated in the Percy area.
Following his schooling, Mr. Fulton entered the United States Navy on Jan. 3, 1968. He served his country actively until Jan. 18, 1970, when he entered the Navy Reserve. He was later honorably discharged on Sept. 28, 1973.
Following his time in the armed forces, he married Gayle Stewart on July 24, 1971, at Coulterville, Ill. Together, they made their home in Illinois until moving to Forsyth in 1973 where he worked as a carpenter in Colstrip during the construction of the Colstrip power plants.
During the 1980s, Mr. Fulton continued to work as a carpenter in the Forsyth area until being employed at what is now Forsyth Hardware, where he worked until the time of his death.
He was active in the Young Men's Club as well as holding various other memberships in Forsyth. Mr. Fulton was friendly to all and never met a stranger. He enjoyed fishing, playing cards, visiting with everyone and most of all hunting. He especially loved his family, children and grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Gayle of Forsyth; two sons, Allen Fulton, and his wife, Dana, of Colstrip and Jim Fulton, and his wife, Jasa, of Shepherd; two grandchildren, Brayden and Brookelyn; his father, Robert Fulton, and his wife, Peggy, of Percy.
His survivors also include one brother, Robert "Bob" Fulton, and his wife, Louise, of Ava, Ill.; one sister, Jean Salger, and her husband, Glenn, of Percy; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Wanda in 1983.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004, at 11 a.m. in the Chapel of Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Forsyth. Burial will be in the Forsyth Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 22, 2004, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Young Men's Club or to a charity of one's choice. Condolences may be made to the Fulton family at www.stevensonandsons.com.
Edward E. Hickel
ULM - Edward Elmer Hickel, 85, a retired welder/machinist and Army veteran, died of natural causes Wednesday at his home in Ulm.
Services are 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Falls, with cremation following the service. Burial of ashes will take place in East Rosebud Cemetery in Absarokee at a later date.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth Hickel of Ulm; sons Edward E. Hickel of Bozeman and Harry J. Hickel of Choteau; a sister, Lenore Anderson of Miles City; three grandchildren, Kenneth G. Miller, John E. Miller and Andy Sullivan; and two great-grandchildren, Trevon Miller and Kaylee Miller; and nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Ruth; a daughter-in-law, Shyralee G. Hickel; his parents, a sister and a brother.
Edward Elmer Hickel was born May 2, 1919, to Henry and Marie Hickel, at the family homestead at Coalwood, Mont., south of Miles City. He attended the Bobcat and Divide rural schools until moving with his family to Miles City, where he completed his schooling, graduating from Custer County High School in 1937.
When World War II began, he was among the first to leave Custer County, and was assigned to Co. B, 821st Aviation Construction Engineers, serving in the South Pacific Theater. After being injured and contracting malaria, he was sent back to the States and given an honorable discharge when the war ended.
He returned to the family ranch on the Tongue River to assist his parents.
On June 6, 1948, he married Ruth Harken at Concordia Lutheran Church in Forsyth. They moved to the Great Falls-Ulm area, where they have continued to reside. He was well-known in the highway construction business as a welder and master mechanic, and retired from the State Highway Department in 1982, after 25 years.
He was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church and a charter member of Peace Lutheran Church, where he held various offices. He was also active in the Boy Scout marksmanship program and the Cub Scouts when his two sons were involved. He was a longtime member of the Ulm Volunteer Fire Department, holding various positions there, and was a charter member of the Operating Engineers in Miles City, the local International Association of Machinists, a lifetime member of the V.F.W. and N.R.A., and a member of the National Trappers Association. he enjoyed hunting and fishing, and especially working with and riding his horses. He was always willing to help someone when need.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name may be sent to the organ fund at Trinity Lutheran Church; Easter Seals; or a charity of the donor's choice.
Arrangements were under the direction of Croxford Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., in Great Falls.
Ben D. Simonson
Ben D. Simonson, 58, of Terry died Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004, at the Prairie County Nursing Home in Terry.
Born in Chicago, Ill., on Nov. 28, 1945, he was the son of William S. and Helen Romero-Blanco Simonson. He attended elementary school in Beach, N.D. The family then moved to Glendive where he attended and graduated from high school. He then moved to Billings where he attended Eastern Montana College.
Mr. Simonson joined the Army in 1965. He then moved to Ft. Sam Houston, Texas, where he attended pharmaceutical school.
After pharmaceutical school, he moved to Ft. Dix, N.J., and became an Army Ranger. Then he became an Airborne Ranger at Ft. Benning, Ga. Mr. Simonson served out his remaining time in the military as a Pharmacy Spe#####t.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, coin collecting and had a love for animals. Mr. Simonson worked seismograph, construction and in the health care field throughout his life. He had many past and present friends and neighbors whom he loved dearly.
Survivors include his mother, Helen Simonson of Glendive; his significant other, Jeanne Winslow of Terry; and two sisters, Laurel Hanson, and her husband, Marlin, of Dickinson, N.D., and Wendy Denby of Alliance, Neb.
His survivors also include two aunts, Carmen and Patricia; three uncles, Chris, Dario and Judge; two nieces, Vondra Iverson and VaNessa Green; seven nephews, CJ Denby, Tyler Denby, Scott Hanson, Brent Hanson, Jeffery Hanson, Richard Simonson, and Allen Simonson.
He was preceded in death by his father, William S. Simonson; and a brother, Alfred R. Simonson.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2004, at 11 a.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Terry. Interment will follow in the Dawson Memorial Park in Glendive.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com. Should friends desire, memorials may be made in care of Jeanne Winslow, P.O. Box 825, Terry, MT 59301.
Lavina A. Deveny
A funeral Mass for Lavina A. Deveny, 93, of Billings was held Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 23, 2004, at the Saint Joseph's Catholic Church in Hysham. The Rosary preceded the Mass. Internment followed in the Hysham Cemetery.
Mrs. Deveny died Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004, of natural causes in Billings.
She was born on Sept. 29, 1911, to Henry and Mary Schrandt on their farm east of Plainville, Kan. Mrs. Deveny spent her youth in Plainville and then attended beauty school in Hayes, Kan. She worked as a beautician in Hayes and Kansas City, Mo., before moving to work in Los Angeles, Calif., in 1936.
In 1943 she bought and operated the Mayfair Beauty Salon in San Francisco. Mrs. Deveny was fond of her adopted state California. She enjoyed dancing to the music of the Big Band Era, spending time at the beach, competing in archery, attending operas and riding horses.
She and Dan Deveny from Sanders met while he was stationed in San Francisco during World War II. They were married in 1946.
Following a month-long honeymoon in Mexico they settled on the Deveny family homestead near Sanders where they farmed, ranched and raised five children.
Mrs. Deveny was an accomplished homemaker and gardener. She also enjoyed bowling, playing the piano, card games, and daily walks. She was a member of the Saint Joseph's Catholic Church and Altar Society in Hysham and the American Legion Auxiliary.
Mr. Deveny died in 1994 and in 1996 Mrs. Deveny moved to the Aspen View Retirement Community in Billings. Since 1998 Mrs. Deveny was a resident of the Rim Shadows Personal Care Home where she was appreciated for her piano playing, upbeat attitude and sense of humor.
Her survivors include her daughters, Patricia Deveny of Billings and Christine Deveny, and her husband, Ken Knudson, of Helena; her sons, Dan R. and Sandy Deveny of Winnemucca, Nev., Frank and Peggy Deveny of Sanders, and Tom Deveny and his friend, Kathy Knudsen, of Missoula; a grandson, Bill Deveny of Bozeman; her granddaughters, Jackie Deveny of Missoula, Laura Murray of Austin, Texas, and Adele Swaim of Helena; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, Dan, she was preceded in death by nine brothers and sisters. A funeral Mass was held Tuesday afternoon, Nov. 23, 2004, at the Saint Joseph's Catholic Church in Hysham. The Rosary preceded the Mass. Internment followed in the Hysham Cemetery.
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Forsyth was in charge of the arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Sanders Community Hall Foundation, 388 Old Highway 10, Sanders, MT 59076.
Condolences may be sent to the Deveny family at www.stevensonandsons.com.
