Jun272024

Obituary: GARY EUGENE ZEILER 

Obituaries
Gary Zeiler

Gary Zeiler

Gary Eugene Zeiler (86) was welcomed to his eternal home on June 22, 2024, after a brief battle with urinary tract cancer. He was born on July 30, 1937, and was the middle child of five children born to Emma Robertus and Ernest Eugene Zeiler. He was born on the family farm southwest of Billings and spent his entire life living on Zeiler Acres.

He met his wife of 66 years, Eleanor Kober, at a dance at Dave’s Place, where they frequented. They had two children, Denise (Bohlman) and Doug Zeiler.

Gary loved to jitterbug, waltz and polka, play cards and watch Western movies. He was a gifted horseman in his early years and was a member with the Billings Quadrille, performing square dancing on horses and participating in the sport of O-Mok-See riding competitions (pole bending, barrel racing) and riding horses in parades. In his later years, he was a member of Pike Masters. Gary enjoyed fishing for pike and walleye, boating, camping, 4-wheeling, and snowmobiling. Gary loved life and teased he would live to 200! He teased everyone, especially his nieces and nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He was loyal, hardworking, and resourceful. Gary was mechanically inclined, as well as a skilled read more

Jun272024

YCN Wins Best Newspaper

Features • Montana-Statewide • Politics • Sports • Top Stories • Yellowstone County

1st Time in Newspaper History

Our 2023 staff, contributors and broadcasters, all of which helped YCN in achieving our first place General Excellence Award on Saturday June 22, 2024, at the Montana Newspaper Convention. Pictured above (top: left to right) David Crisp, Lorita Harper, Michael Marino, Justin Choriki, Elisa Schlosser, Tana McNiven, Jonathan McNiven, Dave Riley, Mark Lawson, Joanne Peabody, Jim Peabody, (bottom: left to right) Krayton Kerns, Anderson McNiven, Andy Schwab, Norma & Dennis (Pappy) McNiven, Connor Waddingham and Evelyn Pyburn. (courtesy photos)

Our 2023 staff, contributors and broadcasters, all of which helped YCN in achieving our first place General Excellence Award on 6/22/24 2024, at the MNA Convention.
Pictured above (top: left to right) David Crisp, Lorita Harper, Michael Marino, Justin Choriki, Elisa Schlosser, Tana McNiven, Jonathan McNiven, Dave Riley, Mark Lawson, Joanne Peabody, Jim Peabody, (bottom: left to right) Krayton Kerns, Anderson McNiven, Andy Schwab, Norma & Dennis (Pappy) McNiven, Connor Waddingham and Evelyn Pyburn. (courtesy photos)

Yellowstone County News achieved the top spot in recognition last weekend at the Montana Newspaper Association’s Annual Meeting in Kalispell. It was recognized as the #1 Newspaper in Montana (Division 3 with circulations of 2,000 or above). Based in Huntley, the Yellowstone County News has been publishing 47 years, since 1977. It is published by Jonathan and Tana McNiven.

In Division 3, Yellowstone County News placed in 17 categories and took home the 1st place spot in nine of those categories. Amassing those 17 categories included nine staff members and contributors from David Crisp, Evelyn Pyburn, Krayton Kerns, Michael Marino, Tana McNiven, Chase Doak, Connor Waddingham, Elisa Schlosser and Jonathan McNiven.

Evelyn  Pyburn has won the Best Editorial for the third year in a row. This year’s three read more

Jun262024

Obituary: Duane Kibby

Obituaries

Duane Lee Kibby

Duane Lee Kibby was born in Burke, South Dakota, on May 20th, 1941. He grew up on a farm southwest of Naper, Nebraska, until he graduated high school in 1959. He attended Wayne State University for a couple of years until he decided to join the United States Navy. He served on the U.S.S. Coral Sea and after two years in the Navy, he was honorably discharged in 1963 due to his younger brother’s death in a tractor accident. He returned home to help his father on the farm and later earned a degree in science from Drake University, Des Moines, IA.

While visiting Tacoma, WA, with his sister in 1966, he met his future wife, Janet Hubbard, and they were married in 1967. Duane worked as a teacher for many years teaching junior high shop, high school science and algebra in the Renton, Washington, area. Duane went back to school and earned a degree in computing and coding. He worked with AI technologies. 

Duane and Janet divorced in 1984. 

Later, Duane met Patricia McKee and they read more

Jun262024

Obituary: Donna Mae (Thebault) Drinkwalter

Obituaries
Donna Mae (Thebault) Drinkwalter

Donna Mae (Thebault) Drinkwalter

December 27,1929 – May 18, 2024

Donna Mae (Thebault) Drinkwalter of Billings, MT, lovingly known to her family as either Doc or Gramma Doc, passed quietly out of this world to join her Heavenly Father on Saturday, May 18th, 2024, at the age of 94.

She was born in Hot Springs, SD, on December 27,1929, the daughter of Henry and Ruth (Grant) Thebault. After her husband passed away, Ruth married Cecil Kirby, and they moved to his ranch near Oral, SD. Cecil was a great father to Ruth’s daughters, Donna and her two sisters, Phyllis and Marlene.

The country school the girls attended only went through read more

Jun252024

Assault at Yellowstone County Detention Facility

Top Stories • Yellowstone County

On Saturday, 6/22/24, deputies and an ambulance were dispatched to the Yellowstone County Detention Facility for a reported assault on detention officers by inmates in the facility. As two officers were working in the facility, inmates suddenly attacked them. “Security video shows that the attacks were unprovoked,” says Sheriff Mike Linder in a released email. One of the officers, a victim in the attack, was transported read more

May312024

Love the Title “Rodent” You Attached to …

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

CMSgt. Emett, Michael, S. & Cam Browne: (YCN 4-12-24) Chief, love the title “rodent” you attached to Chuck Shumer, and Cam Browne calling Jon Tester a swamp creature, another rodent…love it. And now of course Slime Tester has stabbed us again in the back(side), this time by dumping a new bunch of illegals into Flathead Valley. If that’s not enough, we now have a bunch of illegals from Afghanistan living in Billings, thanks to Nancy Van Maren and Mayor Bill Cole. Not much talk about that, and I wonder why? It’s because they don’t want (us) talking about how our tax money is being spent. Ms. Van Maren, when do you think these (political refugees) Mohammedans will turn against us and possibly commit crimes here in Billings?

I wrote about this in September 2023 with absolutely no comment whatever from our politicians. Was Tester involved in this crime? It’s people like Van Maren with their bleating hearts that bring America haters into America. Why? I think it’s because of their self-imposed guilt: “we pity them, but if we bring them here, they’ll have a better life with our money.” Why should anybody have any pity on those that hate us?

I’m an older veteran and have talked with many young vets, and have yet to talk to one that has read more

May302024

I would Like to ‘Enlighten‘ MSgt Jose A. Bustos

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I would like to ‘enlighten‘ MSgt Jose A. Bustos, MSgt. USAF/US Army (Ret) LTE 17 May 2024 with his regards to placing “blame” on President Biden for the loss of 13 Marines during the withdrawal of Afghanistan.

IF he were to check the record, he will find IT WAS the Donald J. Trump Administration, ‘negotiating’ with the Taliban, with zero Afghans involved for the withdrawal. When one negotiates only with the enemy and does not include the people we were there supporting, I ask; “What could go wrong?” As each stronghold was evacuated the Taliban moved in, with little to no Afghan resistance (Afghans not knowing what/when/where support was needed). At the FINAL destination, it was the Taliban setting up roadblocks/checkpoints, NOT the Afghans (in their own country)!!

The withdrawal was read more

May302024

We Must Stand Up to the Climate Nazis

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I want to help Mary Catherine Dunphy and many others learn the truth and not be so worried about so little.  We have thousands of “experts” running around telling us how we are all going to die a horrible death if we don’t submit to the “climate alarmist” and do it right now!  Thank goodness we know most “experts” know less than a 3rd grader!

Actually, man is powerless to effect any change in our weather or our climate.  There are hundreds of variables at play and man has a very poor understanding of how all those variables interplay to bring us our weather patterns.  AND man surely has no ability to change any of those variables.

Dunphy is concerned about the arsenic, lead and mercury that come out of the smoke stacks at Colstrip.  First remember 99% of the steam coming out of the stacks is just that – steam.  After mixing with our atmosphere the other hundred or so chemicals that make up the 1% are so miniscule we never know they are there.  You get more arsenic eating a tuna fish sandwich than you will ever get in a lifetime of breathing Montana air!  We hear all kinds of fearmongering that this chemical MAY harm your skin and this other chemical MAY cause emphysema and this other chemical may cause allergies.  But, of course, they offer no proof except if you come into contact with LARGE amounts of that chemical.  Air borne levels of chemicals are so small they usually are not measurable once in the atmosphere.

Dunphy seems to think solar and wind energy will make her worry less.  But the Federal Government has thrown a trillion dollars at solar and wind and it still only produces 3% of our energy.  The “experts” claim they produce 21% but fail to mention that can only happen if we have perfect conditions every day.  We all know we have perfect conditions about once every five years!  If Dumphy gets her wish to have only solar and wind – then she will have something to worry about!

Our government is stupidly tearing out hydro dams, shutting down coal generator plants and destroying our reliable sources of electricity.  Wind and solar are totally read more

May292024

Honesty – It’s Called INTEGRITY!!

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

Shady Sheehy?

Senator Tester Approves the Television Ad’s?

  1. Can I surmise that Senator Tester himself is NOT a Liar – never has!!
  2. Senator Tester self-elevates himself by taking the moral High-Ground!!
  3. Senator Tester relies on tearing down his opponent verses his own track record!!
  4. Senator Tester claims Shady Sheehy is responsible for driving up property taxes??
  5. One of Senator Tester’s Ads states Shady Sheehy writes in “Cowboy” as his profession??
  6. Senator Tester will approve an Ad so long as the claim is manipulation/mis-information, BUT – it’s not a lie!!
  7. Senator Tester works with Republicans to stop immigration?? How’s that working out??

       I’m a life-long read more

May282024

CI-128; An Atrocious Ballot Measure

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor, 

I wanted to take a moment to speak on an atrocious ballot measure being pushed in Montana. 

It is CI-128, also known as “protecting the reproductive rights of women”. Even the title is a total misrepresentation. Women have full reproductive rights! We have total access to healthcare for all facets of our reproductive care, complete access to all forms of birth control aids, and total control of when we choose to reproduce. There are programs for assistance for single mothers and full access to adoption services.

While this Constitutional Initiative is still in the signature gathering phase, the push to get it onto the November Ballot is strong. 

If passed, it would do the following: read more

May262024

I find Troy Downing’s statements Confusing, or Intentionally Misleading

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

As a former Navy Fighter Pilot (168 combat missions, F4J Phantom -Vietnam), and retired Airline Captain/Fleet Chief Pilot, I find Troy Downing’s statements regarding his military service and flight qualifications highly confusing, or intentionally misleading. He enlisted, following 9/11, at 34 years old — too old to begin Officer Candidate School, or flight training. To become a Designated Aviator (Pilot) in the Air Force, Navy, or Marines, one must be under read more

May192024

You, Sir, have my vote…

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

Joel G. Krautter, you fool! You’re first mistake was admitting that you WILL NOT vote for Donald Trump, actually our current and next president. You think because you and a few others hate President Trump that he will not win. You call yourself a “common sense conservative,” well mister, you ain’t got-a-lotta dat! It appears you are a closet Democrat.   Common sense should tell you that most Americans are having an extremely difficult time trying to get by on what we actually could get by on, when Donald Trump was in the Oval Office.

Your second mistake was asking for the endorsement of losers that tried running for office. Your third mistake is not talking about the damage Jon Tester and Biden have done to Montana, and yet Tester benefitting himself financially on our taxes. Your fourth mistake is not addressing a single thing about what military Veterans need for continued survival, but then if you were never issued a DD-214, you don’t know what Veterans actually struggle with.

Dr. Kyle Austin, you Sir, are at least honest about your “maverick” political status and that you grew up farming. I married into a farm family, yet the only thing I know about farming is read more

May192024

Obituary: Leonard Arthur Schleder

Obituaries

Leonard Arthur Schleder

Leonard Arthur Schleder peacefully left us on May 4, 2024, with his wife, Jackie, and family at his side.   Leonard was born to Elizabeth Koch Schleder and Raymond Schleder on March 8, 1929, in Miles City, Montana. He grew up on the ranch in Sumatra, working from an early age beside his parents on the ranch. Leonard attended the Sumatra schools. Leonard’s father died in 1944 at the age of 45 years. Leonard was fifteen years old. That last summer while working on the farm his dad instilled in Leonard how to live a respectable life and how to treat others. Leonard practiced that advice his entire life. Leonard graduated from Sumatra High School in a class of three in 1947. He was proud that he had purchased tax title lots in the Sumatra Incorporated town before he was of legal age. Leonard attended Carroll College in Helena, Montana for one year, transferring to Montana State College in Bozeman, Montana for one semester. However, the call of the ranch life had him purchasing a 3,000-acre ranch in the Bull Mountains north of Shepherd, Montana in 1950 where he raised cattle and Pinto horses.

   In 1953, he married Jacqueline Clark. They lived on the ranch with eleven miles of dirt roads from the highway and no electricity or modern conveniences. In 1955, they moved to the Shepherd community and in 1956, he started working for a local farmer, Elmer Quanbeck, learning about irrigated farming. During those years Leonard and Jackie started a monthly pinochle club which lasted for twenty-one years. In 1959, he wanted to own a read more

May192024

Huntley Project High School Graduation 2024

Features • Huntley Project

Six Huntley Project graduating seniors pose with thier newly awarded hardware of becoming the Valedictorians for the 2024 graduation held at Huntley Project High School Sunday May 19. Pictured from left to right is Brynn Wandle, Lainie Hofer, Shyanna Harman, Hailey Diamond, Gretchen Donally, and Delayne Lindeen. (Jonathan McNiven Photo)

Here are some pictures that were captured at the Huntley Project High School Graduation ceremony on Sunday May 19 by the Yellowstone County News.  Feel free to share the pictures with family and friends that would like to use them for personal use. Congratulations to all the graduating seniors!

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May192024

Shepherd High School 2024 Graduation

Features • Shepherd

Shepherd High School Graduating Seniors pose for a group celebration picture after the graduation ceremony Sunday May 19, 2024. (Jonathan McNiven Photo)

Here are some pictures that were captured from the Shepherd High School Senior Graduation on Sunday May 19th. Feel free share and use any of these pictures of your kids and friends that were taken by the Yellowstone County News for your personal use. Congratulations to all the Seniors and good luck to you in the future! 

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