Jul102024

Obituary: Richard George (Rich) Geck

Obituaries

Richard George (Rich) Geck

Richard George Geck, 89, passed away on June 17, 2024, in Billings, Montana.

Rich was born in Glen Ullin, North Dakota and was the third of ten siblings. He graduated from Glen Ullin High School in 1953 and married Helen Hoerner in 1958.

Rich became a heavy equipment operator until being sent to mechanic trade school, then continued his construction career as a mechanic. He worked on interstate road construction in North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming, along with various other projects including in Yellowstone National Park and McDonald Pass near Helena, Montana.

Rich and Helen had two sons, Daniel and Darrin that traveled with them to many locations until they settled in Worden, MT. In 1982 they purchased the family farm in Pompeys Pillar, MT where Rich resided until his last illness. In the last few weeks if you asked him how he was doing he said, “I’m broke down.”

Rich enjoyed read more

Jul102024

Obituary: Janae Elaine Chenoweth

Obituaries

Janae Elaine Chenoweth

Janae Elaine Chenoweth, 52, passed away peacefully at the Yellowstone River Nursing Home on July 3, 2024. Janae had suffered from congestive heart failure for many years.

She was born to Darrell and Bonnie (Foggin) Chenoweth on May 29, 1972, in South Carolina Naval Hospital. Janae was the oldest of four children.

Janae attended and graduated from Shepherd High School. After high school she attended one year at Ricks College (now BYU-Idaho) before serving an 18-month mission for the LDS Church in Roseville, California.

On August 22, 2003, Janae married Pedro Salazar. This union welcomed five daughters. She loved read more

Jul92024

Jon Tester Tries to Distances Himself from Biden, but Doesn’t

Montana-Statewide • Politics • Meanderings

Jonathan McNiven

Well folks, it’s not surprising to me that MT Senator Jon Tester is releasing a statement as his vulnerable re-election campaign is in full swing.  To me, it seems the last time Jon Tester was this active in Montana was six years ago when he last run. Also, it’s not surprising that he’s now trying to vote like a Montanan as he seems to care about the border, crime, fiscal responsibility, and Montana voters. However, this week, Tester is now trying to distance himself from Biden after the dismal debate that President Biden displayed two weeks ago and finally released a statement this week.

Here’s what Tester said, “President Biden has got to prove to the American people –including me—that he’s up to the job for another four years. Meanwhile, I’ll continue to do what I’ve always done. Stand up to President Biden when he’s wrong and protect our Montana way of life.”

As Tester is facing a tough reelection race against Republican Tim Sheehy, it seems that Tester is now trying to distance himself from Biden. However, his statement really is not read more

Jul82024

Tester and Brown, Senate’s Most Vulnerable Incumbents, Silent on Calls For Biden to Withdraw

Montana-Statewide • Politics

This article about Montana Senator John Tester was originally published in the Washington Free Beacon on July 2, and given approval to repost here. 

President Joe Biden should step aside and allow another Democrat to take his spot for the November election.

That was the message from numerous liberal pundits, Democratic operatives, donors, and now one Democratic member of Congress, following the disastrous presidential debate last week. The New York Times, in its editorial calling on Biden to drop out of the race, said “he failed his own test” and is engaged in “a reckless gamble.”

But the two most vulnerable Democratic senators, Jon Tester (Mont.) and read more

Jul82024

Conservative Corner Column: FALSE Media Has Declared War on America Freedoms

Politics

By TJ Smith

The Mainstream Media (personally dubbed as “Fabricated Ambiguous Language of Socialistic Equivocation”or FALSE) apparently declared war on America the day President Trump won the 2016 Republican Presidential Nomination. The FALSE media lost that battle, but they refined their FALSE tactics and won the Biden Battle of 2020.

Citizens of the United States of America awoke the next morning questioning the integrity of the 2020 election. How could we elect a president who appears to have bouts of dementia, who is on tape bragging about getting a foreign prosecutor fired, and who is tied to a laptop that contains damning information? We looked in all different directions trying to ascertain “how.” Finally, with hindsight as our guide, we can see that the derivative of questionable election integrity is, and was, the premeditated actions of the FALSE media.

The FALSE media has read more

Jul82024

Jon Tester, the Largest Recipient of Lobbyist Cash in America, Dings Opponent for Taking Lobbyist Cash

Montana-Statewide • Politics

This story re-posted courtesy of the Washington Free Beacon originally published on June 5, 2024. 

Senator Jon Tester took more money from lobbyists than any senator last year. Now, the Montana Democrat claims his Republican opponent is captive to private interests.

Senator Jon Tester took more money from lobbyists than any senator last year. Now, the Montana Democrat claims his Republican opponent is captive to private interests.

Tester’s new $640,000 television ad campaign claims Tim Sheehy, who secured the Republican Senate nomination Tuesday, is “shady,” because he’s “taken hundreds of thousands in lobbyist cash.”

Lobbyists have donated more than $458,000 to Tester from 2023-2024, besting his Democratic colleague Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.), who raised $356,169. No Senate Republican incumbent comes close to Tester, who received more money from lobbyists than former House speaker Kevin McCarthy (R., Calif.).

Tester faces one of the Senate’s toughest reelection read more

Jul72024

Thanks to the Yellowstone County Board of County Commissioners

Yellowstone County • Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

For 71 years the Yellowstone County Museum has stayed the passaged of time to preserve and protect the writings and possessions of our indigenous, European and worldwide immigrant ancestors for the enjoyment of the residents of south-central Montana. Its building and collection are assets of Yellowstone County and are overseen by the Board of County Commissioners.

The museum has read more

Jul22024

Iona Stookey Wins National Coach of the Year

Sports • Huntley Project

Iona Stookey

The head coach of the Huntley Project Volleyball Team has won the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) Coach of the Year award. Stookey has served as the head volleyball coach for Huntley Project for the past 36 years and has racked up an impressive 962/177 varsity win/loss record. To exceed this impressive feat, Iona has also led her teams to read more

Jul22024

Life, Liberty and Freedom to celebrate this 4th of July

Meanderings

Jonathan McNiven

Well, Folks, this is our Independence Day edition of the paper this week. I’ve found myself reflecting on my life and the many miles I’ve traveled to see the beauty of our country, especially in Montana.

I’m going to take a break from politics this week and talk about the greatness of our United States of America since it is Independence Day week. As I’ve had the opportunity to talk to my son Landen each week on the phone and reminisce with him about his experiences in Africa so far, I find myself reflecting and remembering the experiences I had in Panama on my church mission some 24 years ago. He’s serving a two-year mission in Africa and serving the people there. However, he reminds us each week of the greatness of the USA. He takes cold read more

Jul22024

Obituary: Richard George (Rich) Geck

Obituaries

Richard George Geck,

Richard George Geck, 89, passed away on June 17, 2024 in Billings, Montana.

Rich was born in Glen Ullin, North Dakota and was the third of ten siblings. He graduated from Glen Ullin High School in 1953 and married Helen Hoerner in 1958.

Rich became a heavy equipment operator until being sent to Mechanic trade school, then continued his construction career as a mechanic. He worked on interstate road construction in North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming, along with various other projects including in Yellowstone National Park and McDonald Pass near Helena, Montana.

Rich and Helen had two sons, Daniel and Darrin that traveled with them to many locations until they settled in Worden, MT. In 1982 they purchased the family farm in Pompeys Pillar, MT where Rich resided until his last illness. In the last few weeks if you asked him how he was doing he said I’m “broke down”.

Rich enjoyed dancing, playing cards and telling read more

Jul22024

Obituary: Gordon Marcher

Obituaries

Gordon Marcher

Gordon Marcher, 59, of Billings, formerly of Worden, MT, died peacefully after a long battle with throat cancer. Gordon was born in Billings, MT on March 10th, 1965 to Clarence and Arleda Marcher of Billings, MT, where he grew up as the middle child of 3 children.  Gordon attended Huntley Project Schools in Worden, MT and participated in and excelled in sports during this time. He helped lead the school to many victories, including State Champions in Track and Varsity Basketball. His sisters enjoyed watching him participate in sports. They developed a close bond early in life that existed until and forevermore upon his passing.

After graduating in 1983, Gordon attended Eastern Montana College.  After attending EMC for one year, he decided to read more

Jun282024

Sincere Thanks to the Yellowstone County Commissioners

Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

For 71 years the Yellowstone County Museum has stayed the passaged of time to preserve and protect the writings and possessions of our indigenous, European and worldwide immigrant ancestors for the enjoyment of the residents of south-central Montana. Its building and collection are assets of Yellowstone County and are overseen by the Board of County Commissioners.

The museum has survived through the grit and determination of its volunteer boards, one appointed by the county commissioners and a foundation board of local citizens. Support of the people of Yellowstone County has underpinned the museum’s existence.

The collection, nearly 30,000 pieces, has been donated by folks who appreciate the care given these priceless gifts. These artifacts become the property of the people of read more

Jun272024

McNiven Meanderings: Congrats to our YCN Staff, History Made!

Montana-Statewide • Politics • Meanderings

Jonathan McNiven

Well, Folks, I’m going to do a little shameless self-promotion this week (as Dave Rye calls it) and talk about our staff, newspaper and the awards our newspaper won last Saturday at the Montana Newspaper Association’s Annual convention in Kalispell.

As you read on the front page of this week’s paper, we can finally tell you the results as we finally have them from the Better Newspaper Contest we participated in this year.

This year’s awards are special and historic for our newspaper for a number of reasons.

First, look at the number of staff, broadcasters, and contributors we had throughout the 2023 year. We had a total of 18 people regularly involved with the newspaper in one way or another. From our weekly contributors, reporters, and broadcasters to our delivery people and production staff, we managed to put together the dream team that won the top spot in our division! This has never been done in the entire history of the Yellowstone County News. Every one of these read more

Jun272024

Obituary: Linda Gail Betts Schmidt

Obituaries

Linda Gail Betts Schmidt

Linda Gail Betts Schmidt

Linda Gail Betts Schmidt, 68, went to join her heavenly father on June 1, 2024. Born to Eugene and Frances Betts on April 14, 1956, she was later joined with three younger sisters, commonly known as the Betts Girls. Linda attended and graduated from Shepherd High School then went on to attend Vocational School. She held numerus jobs including cooking, bartending, and lastly working in the green house at Billings Hardware.

She met Dave Schmidt in 1986 and married the love of her life on May 26, 1990. They enjoyed traveling and playing pool. They also loved their special puppy, Sleepy Dog, who was like their child. Sadly, she lost Dave to cancer in 2012. She met her companion David McBride in 2013 and they have enjoyed some great adventures including ice fishing and the outdoors at his place in Lavina. His devotion to helping her this past year is greatly appreciated.

Linda loved making cakes earlier in life, and she truly enjoyed working in the read more

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