Sep302022

Obituary: Robert Carlyle Toombs

Obituaries

Robert Carlyle Toombs

Robert Carlyle Toombs

Robert “Bob” Carlyle Toombs, 90, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Wednesday, September 14th due to complication from a broken hip. He was born on May 14, 1932, in Harlowton, Montana. He spent his younger years growing up at Fort Peck, MT, while his dad and uncle helped build the dam.

The family moved to Bremerton, WA, where he proudly had three paper routes and set pins manually at the local bowling alley. His family relocated to Sacramento, CA, where he attended Grant Union High School and was active in ROTC and played the trumpet in the marching band. He fell in love with the head majorette who was his soulmate and lifetime love. Nola Jean Moore. 

He had a strong patriotic love for this country and enlisted in the Army at age 17, serving in 1st Calvary Infantry. His unit was the first deployed to Korea to fight in the Korean War. He was awarded several Medals for his bravery including the Army Presidential Unit Citation Award with Silver Star and Korean Presidential Unit Citation Award. 

Upon returning to the states, he had to get his mother’s permission to marry Nola due to the laws in California at the time. They were married in Carson City, NV on April 19, 1952, and were blessed with six children. They renewed their wedding vows and cruised to Alaska for their 50th Anniversary. This year they celebrated their 70th Anniversary.  read more

Sep302022

Obituary: Danny Fraser

Obituaries

Danny Fraser, 89, of Billings, passed away on Sept. 22, 2022, at his home.

Danny was born on March 25, 1935, to Dan and Margret Fraser in Ronan. Dan worked for RB Fraser, managing ranches and working some of his own; thus moving 10 times by the time Danny was a senior in high school. Danny had three brothers, Bud, Rich and Bill, and a sister, Peggy.

All of the boys helped on the ranches learning to ride — work cattle and horses, learning from some of the hired men and their dad.

Danny Fraser

The last six weeks of high school, Danny moved to Big Timber to start colts for Al Buckley. That summer (1952), he won the Bull Dogging at the National High School rodeo, placed in the cutting on a horse he trained and placed in the calf roping.

He served in the army, earning his wings in the 11th Airborne.

In 1961, he graduated from Montana State University with a degree in Industrial Arts Education. He also competed and lettered on the Rodeo Team.

Danny married Judi Woosley. They had two children, Jodi (Mike) Knight and Wylie (Kelly) Fraser, and one grandson, Ryatt Fraser. read more

Sep232022

Suit Filed Against County After Proposals Opened to Manage MetraPark

Top Stories

by Evelyn Pyburn

Two proposals to serve as the company that would manage MetraPark in the future were opened and recognized by Yellowstone County Commissioners at their regular weekly meeting on Tuesday. Shortly after, Gene Jarussi, a noted attorney in Billings, filed suit against the county commissioners for the process that has been pursued in the effort to privatize the management of the county-owned facility. read more

Sep232022

Obituary: Edward W. Christman

Obituaries

Edward W. Christman

Edward W. Christman was born to William (Bill) and Matilda Christman (Hutzenbiler) in Bridger, Montana, on May 11, 1931. He resided in the Carbon County area most of his life. He was drafted into the Army in 1955.  During this time Ed met and married the love of his life, Nancy Miller, on Dec. 27, 1955. He was honorably discharged in Aug. 1957 with reserve duty until 1963.

Ed worked as a farmhand in the Carbon County area and at the sugar beet factory until 1980 when he became custodian of the Belfry Public Schools. He was employed at Belfry Schools from 1980 until 1998.

During his lifetime he enjoyed fishing, dancing, riding his trike, horseshoe pitching, bowling, playing cards, telling jokes, hauling sugar beets for local farmers and spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and other activities which included helping with the Belfry Schools, sports and other extracurricular activities.  He was also active in the Belfry Chapter American Legion and the Belfry District Water and Sewer Board.

He will be dearly missed by  his five children: Butch (Jeanne), Mark (Tricia), Jann, Dale (Cindy), Than (Tina); his brother Carl (Janice); his 23 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Nancy, brother Don (Duck), and two great-great granddaughters.

A funeral mass will be held on Friday, Sept. 23, at 10 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bridger, MT. Burial will follow in the Belfry cemetery.

In memory of Ed, donations can be made to the Belfry Chapter, American Legion.

Sep162022

Obituary: Lola Mae Reser

Obituaries

Obituary: Lola Mae Reser

Lola Mae “Chic” Reser was born in Ekalaka, MT to Laura and Lawrence Webster on May 13, 1943. She was the youngest of five and the first to contract Chicken Pox, hence the nickname that stayed with her to the end. Chic had a true Montana work ethic and held many jobs, mostly service work as a waitress or bartender. In her forties, Chic worked in a lumber yard throwing wood around like a teenager, and later spent several years as a school custodian for Huntley Project schools in Worden, MT. She led the hard life of the Western Woman. Nearly died in a house fire as an infant, but was saved by her older sister, Mary. One of the youngest at the time to receive open-heart surgery at, I believe, age thirteen. Lost her second child, Frank, a few short hours after his birth. Her youngest child, Lana Mae, died at 33-years-old from cancer. Chic was twice widowed, first in the winter of 1979 and again in the fall of 2005.  read more

Sep162022

Obituary: Janet Kay Anderson

Obituaries

Janet Kay Anderson

Janet Kay Anderson, 83, passed away peacefully in Billings, MT, on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. Janet was the second of three daughters born to William and Helen Wharton. She was raised in Billings and graduated from Senior High School in 1958. 

Janet married Ronald William (Andy) Anderson on July 3, 1958. They settled in Ballantine, MT, on a small farm raising livestock and hay. Together they had five children. While raising her children, Janet worked part-time as a waitress at the El Chaparral Restaurant and was also employed at the Northern Hotel serving banquets. Janet was a long-time member of the Huntley Project VFW Auxiliary Post 7407 in Worden, MT. She served as the President of the HP VFW Auxiliary Post, and she also served for a time as the District 3 President. Janet enjoyed gardening, playing the piano, reading, traveling, camping, and playing pool for a local league. She also enjoyed baking, cooking large family dinners for birthdays and holidays, as well as spending time with family and friends. read more

Sep162022

Moving on From Trump

Opinion • Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

I voted for Donald Trump for President twice. I contributed to his campaign the second time he ran. I did this because I believed that he understood our economy and could help it grow. He did that, and I was satisfied with that part of his presidency. And here it comes: I became increasingly concerned with his erratic behavior. This is not a steady-as-you-go administrator. read more

Sep162022

 County Agrees to Preserve 2020 Ballots; A Look at the Zuckbucks Funding Controversy 

Local • Politics

Concerned about an approaching deadline that would allow the county to destroy ballots from the 2020 Election, a group of citizens asked Yellowstone County Commissioners to store the ballots beyond that deadline in order to allow the group time to go through a process that would allow them to essentially do their own audit of the election. State law allows the documents to be destroyed after 22 months. read more

Sep92022

SAME WATER, SAME SOURCE! Right?

Opinion • Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor:

What is with the ongoing soap opera drama regarding the Billings Heights Water District? I have questions. 

Why do we even continue to have a “Heights Water District?” The “Heights” is part of Billings, mostly, right?

Why are Heights’ residents okay with paying higher water rates than other Billings residents? It’s all the SAME WATER, from the SAME SOURCE! Right?

I might understand a possible need when much of Billings Heights was county, not city. That was a long time ago, however.

Billings residents served by BHWD pay the city, and then turn right around and pay BHWD, again, for staff, operations, insurance, benefit packages, and more.  Are a majority of city Heights’ residents really okay with this?  Are a majority of the Heights’ city residents really that complacent?

We live in the Heights and love it. We’ve terrific neighbors, shop locally when we can, and enjoy our lives here. Why do we continue to segregate Billings’ water service? 

BHWD is not here to save us money. They do not improve the value of the services already provided by the City of Billings, or improve our quality of life. 

BWHD costs us money, compared to other city water residents. What am I not understanding? 

Michael Myers 

Billings, MT

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Sep92022

Obituary: Marlyn Gloyne Orahood

Obituaries

Marlyn Gloyne Orahood

Marlyn Gloyne Orahood was born March 10, 1937, to Walter and Della (Emerson) Gloyne. She was the oldest of three children. Marlyn married Wesley Orahood March 28, 1958, after knowing him for five months and five days. Marlyn left to be with Wesley on Friday, August 19, 2022, 41 days after Wesley blazed the trail for their next chapter.

A memorial service will be held at Wilderness Funeral Home in Malta, MT, on Tuesday, August 30 at 1:00 p.m.

Marlyn was raised on the family ranch west of Harlem. She graduated from Harlem High School in 1955. In the fall of 1957 Marlyn’s teaching career began at the Prairie Union School in southern Phillips County. Marlyn taught school in Phillips County for 28 years, retiring in 1990.

Marlyn and Wesley had four children, Ludell, Lynne, Lori and Jim whom they raised at the ranch on Tallow Creek.

Marlyn and Wesley had many adventures along the way. In the early 1960’s as well as ranching, they also raced chariots and chuckwagons with her dad and brother John. In 1963 Marlyn won a relay race from Hinsdale to Saco. In 64 years of marriage, they missed very few country dances at First Creek Hall. During the 70’s they were regular participants in the Milk River Wagon Train.

Marlyn spent her summers and weekends haying, farming and ranching. Winters were spent teaching until 1990 when she moved to the ranch full time. In 2005 she and Wesley moved to Malta.

Marlyn is survived by her sister Karen Bryant; children Ludell (Bobby) Heaton, Lynne (Donny) Brewer, Lori Shipp, Jim (Kelly) Orahood; grandchildren, Paul (Laura) Heaton, JayDee (Nick) Lindeen, Drew (April) Brewer, Wyatt Shipp, Joe Shipp, Erika Hanson (Alex Frye), Della Shipp, Jessie Orahood, Frankie Orahood, Billie Orahood, Georgia Orahood and Derek Peigneux; great grandchildren, Wylee, Kabreena, Westen, Walt, Elyse, Grant, Chloe, Avery, Wesley, and Everett, and many nieces, nephews and other family members.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Wesley, parents, Walter and Della, brother John, grandson Casey Brewer, son–in–law Wayne Shipp.

Reception to follow the service at the VFW in Malta.

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Sep92022

Obituary: Randy Lynn Wolfe

Obituaries

On August 28, 2022, Randy Lynn Wolfe left us for a better place after a short battle with cancer. Randy was born in Billings, MT, on August 27, 1952, to Michael & June Wolfe.

Randy held many titles over his lifetime, but his most important titles were husband, daddy, dad, grandpa, grumpa(you read that right), boppa, and great grandpa. His family was his most precious asset, and you knew it without a doubt. He was our protector, fixer and was great at sharing his wisdom without making you feel inadequate. He loved spending time with his family even though we probably drove him crazy now and then. He was also a very special and loved uncle; many of his nieces referred to him as their favorite uncle, and he treated many of them just like his own.

Randy was a generous soul who was instant friends with almost everyone he met. He enjoyed his daily coffee breaks with his brother and his many, many lifelong friends. He’d even buy you breakfast if you went along and were hungry. Randy had many friends that he loved very much, and many are like family to all of us.

Once leaving the US Army and college in Sheridan in the 1970s, Randy started his career as a contractor and eventually started a successful decades long excavation business with his brother, Rick. Randy was a hard worker and had several large jobs that included site work on the Libby Dam and Bel Fourche Dam. He was a jack–of–all–trades, and there wasn’t anything he couldn’t figure out how to do which left a pretty high bar for any potential spouses that his daughter had.

His hobbies included treasure hunting at auctions and yard sales with his wife, daughter and grandchildren for the last 25 years. He had a keen eye for finding valuable items and was also a great negotiator to get a fair price. You could bet if he grabbed it, there was something special about it.

Randy is survived by his daughter, Maicie Wolfe (Troy), grand-daughter Sam Eustace (Matthew), grandson Chandler, Worden, great grandson Rhory Muller all of Billings; as well as his three brothers, Ron (Kathy) Wolfe of Red Lodge, Richard Wolfe of Billings, Larry Wolfe (Linda) of Nevada and his dear friend “gal pal” Denise Fiscus of Billings.

He is preceded in death by his wife Sharron Wolfe, brother Clifford Wolfe, nephew Michael Rich, mother June Wolfe and Father Michael Wolfe.

Services will be held September 3rd at 1:00 PM at Smith Funeral Chapel Downtown, 925 South 27th Street, Billings, MT.

Interment will be held privately and will include one last drive around the farm in Huntley with Randy’s ashes as he did for his wife Sharron when she passed.

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Sep22022

Remember to Think before you speak

Opinion • Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

In today’s diverse world, we need to be less judgmental. I can safely say that it is, in fact, possible to change your thinking no matter where in your life you are. For example, a relative of mine once was very prejudiced many years ago, and it wasn’t until she held my niece’s newborn baby (who was biracial) that her opinion changed. When she felt the love and warmth of this child – just the same as any other child – she quickly realized that the racism of yesteryear was wrong, and we are all the same at our core. That was in 2001. read more