Local Obituaries for Families in Beaverhead County

September 29, 2018

Hazel Snellman, 86, of Medicine Lake died September 29, 2018 surrounded by her loving family at Barrett Hospital in Dillon from complications from a severe stroke. She was born August 14, 1932 in Gladmar, Saskatchewan, one of nine children of Albert and Helga Norman. She married Kenneth Snellman on August 14, 1949. She was engaged in farming and ranching in...

September 26, 2018

Bennett Alvin Owen, 88, of Dillon passed away Wednesday, September 26th, 2018 at his home with daughter, Georgia “Georgie” and his wife by his side. He was born to Alvin and Lois Owen in Butte, MT on December 7th, 1929. Bennett attended school in Armstead and later Dillon after his family relocated their business to Dillon. He joined the Marines...

September 24, 2018

Joy “Bud” Thompson Wright Jr. April 21, 1931 – September 24, 2018 Joy “Bud” Thompson Wright Jr., 87, of Bozeman passed away September 24, 2018. Bud was born to his father Joy Thompson Wright, mother Goldie Marie Atkins, April 21, 1931 in Eckerty Indiana. Bud went thru early education and did Radio Mechanic. Bud accomplished many educations. He was a...

September 19, 2018

Our Lord took a special angel home. Tammy Rae (Patrick) Hatfield, 54, of Dillon, Montana, lost her brave battle with cancer on September 19, 2018. Tammy was born in Deer Lodge, Montana on January 8, 1964. She moved to Dillon with her family where she attended grade school. She graduated from Beaverhead County High School in May 1982. She also...

September 16, 2018

Jack Russell Smith, 83 of Dillon, Montana went to be with his Lord and Savior on September 16, 2018. He was born on October 15, 1934 in Dillon to Clyde Hunter and Madge Susannah (Ray) Smith. He was the baby of the family the last of 8 children. Jack met Marion the love of his live when he was in...

September 11, 2018

Dillon, Montana- Leonard A. Benjamin (80) died of natural causes on September 11th, 2018; at his home outside Dillon. His ceremony will be a private memorial at his beloved family cabin in the mountains above Lima, Montana. He is survived by Joye Benjamin, Dillon, Montana; children; daughter, Bonny L. (Benjamin) Peterson, Eureka, Montana; son, Vince L. Benjamin, Seward, Alaska; his...

August 30, 2018

Theresa Sorenson passed away at Barrett Hospital on August 30, 2018. At ninety-nine years old she maintained her feisty personality, unbelievable memory and kept everyone on their toes to the very end. Theresa was born on a ranch in Grant Montana on April 24, 1919 the second of three children. Her parents were Claude Duval Smith and Anna Maude Snell....

August 30, 2018

Patty Lynn Selway of Dillon, Montana passed away, August 30, 2018 at St. James Health Care in Butte, Montana after an extended illness. She was born July 19, 1946 the first child of Donald and Delores Cox. She grew up on a ranch near Twin Bridges and graduated from Twin Bridges High School. On August 20, 1964, Patty married Harold...

August 24, 2018

Jesse Raymond Koontz (Ray Ray), 80, of Lima, Montana and Quartzsite, Arizona, passed away August 24, 2018, in Dillon, Montana after a long, hard-fought battle with cancer. Ray was born March 28, 1938, in Dillon, Montana, to Sherman T. Koontz and Emma June (Brown) Koontz. He was the oldest of 6 children. He married Neva Rae Brown on December 6,...

August 23, 2018

Robert (Bob) Bennett Sr. passed away August 23, 2018 surrounded by his family. Bob was born in South Bend, Indiana on Sept. 15, 1940 to Vaud and Hazel Bennett. He graduated from John Adams High School in South Bend in 1959. Bob joined the Air Force in January of 1960 and retired in February 1980. He always said, “I spent...

August 23, 2018

Charlotte Rae (Williss) Olsen passed away peacefully at home on Thursday August 23, 2018. Charlotte was born in Sheridan Montana, September 26, 1934, the eldest child of George and Mabel (Koontz) Williss. Charlotte grew up in Dillon, Montana and married Fredrick Lee Olsen. The navy life had them moving back and forth across the country, until they settled in San...

August 19, 2018

Donald L. Elliott passed away Sunday August 19, 2018 at the Renaissance Senior Care Center where he had resided for the past couple of years. He was born in Kenmare N.D. on August 23, 1927 and was just 4 days shy of turning 91. Don served 4 years in the navy on the USS New Orleans in the south Pacific...

August 16, 2018

August 15, 2018

On August 15, 2018, Peggy marched through the pearly gates of heaven twirling her batons. She then sat down at the piano and played Malagueña for us. She is walking on streets of gold. Peggy joined her family in Dillon, MT at the family ranch on September 8, 1931. She joined her parents Phillip J. Lovell and Gertrude McCoy Lovell....

August 5, 2018

Dorothy June Bracken, 87, went to be with her Lord on August 5, 2018. Born on June 22, 1931 in Billings, Montana to the late Ralph and Helen Bracken. She will be remembered for her service to others, her kindness, generosity, intelligence, stubbornness and devotion. Dorothy enjoyed reading, and various types of handy work throughout her life. She was an...

July 31, 2018

Dale Allen Case, 70, of Dillon, MT passed away at his home July 31st, 2018. He was born in Dillon on November 18th, 1947 to Dale Case and Mamie Burwell Case. Dale Graduated from BCHS and went to work as a truck driver right out of high school. He drove truck for most of his life, driving for many different...

July 29, 2018

Robert Philip Cottom Bob passed away suddenly on July 29, 2018 at Barrett Hospital of natural causes. Bob was born February 28, 1942 in Butte Montana to Philip and Ruth Cottom. Ruth passed away shortly after his birth. He was raised by Philip and his step-mother Velma in Dillon. After graduating from Beaverhead County High School in 1960, Bob met...

July 25, 2018

Charles “Charlie” Calvin Zimdars passed away July 25th, 2018. He was born August 5th, 1981 in Billings, Montana to Calvin Charles Zimdars and Lorie Waller Zimdars. In 1989, Charlie’s family moved from Circle, Montana to Polaris, Montana where many childhood adventures were created on the ranch. Charlie attended Polaris Rural School until 8th grade. He was a 2000 graduate of...

July 23, 2018

Elizabeth “Betty” Fourtner passed away on Monday, July 23, 2018. Betty was born February 24, 1923 to John Kuntz and Elizabeth Hoffman Kuntz. She grew up near Forsyth, Montana with her 11 brothers and sisters. She went to school at the Howard School and spent a lot of time working in the beet fields. On December 11, 1943 Betty married...

July 15, 2018

Joyce Corning Hahnkamp, 86, of Melrose, MT passed away Sunday, July 15, 2018 with her family by her side. Joyce was born March 29, 1932 to Harry and Virginia Corning in Casper, Wyoming. Her father purchased a ranch on the Big Hole River and moved his family there in 1942 and ranched while also operating businesses in Billings and Casper....