Merlin “Bud” Papka

Funeral services for Merlin “Bud” Papka, 73, Tioga, N.D., will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007, at the First Lutheran Church in Tioga. Pastor Sandra Anderson will officiate, and interment will be in the United Cemetery, Tioga.

Merlin was born Aug. 12, 1933, in Estelline, S.D., the son of Stanley and Mamie (Olson) Papka. He was raised and educated in Estelline. Bud worked for various farmers while in school and for a time shortly after.

Bud met and married the love of his life Mary Deering on Oct. 5, 1952, in Estelline and cherished her for 54 years. He worked for gas stations in Bruce, N.D., and Billings for several years. The family later moved to Molt, where Bud worked on a ranch for three years before moving back to Billings where Bud worked for several oil field companies. The family moved to Sidney in 1980, where Bud worked for Trico Industries and was later transferred with the company to Columbus, N.D., in 1986 and later to Tioga in 1988. Bud retired in 1993 due to his health. Bud and Mary have continued to live in Tioga since. Bud passed away Thursday, Feb. 8, 2007, at the Trinity Medical Center in Minot, N.D.

He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Tioga.

Bud enjoyed woodworking, camping and fishing at the local lakes and his dogs. He is best remembered for his smile and sense of humor.

He is survived by his wife, Mary, Tioga, N.D.; one son, Ross (Barb) Papka, Sidney; three daughters, Sandra Lien, Tioga, N.D., Della (Dale) Deckert, Glendive, and Dena (Barry) Bolton, Hilger; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; one brother Dennis Papka; and five sisters Darlene Colberg, Karen Mahan, Judy Keimeg, Janice (Dale) Sonnenberg and Cindy (Roland) Rust, all of Estelline, S.D.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife’s parents, Walt and Doris Deering; and two brothers-in-law Wally Colberg and Dean Mahan.

Friends may call at the church one hour prior to services on Wednesday.

Alberta Simard

1920-2007

Funeral services for Alberta Simard, 86, Sidney, are at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, 2007, at the Peoples Congregational Church, Sidney, with Pastor Shuma Chakravarty officiating.

Musical selections are provided by Jeri Stone and Virginia Herrick. Casketbearers are Mitch Tihista, Bill Forrester, Bob Frank, Ray Volk, Joe Steinbeisser and Gary Torgerson. Honorary casketbearers are Carlos Collins, Gordon Turner, Martha Simard, Friday Lunch Ladies and the Mayflower Quilters Group. The usher is George Swenson. Interment will be in the Sidney Cemetery under the direction of Fulkerson Funeral Home of Sidney.

Alberta Myrtle Simard was born on Oct. 7, 1920, to Edwin Julius and Myrtle Allie (Abelein) McCullough. Alberta was born at the home of her Aunt Loise in Inglewood, Calif. The new baby joined a brother and a sister. The family soon returned to Montana. However, due to Edwin’s health the McCulloughs returned to California in 1926, where Alberta started first grade.

The family soon came back to Montana, making Sidney their permanent home. Alberta graduated from Sidney High School in 1938. She then went to college in Dillon at the Montana State Normal School and took classes to become a teacher.

On June 1, 1940, Alberta and Bud Simard were united in marriage at the McCullough home in Sidney. They raised wheat and sugar beets and had the first modern dairy in the valley. They also had two sons, Harold and Gordon.

During their marriage, Alberta was an active farm wife and loving mother. Her parents taught her about all aspects of nature, which she carried with her, her whole life. She passed her love of nature and the farm on to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Alberta and Bud also traveled to many places including Greece and the Orient. They had 63 happy years together before Bud passed away in 1993.

Alberta enjoyed many years at the Richland County Fair, helping prepare the Crane-Newlon fair booth. She was a longtime member of the Order of Eastern Star and the Peoples Congregational Church Mayflower Circle.

Alberta was very artistic and especially enjoyed painting and quilting. She made many quilts for charity, friends and family over the years. She was also an avid reader and enjoyed golfing, making crafts and bargain hunting. Alberta and Bud spent more than 20 winters in Arizona, where they simply enjoyed life. Alberta had many friends both in Arizona and in Sidney.

Alberta peacefully left us on Sunday morning, Feb. 11, 2007, at the Sidney Health Center with family at her side.

She is survived by: her son, Harold (Judy) Simard, Glendive; grandchildren, Tana (Mike) Pacheco, Littleton, Colo., Teri (Brad) Suhr, Wellington, Colo., and Tyler (Tracey) Simard, Forsyth; 11 great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Alberta was preceded in death by her husband, Bud; her son Gordon; her parents; two sisters Neva Campbell and Julia Penner; and two brothers Robert McCullough and Richard McCullough.

The family wishes to thank everyone who gave of themselves to help Alberta continue her enjoyment of life during the past few years. In particular, we thank the “Lunch Bunch” who came to her home on a regular basis to share stories, laughter, lunch and friendship.

We also wish to thank Martha Simard, who will forever hold a special place in our hearts for the constant companionship, friendship and love Martha unselfishly shared with Alberta, which allowed Alberta to live her life to the fullest.

Wayne Vernon Cummins

1936-2007

Wayne Vernon Cummins, 70, Des Moines, Iowa, went to be with his Lord Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2007, in Windsor Heights, Iowa, of a massive brain hemorrhage. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 3, 2007, at Berean Assembly of God Church, with burial at Laurel Hill Cemetery, under the direction of Hamilton's Funeral Home, Des Moines, Iowa.

Wayne was born May 21, 1936, to parents Floyd and Mary (Stubbs) Cummins at Dore, N.D. He grew up in the Dore area and attended schools in Fairview. Wayne enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1959 and served until 1963. Following his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army, Wayne returned to the Dore-Fairview area and worked as a carpenter and a farmer until 1970 when he enrolled in college. In 1972, Wayne graduated from DMACC (Area XL) and became a computer analyst/programmer. Wayne was a computer engineer with Wells Fargo from 1989 until his death.

Wayne was united in marriage to Marlene Joyce Staples in December 1972 and together they had two children, Diana Lynn and Sean Scott. Marlene died in 1998. In 2002, Wayne was united in marriage to Sherry Marie Rowley.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Sherry Cummins; children, Diana (Norman, Jr.) Bates and Sean (Sarah) Cummins; stepdaughters, Gina Kartsens and Laurie (Ted) Williams; 11 grandchildren; a sister Grace Clark and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Floyd and Mary Cummins; and brothers, Ralph and Donald Cummins.

Mary Jo Dignan,

75, Kenmare, N.D., died Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2007, in the Kenmare Hospital.

Mary Jo Fink was born on Oct. 16, 1931, the daughter of Roy and Isabelle (Meyer) Fink on the family farm near Lambert. She was raised and educated in Lambert, where she attended grade school at the Bradley Country School for eight years. She attended Lambert High School until her junior year, when her family moved to Sidney. She graduated from Sidney High School in 1949.

In Aug. of 1950, she entered the Sisters of St. Francis School of Nursing, Minot, N.D. She graduated in June of 1953 with a Registered Nurse Diploma. She then returned to Sidney, where she was employed as an RN at the Sidney Community Hospital for eight months.

Mary was married to John Leo Dignan II on June 16, 1954, in St. Philomena's Catholic Church in Sidney. They made their home in Coteau, N.D., until April of 1955, when they moved to the Dignan family farm, which was located west of Coteau. They farmed and ranched for the next 35 years, and raised their family of four sons and one daughter. She had helped in Public Health Nursing in Burke Co. from 1978 to 1988. In 1991, they moved to Kenmare, N.D., where she worked at the Kenmare Hospital as an RN from 1988 to July 1996. Mary also had been an Avon Representative since 1991.

John passed away on April 21, 1995.

She was a former member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Bowbells, N.D., and was a member of the church's altar society. She was a member of Bowbells Senior Citizens. She was currently a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church, Kenmare, N.D., and was a member of the church's altar society. She was a member of Kenmare Senior Citizens, where she served as secretary of the senior citizen board. She also served on the Meals on Wheels Executive Board for four years.

She enjoyed playing board games, bingo, puzzles, embroidery and fancy work, flowers and gardening.

Surviving family includes: children, Ronald Dignan, Bowbells, Kevin (Patty) Dignan, Wheat Ridge, Colo., Tom (Deb) Dignan, Tioga, N.D., Kathleen Dignan, Williston, N.D., and Timothy Dignan, Kenmare; grandchildren, Michelle (Danny) Mogren, Mason Dignan, Robin (Travis) Ranum, Riley Dignan, Cody and Riese Dignan; great-grandchildren, Kasey and Kiley Mogren and Kaidyn and Gavin Ranum; sisters, Muriel John, Caldwell, Idaho, Margaret Vaira, Sidney; and Dorothy Fink, Sidney; brothers, Harold Fink, Sidney, John (Faye) Fink, Dewey, Ariz., Paul (Marcy) Fink, Pasco, Wash., William (Billiette) Fink, Lincoln, Calif., Robert Fink, Lambert, Joseph (Virginia) Fink, Fairview; James Fink, Williston; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents; husband; grandson, Jeffrey Dignan; sister, Christine Schmitz; niece, Ruth Schmitz; and nephew, Robert Schmitz.

Funeral services were held Monday, Feb. 5, 2007, at 1 p.m., at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Kenmare, N.D.

Visitation was held Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at St. Agnes Catholic Church, Kenmare, N.D.

Rosary/Vigil Prayer Service was held Sunday, Feb. 4, 2007, at 3 p.m. at St. Agnes
Catholic Church, Kenmare, N.D.
Interment was held Monday Feb. 5 at 4:30 p.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery,
Bowbells, N.D.

Those wishing to sign the online register and share memories may access the online obituaries section at (www.thompsonlarson.com).

Irene A. Hart

1934-2007

Funeral services for Irene A. Hart, 72, Sidney, were held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 29, 2007, at the Church of the Nazarene in Sidney with Pastor Elwin D. Paulson officiating.

Musical selections were provided by Mike Bartelson, James Miller and Michelle Miller. Casketbearers were Dick Davidson, Tim Wagner, Duane Baney, Jerry Burns, Jim Cross, Dan Hart and Bruce Hart. Honorary casketbearers were all her many friends and neighbors. Interment took place in the Sidney Cemetery under the direction of the Fulkerson Funeral Home of Sidney.

Irene passed into the care of the Lord on Jan. 25, 2007, at the Sidney Health Center.

Irene was born to Roy and Violet (Rossow) Burns on April 28, 1934, in Williston, N.D., and grew up on the family homestead southwest of Alexander, N.D. She attended Cheney Creek School through the eighth grade and graduated in 1951 from Sidney High School. Irene then went on to attend Minot State Teachers College, after which she returned to her home to teach at the rural school she had once attended.

On Sept. 15, 1957, she was united in marriage to Bernard J. Hart in Sidney at the Lonsdale United Methodist Church.

She worked at the Sidney Drug Store until the birth of her first son, Daniel. She was a homemaker until the mid- 1970s when she began working for Sidney Drug Store until it closed in the late 1980s. She was then employed at Farm and Home for several years.

Her husband, Bernard, died on Aug. 16, 1979. Irene then worked for County Market until she retired in 2006.

Irene's cats and dogs were a big part of her life. She also looked forward to her visits to the Pacific Ocean along the Oregon Coast. Irene enjoyed crafts, crossword and jigsaw puzzles and loved to read a good book. She was involved with and enjoyed attending the Church of the Nazarene in Sidney.

Survivors include her sons, Dan Hart, Sells, Ariz., and Bruce Hart, Lolo; her mother, Violet Burns, Cartwright, N.D.; her brother, Ed Burns, Cartwright, N.D.; and one sister, Cathy Ruegamer, Billings.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bernard Hart, Sidney, and her father, Roy Burns, Cartwright, N.D.

Memorials may be made to: Companion Animal Rescue of Eastern Montana, P.O. Box 146, Sidney, MT 59270.

Lucille D. Jenson

1915-2007

Lucille was born Sept. 14, 1915, to Peter Kringen and Marie Swanson in Fairview. She attended schools in Fairview, graduating in 1933. After graduating, she worked for Benoit and Albert Hotel.

She married Dale Scott and had two children, Beverly Dee and Malcom (Mick). She and Dale divorced.

She married Myron (Kink) Jenson in 1948 and had a daughter Karla Marie.

Lucille worked at the Spar, Olympia Elks and Eastside Grocery in the early years. Lucille and Myron lived in Olympia, Wash., until 1983, and then moved to Sidney for five years before moving back to Olympia.

She loved and adored her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her husband and family were her life. She played the organ daily, which she taught herself, and she loved her yard, watching the Sonics and also the Lawrence Welk Show. All who knew her loved her and her caring ways.

Lucille "Grandma" is survived by her two sisters, Kay Thompson and Pearl Jenson; brother, Pete Kringen; numerous nephews and nieces; 12 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. We will miss her so much.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Myron; parents and a grandson Kenny.

Family members thank Providence Hospice very much for their support and ask that all donations be made to them. A special thanks to Monica Wilhelm, Cheryl, Sharon, Teresa and Jenelle.

Visitation took place Monday, Jan. 29, 2007, at Mills & Mills Funeral Home. The funeral service was Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007, at 2 p.m.
 

Michael J. Schan

1931-2007

Michael J. Schan, 75, Glendive, passed away on Friday, Jan. 12, 2007, at his home in Glendive.

Funeral service was held at 10 a.m., Friday, Jan. 19, 2007, in the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Glendive with Father Denis Fournier officiating.

Interment with military honors was held in the Dawson County Cemetery in Glendive. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive was entrusted with arrangements.

Mike was born on Sept. 7, 1931, in Sidney, the son of Joachim and Magdalena (Getz) Schan. He was raised and educated in Sidney. Mike entered the U.S. Marine Corps and served during the Korean War. Upon his honorable discharge from the military, Mike returned to Sidney where he worked for DeShaw Electric. Mike later worked for area farmers doing farm and ranch work. Mike retired from farming and ranching at the age of 62. During his retirement, Mike also did maintenance work in the apartment building where he lived.

Mike enjoyed reading and liked to walk the Yellowstone River bank and fish.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents; and 16 brothers and sisters.

Survivors include his daughter, Nancy (Cedric)Johnston, Glendive; his sister Kathryn Zody, Glendive; his half sister, Dorothy Burke, Laurel; two step-grandchildren, Mischelle Johnston, Portland, Ore., and Darcy Johnston, Billings; and numerous nieces and nephews.

 

 

 

 

 

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