All Obituaries

Francis “Braz” Clarence Braz, 93, passed away surrounded by family at home on the early morning of January 14, 2020. Braz is reunited with the love of his life, Louise “Weezie” Braz.  A cremation is arranged by Asper Funeral Home and he will be laid to rest in California with Louise. A Celebration of Life luncheon will take place at the Cut Bank Moose Lodge on Sunday, January 26 at 2:00.  Braz was born in Oakland, California on April 20, 1926 to Clarence...

    Roberta Lee Larabee, 82, of Ellensburg, Washington, passed away on December 14, 2019 of natural causes. She lived in Kent, WA the majority of her life, recently moving to an Independent Living apartment in Ellensburg, WA in October 2018.   Roberta was born in Shelby on January 7, 1937 to Leonard Laurence Bantin and Martha Florence Bantin. She graduated from Shelby High School and was active in the Drill Team. She went on to earn a business degree from Kinman Business...

Joyce Halverson, 93, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 17, 2020 at Benefis Teton Medical Center in Choteau.  She spent her final days surrounded by those who loved her most, a conclusion that epitomized her life which focused on her family and taking care of others.   Joyce Evelyn Branch was born on January 22, 1926 in LaCrosse, Washington.  She grew up near Conrad, attending King Country School and graduating from Conrad High School.  Named after a courageous...

Ronald Irving Bacon Jr., 90, passed away January 20, 2020.   No services are planned at this time.

    Mary Jean Wagner Billedeaux, 85 passed away on January 13, 2020 with her family and loved ones by her side at the Blackfeet Community Hospital.   Jean was born October 22, 1934 in Browning to Clarence & Edna Wagner. Jean and her husband, Vernon Billedeaux, raised their family in Babb.   Jean will live on in the hearts and minds of her children and grandchildren: Phonda (Carl) Stu, Teri Jo, Verna (Book), Napi (Carma), Clint (Marla) Shannon (Myra); grandchildren,...

            Walter J. Boumans, 90, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 13, 2020. Walter was born February 1, 1929 at his home east of Valier to Herman and Hubertine Boumans. He was raised and attended school in Valier until his freshman year when he returned to work on the family farm. He served in the Army during the Korean War as a lineman. After his service he returned to the family farm until his...

  Darlene Mae Beach, 70, passed away January 1, 2020 of heart failure and COPD at Marias Medical Center surrounded by family. Memorial services will be Thursday, January 9, at 1:00 PM at Whitted Funeral Chapel. Burial to follow in Valley View Cemetery.  Darlene Mae (Porter) Beach was born June 13, 1949 on the Porter farm, presently Lake Shel-oole Park, to Raymond and Della Porter. Darlene married Donley S. Beach on January 3, 1968 and made Shelby their home.  She was a CNA...

James Pattrick Higgins, 60, passed away suddenly at Benefis in Great Falls on January 3, 2020. James was known as “Pat”, “Patrick”, or “Packy”. Pat started school at the one room Blackfeet School.  He graduated from Browning High School in 1978.  Pat attended the early Blackfeet Community College when it was affiliated with Flathead Community College.  He was taught accounting by his Aunt Patricia Mosley who taught accounting...

  Harvey Hawbaker stood on the court, facing a crowd who gathered to not only watch a basketball game, but to celebrate a man that had come to define what it meant to be a Shelby Coyote. He spoke to the crowd, not about the many achievements and accomplishments that made up his illustrious career, but of his family. This man, who so rarely let his emotions show, couldn’t help but choke up as he brought his children and grandchildren on the court with him to help memorialize the...

Patrick Iden Watkins, 80, passed away in the early morning of January 1, 2020. Above all else, Patrick valued his family and was blessed with four daughters by blood and marriage, Deborah Watkins, Victoria (Gary) Sulenes, Casey (Dave) Bowers, and Patricia Love. He also had a very large and loving extended family.  Patrick shared his life with his late wives, Joanne Harper Corman and Marjory Stokaasli Watkins. As a grandfather, he left a legacy of 6 grandchildren, Naomi (Johnathan)...