OBITUARY LISTINGS

Recent Obituaries

Local Obituaries for Chester, Shelby, Cut Bank, Conrad, MT & Surrounding Areas

Dennis R. Nelson

Dennis R. Nelson

Jun 24, 2025

Denny Nelson, 76, of Cut Bank, Montana, passed away peacefully on June 24, 2025, in his hometown. Born on November 10, 1948, to Hazel Clark and Victor Nelson, Denny lived a life defined by service, hard work, and deep devotion to his family.

He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1968 to 1971, including 18 months in Vietnam....

Margaret Pearl VandeSandt

Margaret Pearl VandeSandt

Jun 15, 2025

Margaret Pearl (Wood) VandeSandt, 90, passed away surrounded by family at Logan Health Care Center Chester, on June 15, 2025.

Memorial service to be held on Saturday, July 26 at 11:00 at New Beginnings Church Rudyard, MT, with meal to follow. 

She was born September 18, 1934 to Fredericka and Curtis Wood in Havre, MT.

Margaret married the man she would love for...

Jo Ann Turner

Jo Ann Turner

Jun 10, 2025

With a broken heart, I'm sharing the passing of my mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, auntie, and friend, Jo Ann Monroe Turner, who left us June 10, 2025. She passed peacefully in Cut Bank with her nephew and his wife by her side.

Jo Ann was born to Charles Monroe and Ella Caine Monroe on July,1931 at the Rising Wolf/Johnson ranch...

Chester Knab

Chester Knab

Jun 8, 2025

Chester P. Knab, 101, passed away Sunday, June 8th, 2025 at the Logan Health Long Term Care

Facility in Conrad, Montana.

Chet was born on January 7th, 1924 in the Township of Halsey, Wisconsin and raised on the family

dairy farm. After graduating from high school in Athens, Wisconsin in 1941, he joined the United

States Marine Corp in November of 1942 and served...

Mary Ellen Brownell

Mary Ellen Brownell

2025

Mary Ellen Brownell, 103, passed away at home.

Funeral services will be Sunday, July 27, at 10:00 am at Asper/Pondera Funeral Homes.

Visitation will be Saturday, July 26, from  5 to 7pm at the funeral home.

A full obituary to follow.

Frederick F. Kanning

Frederick F. Kanning

Jun 9, 2025

Fred Kanning, beloved father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and lifelong Montanan, passed away surrounded by family in his home on June 9, 2025, at the age of 82.

Born December 6, 1942, in Plentywood, Montana, Freddy moved with his family to a farm east of Shelby in 1948, where his love of the prairie began. He was driving a tractor as soon...

Mary E. Brooke

Mary E. Brooke

Nov 17, 2024

Mary E. (Wheeler) Brooke, 84, died November 17, 2024 of natural causes.

 She was born on April 12, 1940 in Conrad, MT to parents, Lon and Bertha Wheeler. 

Mary is survived by daughter-in-law, Amy; 3 grandchildren; 7 great grandchildren; 2 sisters, Linda Kern and Jean Flesch; numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

 She was preceded in death by her son, Gary; her...

Kathie Pearl Ostman

Kathie Pearl Ostman

May 22, 2025

Kathie Ostman passed away on May 22, 2025, at the age of 70. Known for her unwavering faith, poetry, and lifelong friendships, Kathie lived a life shaped by conviction, creativity, and connection.

Born to Pauline “Toots” Embody, Kathie was raised in the place she loved most, Conrad Montana. Her childhood was rooted in family, from her neighbors the Sheldon’s, to her...

Duke LaRance

Duke LaRance

Jun 16, 2025

Duke LaRance, 70, passed on Monday, June 16, 2025, in Conrad.

Sing Softly by Duke LaRance

Do not give me a fancy send-off

When I topple over onto the ground,

I do not want any marker

In a place where I cannot be found.

Just tell me good-bye in the mountains

As you look out in awe on the foothills and plains,

Sing softly a song that was...

Rachael Nicole Hitchcock

Rachael Nicole Hitchcock

Jun 15, 2025

Rachael Nicole Hitchcock passed on Sunday, June 15, 2025, in Cut Bank.

Rachael was born in Springfield, Illinois on November 26, 1987 to Kevin and Rebecca Imlay. Rachael was a beacon of light and kindness to all who knew her.

Rachael graduated from Tri-City High School in Buffalo, Illinois in 2006. Rachael began studying early childhood education but life had another calling...

Clinton John Anderson

Clinton John Anderson

Jun 13, 2025

Clinton “Clint” John Anderson, age 56 of Cut Bank, passed away Friday June 13, 2025, at Benefits Health Care in Great Falls, MT. after a lengthy battle with cancer.

He was born January 30, 1969, at Cut Bank, to his proud parents, Jeff and Suzanne (King) Anderson.

After graduating from high school 1987, he attended Montana State Northern at Havre for a...

David Allen Dwello

David Allen Dwello

Jun 8, 2025

David Allen Dwello, a cherished husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away on June 8, 2025, at the age of 75 in Great Falls, Montana. Born on July 28, 1949, in Shelby, Dave lived a life characterized by dedication, service, and love for his family.

He enjoyed a fulfilling career, working at Black Gold Well Service and later at Burlington...

Donley Beach

Donley Beach

Jun 6, 2025

Donley S. Beach was born on November 14, 1938 to Carl and Myrtie (Coffman) Beach. Don spent most of his youth in Conrad except for a year in Oregon with his Uncle Sherman. He worked at ranches and farms before joining the US Marine Corp at the age of 20. Don was honorably discharged after basic training. The service never...

Donald B. Bandow

Donald B. Bandow

Jun 4, 2025

Donald Bruce Bandow, 69, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. He was born on August 3, 1955, in Conrad, Montana, to Richard and Elgene Bandow. Don was raised in Conrad, where he made many lifelong friends and graduated from Conrad High School in 1973.

Don's life centered around two things he loved deeply: agriculture and family. In his early...

Thomas M. McCracken

Thomas M. McCracken

Jun 2, 2025

Thomas M McCracken, Sr, 72, of Sunburst MT, passed away on June 2, 2025 at Peace Hospice in Great Falls. Services were held at Whitted Funeral Chapel in Shelby on June 6, 2025.

He was born to Charles and June McCracken in Rochester, PA on August 25, 1952. He grew up in Freedom, PA the youngest of 3 sisters and 2...

Evelyn Berge Wanke

Evelyn Berge Wanke

Jun 1, 2025

Evelyn “Evie” Berge Wanke was born on May 22, 1929 on her parent’s farm near Goldstone, MT. She was the youngest of four children born to Eivind and Clara (Sanda) Berge. She passed on Sunday, June 1, 2025, in Chester.

Evelyn was a confirmed Lutheran having held memberships at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Shelby, Goldstone Lutheran, and is presently a...

John Arthur DenBoer

John Arthur DenBoer

May 24, 2025

John Arthur DenBoer, 71, of Palmdale, California passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, May 24, 2025. He had been battling esophageal cancer for just over a year. True to the DenBoer name, he was tough and fought until the very end. John's family meant the world to him and they were there by his side to help and...

Richard G. Kellogg

Richard G. Kellogg

May 22, 2025

Richard Glen Kellogg II, known to friends and family as Rick, and affectionately nicknamed “Zip” by many, was born on January 15, 1949, in Conrad, Montana, and passed away on May 22, 2025, at the age of 76 due to complications from lung surgery. He was the beloved husband of Donna Connor, whom he married on September 6, 1969, in...

Kenneth Ralph Matheson

Kenneth Ralph Matheson

May 17, 2025

The hearts of the Matheson family are heavy as we share the passing of our beloved “Papa”. Kenny passed away from natural causes peacefully with his loving family by his side on May 17th, 2025 at the age of 90.

Kenneth Ralph Matheson was born on December 27th, 1935 to Alf and Helen Matheson of Conrad, MT. Kenny was the 4th...

Eliza Inez Wilson

Eliza Inez Wilson

May 16, 2025

Eliza Inez Wilson passed away peacefully on May 16, 2025 at the age of 92 years old in Chester, Montana. Born on April 15, 1933 to parents, Frank Green and Sarah Alveda Walker in Charleston, South Carolina.

Eliza grew up in South Carolina with her Aunt Mary and Uncle Eddie until she was in middle school. She then moved to New...