OBITUARY LISTINGS

Recent Obituaries

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

Daniel Klosterboer

Daniel Klosterboer

May 5, 2025

Daniel John Klosterboer, 62, passed on Monday, May 5, 2025.

Dan Klosterboer the son of John and Betty Klosterboer was born in Wilmar Minnesota in February 1963. Shortly after Dan’s birth the family moved to Valier Montana where Dan attended school through high school graduation. After graduation Dan attended and graduated from Yellowstone Bible college in Billings. Dan was a minister...

Frank O. Peters

Frank O. Peters

May 4, 2025

Franklin Oliver Peters Jr., 68, of Inverness, passed on May 4, 2025 at Logan Health Center in Chester, due to complications from an acute lung condition.

Frank was born on November 14, 1956 in Townsend, Montana to Franklin Oliver Peters Sr. and Velma Ruth Campbell Peters. He joined his two siblings, Judith Ruth Peters and Lyle Gary Peters.

He grew up on...

Jerry Kovatch

Jerry Kovatch

May 3, 2025

Jerry Max Kovatch passed away Saturday May 3, 2025, one day shy of his 91st birthday.

Jerry was born on May 4,1934 at home in Valier, Montana to Steve and Mary Kovatch. He joined 4 brothers, and his sister was born later. Jerry graduated high school from Valier. He then joined the Marines and was honorably discharged early due to blindness...

Louie DeBoo

Louie DeBoo

May 2, 2025

Joseph Louis DeBoo, “Louie”, 92 of Valier, passed away on May 2, 2025, of natural causes. Rosaries will be held on Thursday, May 8th at 7:00 PM and the funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm, Friday, May 9, 2025. Both will be held at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Valier. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Asper...

Demitri Ray Ortiz

Demitri Ray Ortiz

Apr 29, 2025

 Heaven received another angel on April 29, 2025. Demitri Ray Ortiz, 14, grew up in Shelby and was an 8th grade student at Shelby High School. He was deeply loved by his family, classmates, friends, and teachers. He brought joy to everyone with his big smile and caring personality. Demitri shared his love for history, music, video games, and the...

Judy Ann Kerchner

Judy Ann Kerchner

Apr 27, 2025

Judy Ann Kerchner, 77 of Shelby Montana, passed away peacefully Sunday April 27, 2025 with her family by her side.

Judy was born December 16, 1947 to Clayton and Gladys (Biggs) Waters. She grew up on a dairy/ag farm in Rockford Iowa with her four sisters. She married Larry Kerchner of Rudd Iowa in 1965, living on a farm north of...

Laurie Grimm

Laurie Grimm

Apr 24, 2025

Laurie Grimm passed on Thursday, April 24, 2025.

Laurie Mae Grimm was born October 6, 1962 in Cut Bank to Robert and Betty Grimm. Laurie joined siblings Ken and Diane. Later, sisters, Kay, Nancy, and Jeannie would follow.

Laurie attended school in Cut Bank High School graduating in 1982. She later went to Fashion Merchandising School in Missoula. Among the many jobs...

Helen B Brannon

Helen B Brannon

Apr 20, 2025

Helen B (Ogden) Brannon, 102, passed away peacefully on Sunday, April 20, 2025. She was born in Helena, MT to Neri Ogden and Florence (Walsh) Ogden on December 10, 1922. She was raised on a farm in Simms, MT where she enjoyed tending to the chickens and calves as a young girl. Helen graduated from high school in 1940 from...

Beth Aklestad

Beth Aklestad

Apr 18, 2025

Beth Aklestad age 86 passed away peacefully ApriLl8, 2025 at home

surrounded by her husband and family. Beth was born October 30, 1938 to Ed

and Neoma Thompson. She was the third child of four children, Ed Jr.,

Margaret, Beth and Kathy. Upon graduating from Shelby High School as her

senior class salutatorian she attended a semester of college in Havre taking

up teaching. At...

Ethel Julia Woodford

Ethel Julia Woodford

Apr 18, 2025

Ethel Julia (Schmidt) Woodford, 91, passed away at the Beehive Assisted Living facility in Conrad Montana on Good Friday, April 18, 2025. Easter was one of her favorite holidays, making it a special end to this loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Ethel moved to the Beehive from her longtime home in Missoula, MT, in August, 2022 to be...

Neil E. Harstad

Neil E. Harstad

Apr 15, 2025

  Neil Edwin Harstad was the first of four children born to Myrtle and Harvey Harstad on April 19th, 1944 in Williston, North Dakota. He attended elementary school in Alexander, North Dakota. In 1959, Neil moved with his family to Chester, Montana where his Dad had taken a job with Chester Implement Company. Neil started high school in Chester and...

Chuck Chestnut

Chuck Chestnut

Apr 14, 2025

Charles Chestnut, 65, passed on Monday, April 14, 2025.

  A Celebration of Life will be held Tuesday, April 29 from 4pm to 7pm at Ed's Tavern.

James Thomas Harmon

James Thomas Harmon

Apr 13, 2025

James “Tex” Harmon, also known as Jim or Jimbo, 71, of Kevin, Montana, passed away at his home on April 13, 2025. Born to Robert Harmon and Mary Virginia Holmes in Amarillo, Texas on February 28, 1954, Jim lived a life defined by hard work and good humor.

Jim spent his career working in the oil fields of Montana—a true work...

Erma L. Bledsoe

Erma L. Bledsoe

Apr 11, 2025

Erma Lucille "Erma Lou" Bledsoe, 70, of Chester, Montana, passed away on April 11, 2025, surrounded by her children. Erma Lou was born in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania on May 18, 1954, to Robert and Marjorie “Marge” (née Williams) Oswald. She was baptized in June 1954 at the Grace Reformed Church in Harmony, Pennsylvania. Erma was the third of four children....

Shirley Ann Furr

Shirley Ann Furr

Apr 11, 2025

Shirley Ann (Fujimoto) Furr passed away peacefully on Friday evening, April 11, 2025, at her home, with family at her side. She was born on July 17, 1958, in Cut Bank, Montana — the daughter of George and Kathryn Fujimoto. Shirley grew up in Shelby and graduated from Shelby High School in 1976. During her high school years, she proudly...

Curtis James Conant

Curtis James Conant

Apr 11, 2025

Curtis James Conant, 25, passed away on Friday, April 11, 2025. He was born on November 18, 1999, in Shelby, Montana, to Cory Conant and Jill Conant.

A proud graduate of Shelby High School, Class of 2018, Curtis went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Montana Tech in 2021. After college, he moved to Missoula and...

Sharon Woods

Sharon Woods

Apr 7, 2025

Sharon Y. Woods, aged 89, a beloved music teacher and farmwife, passed away on

April 7, 2025.

A memorial service to celebrate Sharon’s life will be held on April 26 at 1:00 PM at the

Chester United Methodist Church (510 Monroe Avenue, Chester, MT), followed by a

reception in the fellowship hall. Friends and family are invited to attend and pay their

respects. Sharon will...

Theodore Suta

Theodore Suta

Apr 7, 2025

Theodore Peter Suta was born at the family farm on October 16, 1932. He was the first-born child of Peter and Hannah (Lozing) Suta. He was followed quite quickly with three other siblings, Henry (Carolyn), Ben (Marge), and Violet Moran. With a nine-year break, they had Dian (Jess) Patrick and Rudy (Sherry). Being raised on the farm 15 miles west...

Russell Lewis Johnson

Russell Lewis Johnson

Apr 7, 2025

 Russell Johnson, 95, a farmer, died Tuesday at Northern Pines nursing home with family by his side.

His memorial service is 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, followed by a reception at the church. Private burial will take place in Crown Hill Cemetery. Whitted Funeral Chapel of Cut Bank is in charge of arrangements.

Survivors include daughter Nancy (Jerry) Woerdehoff...

Lori Pocock Fletcher

Lori Pocock Fletcher

Apr 6, 2025

Born in Winder, Georgia on September 1st 1957, the 2nd of 4 children, Lori became care giver and protector of her younger brothers, Monte and Todd, born 2 and 5 years later. Meanwhile, her older brother Kim, born 3 years earlier would prove to serve as a typical big brother for the next several decades.

In 1965 their parents, Mel and...