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LaVerne Rushton Rahlf
Laverne Rushton Rahlf died January 22, 2005, in Billings, Montana. She had suffered many years with heart disease and diabetes. She was born in Hawbush, Utah, to Mabel Lydia Leavitt and Frederick John Rushton on August 31, 1921. She attended schools with her sixteen brothers and sisters in Delta, Utah; Simms, Montana; and Glasgow, Montana. She married Verl May Tippetts, a marriage solemnized in the Latter-day Saint temple in Cardston, Alberta. She was widowed by his death in an automobile accident in 1943 near Tacoma, Washington. She later married Robert Alexander, a marriage that ended in divorce but resulted in two talented daughters. She married Frank Robert Rahlf in 1951 in Great Falls, Montana, a marriage later solemnized in the temple in Cardston, Alberta. They settled in Glasgow, Montana, where Frank worked for the U.S. Postal Service. They had many happy and productive years together. She is preceded in death by her beloved Frank and a treasured daughter, Paula Jo Rahlf.
LaVerne's life was filled to the brim with her extended family; her brothers and sisters were a lifeline to her during hard times and a delight in good times. Her life was also filled with joy in her own 10 children, in her gardens, and in the creation of beauty through her artistry with sewing and quilts. There are hundreds of close and distant friends in Montana and elsewhere who own a "LaVerne Rahlf quilt" and who treasure it as representative of her generosity and friendship. She also donated quilts for mothers and their newborns to the WIC program for many years. When LaVerne's arms became too weak to quilt she embroidered hundreds of tea towels in her last years and took great pleasure in giving them away to whomever happened to drop by her room. She gave a lifetime of service to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, holding many capacities including Relief Society President and Gospel Doctrine Teacher.
Although she experienced much heartache in her early life with the loss of the husband of her youth, she never allowed adversity to dampen her native optimism. To her older children, who lived through those times with her, she was heroic in the care she gave. She had a great capacity for friendship and carried the ability to find common ground with almost everyone she met. Her laughter wove through thousands of heart-to-heart conversations, and her bright personality enlivened any room she entered. She cultivated hundreds of long-lasting friendships through the years. She was a hard-working, take-charge person who could manage any public affair and organize any group to get the job at hand done in quick-time--and make it fun besides.
In 1957 LaVerne and Frank purchased their farm east of Glasgow, fulfilling a lifetime dream. They operated the farm as a commercial garden, supplying fresh vegetables to Valley County and commercial customers as far away as Great Falls and Canada. "Rahlf's Gardens" became a unique place for Valley County residents, and many a potential customer came to buy produce and found themselves on a tour of a luxuriant garden spot. They usually left with arm-loads of vegetables and new friends as a bonus. LaVerne and Frank sold the farm after 30 years and retired in Glasgow in 1987.
Laverne is survived by eight brothers and sisters. She has nine living children: Janeanne Tippetts Snow (Gary); David Verl Tippetts (Sherry); Susanne Tippetts Sherwood (Joseph); Roberta Lee Rahlf; Mae Rahlf Hudson (Leon); George Rushton Rahlf (Lori); Edie Rahlf Tlahuel (Arturo); Willie Frank Rahlf (Rona); and Fred Woodin (Kathrine), a foster child. She is also survived by 27 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren, including Abigail who was born on the day LaVerne died.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, January 28, in the Glasgow Ward Latter-day Saints Chapel at 11:00 am. Viewing will be held at the Bell Mortuary on Thursday evening from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. The family wishes to thank the Aspen Meadows Care Center in Billings for their care and compassion during our mother's residence there.
Freda Sailer
Freda Sailer, 85, died of natural causes at Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow on Tuesday, January 25, 2005. Services will be announced at a later date. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Freda was born on May 16, 1919 in Eureka, South Dakota to Christ and Eva (Plienes) Kuszmaul. She spent her younger days in the Circle and Fort Peck areas. She married Albert Herbert Sailer on November 4, 1936 in Glasgow, MT. Albert worked on the Fort Peck Dam and was an engineer for the Great Northern Railroad while
Freda was a homemaker that loved to cook, sew, knit, play cards, and do gardening. She was a very good hostess and everyone was always welcome at her door. Freda’s coffee pot was always on and her cookie plate was always full.
Survivors Include: Two Daughters: Betty Fuhrmann and her husband Gary of Glasgow, MT
Marlene Charette of Glasgow, MT
One Son: Robert Sailer of Glendale, Arizona
1 Sister-in-law: Frances Kuszmaul of Havre, MT
4 Grandchildren
5 Great Grandchildren
2 Great-Great Grandchildren
And numerous nieces and nephews.
Freda was preceded in death by her parents, husband Albert on May 20, 1987, 3 brothers Adolph, Eugene, and Rueben Kuszmaul and one sister Gertrude Taylor.
Dale G. Dunning
Dale G. Dunning of Nashua, 75, died of cancer on Thursday, January 13, 2005, at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow. Services will be announced at a later date. Interment will be in the Nashua City Cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
BORN: April 27, 1929 in Fargo, North Dakota
PARENTS: Glenn Dunning and Helen (Doeden) Dunning
Dale was raised in Fosston, Minnesota and attended schools there. He drove truck until 1978 when he started farming. Dale also raised sheep.
On April 3, 1969 Dale married Mary Houle in Nashua, Montana.
SURVIVORS: Wife: Mary Dunning of Nashua, Montana
Daughters: Bonnie Dunning of Nashua and her husband Jim Gladeau of Nashua and two grandchildren; Joseph and Dylan.
Three other daughters who live elsewhere: Joyce Dunning, Diana Skolrud, and Janet Teak, all of Montana
Preceded in death by a son Joseph Eldridge Dunning in 1986.
Dr. David Gregory
David Gregory died the evening of January 15, 2005 of pancreatic cancer, surrounded by his family at home in Glasgow.
He was born in Macon, Georgia May 31, 1920 to David A. Gregory, MD, and Mary Williams Gregory. He was raised in northeastern South Dakota, graduating from Milbank High School in 1937, and the University of South Dakota in 1941. He then graduated from Northwestern University School of Medicine in Chicago, interned at Wesley Memorial Hospital, and married Patricia Elizabeth Tisdale of Grand Forks, North Dakota, in Evanston, Ill on Sept 18, 1942 Service in the Philippines (1945-1946) as an orthopedic surgeon in the US Army Medical Corps was followed by obstetrical training at St. Luke's Hospital in Chicago, then further study in physiology at the University of Minnesota.
Dr. Gregory stepped off the train in Glasgow in the spring of 1948 and lived there the rest of his life, raising his family and caring for his community. He was of a vanished breed of family doctor, performing surgery, delivering babies, fixing broken bones, and counseling generations of northeastern Montanans. Caring for the children of babies he had delivered was among his greatest joys.
He served his profession well as president of the Montana Medical Association, president of the Western Conference of Pre-Paid Medical Plans, and member of the board of national Blue Cross/ Blue Shield. He also gave his energies to the Boy Scouts, Kiwanis Club, Masonic Lodge, Elk's Lodge, and St. Matthew's Episcopal Church. Until he retired in 1988, Dr. Gregory traveled to rural Honduras with Christian medical missions regularly.
After he decided to give up his beloved Cessna Skymaster, his abiding fascination with creatures larger than himself led him off chasing blue and grey whales through southern seas. When fossil remains of fantastic creatures were found close to home, he channeled his still abundant energies into the creation of the Ft. Peck Dam Museum and Interpretive center, especially the paleontology field station. Still an adventurer at age 80, he helped dig fossils in southern China.. Dr. Gregory was always an ardent supporter of Valley County, savoring news of economic development plans until just days before his death. .
David Gregory is survived by his wife, Patricia of Glasgow: his sons David (Marge) of Green River, WY, John (Mary Beth) of Billings MT, and James (Nancy) of Greensboro, NC;, and his daughter Patty of Portland, OR, his devoted caregiver in the final weeks of his life. He was preceded in death by his youngest children, Mary Margaret in 1972 and Thomas George in 2000. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Montana Community Foundation, c/o Ft. Peck Dam Interpretive Center Account, 101 N. Last Chance Gulch, Helena MT, 59601, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, 315 Sixth Street South, Glasgow, MT, 59230, or a memorial of one's choice.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 20, 2005 at 2:00 P.M. at the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow, Montana.
LaRue Jeanette Freund
Former Glasgow resident LaRue Jeanette Freund, 68, of Bozeman, passed away suddenly from natural causes Jan. 5, 2005.
She was born Nov. 13, 1936, in Laurel, to Henry and Olga (Kober) Ostwalt.
LaRue was raised and educated in Laurel. She graduated from Laurel High in 1954. She married her high school sweetheart, Dan Freund, in 1955 and they lived in Billings while Dan was attending Rocky Mountain College. Their first child, Kim was born in Billings in 1956. They moved to Glasgow in 1957, where they had three more children, Dana, Beau, and Staci. They moved to Helena in 1976 and to Bozeman in 1998.
LaRue was a very devoted wife, mother, grandmother and friend, and she will be remembered for the heartfelt care she provided her family and friends. She always put them before herself; even when she wasn’t feeling well, she was cheerful and concerned for others.
One of her favorite jobs outside the home was working at the New Enterprise Men’s Clothing Store in Helena; she even outfitted then Governor Schwinden. She had a reputation for making things beautiful. Her home was always meticulous and well presented just as she was. She was the ultimate gift giver. Her children and grandchildren always looked forward to Christmas because “Grandma always gave the best gifts.” She lived her life for her family, supporting them in everything from sporting events to graduations. LaRue loved spending time with her family at the cabin south of Big Timber, and playing cribbage and other fun games with her grandchildren. She had traveled all over the country; she especially loved her visits to Hawaii and had a collection of sand from every beach she had ever visited. LaRue was extremely knowledgeable on a breadth of issues and current affairs because of her love for reading.
LaRue is survived by her husband Dan Freund of Bozeman; mother, Olga Ostwalt of Havre; children, Kim (Jim) Fadrhonc of Great Falls, Dana (Steve) Johnson of Bozeman, Beau (Susan) Freund of Mendon, Mass., and Staci (Jim) Sanborn of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho; grandchildren, Heather, Kacey (Mike), Karie, Trever, Craig, Dena, Danelle, Shaye, Adam, Christopher, Madison, Shania, Harley Daniel and Hope; great-grandchildren, Tori and Daniel Michael; sister Sally (Howard) Miller of Havre; sister-in-law, Bonnie (Bill) Twilling of Billings, and many aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father and grandson Samuel.
Memorials may be made in her name to Special Olympics Montana, c/o Mike Alvord, 24 Annette Park Drive, Bozeman, MT 59715, Tsunami Relief c/o Red Cross, 5 Rivers Division of Montana, 300 N. Willson, suite 105-A, Bozeman, MT 59715 (please note on check “Tsunami Relief”) or the children’s charity of your choice.
