Wednesday, September 7, 2011

09-07-11 Obituaries

Shirley Diane Barrett
1958 - 2011

Shirley Diane Barrett, 53, passed away on Aug. 30, surrounded by her loving family in her home in Dillon.
Shirley was born Aug. 15, 1958, to William “Toby” Shew and Jessie Christensen. She grew up in Grant, and graduated from Beaverhead County High School in 1976.
She has three children, Cody, Shonna and Cassie.
She enjoyed the great outdoors, working in her yard, and she especially enjoyed sunflowers, carnations and wildflowers.
She loved doing arts and crafts, and had a special place in her heart for her family and friends.
Shirley is survived by her children, Cody (Ashley) Barrett, Great Falls, Shonna (Brian) Graham, Dillon, and Cassie Killsnight, Dillon; her mother, Jessie (Bruce) Corman; grandchildren, four-year-old Jaden Barrett, five-year-old Nes Graham, and two-year-old Ganon Graham; her faithful companion, Chico; a sister, Gail Shew; a brother, Sheaune Corman, Dillon; numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts and uncles; and good friend, David Dray.
She was preceeded in death by her grandparents, Sarah and Lee Christensen; father, Toby Shew; and a brother, Gary Shew.
A memorial service was held Sept. 2 at Brundage Funeral Home, followed by a potluck reception. Burial services will be held at a later date, during her favorite time of the year when the leaves were turning and the fall colors start to show.
A guestbook is available on-line at www.brundagefuneralhome.com.



Ethel Taylor Picton
1918 - 2011

Ethel Taylor Picton, 93, passed away on Aug. 26, at Parkview Acres Care Center.
She was born near Graettinger, Iowa, to Earl and Elsie Taylor, on Feb. 20, 1918, and moved to a farm near Mandan, N.D., at the age of two.
Following graduation from Mandan High School in 1934, she helped with work on the farm for two years before attending the State Teachers College in Dickinson, where she completed a two-year teaching program.
She taught at Almont and Watford City in North Dakota, and at Circle and Malta before returning to Dickinson to complete her bachelor’s degree in 1944.
She taught girls’ physical education at the college before leaving for New York City, where she studied occupational therapy at Columbia University.
After receiving her occupational therapy certificate in 1946, she worked as a therapist at the Veterans Hospital in Fargo, N.D., until her marriage to Paul O. Picton on Aug. 13, 1949.
They lived in Billings where Paul was on the faculty at Rocky Mountain College, and in Missoula when he completed his master’s degree.
Following that they lived in Corvallis and Lewistown, where Ethel began teaching again.
They came to Dillon in 1958, and it wasn’t long until she was back in a classroom; then moved into the Parkview Junior High building when it was completed, and taught sixth grade social studies for 24 years, before retiring in 1985.
During those years she earned her master’s degree.
Before her retirement, she was the editor for the Delta Kappa Gamma Society magazine for 19 years. She liked to read, and was a long-time member of Dillon’s Shakespeare Club.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul, in 2001.
She is survived by her daughter, Margaret Ann, retired USAF living in Ireland; her sister, Mildred Picton; and niece, Linda Hughitt and her family of The Dalles, Ore.; her brother-in-law, Harold Picton, Bozeman, and his family; and special cousin, Loretta Haught, Rockville, Md., and her family.
At her request, no funeral services will be held.



Eugene Ray Munson
1953 - 2011

Eugene Munson was born on Dec. 17, 1953, to Kenneth and Nola (Hall) Munson in Yakima, Wash.
Eugene was raised and educated in Yakima, and then lived on the Cibecue Indian Reservation in Arizona for 10 years.
Eugene entered the U.S. Army, and following an honorable discharge, he worked as a truck driver throughout the U.S.
He was employed at Summit Valley Turf in Whitehall at the time of his death.
He enjoyed hunting and the outdoors.
Eugene died Aug. 29, near Twin Bridges, as the result of an automobile accident.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia; daughters, Debra Bresure and Ashlyn Munson; sons, Jacob and Joshua Munson; parents, Ken and Nola Munson; a sister, Lorie Hayden; and brothers, Bill and Ken Munson.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Sept. 02, at Holy Family Church, Anaconda.
KT Riddle Funeral Home was entrusted with his funeral arrangements.