Dorothy E. Brundage
1913 - 2012
Dorothy Elizabeth Saxton was born May 6, 1913, in Grawn, Mich., to Arthur and Erma (Clark) Saxton. She died on March 4 in Landmark Care Center, Yakima, Wash., with her husband, Lew, and friends at her side.
A few years after her birth they moved to the family farm near Hardy, Humboldt County Iowa. Dorothy attended grade school in Hardy, high school in Humboldt, and business college in Des Moines.
Later, after her marriage to Lew, she went to Troy University, University of Alabama, the University of Hawaii, and University of California Riverside.
After completing business college, she moved to San Francisco, where she soon found work during the depression, and through hard and efficient work she quickly advanced to executive secretary, holding important positions in several large corporations.
At the beginning of WWII, she enlisted in the US Army, advancing from private to captain, and stayed until 1946 after the war was over.
In 1947, Dorothy moved to Portland, Ore., where she met Lew Brundage. They were married June 11, 1949, in Washougal, Wash.
After Lew’s return to military service in 1952, Dorothy traveled with him, and lived on many USAF bases in the U.S., Japan and Turkey. She was a wonderful, and very supportive, Air Force wife.
After Lew’s retirement in 1978, Dorothy and Lew spent a short time in Iowa, at Fort Dodge and Bonaparte. They settled in Yakima, Wash., in 1979-1980.
Dorothy was a superb wife and home-maker, leading to a long and loving marriage.
She enjoyed playing golf and riding horses, owning her own horse while living in Butte.
After she moved to Yakima, she began playing duplicate bridge, and became an avid player, going to local and regional tournaments, as well as national tournaments. She enjoyed this very much, and Lew enjoyed going with her.
Dorothy’s marriage to Lew had a good long run, 63 years, and Lew was so happy to share his life with her.
She is survived by her husband, Lew; a daughter, Pamela; sons, Lew in Florida and Tim in Yakima; a brother, Philip Saxton; four grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and a brother, Clark, and his wife, Florene.
After visiting Dillon with Lew, and living here for a short time, she decided that it would be a good place to be laid to rest.
Funeral services are scheduled for Tuesday, March 20, at 10 a.m., at St. James Episcopal Church, with visitation on Monday, March 19, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at Brundage Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. James Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 1374, Dillon, MT 59725; Barrett Hospital Foundation or Barrett Home Health and Hospice, both at 90 Highway 91 S., Dillon, MT 59725, or a charity of the donor’s choice.
A guestbook is available on-line at www.brundagefuneralhome.com.
Donald F. ‘Casey’ Keltz
1932 - 2012
Hall of Fame basketball coach Donald F. ‘Casey’ Keltz passed away Sunday, March 4. When he left this world he was wearing his red and white Western Montana College sweater.
Casey was born Sept. 10, 1932, in Livingston, to Clyde W. and Donnabelle Harness Keltz.
The family moved to Belgrade where Keltz attended local schools and graduated from Belgrade High School in 1950. After graduation, he attended Montana State University, where he played both football and basketball as a freshman, which at that time was a very uncommon thing.
Casey then enlisted in the United States Coast Guard Reserve where he served for two years. His athletic prowess was proven again as he was named the MVP of the service league he played in. Casey was stationed in Boston, and was thrilled to watch major league baseball in person.
His Coast Guard service ended with a back injury from a ship accident. Upon his return to Montana, he continued his collegiate career at Western Montana College under coach Bill Straugh. During his Bulldog career, he was a three-time all-conference selection.
He graduated from Western in 1957 and began his teaching and coaching career at Broadwater High School in Townsend. His first season as a head coach was a sneak preview of what would be a long and successful coaching career. Keltz guided Townsend to the Class C state championship and the beginning of a 28-game winning streak.
In addition, his Townsend basketball and track teams won four district, four divisional and one state track championship.
He returned to Dillon and Western Montana College in 1965 as the Bulldogs head football coach. Two years later, Western captured the Frontier Conference title.
In 1968, he took over the Bulldog basketball program from his coaching mentor, Bill Straugh, and in his first season; guided the Bulldogs to the conference and district championship, and a berth at the NAIA national tournament.
He retired in 1996 after 28 years and 409 career victories.
He also coached the Bulldog track team to numerous conference and district titles including six of seven titles in the 1970s.
Casey was a member of the Montana Coaches Hall of Fame, the Montana Western Athletic Hall of Fame, and the NAIA Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame.
In February of this year, he was the recipient of the Ron ‘Swede’ Kenison Memorial Award.
Casey also holds the distinction of being one of the few coaches to be named Frontier Conference Coach of the Year in three different sports. That same year he retired, and under the direction of Western Montana Foundation Director Tom Yahraes, the arena at the Montana Western physical education complex was officially named the Keltz Arena.
Yes, Casey was a great coach, but he was also a very fine businessman, and like his coaching career, was very successful there too.
He was introduced to the business world as a fourth grader working as a fry cook and soda fountain jerk. His school days were comprised of school, work and practice. He learned the lessons of hard work at a very young age.
As a student at Western, he started a snack bar with another classmate because he saw the need. Casey introduced pizza to Dillon in the 70s because he saw a need.
In the early 70s, he purchased the Lion’s Den with two partners, and today it remains a popular gathering place for the residents and sports fans of southwest Montana.
Casey married Joyce Sneed in Dillon, Mar. 18, 1956. In May of 1957 their first son, Donnie, was born; two more children, Brad and Sharon, followed. He met Bonnie Drivdahl in 1976, and they were together for 35 years.
Casey is survived by his wife, Bonnie Meine Drivdahl; children, Donnie (Dana) Keltz and Brad Keltz of Dillon, Sharon Lamping of Helena, and Mike ‘Bodie’ Halverson of Dillon; six grandsons, Casey Lee Lamping of Dillon, Connor Lamping and Taylor Keltz of Helena, Josh Keltz of Dillon, Jordan Keltz of Missoula, Joel Drivdahl (Kate) and three great-grandchildren, Dylin, Paige and Damion.
He is survived by his ex-wife, Joyce Keltz Flynn, of Helena; brothers, Dave Keltz (Shirley) and their sons David and Gary, Harry Keltz (Darlene) of Helena, and their children; nephew, Kraig (Gina); nieces, Kim and Lynn; brother- and sister-in-law Marvin and Patty Miller, of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and their children, Scott (Patti) Miller, Blake (Monica) Miller, Pam (Keith) Kirscher, Major (Michelle) Miller, and Radhika Miller, all of Coeur'dAlene; brothers-in-law, Rich and Linda Meine and Jerry and Tammy Meine; sisters-in-law, Bobbie and Warren Mussard and Bette and Louis Hull; Hull played on the 1968-69 Bulldog team, Casey’s first season as the Bulldogs basketball coach.
He is also survived by his parents-in-law, Bob and Dorothy Meine; numerous nieces and nephews; and the many, many close friends who will miss his warm smile and friendship.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Donnabelle Keltz; a sister, Grace Bradshaw; a nephew, Mike Lane of Dillon; parents-in-law, Hobert and Mayme Sneed of Dillon.
We will never know how far Casey’s influence will go with all the student athletes he touched with his guidance. He was a coach and mentor to two, maybe three generations of teachers and coaches who pass on his work ethic and loyalty to their students and players every day.
The Western Montana/ Montana Western family will miss Casey but is a better family because of Casey.
A memorial service and reception will be held Saturday, Mar. 24, at 2 p.m., in Keltz Arena in the Montana Western Bulldog Athletic and Recreation Complex.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made for scholarships in honor of Casey Keltz for the men’s basketball team. Please send to the University of Montana Western Foundation, 710 S. Atlantic St., Dillon, MT. 59725.
Betty Jean Reynolds
1932 - 2012
Betty peacefully joined the Lord on March 9 in Melrose at 79 years old.
Betty was born Sept. 2, 1932 to Joseph and Mary (Malesich) Rebich at home in Dillon.
She graduated from Beaverhead County High School and then became a registered nurse.
Betty married Louis Reynolds in 1958 and later had three children.
Betty was a loving mother and grandmother, and a dedicated nurse.
She always enjoyed being outside in her garden as soon as the weather allowed.
Betty will be greatly missed by all her family and friends.
She is survived by her children, Tammy (Dan) English, Tim (Sharon) Reynolds, and Lee (Linda) Reynolds; grandchildren, Samantha (Matt) Tribble and Zach (Shannon) English, Coben and Layne Reynolds, and Justine, Kylene and Clay Reynolds; a great-granddaughter, Anna Tribble; sisters, Irene Nesgoda, Dorothy (Bob) Meine, Louise (Jim) Keefe, and Mary Norris; brothers, Joe Rebich Jr. and Phil (Shirley) Rebich.
Betty was preceded in death by her parents; two sibling infant boys, Paul, and Helen; and her husband, Louis.
Funeral services were held March 13 in Dillon at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church.
A guestbook is available at www.brundagefuneralhome.com.
Katherine Eleanor Rossi
1932 - 2012
Katherine Eleanor Rossi, 79, of Oroville, Calif., passed away Feb. 27.
She was born in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 28, 1932, to Katherine M. and Charles A. Hamilton.
In 1939 her mother remarried to William G. Lynd, an officer in the Army/Air Corps, and Katherine traveled all over the country with them during and after World War II.
Katherine was a homemaker, and also worked as a postal clerk. She was a founding member, and a member until her death, of TOPS - Take Off Pounds Sensibly, in Palermo, Calif.
She was also a long-time member of the Palermo Grange, the Eagles, Rebekah's and VFW.
She was a very creative and accomplished ceramic artist, and loved to give her finished pieces to her family for birthday and Christmas gifts.
Katherine was preceded in death by her mother, Katherine M., and her father William G. Lynd.
She is survived by her sister, Sandra Lynd (Jack) McKey, Dillon; daughters, Mary (Mike) Gonzales, Red Bluff, Calif., Rose (Victor) Mendez, Oroville, Calif.; sons, Mike (Gail) Rossi, Texas, and Greg Rossi, Oklahoma; nieces, Kathleen Rodas, Charleston, S.C., Dayna Rodas, Redding, Calif.; great nieces, Sofia and Rubi Forsht; grandchildren, Jennifer Gonzales, Crystal (William) Brady, John Mendez, Bethany Rossi, Jessie, Matthew and Isaiah Rossi; great-grandchildren, Nolan Malachi and Keiarra Brady.
A viewing was held March 6 at Scheer Memorial Chapel, Oroville, Calif.
A celebration of Katherine's life will be held at New Life Church in Oroville at a later date.
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