Bonnie Mae Megquier Brown
1932 – 2013
Bonnie Mae Megquier Brown was born at her parent’s home in Dillon on November 5, 1932. She was the youngest child and daughter of Bertellow (Bert) Winfield Megquier and Bertha Carms Megquier. Bonnie was the joy of the family and had many wonderful friends growing up. Bonnie's father, Bert, a sixth-grade graduate from Libby, became the manager of the DI hardware, and Bonnie was his bookkeeper after graduating high school and taking some business courses at Western Montana College.
Bonnie met Conger Brown at her job while he was visiting his parents, Samuel Conger and Evelyn Brown, who were then managing the P&O Rock Island Ranch. Bonnie and young Conger were soon married in Duncan, OK, on September 22, 1952. Making their home in Dillon, the newlyweds had three sons: Scott, Stace and Vernon.
Bonnie contracted acute encephalitis in 1962 and went into a coma for six weeks. She fought hard to regain her life and family but never recovered. Bonnie was taken care of by her parents, Bert and Bertha, until 1987, when she entered the Tobacco Root Mountain Care Center in Sheridan. The last several years, Bonnie had been at Parkview Acres in Dillon, where she had several friends and many dear and caring staff members looking after her. She was always smiling, upbeat and never complained.
Bonnie was preceded in death by her sisters, Irene and Isabelle; her brother, Ray; and her parents, Bert and Bertha.
She is survived by: sons Scott Brown of Dillon, Stace (Marie) of Tulsa OK, and Vernon (Dee) of Montrose CO; her faithful nieces, Kay Jacobsen (Daryll) of Wisdom and Raycille (Jack) Dawson of Boulder; grandchildren Bert, Steven, Ryan, Mike, Lisa and Jake Brown; great nephews and niece Guy Peterson, Matt Dawson and Trudy Dawson. Bonnie was a wonderful mother and friend, always ready with a smile and a good word. She will be greatly missed.
Funeral services were held in Dillon on Monday. A guestbook is available online at www.brundagefuneralhome.com.
Robert M. McFarlane
1921 – 2013
“Mr. Mac” completed his earthly chores on a Sunday morning at 9:30 on Aug. 18 and went home to spend eternity with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We celebrate his life lived with passion and determination to love God, his family and friends above himself.
Dad devoted his life to loving and serving kids and families. Upon graduation from Seattle Pacific College in 1949, he became a coach and teacher at King’s Garden, a private school in Seattle. In 1952, Bob and his wife, Doris, moved to Worland, WY, to become a teacher and assistant administrator at the Wyoming State Industrial School.
In May 1957, in response to the Lord’s call and the vision of Franklin Robbie, Bob and Doris loaded their 1952 Ford sedan with their two kids and headed from Worland to a 160 acre farm west of Billings to help start Yellowstone Boys Ranch.
Like many of “the greatest generation,” they were willing to risk everything because of their love for kids and desire to see them find love, hope and success. They had a dream but never could have imagined what would be realized over the next 56 years. Dad’s faith and stubborn persistence has left an amazing legacy.
Many of you got to know Dad personally over the years. He was always prepared to share his passion for the kids and mission of Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch. We want to celebrate his life. If you have memories and personal experiences that you would like to share, please email them to glennmc@ybgr.org or mail them to 1732 S. 72nd Street W. Billings 59106. We would like to save them as a memorial to his devotion to kids and families.
A celebration of Mr. Mac’s life will be held Saturday, August 31, at 10 a.m. at Faith Chapel in Billings. Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary is assisting with arrangements.
The family requests that memorials be sent to Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch Foundation, 2050 Overland Ave., Billings, MT 59102.
Marie Lorraine (Lahd) Brewer
1920 – 2013
Marie Lorraine (Lahd) Brewer, 93, of Dillon passed away Aug. 14, 2013, at Legacy Senior Living in Dillon. She was born in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada, on July 18, 1920, the youngest of John and Helen Lahd’s eight children.
At the age of three, she moved with her family to a farm near Fishtail. During her childhood, her family moved several more times. She graduated from Fergus County High School in 1938. After receiving a teaching permit from Billings Normal School, she taught in rural schools in Meagher County, including the Ringling School. In Ringling, she met William Brewer and they married on Aug/ 5, 1947. Together they raised six children. Bill’s employment with the Milwaukee Railroad resulted in many moves over the course of their lives together.
After her husband passed away in 1989, Marie remained in Ringling for several years. Due to the distance for medical care, she moved to the Homestead Manor in Townsend, and then to Choteau, where she resided at the Skyline Lodge. In 2011, she made her last move to Legacy Senior Living in Dillon.
Marie greatly loved children and enjoyed being a homemaker. She was an excellent cook and loved to bake Norwegian goodies. She always had a huge garden and spent hours canning and preserving fruits and vegetables for her family. She was an avid reader and liked nothing better than to play board and card games. Her favorite was pinochle, which she enjoyed even to the last days of her life.
Marie loved to visit and entertain family and friends with her stories and conversation.
She was raised in a generation that valued old-time family traditions and high moral standards, and lived her life to uphold those standards. She was a wonderful mom, grandma, aunt, sister and friend to all she met.
She will be dearly missed.
Marie is survived by her children: Richard (Kim) Brewer of Helena; Julie (Woody) Ameline of Choteau; Jack (Roxanne) Brewer of Townsend; Ron (Dee) Brewer of Helena; Linda (Scott) Marsh of Dillon; and Allen (Sandy) Brewer of Winston. She was blessed with 17 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Other survivors include: her sister-in-law, Betty Jean Brewer of Spokane, WA; many nieces and nephews; her dear friend Vi Anderson of Billings; and her “Legacy family” in Dillon. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, and all her siblings.
Graveside rites were held at the Mayn Cemetery in White Sulphur Springs at 1 p.m. on Friday, August 23. A reception will directly follow at the Yoked Lutheran-Presbyterian Parish in White Sulphur Springs. Gorder-Jensen Funeral Home of Choteau is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be expressed at www.gorderjensenfuneralhome.com. Memorials are suggested to Barrett Hospice in Dillon, The American Diabetes Association or a memorial of your choice.
In last week’s Tribune, this obituary appeared with the wrong photo. The Tribune apologizes for the error and any distress it may have caused.
Diana Lee McNinch Walrath
1951 – 2013
Diana Lee McNinch Walrath was born on July 26, 1951 and passed away on Aug. 12, 2013, in Barrett Hospital in Dillon.
She is survived by: husband Dick Walrath, of Lima; son Jonathon, of Anchorage, AK; son Jason (Dana), of Wasilla, AK; stepson Rick (Natasha), of Anchorage; stepson Rodney (Karen), of Dillon; and stepson Randy (Michelle), of Seattle, WA.
Services were held at the Lima Community Church on Tuesday, Aug. 20, with internment following at Lima Cemetery.
Theola Jean Watkins
1948 – 2013
Theola Jean Watkins of Dillon passed away at Barrett Hospital and Healthcare on Aug. 24, 2013.
She was born on Aug. 28, 1948, in Batesville, IN, to August J. and Virginia (Lee) Schreiber. She is survived by: husband James Watkins; sons Don Watkins of Dillon and John Watkins of Sidney; daughter Jamie Watkins Harlicker of Three Forks; grandson Brandon Watkins; and granddaughters Faith Harlicker, Brittney Watkins and Devon Watkins.
A memorial service is being planned for a later date and a full obituary will follow.
Posts
