In Memoriam

Born in Denver, son of Robert and Emma Baker, he moved with his parents to Billings where he attended schools and graduated from Billings West in 1970.  He studied architecture at the U of MT and served in the Navy from 1974 to 1976. Following his discharge from the Navy, he got a degree in film and television from MSU in Bozeman.  Ron moved from Billings to Seattle in 1979, where he worked on the production of several short documentaries as a free-lance soundman.  There in Seattle he married Juliiene Jones and since 1982 he was a television equipment operator for the PBS station.  He enjoyed tennis, skiing, and photography.

Ron died at his home in Seattle after a long illness.

Gerald "Ger" K. Bennington 7/6/51 – 2/15/76

Ger was active in student religious activities, including The Ark, an interdenominational youth center in Missoula.  He was majoring in speech-communications at the U of MT and was the student representative to the Epilepsy Foundation – Western Region.

He died after a car accident near Superior, MT after attending a Luther League retreat. He was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Wilbur Bennington, brother of Kenneth Bennington and Louise Bennington.

Randall A. Bohl Born: Billings, MT Died: May 13, 1990, Gulf Port, Mississippi

Randy joined the Air Force in 1971 and made it his career. At the time of his death he was a Master Sgt. in the Air Force stationed in Biloxi, Mississippi.  He had been stationed in 4 state side bases as well as England and Okinawa.  He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and computers.

In 1973 Randy married Barbara G. Blasingame in Billings. Randy had had open heart surgery on May 9^th and died on May 13^th of 1990 due to heart failure.

He is survived by is wife, a daughter Teresa and a son Adam, his mother Irene and stepfather August Scheafer.

Marvin R. Buttman 12/17/51 - 9/1/71

Marvin attended Eastern Montana College where he was studying to become a teacher and a coach.  He was employed by Eddy’s Bakery.  Born in North Dakota, he moved with his parents to Billings when he was a 5^th grader.  At West High he was known for his talents in football and track.

In August, 1970 Marvin married Pamela Anderson in Billings.

Marvin died after a motorcycle-bus accident.  Survivors included his wife, Pamela, son Seth, parents Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Buttman, a brother Clayton, and two sisters, Mrs. William Kroll and Mrs. Sylvester Lahren.

Anita Camron Baldwin 6/5/52 – 6/22/91

Anita was raised in Billings, the daughter of Joe & Bonita Camron. She attended Billings schools.  After graduating from Billings West, she became an accomplished artist.  From 1977 to 1981 she managed a local art galleries, the Turnabout Four and the Castle Art Gallery.  In 1982 Anita married D. W. Baldwin in Billings.  From 1982 to 1990 she lived in Big Fork, MT and then returned to Billings.  Her hobbies were growing flowers in her greenhouse, sewing and her artwork.

Survivors are her parents, Joe and Bonita and her sister Paula Camron.

Carol E. Grammens Zopfi Born: 5/6/52, Billings Died: 7/25/87, Billings

Carol was born in Billings to Paul and Birdie Grammens.  She attended St. Pius X School, Lewis & Clark and graduated from Billings West in 1970.  She attended Eastern Montana College and in 1978 married Tom Zopfi.  In 1982 she and Tom moved to Worden where she had opportunity to fulfill her life long dream of having horses and dogs.  She worked for seven years at Connolly’s Western Wear.  Leukemia took Carol’s life at age 35.  She never complained, and never drew attention to herself.  She was a faithful friend.

Vernon R. Hill Born: Longview, WA Died: 3/18/90 Community Hospice in Longview, WA

Vern worked at WEYCO pulp mill in Longview, WA.  He had a great sense of humor and was very loving to family and friends.  He was born in Longview to Carmen and Joan Hill and moved to Montana in 1961.  In 1974 he moved back to his roots in Longview, WA.  He died at age 38 after a short illness.  He had two sons, Brenden and Nicholas of Silver Lake, WA.

James W. Hulbert Born – White Plains, NY Died – 11/23/88, Billings

Jim worked in construction and for a local advertising firm.  He enjoyed working on cars, the outdoors, fishing and target shooting.

Jim was born in White Plains, NY, son of Louis and Barbara Hulbert, they moved to Billings and he graduated with BWHS Class of 1970.

At the time of his death, he had a son, Matthew of Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

Michael John Ihli Born – Oceanside, CA Died 1/9/85 Seattle, WA at Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

Born to John & Rae Ihli in California, but raised in Montana, Mike always loved fishing and climbing the mountains of Montana.  In 1976 he graduated from the U of MT with a BS in geology.  He worked on the Stillwater Mining complex as a senior geologist.  He married Debra Apeland in Big Sky, MT in 1980.  In 1981 they moved to Tucson and Mike began studies as a graduate student at the U of AZ pursuing a masters degree in mineral economics and business administration until his death from leukemia.

Bradley "Kirk" Jones Born: October 3, 1952, Billings, MT Died: March 3, 1995, Kalispell, MT

Kirk was raised and schooled in Billings.  After graduating from Billings West he attended the US Military Academy at West Point and later graduated from MSU-Bozeman in 1974 with his degree in elementary education.  He began is teaching career in Lovell, WY, where he taught elementary school and was honored as Teacher of the Year.  In 1978 he moved to Kalispell where he began his tenure as a 7^th grade math teacher at Linderman School, which he continued until the time of his death.  Besides teaching Kirk coached track and basketball at every level from junior high to varsity.  His coaching and teaching were marked by unselfishness and his quest for excellence in the classroom and on the playing field.  He tried to instill his sense of commitment to excellence in his students and athletes, touching many lives.  A truly giving man, he was always the first to help, but shied away from praise.

Kirk enjoyed the great outdoors of Montana and was an avid golfer and fisherman.  He passed away in Kalispell, MT from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning.

Michael E. Kuck Born: April 27, 1952, Billings Died: August 4, 1993, Lander, WY

He was born in Billings to Edwin and Clara Kuck.  Michael lived in Hardin until the family moved to Billings in 1956 when his father began the family tradition of construction trucking.  As a young boy, Mike began learning the skills and hard work ethic that would carry him through his life.  Just before his graduation from Billings West he turned 18 and rushed to get his chauffeur’s license so he could drive truck for his father from noon to midnight.

In February, 1971 Michael married classmate Connie Cousins in during their 22 years of marriage, raised two children Michael Jr. and Amanda.

In 1982, Michael purchased his father’s business and formed Kuck Trucking Inc. with 7 trucks and trailers.  By 1992 his hard work and great family support developed the business to 25 trucks and 70 trailers.

Michael enjoyed drag racing, mechanical work and anything to do with trucking.  As he had worked closely with his father, so his children worked closely with him.

Michael died near Lander, WY due to complications resulting from a road oil construction accident.

Kathleen J. Lahn Zitur Born – Miles City, MT Died 4/15/88, Billings

Kathy lived in Billings for 20 years and enjoyed drawing, designing clothing, sewing and camping.  She was born in Miles City, MT to Walt and Dorothy Lahn.  She married Ronald M. Zitur on Oct 9, 1971 in Missoula.  She had two sons, Chad & Conrad and a daughter, Danielle.  Kathy died at St. Vincent Hospital after a short illness.

Candace Susan Miller Died 2/3/78

Candace, who was born in Carroll, IA, settled in Billings with her family in 1965 and she attended Lincoln, Lewis and Clark and Billings West.  Until April 1975 she attended the School of Pharmacy at U of Montana in Missoula.  She was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority and Kappa Epsilon pharmacy honorary.

At age 25, Candace died of a kidney ailment at the home of her parents in Billings, MT.

Mary Katherine Norick Keating Died 9/12/81

Mary was born in Chicago, IL, but moved with her family to Billings in 1953.  After graduating from Billings West and Hollywood Beauty College she moved to Tacoma.  In 1973 she married Gary Keating.  At the time of her death she was working as a computer operator in Tacoma for an optical company.  Mary and her husband were visiting Mary’s parents when she became ill and received medical treatment.  She died of unknown causes in her sleep at the home of her parents.  She was 29.

Dennis Walter Owens Born 12/15/51 Died 7/27/00

Dennis was born in Billings to Don and Bev (Fox) Owens.  He began his education at Elysian School and graduated from West High in 1970.  He enlisted in the Air Force in 1971, serving in Korea, Germany, and the U.S., and retired after 20 years.  He married Golia Lea Barnett in 1975, and from that union was born Jason Allen Owens.  They were later divorced.

Dennis enjoyed bowling on the Friday Night Fireside League, helping on Saturday morning Center Lanes handicapped bowling league with special brother Mark and the YARC (Yellowstone Association for Retarded Citizens) special dances.  He also enjoyed fishing and girl-watching.  He was a member of YARC, and the Moose.  Dennis’ favorite part of the Bible was the Book of Psalms.

His son, Jason; parents, Don and Bev Owens; sisters, Nancy Jenson, and Amy (Randy) Dangerfield; and brother, Mark Owens survive him.

Robert "Bob" J. Pederson Born: May 8, 1952, Butte, MT Died: Sept. 13, 1993 U of Nebraska Med.Ctr in Omaha Resident of Hailey, Idaho

Bob, born in Butte to Wilfred & Ruth Pederson, moved to Billings with his family in 1955.  After graduating from Billings West in 1970 he went on to get his bachelor’s and mater’s degrees in geological engineering from Montana Tech in Butte, MT.  He worked as an exploration geologist and environmental engineer and was employed by Western Energy Co. in Billings and Butte for many years.  At the time of BWHS Class of 1970’s 10-year reunion, Bob was instrumental in the organization and success of the events.  He was a faithful worker even amidst a committee made up mostly of women.  A real trooper.

At the time of his death, he was employed by Orvano Resources of Golden, CO and had recently returned from an assignment in LaPaz, Bolivia.  He had three sons, David, Matthew and Douglas in his first marriage and was engaged to Adare Brown of Hailey, ID at the time of his death.

Nadine Jacqueline Riedl 3/12/52 - 11/19/71

Nadine was born at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls, MT.  The family lived in Fromberg until 1956 when they moved to Billings.  After high school, Nadine attended Eastern Montana College and she worked as a nurses aide for Deaconess Hospital.  At the time of her death she was a dental assistant with Montana Dental Laboratory.

Nadine was accidentally killed on a hunting trip near Broadus.  She was 20.

Sheila M. Smith Houghton Born: 1952, Billings Died: May 10, 1988, Billings

Sheila was born in Billings to George and Helen Smith.  She attended St. Pius X, Lewis & Clark and graduated from Billings West.  In 1981 she married Bill Houghton. Sheila worked for several restaurants in the Billings area and then for Pierce Packing Co. from 1977 until the plant closed in 1983.  She managed the bar and restaurant of Ole’s Little Nevada until February, 1988 when she had to retire due to ill health.  Cancer took her life three months later.

Sheila enjoyed her daughter Heather Smith, works and crafts, especially making pinecone wreaths, flower arrangements and cross-stitching.

Mark Burns Sweeney Born: 3/16/52, Billings Died: 9/24/94, New York Hospital

Mark was born in Billings, to Mary and Hugh Sweeney.  Schooled in Billings and after high school graduation attended U of Montana in Missoula, Oberlin College and the School of Visual Arts in New York City.  New York City was home to Mark since 1973 where he made his career as a set designer and dresser working in the theatre, cinema and commercial television.

Mark was most proud of his work with the Shakespeare Festival, the Children’s Television Workshop series "Ghost Writer" and his work on the film, "Parting Glances."  A poet and artist in life, Mark was a proud gay man, loving brother and friend to large circle of people.  Mark died at age 42 complications from AIDS.

Cindy Taylor Sicotte Born: 1952, Billings Died: 1980, Polson, MT

Cindy and her husband Michael died tragically in a boating accident on Flathead Lake, near Polson, MT.  Cindy was 28.  At the time of her death she was a legal secretary.

After graduating from Billings West in 1970, Cindy attended the University of Montana in Missoula, where she was a member of Alpha Phi sorority.  In 1978 she married Michael Sicotte in Billings.

Vera-Kaye Wallis 9/13/51 – 5/17/70

Vera-Kaye was born in Red Lodge, the daughter of Donald & Kay Wallis Sr.  She was to be part of the BWHS graduating class of 1970, but was killed in a one-car accident nine miles west of Billings about three weeks before graduation.  She was returning in a vehicle with friends who had just married a few hours before the accident.  Vera-Kaye was 18 at the time of the accident.

Thomas Andrew Walter Born: Billings Died: May 17, 1990, Billings

Tom was the son of Arthur & Grace (Sieversten) Walter, born and raised in Billings.  In September, 1983 he married Wanda Leuenberger in Red Lodge.  He had a son, Nicholas and a daugher, Tory.

Tom worked for Montana Power and was also self-employed.  At the time of his death he was a truck driver for the highway department.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing and trapping, and he was a creative artist and craftsman.  The cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Thank you for your help in making this memorial to our classmates possible.

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