All Obituaries

Cynthia Eve Reifert Mahan, 60, of Ballantine, died Tuesday July 31, 2018 at St. Vincent Healthcare   in Billings.  Cindy was born in Muscatine, Iowa November 3, 1957 to Gerald and Ann (Kramer) Reifert.  She graduated from Muscatine High School and went on to complete a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Iowa.  Cindy was a medical social worker for twenty-two years at St. Vincent Hospital.  She married John Mahan at Faith United Church of...

Margaret Jean Barnes,  72, of Laurel, died Wednesday July 11, 2018 in Billings.  She was born September 26, 1945 to Charles Albert and Elizabeth Rebecca (Berg) Phillips in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Margaret married Ralph Barnes July 31, 1983 in Cheyenne.  She worked for Walmart for 20 years and truly loved her job.  She also assisted in opening of the Laurel Walmart location. She enjoyed collecting figurines and loved her grandchildren.  Margaret attended First Baptist...

Melva was born January 21, 1945 to Alvin and Neva Gearey where she became little sister to Marilyn.  She grew up in Miles City, Montana, leaving for a short time to California and settling in the Billings/Laurel area. Melva graduated in 1963 from Billings Senior High School.  She married Gary Kallem in November, 1963.  From that union came Kevin, Kari and Ken.  Melva and Gary divorced in 1983.  In 1984 she met the love of her life, Douglas Cowper, married on October...

Allen Lee Ruff, 21, of Laurel, born Friday, Sept. 13, 1996. Parents David and Lynnette Ruff. Siblings Anna, Austin and Adam Ruff. Grandmother Shirley Ruff. Cousin Jake Ronan, that was like a brother. Fiance Cadie Frickel, daughter Paisley Ruff and baby on the way. He passed away Friday in a dirt biking accident having the ride of his life with good friends Robert and Aaron. Allen had such amazing talents in life from being a great farmer, mechanic, artist, friend, son, brother, husband, and...

Vivian Marie Martin passed away on Thursday, April 12, 2018 at Morning Star Senior Living. She was 97. Vivian was born June 19, 1920 in Golden Valley, North Dakota to Alpha and Pearl Barker. She was their first child and only girl. Five brothers followed Vivian: Dean, Bob, Stan, Keith and Max. Only Max survives her. As the oldest, and a girl, she had a lot of practice with childcare and homemaking; lessons that stuck. The family moved to Scobey when mom was a sophomore, where she graduated...

Verda Jane Volmer, 68, of Laurel passed away on March 9, 2018. She was born January 11, 1950 to Otis and Dorothy Johnson. Verda married Orwald (Butch) Volmer on May 4, 1968. To this union was born daughter Joan, sons Orlin, Robert, and Charles. She attended Laurel Assembly of God Church, where she accepted Christ March 31, 1981. Verda is survived by husband Butch, daughter Joan, sons Orlin, Bob, and Charles. She leaves behind seven grandchildren Forrest, Kayla, Morgan, Ashley, Carissa, and...

Anita Caroline Wheeler of Laurel passed away on Feb. 24, 2018. She was the daughter of Warren Seymore Smith and Emily Fenlin Williams. Anita was born and raised in Billings, Montana. She graduated from Billings Senior High. Anita married Frank Lee Wheeler June 24, 1950. They had 2 children, Cheryl and David. Anita attended Eastern Montana College earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1964 and a Master of Science Degree in 1967. She taught grade school for 28 years. She dearly loved...

Virginia Lee Burrow Hearron, 88, of Billings, passed away peacefully February 22, 2018. Virginia was born June 8, 1929, in Spiro, Oklahoma. At the age of seven she moved to California with her parents Wayne and Elsie Burrow. She and her three sisters attended grammar school in Buttonwillow. Riding the high school bus into Bakersfield every day was an arduous task, but she persevered and graduated from Kern County Union High School in 1947. During her senior year of high school and his first...

John Kemkes passed away at his home on Friday evening, Feb. 16, at the age of 80. John was born to Wilbur and Marjorie Kemkes in 1937 in Minneapolis, and grew up along the Minnesota River in the town of Chaska. While in high school there, he began dating the love of his life, Audrey, and they married in April 1959. After having served in the U.S. Air Force with interceptor squadrons based in Maine, John and Audrey returned for a time to Minnesota. In 1970, he moved his family to Montana to...