In Memoriam – January through March 2024

As is our tradition, we are taking a look back at the lives of the people we have lost in the past year, starting with obituaries that appeared between January and March of 2024.

January

Martin “Marty” Mavrinac

Marty served in Vietnam as a member of the United States Marine Corp.  He took great pride in being a member of this elite group.  He was a very patriotic individual and was a lifetime member of the Marine Corp League, Pvt Mike Detachment. Marty had a heart as large as our Montana Big Sky.  He loved his country (flying the United States Flag and Marine Corp Flag at his home).  He cherished his family.  He volunteered hundreds of hours for the Anaconda Ambulance Service for many years, and he was always searching for ways to increase his knowledge. Also, Marty spent over 40 plus years along with his wife Susan, volunteering for Anaconda Pintler Search and Rescue.  He was instrumental in promoting a permanent County levy for the Search and Rescue for equipment improvements and training.

Joseph Johnson

He loved adventure, and was an incredible athlete. He excelled in wrestling and football in school, and started skiing around 8 years old when his parents bought his first skis and sent him down the mountain, without lessons, and let him have at it. 

Toby Holmlund

After returning to Anaconda, he worked on the Smelter until it closed.  He was part of The Last Crew that worked on the Smelter until 1982. Of the 17 members of the crew only three remain: Cal Stanley, Sonny Langer, and Mel Schnabel.  When the Smelter finally shut down, Billie and Toby decided that Toby would not leave home to look for work. He spent a few years working in the spud fields in the valley which he enjoyed tremendously. He then went to work for AFFCO and eventually retired after 14 years. The most remarkable time at AFFCO was working in AFFCO Supply where he made many new friends and was able to help so many.

Irene Marie “Enee” Sedminik Voyles

Irene was a fun loving, social butterfly. She loved shopping and was so generous to everyone. The entire family traveled to Las Vegas, Vancouver, Nashville, and Canada every year. Seeing Elvis in the front row in Las Vegas was the highlight of her life. Her parents and brother went to Germany for 3 months to visit her mom’s sisters and brother. There they experienced the Oktoberfest and they traveled to where the Olympics were held. They also visited Amsterdam, Holland and Innsbruck, Australia. She also enjoyed their yearly trip to Vancouver, British Columbia, visiting China town. 

Frank Lotar Voyles

He met the love of his life Irene Sedminik and they married on August 2, 1981. They resided in Butte for a while then moved to Anaconda to be closer to Irene’s family. Frank was an avid chess player. He loved to play whenever he had a chance. Frank loved his pink Cadillac and Airplanes. He had his pilot license.  There was nothing he didn’t know about airplanes and would remind you of it whenever he saw you.

Keith Charles Roberts

Keith was born on March 24, 1969 in Kansas City, Missouri to Roberta Roberts. When he was three weeks old he moved to Anaconda where he resided until his passing.

William Orville “Bill” Colvin

He enjoyed bowling, camping, riding motorcycles, music, singing, and playing the guitar. He was a mechanic and loved working on his motorcycles and cars. He kept a pristine garage. Every tool had its place. He was always serving others and took care of all the widows on Terry Drive. He was a friend to all, and if you were a stranger, it wasn’t for long. “Papa Bill” was the best dad and grandpa ever. He took his role as nanny, chauffeur, taxi driver, maid, coach, and lawn tech very seriously. His family was his greatest blessing and he loved spending time with them.

Ron Hain

Ron loved the great outdoors and enjoyed camping, fishing, hiking, snowmobiling, and four-wheeling. Ron was a volunteer firefighter for the West Valley, Snowmobile Club Member, and he loved to work on cars. He kept his first car, a 1956 Ford, in mint condition and won many ribbons in the parades.

Janet M. Ricketts

Jan had many professions throughout her life but enjoyed working at the family dollar in anaconda the most. Her favorite things to do were spend time with family, friends, camp, and dance.

February

Mary Ameila Coen

Mary is survived by her children Kathy Motsinger, John and Nancy Baucum and Mark and Jennifer Baucum. She had 8 grandchildren:  Christin and Frank Collins, Brian Reddekopp, Jesse Davis, Joshua and Jessica Motsinger, Jacob and Christy Motsinger, James Wright, Hollie Kerr and James and Deidre Motsinger.  She had 10 great grandchildren, and 3 great-great grandchildren. Cousins Taylor Cain, Sandy Decuir and Brainard Watler. Her best friend was Diana Hoxie.

Jason Miller

Jason worked at various jobs throughout his life in Anaconda. He loved to cook and play many types of video games. He loved to hunt. He met the love of his life Jackie at Anaconda High not knowing that years later they would be married. He became a step father to her two sons Brandon Wind and Alec Willams.

John Clair Ford

John had a love for the outdoors. He enjoyed going fishing and spending time in the mountains.  John was most at peace in solitude. He also enjoyed writing, drawing, reading Louis L’Amour books, and coming up with ideas for projects.  

Daniel James Wigert

Danny was raised by his parents until 8th grade, and then he left to live with his Uncle Don and Aunt Linda Anderson to pursue his passion for rodeo.  During his teenage years he was successful in saddle bronc and bull riding making it to the high school and college National Finals. As an adult he was successful in Rodeo as well, making it to the NRA Finals and qualifying in bull riding for the World Finals

Maryrose Groce

During Maryrose’s studies at Great Falls College, she met Tom Groce in a literature class. They went their separate ways and corresponded via letters. Following graduation and after one year of teaching, Maryrose left Montana with girlfriends for Seattle, Washington to help with the WWII war effort as office workers. In early 1943, she and Tom reconnected in the Seattle area. Tom was stationed nearby in the US Army/AirCorp officer and pilot training program. When he received his military orders to leave for England, he proposed to Maryrose, and she said Yes. They were married in a Catholic ceremony at the airbase in Moses Lake, Washington, October 25, 1943.

Daniel Lee Bock

Dan moved to the Seattle, WA area and began his career as a welder in the shipyards and worked his way up to becoming a welding inspector and was a certified underwater welder. He married the love of his life, Mona, in 2000 and they spent 24 years in their home in Brier, WA where Dan enjoyed his various cars and his collection of license plates and neon bar signs.  He and Mona  together made their home and gardens beautiful.  

April Anne (Carroll) Pentilla

All who knew April describe her as an adventurous spirit. In her younger years, April loved riding her horse Pablo, which she did masterfully, and some of her most memorable experiences include whitewater rafting the Grand Canyon and traversing the MacMillan and Yukon rivers with her husband and friends during a 400-mile canoe trip. In recent years, April loved to entertain and planned every detail, and an invite to the Pentilla household was coveted by all.

Joseph Hannon

As a young man, Joe enjoyed hunting and riding motorcycles with friends. Summer vacations were important to him, with Disneyland being a favorite destination. Christmases were spent in Northern California with family. Later in his life, he traded motorcycles in for four wheelers and enjoyed riding with friends and his grandson. Time spent with friends was always important; he would go for coffee at the Copper Bowl and later to breakfast at Donivan’s and other various locations.

Terrence “Terry” Wayne Blaz

In 1977, Terry joined the Army and was assigned to Fort Riley, KS in the 1st Infantry Division, and eventually stationed in Germany as a Tank Driver. During his time in the service, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, as well as the Sharpshooter Badge. Upon returning home from military duty, Terry was employed as a correctional officer at the Montana State Prison. He eventually moved to Corona, CA to brand horses with family. There, he was a jack of all trades and held various jobs including plumbing and roofing until finding his true calling of becoming an electrician. The family moved to Woodlake, CA and he began working at American Inc. After his youngest son Ryan’s graduation, Terry and Ryan’s mother, the late Georgia Blaz, moved back to his beloved home of Anaconda. Terry became the Deer Lodge County electrician until he retired. He became known locally as the “light man.” 

Gwendolyn Ann Milani

During Gwen’s adult life, she spent her time as a homemaker. She acted as a Girl  Scout and Boy Scout leader. She participated in her children’s school activities while thoroughly enjoying her children’s youth. Many happy hours were spent with her parents and her sister’s family sharing holidays, picnics, and just good old fun. Gwen’s baking and cake decorating skills were put to use in the catering her and Joe did for many years. She also enjoyed painting, embroidery, gardening, and ceramics, but most of all, entertaining family and friends for dinner in her home.

John Turtle

He participated in competitive shooting and achieved the designation of sharpshooter. Upon graduation, he worked in the trades as a boilermaker’s assistant and worked in Montana, Georgia and South Dakota. He traveled all over the United States and Mexico before settling back in Anaconda. He worked at Hearthstone and was the best friend to all who lived there. He was on call at all hours and was always there for every resident. 

March

Reverend Thomas Robert Flynn

He always considered Anaconda his home, graduating from Anaconda Central High School in in 1954. He then attended Carroll College in Helena, MT, graduating summa cum laude with bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and history. He attended the seminary at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, Italy and was ordained a Catholic Priest in 1961. He was Valedictorian of his class, graduating summa cum laude from the Gregorian University in Rome in 1962, earning a master’s degree in theology. He then taught at Carroll College for several years. In 1970 he earned a doctorate in philosophy from Columbia University (NY). He taught at Catholic University (Washington, DC), Carroll College and St. Mary’s (Baltimore, MD). 

Doris E. Blaz

She was employed at Woolworth’s and St. Ann’s hospital when she first moved to Anaconda. She later worked at Galen State Hospital for many years before she retired. Her passion in life was her family and then her skill at sewing which she did her whole life from clothing, baby clothes, quilts and dolls; which we are sure there are many families in town that still have these items. She was the original creator & sewer of the “Irish Washer Women” quilt square for the LAOH hall for many years.

Nancy Jane (Ward) Standish

After graduating from Point Loma High School, she attended San Diego State College. Later her and her best friend Kathy moved to Montana to work at Yellowstone National Park. It was there she met our dad, Don Standish. He played music and caused all kinds of trouble, I’m sure that was the attraction. They later moved to Anaconda in 1963 where she worked at Galen Hospital in the kitchen where she met many lifelong friends. In 1974, she joined the laborers union Local #1334 where she worked as a bricklayer, laborer and later a flagger on road construction until retirement in 2000. During her winters of layoff she worked with her friend Dora cooking the famous chocolate chip cookies at Discovery Ski Resort.

Frances Lowman

While at Montana State University, Fran met the love of her life, Samuel Lowman. After their graduation, they were married on November 25, 1962. Sam was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army and was promptly stationed in Germany. While they were in Heidelberg, Germany, they had three sons. First born was James Lowman, and then later they had twins, Kenneth and Keith Lowman. The young family returned from Germany in 1965. Their family moved around the Northwest (Washington, Oregon, and Idaho), while following Sam’s successful professional career first in the aluminum industry and then later in the food industry.

MarySue Morse

MarySue loved to visit and always brought a smile to your face with the stories she would tell, she loved going to Butte to visit friends at Mountain View Social Development Center, she loved Yahtzee, playing solitaire on the computer, playing card games, loved putting puzzles together, she loved watching movies and was an avid Bingo player taking the game very seriously and you knew when she won it would be a good day for everyone. MarySue had spunk and wasn’t afraid to share what was on her mind she had many friends at Mountain View Social Development Center and the Nursing Home and she will be missed.

Karen Lorraine (Klemann) Moses

Karen was born into the Lutheran Church and later became an active member at the Presbyterian Church for many years as an Elder and Deacon. She loved being a Sunday School Teacher and being a part of Vacation Bible School. Other groups Karen was involved with include the Anaconda Choral Society, Big Brothers & Big Sisters, Girl Scouts and the Young Impressions.  She enjoyed singing, reading, cross stitching and being with her family.

Melissa Lou Robinson

Her passion has always been to work with animals, and in the late 1980’s she began working at the Anaconda Veterinary Clinic, where she continued until a neck injury caused her to stop being able to work at all.  Even then, her love of animals continued, as she was always willing to foster – and more likely – adopt animals that otherwise wouldn’t have been given a chance.  Beyond her animals, her four grandsons were her pride and joy, and always tried to be at whatever events they had going on.  She loved watching them & would proudly tell anyone “that’s my grandson”.

Bill Reopelle

At an early age, father Rusty and Grandfather Shorty instilled in the family a love of the outdoors. They would go camping and fishing often and it remained a passion for Bill until illness took over. Bill was a fixer-upper extraordinaire. His trade was an auto mechanic. He and his brother Bob attended Denver Automotive Institute together. Bill’s gift for fixing things had friends and neighbors bringing him their non-working lawn mowers, chain saws, etc. to repair. He made friends wherever he went and some that he mentioned frequently include Frankie, Mick, Jay, Gunner & Mark, some of them former co-workers. Bill would have been delighted by the moniker the nurses at Ivy gave him: “Wild Bill”.

Lois Virginia (Hareland) Harris

Many of the things that she most enjoyed happened outside. Lois and Nick were avid fishermen. The boat went around Storm and Echo Lakes more times than could ever be counted. In the winter, they enjoyed ice fishing. She hiked, cross country skied, motorcycled, and rode snowmobiles. Working in the yard and in her many flower gardens gave her great pleasure. The fruits of Nick and Lois’s labor were gallons of raspberry jam and, one year, the Garden Club Copper Shovel for her excellent flower gardens. Lois made quilts, and lots of them. They adorn the walls and beds of her home and many other places. She made quilts with the group at Hope Lutheran by the dozens.

Antonius “Tony” Franklin Reiss

He engaged in his passion of building, repairing, and tinkering with cars, his favored being Mopar cars … especially hot rods like classic Dodge Challengers, Plymouth Furies, and an assortment of other Dodge cars, trucks and even a custom built 1923 roadster. In addition, Tony enjoyed hunting, target shooting, socializing, and collecting memorabilia. Tony was also actively involved with a number of military Veterans groups and charitable organizations.

Lillian “Lil” Mae Johnson

Lil was a kind and generous mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend who helped those in need to the best of her ability. Despite her more or less housebound situation in her last few years, she remained sociable and interested in her neighbors and community. Lil was beloved by her caregivers, who considered her as family. She enjoyed being included in holiday celebrations and appreciated the gestures of kindness, like dinners from neighbors such as the Cooks across the street. She frequented the Metcalf Center for company, lunches, and assistance with transportation and grocery shopping.In her career, Lil showcased her talent as an artisan, creating beautiful porcelain dolls and ceramics that she also taught in the 1970s.