In Memoriam – July and August 2024

As is our tradition, we are taking a look back at the lives of the people we have lost in the past year, continuing with obituaries that appeared in July and August of 2024. For January through March, see the Friday, Dec. 27 Anaconda Leader. For April through June, see the Monday, Dec. 30 edition. 

July

Mary Josephine Ridge Kohler

Mary Jo was born with the extra chromosome that affects the individual with the Linnertz family deafness. The hereditary nerve deafness has affected numerous individuals in our vast family. It continues to affect family members born with the extra chromosome to this day. However, despite her hearing loss, Mary Jo was determined to live a full life. She worked in accounting offices, having inherited the Linnertz knack with numbers. Mary Jo was a highly skilled lip-reader and was able to have swift conversations with family, friends, co-workers and strangers. Her husband Don and her children supported her throughout her life as she lived with her disability. Mary Jo also inherited the Linnertz love of card games. It must be part of our DNA! Pennies, nickels and dimes were in the pot, but the hooting, hollering and laughter made it sound like high stakes were on the table.

Jean Lorenz

In 1954, Ray accepted a job in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where their daughters Peggy Sue and and Debra Joy were added to the family. After five years in Minneapolis, Ray accepted a job in Southern California, where the family lived until Ray retired. At that time they returned to Montana and settled in Hamilton, Montana, where Jean’s family history goes back five generations. Both Ray and Jean are official members of Montana’s Pioneer Families. Jean was an excellent horse-woman and along with her parents and brothers were founders, builders, and long time members of the Anaconda Saddle Club. Jean was a very creative person: decorating cakes, seamstress, and jewelry, working both with gold and silver. Jean loved dancing and both she and Ray were active in Red Ribbons Square Dance Club in Southern California, and Boots and Calico Square Dance Club in Hamilton, Montana.

Wenonah Jones

She was a 4-H Leader for many years helping her children and others.   She taught members to cook, sew, garden and shared various home improvement tips.  She submitted her own prize winning entries at the Deer Lodge Tri-County Fair. She was a member of Pythian Sisters, after many years she took the office of Supreme Secretary for the international organization and held it for ten years.   She was also a member of Eastern Star and Garden Club, and helped with Job’s Daughters.  She was an Elder and the Receiving Treasurer for the First Presbyterian Church until she was 98 years old.

Noreen “Renie” Marie (Mertzig) Lacey

Noreen and Clint loved spending time with their friends, camping, cheering on the Montana Griz, Cats, and Saints and with family including Clint’s children, Jeffrey (MaryAnn) Ohman of Denver, CO; Creig (Edelene) Ohman of Boise, ID; and Trina (Lane) Wade of Missoula, MT and seven grandchildren. Noreen was a graduate of Anaconda High School. She worked as a CNA at Anaconda Community Hospital and later for H & R Block and was known for her vast tax knowledge.

Laverne Casey Marley-Sides

She loved to come to Montana and camp with extended family. Her RV took her many places including fishing in Kodiak, Alaska. She will be remembered as a smart, tough, fun loving lady.

William James Matosich

He was a paper carrier, pin setter, and alter boy in his youth. He loved his groceries like his Uncle Shaker, shooting the breeze with anyone, especially his Aunt AnnaBelle, biking in beautiful Washoe Park, and walking and talking with his buddy Joyce. Billy, “Red” Mato was quite a character. He lived his life his way. His 3 month adventure in Europe with his longtime friend, Gordon “Ruck Ruckwardt, was a highlight of his life. Bill travelled throughout the U.S. as a Pipefitter/Welder. On the off season he became an avid ice fishermen. He was a competitor in many things, from sports to outdoor activities, to card playing. “Mato” was many many things to many many people. Rest In Peace bro.

Randy Lee Fleming

Randy grew up in Opportunity, attended Beaverdam school, AJH and AHS school graduating in 1985. Randy had various jobs throughout his life starting employment at the fish hatchery in Anaconda when he was 16 years old. He  worked at MSP for time, and START before  moving to Helena 16 years ago and reconnected with his junior high school crush Karlee (Hancock).  Randy and Karlee were married June 26, 2009 in Helena.  He began work at Boyd Andrews Pre-Release in 2008 where he worked to the end. He worked through 6 years of being on dialysis then cancer struck hard and fast.

Vernon (Dutch) Russell

At an early age, Dutch left home traveling around by freight hopping for some time. Later he joined the Army. After the Army he met and married Annabelle and together owned and operated their farm. After his wife passed away he made his way to Anaconda where he lived for 30-some years. Dutch enjoyed playing cribbage, gambling, building wishing wells and traveling. When asked where he was going, he would always say he was going to Cucamonga and ask if you wanted to come.

Dolores Marie Messer

She married Albert Messer in August 1956. After moving to Anaconda in 1963, they opened Coast to Coast Hardware, which they ran until 1992. Following the sale of the store, Dolores stayed on as the number one employee until her retirement in 2018. Dolores and Al welcomed three children; Sheila, Blaine and Tim. Her children remember her as a fierce supporter and a kind grandmother. She knew all there was to know about helping someone find the right plumbing supplies. She was the county spelling bee champion and continued her spelling affinity all through life judging local spelling bees. As a grandmother she was the height growth chart they each sought to surpass.

Michael “Mike” Lawrence Curran Sr.

Mike earned an associate degree from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College. He started his working career with the Anaconda Company. This led him into a career as a proud union (local 41) pipefitter, which he passed onto his daughter. He spent his final working years traveling the country working on nuclear power houses, with Nancy constantly at his side. His faith & family were important to him but so were the outdoors and sports. He was an avid outdoorsman who passed his love and knowledge of hunting onto his children, grandchildren and friends. These memories will be cherished for a lifetime. His greatest hunting accomplishments were his two trophy bighorn sheep, supporting his wife, Nancy, in getting her trophy elk and his son, Michael, in getting his trophy bighorn sheep.

Alvin “Jack” Edward Nebeker

On June 10, 1970, he married Margaret Rose Rub in Anaconda, Montana. Alvin and Margaret made their home there and remained until Margaret passed in October of 2023. He had a 20 year career in the United States Air Force. He then worked at Anaconda Copper Smelter for 6 years and also as a farmhand for several years. Jack was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was an avid outdoors man! He loved fishing, hunting, trapping, rock hounding, prospecting, spelunking, and actually discovered a cave in 1963 while hunting and named it the Three Sisters after his 3 daughters.

August

Tim Papich

Tim’s hobbies included fly fishing, fly rod construction, cooking, reading, current events, and politics.  He was a passionate Denver Bronco and MSU Bobcat football fan.  He learned fly-fishing from his father on the rivers near Anaconda and became a highly accomplished fisherman and an expert fly tyer. Family was the most important thing to Tim, and the choices he made were always influenced by his love for his wife and daughters.  He was exceptionally proud of the success of his daughters who each earned doctorate degrees in 2024.  To his friends, Tim was always loyal and reliable.  He was a member of the Most Precious Blood Catholic Church in Denver for over 20 years, where he also served as Lector.  He prioritized spending quality time with his parents and was a devoted brother to his siblings. One of his greatest joys was to share the amazing food he prepared with friends and family. As an expression of love for his Anaconda roots, Tim was proud to have mastered many of his mother’s traditional recipes.

Conrad S. Newton

He worked at various jobs until being hired on by the Montana Power Company where he worked for 27yrs, most of those years as a gas service man. He retired in 1988. In 1971, he and Fernell Hertzig were married in her home. “Connie” loved flowers and for many years grew gladiolus, until his health forced him to quit. After retirement Connie and Fernell became snow birds. For nine years they spent the winter in Bushnell FL, until Fernell suffered a stroke, which made traveling difficult, so they stayed home. He also enjoyed fishing, camping, boating, and spending time with his three grandchildren. He took pride in keeping a nice yard. His lawn was kept like a carpet, and Lord help any weed that dare stick it’s head up.

Stan Hanson

He began working at a young age in the hay fields of the Big Hole and Philipsburg Valleys.  Stan had a strong work ethic which followed him through life until a stroke took away his ability to do so.  Stan worked for the Anaconda Company and MRI for 40 plus years as a drill operator as well as running his own carpet and upholstery cleaning business for 30 plus years. On November 12, 1960 Stan married Patricia Blume.  The couple were so young they had to have their parents sign for them to marry.  This marriage lasted for 64 years through sickness and health and produced three children: Jody, Cindy and Marty. They were also blessed with a bonus son, Jerry Nugent. Through their children they were given six grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren.  His family was always so important to him, in his last years he couldn’t wait for Patsy and Cindy to come visit and bring him goodies. Patsy and Cindy’s dedication to Stan never wavered as their home away from home was with him. 

James “Jim” Schimming

As big a man as James was, the life he lived was even bigger. He enjoyed many years of coaching, hosting and attending legendary holiday parties (including playing Santa at Christmas and having the best Halloween costumes), and was a dedicated Anacondan. James started out as a faithful ACCHS alumni, until such time as his children became Copperheads - from that point forward he was loudly and proudly their biggest fan (with a brief stint as a Wardens fan). James never missed a chance to support all sporting events in Anaconda, especially attending Goosetown softball games for all those he knew. When it came to college Sports, you couldn’t find a bigger supporter of UofM Grizzly Athletics. Throughout his life, James spent his time traveling across the country making sure to hit all 50 states, a feat he was proud of. 

Walt Immonen

Walt later returned to Anaconda, where he became an electrician.  He took great pride in the many projects he worked on, often pointing them out to friends and family.  In retirement, Walt enjoyed playing Pinochle with his friends Buster, Bing and Henry, a tradition that lasted over 15 years. In his later years, Walt met the loved of his life, Judy Powers.  They shared 24 beautiful years together, filled with camping trips, four-wheeling adventures and countless games of cribbage.  Walt’s dedication to his friends and family, along with his strength and playful spirit will be deeply missed in Anaconda and within the local cribbage community where he was a top player in the Grassroots Cribbage Club.  

Gwendolyn “Gwen” Yvonne Walker

In 1968, she moved to California and married her first husband, Robert Lazaro. They shared two beautiful daughters, Tania and Traci. Upon their divorce, Gwen decided to fulfill her dream and started driving for Greyhound Bus Lines.  She was one of very few women to accomplish this hurdle in the late 1970’s.  After which she worked for the State of California, but driving was in her blood. Getting back on the road, she drove for C.R. England, clocking thousands of miles before moving to Montana in 2002.  For a short time, she drove for Karst Stage Lines, but turned her heels to work for the State of Montana with the DPHHS division.  Upon her retirement in 2011, she took a three-year hiatus and became a tour bus driver with the Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. Missing home, she returned to Montana and drove for Tucker Transportation until the end of her career.  Whether it was moving the smaller children on the school bus or operating the big charter buses for various assignments, Gwen’s peace was being behind the wheel.  

Trilby Lee (Horrigan) Neitz

An active member of family businesses, Trilby worked at the Granada Theatre with her parents, Frank and Betty Horrigan, and at the Philipsburg Mail with her husband, Dean Neitz. A socialite at heart, Trilby loved her hometown and was devoted to local community organizations, bridge clubs and volunteer groups. She held very close a group of childhood friends that called themselves “the Old Maids,” who often traveled together and loved each other very much. Trilby was a lifelong lover of skiing, golf and Georgetown Lake. Trilby skied until her early 80s and golfed regularly. As one of the longest-standing Boat Club members, Trilby could most often be found on a summer day at the lake.

Rosella Bouck

In her life, Rosella was a devoted wife, woman of faith, a strong follower of Jesus Christ and had lived 60 years in Anaconda.  Rosella loved Anaconda and loved being out in the community whenever time would allow.  Rosella also loved taking care of her family, raising her six children, going to church at First Baptist, parades, movies, and had a special affection for celebrating the holidays and being in nature.  Rosella was an ardent volunteer to the Big Brothers and Sisters Program (10 years) and regularly volunteered with the Senior Companions Program (23 years).  Cumulatively, Rosella will be sorely missed by her family.