Jan Snyder, 80, of Billings, who worked in special education at Big Sky and Burlington elementary schools, died Tuesday, June 4, 2013.

She was born Aug. 24, 1932, in Sioux City, Iowa, to Minnie Sue and William Fay Wetzel and had one brother, William. In 1944 her family relocated to Springfield, Mo. She graduated from Senior High School in Springfield and attended Central Methodist College in Fayette, Mo.

She moved to Kansas City, Mo., to work for the Ford Motor Co. She married Charles “Chuck” Snyder on Dec. 27, 1952, and moved to Missoula while he finished law school.

She earned a degree in special education from Eastern Montana College and worked in special education at Big Sky and Burlington elementary schools.  She worked as a substitute teacher into her early 70s.

She volunteered 1,532 hours for Alberta Bair Theater and was a season ticket holder for the Billings Mustangs. In church, she attended Faith Builders, Bible study and a small group.

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Daniel “Danny” Lave, 87, owner of Dan Lave Masonry and a rifleman during the Battle of the Bulge, died Tuesday, June 4, 2013.

He was born in Augusta, Colo., to Placido and Jenny Romero Lave on Jan. 5, 1926. 

He was a decorated soldier who also had served as a military policeman and reconnaissance patrolman.

He was married for 63 years to Emily Ebach before her death in April 2009. He was a mason for 60 years and owner of Dan Lave Masonry for 40 years.

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Martha Drucilla (Dahl) Roche, 79, who was a licensed practical nurse in Glendive, died in her sleep on Friday, May 24, 2013.

She was born to Hulday and Johnn Dahl on May 3, 1934, in Glendive. She graduated from Dawson County High School in 1954 and moved to Havre to pursue an education in nursing. She married James William Roche in April 1955, and they lived in Glendive.

Mrs. Roche worked as a licensed practical nurse at Glendive Medical Center. She specialized in labor and delivery and worked at the county nursing home. She retired and moved to Billings in 1998.

She was known for her knitting and sewing.

Survivors include six children, Monte Roche of Sparta, Wis., David Roche and Jayme Bogen, all of Billings, Zara Munsch of Belgrade, Nancy Leach of Richland, Wash., and Johnn Roche of San Diego, Calif.; 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

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Harold E. “Gene” Schneider, 63, of Billings, who worked 25 years for Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, died of cancer on Thursday, June 6, 2013.

He was born March 16, 1950, in Worland, Wyo., to Harold W. and Elsie (Hergenrader) Schneider.

Survivors include his wife, Judy; mother, Elsie; a brother, Richard; two stepsons, Daryl and Randall; five grandchildren; and a great-grandson.

Services were pending. Arrangements were by Cremation & Funeral Gallery.

Mabel L. Hoosline, 90, of Billings, died Sunday, June 9, 2013, at Billings Health and Rehabilitation.

She was born May 17, 1923, in Minnesota and also had resided in Livingston and Billings. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Chester Pladsen and Earl “Pete” Hoosline, and by three children, Pamela Reinken and Gary and Bob Pladsen.

Survivors include daughters, DeAnn Lenhardt of Billings and Barbara Burgard of Longmont, Colo.; four grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.

A private family service was planned. Arrangements are by Cremation & Funeral Gallery.

Clyde Earl Clark, 84, who had lived in Billings all of his life, died Sunday, June 9, 2013.

He was the son of Tom F. Clark and Myrtle Charlotte Morehouse. He worked as a butcher for many years and was retired from Deaconess Hospital.

He married Darleen Hazel McLaughlin on June 18, 1953, and they later divorced. They had four children: Steve, Tom, Paul and Charlotte Clark Lande. He had 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A potluck style celebration of life will take place at 1032 Eldora Lane at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 15. Arrangements are by Cremation & Funeral Gallery.

Herb Stephenson, 83, a farmer and rancher, died Wednesday, June 5, 2013, at his home.

He was born Sept. 26, 1929, in Missouri, the youngest of four children born to Robert Stephenson and Amelia Gebhardt Stephenson. He moved to Montana with his family at the age of 6 and graduated from Fromberg High School in 1947.

He married Ella Mae Bonawitz in 1950. They spent their lives raising a family, crops, cattle and the occasional raccoon. He had received care from Beartooth Hospice.

Survivors include a sister, Betty Butler; children, Denny Stephenson, Vicky Harrison, Bill Stephenson and Brad Stephenson; 13 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 13, at the Joliet Wesleyan Church. Arrangements are by Cremation & Funeral Gallery.

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Alzina Marie Rukavina, 93, of Bridger, who enjoyed cooking and crocheting, died June 3, 2013, at Laurel Health and Rehabilitation Center in Laurel.

Born in Red Lodge on May 26, 1920, to Harry and Sofia (Lane) Smith, she attended school in Carbon County. On April 16, 1949, she married Peter J. Rukavina. She had two sons, Gary Saarela and Douglas Rukavina, both of whom preceded her in death.

She was an active member of Bridger Methodist Church.

Survivors include five grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

Services were June 7 at Bridger United Methodist Church with burial of ashes in Bridger Cemetery. Dahl Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.

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Nelson August “Barney” Bliss, 69, who had worked in oilfields and had a passion for radio-controlled model airplanes, died on the evening of May 18, 2013, at the Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County in Rock Springs, Wyo., after a long illness.

He was born in Roundup on Jan. 14, 1944, to Nelson August “Barney” Horning Sr. and Athna Nickolson. After the death of his father in World War II, he was adopted by William H. Bliss, who married Athna.

He attended school in Roundup and graduated from Sumatra High School in 1962.

He played basketball for the Sumatra Warriors and repaired Model A cars with his brothers and friends.

After high school, Mr. Bliss attended Eastern Montana College for a year before enlisting in the Army in 1964. He was stationed in Germany as a part of the 7th Army until 1966, and then served in the Army Reserve for two years.

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Christopher John Dickey, 56, who had worked in construction and as a federal compliance officer, died June 2, 2013, of cancer and complications of surgery.

He was the son of Oliver “OB” Dickey and Betty Dickey. He graduated from West High School in 1974.

Mr. Dickey was a construction superintendent with Fisher Construction for 22 years. He received the Billings Architectural Association’s Hardhat Award for outstanding work on the Ronald McDonald House addition in 2001.  He worked for the U.S. Department of Labor as an Occupational Safety and Health Administration compliance officer from Aug. 25, 2002, to June 1, 2012.

Survivors include his wife, Therese; children, Erin and John Dickey; father; and sisters, Cheryl Struthers and Mary Dickey.

A vigil service will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, June 7, at Dahl Funeral Chapel. Memorial Mass will be at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 521 Custer Ave., at 10 a.m. June 8. Interment of ashes will be in Holy Cross Cemetery.

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