Clara Jeanette Cantwell, 80, of Billings, who loved country music, died Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012.

She was born March 12, 1932, in Pryor to Ed and Grace Monsma. She graduated from Billings Senior High School. She married John Charles Cantwell on July 19, 1942.

She had received care from Valley Nursing Home.

Survivors include children, Greg Cantwell of Las Vegas, Nev., Sherri McKenna of Albuquerque, N.M., and Tammy Hinnergardt of Mandan, N.D.; 12 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and sisters, Edna Zieske and Tressa Daugherty, both of Billings.

No services were planned. Arrangements were by Cremation & Funeral Gallery.

Aylett Griffin Irving 81, one of the first members of Absarokee Fine Arts, died Oct. 4, 2012.

She was born to Martha Lapsley Griffin and Given E. Griffin, in Savannah, Ga., on March 26, 1921. Her parents settled in Asheville, N.C., when she was 5 years old, having lived previously in Little Rock, Ark., and Atlanta, Ga. She went to local schools and Biltmore College (now the University of North Carolina-Asheville). Then she attended Women’s College (now UNC-Greensboro).

In 1943, she enlisted in the Women’s Army Corps, serving as a classification specialist and personnel noncommissioned officer in Australia, New Guinea and the Philippines.

After the war, she married Clark O. Irving, a career Army officer, in Gastonia, N.C., at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on March 16, 1946. She followed her husband to Germany, Japan, Alaska and other posts in the United States.

They had a daughter, Kathleen Aylett, in 1947, and adopted four children in Germany. When her husband retired as a colonel, they moved to Wyoming and then to Absarokee.

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Richard S. “Dick” McMenemy, 88, of Billings, a veteran of World War II, died Tuesday, Oct. 9, 2012, at St. John’s Transitional Care Cottage.

He was born Aug. 7, 1924, in St. Paul, Minn., to Sidney and Catherine (LeFebre) McMenemy. He graduated in 1941 from Ramsey High School and attended St. Thomas Military Academy. He enlisted in the Army in 1942 and served until 1946. He then studied journalism at the University of Minnesota.

He was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

Survivors include his wife of 39 years, Joyce McMenemy; a son, John McMenemy of Fredrick, Colo.; a daughter, Holly Hansen of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho; stepchildren, Russ Henson of Frisco, Texas, Ann Henson of Billings and Jane Henson of Elkin, N.C.; four grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

Services were Oct. 12 at Smith Funeral Chapel Downtown, with burial in Yellowstone County Veterans Cemetery in Laurel. A reception followed at the funeral home.

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Beverly A. Johnson Schafer, 73, died Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2012.

She was born in Enderlin, N.D., to Beatrice V. Menge-Johnson and Ruben F. Johnson on July 28, 1939. She graduated from Senior High School in 1958 and married Robert W. Schafer on July 19, 1958.

They had two sons, Cameron W. of Albuquerque, N.M., and Derer R. of Billings; and three grandchildren.

She had received care from RiverStone Hospice House.

At her request, no services were planned. Arrangements were by Cremation & Funeral Gallery.

Robert “Mick” McFarland, 78, of Molt, who spent his entire life farming, died Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, after a long illness.

He was born Sept. 1, 1934, to John Robert and Lorene McFarland. He attended grade school in Molt and graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1952.

He married Charlene Corbin on June 5, 1955, and they made their home on the family farm homesteaded by his grandparents north of Molt.

Survivors include his wife; daughters, Robin Roach of Yuma, Ariz., Rhonda Williams of Fernandina Beach, Fla., and Kristi Albrecht of Huntley; six grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; and brothers, Charles McFarland of Molt and Bruce McFarland of Billings.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, at Mayflower Congregational Church, 2940 Poly Drive in Billings. Arrangements are by Cremation & Funeral Gallery.

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Thomas Charles Kryzer Sr., 87, a photographer and documentarian during World War II who became president of Northern Tier Pipeline, died on the morning of Oct. 8, 2012.

He was born June 18, 1925, in Pine City, Minn., growing up on the family farm with a brother and two sisters.

He served in the Army during World War II, mostly in the Pacific Theater as a photographer and documentarian at the end of the war.

He graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1951 with a degree in civil engineering. He worked as a chemical engineer for Standard Oil Co. before receiving a master’s of business administration degree in 1966 from the University of Chicago. In 1974 he added an advanced management degree from Harvard Business School and later received graduate training from Northwestern University in energy transportation.

In 1973 he moved to Billings, working for Burlington Northern Railroad as vice president of energy development and delivery. He went on to be president of Northern Tier Pipeline.

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Donald D. Jonas, 78, a retired Air Force veteran and a welder and groundskeeper for School District 2, died Oct. 10, 2012.

The son of Marcus and Verna (Morse) Jonas, he was born March 16, 1934, in Billings. He was baptized July 27, 1957, and married Eldene Hankel that same day.

At age 17, he joined the Army National Guard and entered the Air Force 15 months later. He served in Korea and in Vietnam, then retired in 1972 after 20 years of service. He returned to Billings, tried several jobs, then went to work for School District 2. He retired in 1994.

Survivors include his wife; two sons, Steven and Tracy; a brother, Jack; nine grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and four stepgreat-grandchildren.

Visitation was Oct. 11 at Cremation & Funeral Gallery. Services were Oct. 12 at Christ the King Lutheran Church. Burial was in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Arrangements were by Cremation & Funeral Gallery.

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A traffic accident in poor weather conditions took the life of Jon Byrd, 69, of Billings, on Saturday, Oct. 6, 2012.

He was born May 2, 1943, the son of George A. and Elda (Asay) Byrd. He was a part of a family of five brothers and four sisters who farmed north of Billings. During his childhood he lived in Hardin, Idaho and California before returning to Billings.

He worked as a sales representative for Northwestern Auto Supply and Mountain Motor Supply. He restored classic cars and volunteered at the Senior Center.

Survivors include his wife, Lenice; children, Lisa, Ehren and Carissa; three grandchildren; brothers, Richard Byrd, Robert Byrd, Franklin Byrd, Kenneth Byrd and Wesly Byrd; and sisters, Shirly Bird, Judith Greenfield, and Sandra Newberg.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, at American Lutheran Church. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends for visitation at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary from 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Clara Kamerzel-Glantz, 97, of Billings, who enjoyed polka dancing and cooking, died Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012.

She was born Nov. 11, 1914, the daughter of George and Elizabeth Kamerzel and the first of seven children. She grew up in Laurel.

She married Ralph Glantz in Billings on May 24, 1935. They had two children, Ralph Glantz Jr. and Darlene Glantz-Skees.

She was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ.

She spent weekends at the cabin her husband and son built at Cathedral Mountain Ranch outside of Nye.

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Leionne Grace Martin Freebury, 93, who taught school before ranching and farming with her husband, died Oct. 2, 2012.

She was born Nov. 3, 1918, to Loran and Mathilda Martin on a farm near Steele, N.D. She started first grade in a one-room school and rode horseback or in a buggy with her sisters and brother. She graduated from Bismarck, N.D., High School in 1937.

In 1942, she earned a bachelor of arts degree in elementary education from Dickinson State University. She attended graduate school at Valley City State College in North Dakota and Friends University in Wichita, Kan.

One summer she worked with the war effort in a blanket factory in Seattle, Wash. Another summer she traveled to Eau Claire, Wis., and worked at another war factory.

After returning from Washington, she taught school in North Dakota and worked summer jobs. She eventually also taught school in Sidney, Cut Bank, Conrad and Devon.

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