Ralph Frank “Jake” Menke, who raised sheep near Hardin, died at home on Monday, Aug. 27, 2012.
A son of Adrian Frank and Virginia Ann (Wick) Menke, he was raised on the family ranch at Elk Mountain, Wyo. He graduated from Hanna High School and then the University of Wyoming with a degree in petroleum engineering. For the next 12 years, he worked for Exxon Corp. exploring for oil.
In 1974, Mr. Menke moved his family to the North Valley near Hardin and began farming. He raised sheep, worked the sheep sales at Public Auction Yards and served as secretary for Valley Center Drain District.
Survivors include a daughter, Tamara Anne; a son, Mark Adrian; two granddaughters; a brother, Frances Menke; three sisters, Pauline Goode, Sherri Fausset and Gerri Kruzik; and his partner of 20 years, Francine Svaren.
At his request, no services were planned. Arrangements were by Cremation & Funeral Gallery.

Thelma Juhl, 88, who was active in clubs and service groups, died at 8:30 p.m. Aug. 30, 2012.

She was born in Los Angeles on March 7, 1924, and moved to the Pompeys Pillar area soon after. She was the second of two children born to Audie and Frances Sherrodd and grew up on a farm on the Huntley Project near Nibbe. Her great-great-great-great uncle was William Clark the explorer.

After she graduated from high school, she attended Billings Business College to become a secretary and clerk. She married Ira Juhl on June 2, 1946. The couple followed Mr. Juhl’s job to a several airports in Montana before finally settling in Billings in 1953.

She had been state president of the Extension Homemakers Organization as well as the president of the local O.A.K.S. where she and Mr. Juhl danced. She was also on the board of the Pompeys Pillar Association.

She and her husband traveled extensively before his death 1½ years ago after nearly 65 years of marriage. She had received care from Billings Clinic and comfort from the Rev. Eric Hutch.

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James Jude McGarvey, 70, a union organizer and workers’ rights advocate, died at 11:46 p.m. Monday, Aug. 27, 2012.

He was born in Butte on April 17, 1942, to Mary (Shea) and James “Specs” McGarvey. He attended St. Lawrence Catholic Grade School and Butte Central High School and graduated from Carroll College with a degree in sociology.

He began his teaching career at Butte High School in the fall of 1965. Shortly after that he became a union organizer and workers’ rights advocate.

He established the Montana Federation of Teachers, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers and AFL-CIO. He was a vice president for more than 20 years on the national executive council of the AFT. In a 40-year career, he organized private sector and other public sector unions.

Survivors include his wife, Suzanne; children, Tim McGarvey, Seana Iverson and Jolinda Linden; seven grandchildren; and sisters, Kathleen Bull and Joann Harris.

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Kenneth Innis Dow, 54, who worked 35 years for Montana Power Co. and PP&L Montana, died Friday, Aug. 31, 2012, at St. Vincent Healthcare of respiratory complications following heart surgery.

He was born in Great Falls on May 23, 1958, to Kenneth and Josephine Dow. He moved with his family to Helena when he was in the eighth grade. He graduated in 1977 from Helena Capital High School, where he excelled in football, wrestling and track.

He married Jolene on July 7, 1979, in Helena. He coached his children in everything from Little League baseball and softball to high school football and track for the Billings Central Catholic High School Rams.

In recent years, he was a technical trainer for PP&L Montana and traveled around Montana teaching apprentices.

Survivors include his wife, of Billings; sons, Kenny of Portland and Keith of Billings; a daughter, Cassi of Billings; a grandson; sisters, Kathy Bartsch, Suzanne Baker, Nancy Dow and Becky Goley; and a brother, Joe Dow.

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Walt Sauther, 88, who had worked as a brewery representative, died Sept. 2, 2012.

He was born April 21, 1924, in Antelope, N.D., one of 13 brothers and sisters. The family moved to Billings at an early age and settled on the south side of town. His first job was as a paper boy and delivering telegrams – often singing – for Western Union.

In his early 20s, he moved to Seattle to work for the War Department and then California to work for Lockheed Aircraft Corp. before returning to Billings, where he married Betty Joan Starr.

He had built a mahogany boat and thrilled his children with a gasoline-powered go-kart. At Christmas, he built a Santa, a sleigh and reindeer on the house.

He traveled first for Fred Briggs, then Great Falls Select and finally as a brewery rep for Blitz Weinhard out of Portland, Ore. A short stint in Glendive to build his father-in-law a garage turned into an eight-year stay, working as an oil foreman for LP Anderson.

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Tami Dalene Fallang, 54, a journeyman pipefitter, died Saturday, Sept. 1, 2012, at Billings Clinic Hospital due to respiratory complications.

She was born in Townsend on Jan. 9, 1958, to Lavada and Dale Fallang. She attended schools in Billings, Arizona and New Mexico and graduated from Gila Bend, Ariz., in 1976 as valedictorian.

Following high school she worked in Decker as an apprentice pipefitter before moving to Colstrip, where she worked on power plants No. 1 and No. 2. She became a journeyman pipe fitter during the completion of power plants No. 3 and No. 4. She finished her career in Billings working for refineries.

Survivors include a son, Austin Colt Fallang; husband, Richard Campos; mother, of Billings; sisters, Vicki of Albuquerque, N.M., and Kristi Bauer of Billings; and brothers, Mitch Fallang and Todd Fallang, both of Huntley.

To honor her wishes, a private family gathering was planned. Arrangements were by Cremation & Funeral Gallery.

Ervin R. Leuenberger, 84, a longtime Billings resident, died in his sleep on Monday, Sept. 3, 2012.

He was born to Martin and Caroline (Loendorf) Leuenberger on April 4, 1928, in Vida. He grew up working on the family farm, then served in the Navy and received an honorable discharge in 1946.

He married Evelyn Stai on April 4, 1949, and they later divorced. In 1969 he married Patricia Myers.

Mr. and Mrs. Leuenberger traveled the country from Surprise, Ariz., to Bozeman and from Billings to Ferndale, Wash. He had worked in many jobs, from being a cowboy in Arizona to working for the Atomic Energy Commission in Las Vegas, Nev. He and his wife had lived in Billings since 1979. He had received care from Rocky Mountain Hospice.

Survivors include his wife; a son, Boyd; stepchildren, Kevin, Melaine and Kim; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter.

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Jean Keebler, 90, a Montana cowboy with Tennessee roots, died Sept. 2, 2012.

A longtime Carbon County resident, he was born on the family ranch east of Edgar on May 22, 1922, and was the last surviving member of his generation of the Keebler family. He was preceded in death by his father, Homer Keebler, and mother, Julia Keebler.

He attended school in Edgar and Fromberg and graduated from Fromberg High School. He married Kathryn Hodges on June 15, 1947.

Mr. and Mrs. Keebler lived and worked on ranches and farms at Edgar, Winnett, Sarpy Creek, Hysham, Fromberg, Bridger and Roberts. He worked as long as his health permitted.

He and his wife were married for 65 years and raised five children, Shirley Hines, Howard, Steve, JaLayne Obert and Greg; 13 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and a great-great grandchild.

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Gerald “Jerry” Jacobson, 86, a World War II veteran who had several careers, died Friday, Aug. 24, 2012.

He was born May 25, 1926, to Edwin and Cora Jacobson in Devils Lake, N.D., as the eldest of four children. At 17, he enlisted in the Navy.

Upon returning from World War II, he worked his way to a position as meat department manager in Grand Forks, N.D. He also had careers in grocery store ownership, sales, construction and woodworking.

In 1946, he married Rosalie Schill, and they had six children. In 1988 he married Jackie Berg.

Survivors include his wife; children, Jeannette Allard of Fargo, N.D., Carol Stockdill of Billings, Jim Jacobson of Bridger, Gary Jacobson of Bridger; Rick Jacobson of Billings and Laurie Vredenburg of Powell, Wyo.; stepchildren, Vance Berg of Thailand, Sheila Schmidt of Meridian, Idaho, Ronnie Franzen of Dallas, Cheryl Gehrig of Denver and Steve Berg of Billings; a sister, Annette Ophaug of Lansing, Mich.; a brother, Edwin Jr. of Grand Forks; nine grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

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Michael James Moats, 75, of Billings, died in his lawn chair at home.

His wife, Maxine, and a son, Tim, had preceded him in death.

Survivors include three daughters, Terri Demaray of Colstrip, Cindy Castro of Billings and Tina Meurer of Billings; 13 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandson.

Services were Aug. 24. Inurnment followed at Holy Cross Cemetery. Arrangements were by Cremation & Funeral Gallery.