Diane Fowler, 67, who enjoyed bowling and baking, died June 26, 2012, of lung cancer.

She was born March 22, 1945, in Shelton, Wash., to Vivian Pauline Pryor and George Anderson.

She especially enjoyed making cakes for her grandchildren each year and baking for Christmas.

Survivors include a sister, Linda Lyons of Aurora, Colo.; a brother, Bill Lyons; children, Michael Doherty of Billings, Michelle Williamson of Texas, Terry Doherty of Snohomish, Wash., Tommy Harrell of Shepherd, Kimberly Harrell of Billings and Beth Feldman and Vonda Huszti, both of Billings; 13 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A celebration of her life was held July 2 at Dahl Funeral Chapel.

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Jack Clifford Bennett, 30, who had been a wildlands firefighter pursuing a career in medicine, drowned Sunday, June 24, 2012, in the Stillwater River while trying to help others stranded in a boating accident.

He was born Oct. 27, 1981. He married Aya Kadono less than a month before his death.

He had worked for years as a firefighter and was starting training as an emergency medical technician. He had worked with his father in forensic medicine and had returned to Montana to pursue a career in medicine.

Survivors include his wife; brothers, Mark, Scott and Nick Bennett; parents, Terri and Mike Ferrell, Tom Bennett and Jill Sebring; and grandmother, Barbara Foster Miller.

Visitation will be at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave., from 5-9 p.m. Thursday, June 28. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at his home in Billings, 4549 Palisades Park Drive.

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James John Feller, 73, of Billings, who worked 43 years for United Airlines, died Wednesday, June 20, 2012.

He was born to Antone and Barbara (Mitchel) Feller on May 18, 1939, in Hardin. He was educated in Hardin.

In April 1980 He married Helen Stay in San Francisco, Calif. He worked as a cabin service man at United Airlines.

Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Janine Chacon; three grandchildren; and sisters, Mary, Dorothy, Liz, Catherine, Barbara, Betty Lou and Christine.

Viewing and services were June 27, both at Cremation & Funeral Gallery. A remembrance potluck was held afterward at Riverfront Park.

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Sara Corinne Loch, 31, of Billings, who worked at Rocky Mountain College, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, June 19, 2012.

She was born in Butte on June 3, 1981, to Karl and Jo Ellen (Williams) Loch. She graduated from Skyview High School in 1999, and attended Rocky Mountain College.

She worked at Rocky as the cashier and was recently promoted to administrative assistant to the vice president of the college.

Survivors include her father, Karl; a sister, Stephanie M. Ell; and a brother, Sam Loch.

Viewing was on Saturday, June 23. Services followed, both at Cremation & Funeral Gallery.

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Albert Pitman, 72, a longtime employee of Food Services of America, died Sunday, June 24, 2012, in his home after a four-month battle with renal cell cancer.

He was born Dec. 1, 1939, to Ellsworth and Vera Scott Pitman in Virginia City. He was raised in Butte and drove stock truck for his father and Ralph “Old Man” Craddock in his youth.

He enlisted in the Army in 1958 and served six years as a cook. After coming home to Butte, he married Beverly, who became the mother of his four children, on June 15, 1963, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Butte.

In 1974, the family moved to Billings, where he worked for Rocky Mountain Equipment Co. as a mechanic. Then he moved on to Cummins, followed by a job as shop foreman with Food Services of America. There he retired in 2007 after 26 years of “exceptional service.”

In 1985, Mr. and Mrs. Pitman moved to Worden and ran their own farm. Mrs. Pitman died in 2001.

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Joseph H. Yerger, 81, who had a long career in sales management, died after a short illness on June 22, 2012.

He was born April 1, 1931, in Forsyth to Mary and Henry Yerger. He graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1949 and married Betty E. Steinmetz in 1950. After serving in the Navy, he began a 35-year sales management career with the Grinnell Co. in Great Falls, then Billings, retiring in 1985.

He had received care from Aspen Meadows Nursing Home.

Survivors include children, Lori, Russ and Jim; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and a sister, Marjorie Mott.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 30, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave. in Billings.

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Leroy Victor Kudrna, 72, a retired risk management consultant with the Cenex Insurance Agency, died of lung cancer on Monday, June 18, 2012, at RiverStone Hospice Center in Billings.

He was born Oct. 18, 1939, in Dickinson, N.D., the oldest son of Victor H. and Dorothy M. (Semerad) Kudrna. He was raised on the family farm southeast of South Heart and attended school in South Heart, graduating as valedictorian and class president in the class of 1957.

He graduated from Northwest Schools of Airline Careers in Portland, Ore. In 1958, he began working for Farmers Union Oil Co. in Dickinson.

On April 6, 1959, he married Isabel Jahner. They resided in Dickinson until 1968 when he became general manager for Farmers Union Oil Co. in Regent, N.D.

In 1973, they moved to Havre to manage North Central Co-op. In 1984, he accepted a position as a risk management consultant with the Cenex Insurance Agency of St. Paul, Minn., thus moving to Billings.

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Deloris Louella Klein, 84, of Billings, died Wednesday, June 20, 2012.

She was the daughter of the late Henry Oberlander and Lydia Wright Oberlander. A son, Clayton, preceded her in death.

Survivors include her husband of 65 years, Clarence A. Klein; a daughter, Sandra Nelson; sons, Gerald Klein, Arnold Klein and David Klein; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at Cremation & Funeral Gallery, 29 Eighth St. W.

Betty Mae (Noblitt) Lowthian, 86, a former teacher in Billings, died at Westpark Village Senior Living Community on Saturday, June 23, 2012.

She was born Sept. 12, 1925, in Great Falls, the daughter of Wayne and Eula (Johnston) Noblitt. She graduated from Denton High School on May 23, 1946.

She attended Colorado Woman’s College for one year in Denver. She then transferred to the University of Montana in Missoula, became an Alpha Phi and received a degree in business administration in 1947.

She married Archie W. Lowthian of Peerless in Denton on June 12, 1946. They were married for 53 years.

The family later moved to Tulsa, Okla., where she received a degree in elementary education. She taught fourth grade in Billings at Meadowlark and Rimrock Elementary schools. She also taught school in Denton, Midwest and Casper, Wyo.

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Laverne Barbara Paulson, 74, who had worked at several jobs, died June 23, 2012.

She was born Sept. 12, 1938. She graduated from Absarokee High School, Billings Business College, beautician school and computer school. On Feb. 9, 1974, she married Norman R. Paulson at Yellowstone Boys Ranch in Billings.

She had worked at Yellowstone National Park, as a bookkeeper for Grinell and Co., as a beautician and as a switchboard operator at Billings Clinic.

Mrs. Paulson was secretary and treasurer for a time for the Yellowstone Good Sam Club and was a patient advocate for the Laurel Rest Home.

Survivors include her husband; stepdaughters, Louise Barman and Lanae Paulson Morgan; stepson, Lowell Paulson; and a brother, Ronald Carstens.

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