April 28th, 2021

Donald Albert Hendricks, 91
May 10, 1929 – April 14, 2021
​Donald Albert Hendricks, 91, died peacefully on April 14, 2021. He was born in Omaha, Nebr., on May 10, 1929, to Albert and Elizabeth (Schulte) Hendricks. 
In 1939, the family moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where Don attended school, graduating from Dowling Catholic High School for boys in 1947.
The years immediately after graduation were a great adventure for Don. He hitchhiked west to work as a ranch hand in Montana; jumped freight cars to Seattle where he worked as a longshoreman; and drove up the Alaska/Canadian Highway to look for railroad work in Alaska.
Don received his draft notice for the Korean War in 1951. After completing basic training at Camp Roberts, Calif., and Intelligence School in Maryland, Don was stationed in Nuremberg, Germany, in the Counterintelligence Corps.
In 1954, Don returned to Montana where he enrolled at the Montana School of Mines in Butte. Within four years, Don had met and married his beloved wife Natalie “Tootsie” Tomich, started a family and still graduated with honors – earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering.
Don’s professional mining career began with 12+ years at Montana Phosphate Co./Comico as Chief Engineer followed by 13+ years at the Anaconda Company, where he was Chief Operations Engineer. After the closure of the Berkeley Pit in 1982, Don worked well into his 80’s as a Professional Land Surveyor. He also returned to his alma mater, Montana Tech, as a professor, where he taught Land Surveying for several years.
Don and Tootsie lived and raised their four children in Deer Lodge. Don was an avid golfer and a founding member of the Deer Lodge Golf Course. He also enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing trips with his three boys and was a proud member of the Masonic Lodge of Deer Lodge. 
Don was well traveled, well-read, with a keen intellect and a great memory that made him an excellent conversationalist and storyteller. With a glass of wine in one hand and vanilla smoke rising from his pipe, Don could tell stories for hours. He was a remnant of a bygone era and a true gentleman in every sense of the word.
Don was preceded in death by his “sweetheart” of 60 years, Natalie (Tomich) Hendricks and his parents, Albert and Elizabeth Hendricks.
He is survived by three sons, Tom (Cindy) Hendricks of Marysville, Wash., Ken (Lori) Hendricks of Casper, Wyo., Jim (Lisa) Hendricks of Allen, Texas; daughter, Jill (Keith) Dixon of Oklahoma City, Okla.; sister, Karen (Dan) of Florence, Ore.; sister-in-law, Joann (Ken) of Cut Bank; eight much-loved granddaughters; two great-grandchildren; and beloved nephews and nieces.
Services will be announced and held at a later date.
Please visit www.buttefuneralhome.com to offer a condolence or share a memory of Donald.
Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Donald and his family.

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Elizabeth Kathleen Rollins
November 21, 1954 - Thursday, April 16, 2021
​Elizabeth Kathleen Rollins, 66, went to her heavenly home on Thursday, April 16, 2021. While she will be missed by many, we are thankful that she is again in the arms of her beautiful daughter.
She was born Nov. 21, 1954, to Vernon and Kathë Campbell in Deer Lodge. Because her father was in the military, Lisa grew up in Montana, Texas and Germany. She was proud of her German roots, but Montana was always her home.
On May 4, 1974, she married her dear husband Robert (Bob) Rollins in Anaconda. Out of this union came their beloved children, Dale and Donna.
Lisa loved camping, nature and her precious fur babies. She was always capturing these special things on camera. She had an incredible talent for snapping pictures at just the right time. She was also highly skilled with a crochet hook, creating many cherished gifts for her loved ones.
She lived a full life as a wonderful wife, mother, sister, aunt and friend. Her sharp wit, enormous heart and boisterous laugh will be greatly missed.
She is survived by her husband Bob, her son Dale (Mandy) Rollins, her sister Molly (Tony) Hixon, her brothers Pat (Tawni) Campbell, Alex (Heather) Campbell, Steve (Ashley) Rollins, and James (Phadera) Campbell, as well as many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her father, her sister Carmen, her mother, and her daughter Donna.
A private celebration of Lisa’s life will be planned. Condolences may be expressed through www.buttefuneralhome.com.
Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Lisa and her family.

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