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.

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.

John Edwin Stone
John Edwin Stone, 68, died Thursday, April 8, at Deer Lodge Medical Center from complications of an extended illness. 
John was adamant he did not want an obituary, so we will instead just call this a remembrance of the journey of his life and the positive impact that he left on all the people he met along the way. 
A man wears many hats as he navigates the winding road from birth to death: son, sibling, friend, uncle, husband, father, mentor, teacher, coach, co-worker, companion, grandfather, great-grandfather and countless more. 
For each and every one on that list, a thousand examples could be given of how John made it unique and meaningful for himself and for those around him. In accordance with his final requests, no formal memorial services will be held. 
Instead, his wishes were for all friends, family and loved ones to celebrate his life, each in their own way, be it with thoughts, prayers, reminiscence or revelry. May we relish in his virtues, forgive him his faults, bow our heads, tell a tale or raise a glass and bid him a fond farewell.
Please visit www.buttefuneralhome.com to offer a condolence or share a memory of John.
Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for John and his family.

Patrick John Bannon
June 5, 1961 - March 26, 2021
Patrick John Bannon, 59, of Deer Lodge, Montana, died on Friday, March 26, at St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula, due to cancer complications.
He was born on June 5, 1961, in Lansing, Mich., to Kenneth and Mary Jo Bannon. He spent his youth in Oak Park, Ill., until age 15 when he moved to Hanover, Ill. He graduated from Hanover High School in 1979. 
He then went out West, completing a B.A. in Science Education from the University of Montana. He began his teaching career in Harlem, continuing it to Harrison, Seattle, and then Deer Lodge, where he taught for 25 years. 
On October 19, 1991, he married Sarah Blaisdell in Bellingham, Wash. The couple lived in Renton, Wash., until moving and settling in Deer Lodge. 
Pat was an avid hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman. He expanded on his love of the outdoors as an outfitter, taxidermist and creative wildlife artist. He was forever developing countless skills and talents throughout his life. 
Survivors include his wife, Sarah; daughter, Shea (Jacob Duerr); son, Jonathan; mother, Mary Jo Bannon; stepmother, Leila Bannon; sister, Margaret Bannon; and brother, Dennis Bannon.
A service in celebration of his life will be held later this spring. 

Death Notice: ​Marsha Presely
Marsha Presely, 71, of Deer Lodge, died Wednesday, March 31, 2021. She was born Aug. 11, 1949. 
No services are planned; her remains will be taken to Texas.