J.B. “Jay” Hendrix, a long-time resident of Hall, Mont., passed away on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, at the age of 86. Born in Happy, Texas, Jay spent most of his life in the wide-open beauty of Montana, a place he loved deeply.
    He grew up on a ranch in the Blackfoot Valley with his parents, J.J. (Bill) and Elsie Hendrix, and his younger sister, Patricia (Pat). Later, the family moved to Hall, Mont., where they established a new ranch. It was there he met the love of his life, Sandy. Together they built a life rooted in love, hard work, and community, raising two children, Chris Jay Hendrix and Loni Jo Hendrix Wade.
    Jay was a true rancher at heart. He loved the land, the animals and the honest labor that came with that life. He built a legacy of strength, selflessness and quiet devotion—showing love more through action than words. Though he may have looked like a tough old rancher on the outside, those who truly knew him saw the deep kindness and compassion that lived at his core.
    Jay served the community he loved in many ways. He was a longtime member of the Volunteer Fire Department. He also served on the local water board and was a wealth of knowledge to neighbors and fellow ranchers alike. Whether offering advice, helping manage resources, or simply showing up when someone needed him, Jay gave of himself freely. His service was never about recognition—it was simply who he was.
    He was always willing to lend a helping hand, share what he had and support those around him with a genuine and heartfelt care. He formed lasting bonds through early morning coffee, laughter and a good dose of storytelling—or, as he’d say, a little BS with his friends.
    In his later years, Jay was blessed to be served by compassionate hands—people who helped him navigate the challenges and limitations of aging with dignity and care. He was always grateful, always trying to help even when he no longer could.
    Jay was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Sandy, and his son, Chris Jay Hendrix. He is survived by Chris’s wife, Laura Hendrix, and their children: Jaclyn, James, Jay and Josh Hendrix. He is also survived by his daughter, Loni Jo Wade, and her husband, Kevin Wade; their children, Sean Wade and Lindsey Wade; and his great-granddaughter, Emma.
    He will be remembered as a man who loved deeply—his family, his friends, his land, and his community. His quiet strength, generous heart, and enduring presence will be missed by all who had the honor of knowing him.
    A graveside service will be held Friday, May 9 at the Valley Cemetery at 11 a.m. A memorial luncheon to follow at the Drummond Fire Station. All are welcome to join in honoring Jay’s life.

    Earl Gransbery was born on Nov. 3, 1937, in Dillon to Raymond and Irene Gransbery. He passed away April 13, 2025, in Spring Creek, Nev.
    Earl spent his early years on family ranches in Glen and Melrose, Mont. In his teens, Earl could be found riding bulls in area rodeos, including with cowboys such as Benny Reynolds or working horses and cattle on the Corette Ranch. He loved his cowboy days and memories!
    In 1959, Earl married Denise Fraser of Deer Lodge, and in 1960, they welcomed their daughter Annette. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Butte in 2009 with family and long-time friends.
    The family later settled in Deer Lodge where Earl worked at the Garrison Phosphate Plant and Welch’s Truck Stop. In the early 1980s, they moved to California for employment. Earl worked in a lava mine while living in Ridgecrest, Calif. Earl retired in 2005, and he and Denise joined their daughter in Spring Creek to be closer to their great-grandchildren, who were the light of Earl’s life.
    Earl was preceded in death by his wife, Denise, in 2012; also by his parents, Raymond and Irene; brothers, Ron and Red; parents-in-law, Don and Isabelle Fraser; and numerous other family members and friends.
    Survivors include his long-time and loving caregiver daughter, Annette Moore of Spring Creek; his brother David of Butte; son Gary (Teresa) Brown; granddaughter, Melanie (Jamie) Livingston; grandsons Corey (Denise) Brown and Justin Brown; great-grandchildren Kaylee, McKayla and Jacob Sims; and numerous other extended members of the Gransbery and Fraser families.
    At Earl’s request, his remains were laid to rest with Denise in Deer Lodge, followed by a family gathering. Memorials are requested to a charity of the donor’s choice.

    Brenda Hyer Lynch passed away on the first day of Spring, 2025, three weeks shy of her 74th birthday and one week shy of her 55th anniversary to her husband, Terry Lynch. She was born in Red Lodge, Mont., and moved to Deer Lodge when she was 6. Her neighborhood on the west side of Deer Lodge was often called Cozzensville, or Cousinsville, because she had so many first cousins who lived nearby due to her grandparents, named Cozzens, who purchased the land on which her cousins lived. Needless to say it was a lively neighborhood.
    She was very pretty and well known back at PCHS, participating as a cheerleader, and had many friends, of whom she considered Karen Neubauer Porter and Becky Abrams her best. She also caught the eye of Terry back in high school, and they were married in Missoula a year after she graduated. He was going to college then, and they lived there for most of their marriage.
    Brenda was very organized and skilled as an office assistant. She was recruited out of high school to work for the State Employment Division in Helena where she worked for a year. She took those office skills to Missoula where she worked for various employers who needed her organizational skills. They included doctors, dentists, chiropractors, schools, lawyers and insurance agents, as well as several different county positions, including justice court, motor vehicles and the county commissioners office.
    The catch was, she was only interested in part time or short time because her top priority was to mother our three sons and oversee the household. She did work for Hellgate High School for 11 years while the boys got through high school, summers off, of course. But she was not a career-minded woman yet had little problem hiring herself out to help with the household income.
    She did retire from Missoula County Partnership Health Center where she still only worked part time. She turned down office manager positions several times because it would have required full time. Her employers knew her value as a likeable and proficient worker.
    She was very proud to be a third generation Montanan, and of growing up in the blue collar town of Deer Lodge during the post war good times. She also enjoyed our cabin on the Blackfoot River, in which we hosted many friends and family; floating, tubing, the nightly campfire, sleeping under the stars and traveling the gravel backroads. So many memorable times were spent at the cabin with her being the head matriarch.
    She was preceded in death by her parents, Elijah and Ruth Cozzens Hyer, as well as by three of her siblings, Sandy, Tim, and Marty.
    Survivors include her brother Randy (Vicki), her three sons Will, Derek (Lisa) and Conor (Elisa), and her six grandchildren, Gavin, Aidyn, Tegan, Caeden, Clover and Adalyn.
    Brenda was the anchor of the family. A service will be held sometime this summer at the cemetery in Helmville, where many relatives reside.

    Terry White, 81, of Deer Lodge, passed peacefully on March 25, surrounded by family and loved ones. Terry was born in Deer Lodge on Aug. 29, 1943, to Bonnie and Jack White. He grew up with siblings: Jim, Marjie and Betty. He had a love of horses and dogs, and especially the Bible.
    He began chauffeuring his grandmother, Gertrude Anderson, in her ministry, starting at the early age of seven. He was involved in the ministry through most of his life. As a teenager, he enjoyed collecting old hubcaps and license plates, as well as mechanicing on Ford flatheads and panning for gold. When he graduated in 1962, he began working on highway construction as a mechanic, welder, stake setter and equipment operator.
    In his 20s he met Kathy Hughley, fell in love, and they were married within six months in December 1965, and they remained married until his death. They quickly started a family (Becky, Peggy, John and Ben). As a family, they loved going to assemblies of Jehovah’s Witnesses, picnicking, camping, mining for gold, spending time together as a family, and eventually owning a patented Goldmine and cabin previously owned by grandpa Ben White and uncle Gerald Hughley. Being a loving and dependable father was of utmost importance to Terry, and he certainly did not disappoint when it came to wholeheartedly loving his family as it grew to include extra daughters and 15 grandchildren.
    In addition to his loving wife, Kathy White, of 59 years and his children, Becky White, Peggy White, John (Vicky) White and Ben (Jessica) White, Terry is survived by his grandchildren Misty (Michael) Cease, Katie (Cody) Lemm, Annabel and Ellie White, Dawson and Daxton Cease, Bella and Carson Lemm, Kayla, Jackson and Sawyer Nulph; Brother Jim (Donna) White; sister Betty (Jack) Main; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends. Terry was preceded in death by granddaughter, Sadee White; grandson, Tucker Nulph; and sister, Marjie (Jack) Scharf.
    Terry will be greatly missed by his loving family and friends, and will always be remembered for his witty sense of humor, mischievous smile and big personality.
    Memorial services will be held at the Anaconda Kindgom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses at 1 pm., Saturday, April 5, to be followed by a meal at the community center in Opportunity, Mont.
    In place of flowers, memorials can be made to the Deer Lodge Food Pantry and St Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

    It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother in blue. Scott F. Howard, 65, died at St. Patrick’s Hospital in Missoula on the evening of March 23. He was comforted by his loving wife at the time of his passing. He was loved by most, hated by a few, but respected by all who knew him.
    Scott was born in Missoula on May 12, 1959. He was the only son to Fred and Jeanne Howard. He spent his early years in Deer Lodge, attending elementary school in Garrison. Scott later moved with his mother to Lake Holcombe, Wis., and graduated from Lake Holcombe High School in 1978. Scott always shared fond memories of his time in high school playing sports and spending time with friends.
    In 1984, Scott moved back to Deer Lodge and worked with his father at their small engine shop. In 1986, Scott started his long career in law enforcement working as a deputy with Deer Lodge Police Chief Bill Wood. Soon after, he accepted a sheriff’s deputy position with the Powell County Sheriff’s Office working under Sheriff Dave Collings and later as undersheriff for Sheriff Gerald Fiske.
    Scott was appointed Sheriff for Powell County on July 1, 1995, following the retirement of Sheriff Fiske. He was elected sheriff by the citizens of Powell County in 1997 and remained in that role until his retirement on Dec. 31, 2018.
    After retirement, he worked as a Special Criminal Investigator assisting Lewis and Clark Sheriff’s Office and Powell County Sheriff’s Office. He served as the SWAT commander for the Montana State Prison and Chairman of The Southwest Montana Drug Task Force. Additionally, Scott served as the incident commander for multiple wildland fires and worked closely with Montana DNRC. Throughout his career he assisted with training of new officers through the law enforcement academy.
    Scott was fortunate to raise three sons with his first wife, Violet, in Powell County and enjoyed the time he spent with his boys hunting, fishing and camping. He enjoyed supporting the boys through their sports events and assisted with coaching when he could. He taught them how to be men, how to love, and how to support their family and friends.
    Scott later met the love of his life Michelle K. Howard, and they were married in 2016 spending only a short 8.5 years together before his passing. Though their time was limited, it was filled with many adventures and an immense love. Scott played a role in shaping his stepchildren into amazing people with his encouragement and unwavering support.
    Scott is preceded in death by his parents and half-brothers Gene Mason, Dan Mason, David Mason and Elmer Kreier. His K9 partners Chula, Heidi and Chief; and several other pets including Kimber Sue.
    Scott is survived by his wife Michelle Howard of Deer Lodge; his sons Josh (Dawn) Roscoe-Howard of Ladysmith, Wis., Austin (Mihaela) Howard of Reedsburg, Wis., and Joseph Howard of Ladysmith, Wis.; stepchildren Cheyenne (Bryce) Corbin of Ft. Carson, Colo., Cody Corbin of Deer Lodge and Kaycee Corbin of Deer Lodge; grandchildren Clayton and Cutler Roscoe, Alexis (Blake) Olson, Drayke and Mycah Howard, Grayce, Gavyn, Sophia and Maya Howard, Dean and Liam Corbin; and Tikka and Remington, his two convict Airedale dogs.
    In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Mason Moore Foundation, PO Box 1193, Three Forks, MT 59752 or Deer Lodge FFA, Powell County High School, 709 Missouri Ave., Deer Lodge, MT 59722.
    A celebration of life will take place at 1 p.m., Saturday, April 12, at the Powell County High School Gym, 709 Missouri Ave, Deer Lodge.
    Please visit longfellowfinneganriddle.com to offer the family condolences or to share a memory of Scott.