​Margaret Jean (Best) McCardey
Margaret Jean (Best) McCardey, 89, of Livingston, passed away on Sunday, July 16, 2017. A family burial service will be held at the Sunset Memorial Park in Butte-Silver Bow at a later date.
Margaret was born January 10, 1928 in the family home in the Deer Lodge Valley to Hedley and Melita Best. She attended the Quinlan country school for eight years and went on to attend the Powell County High School in Deer Lodge.
She met and married the man in her life, Jay McCardey, who worked for the railroad and they were married in Deer Lodge. Jay had two daughters, Carol and Betty. Margaret became the mom to the girls and moved to Livingston where she remained until her passing. She would return to the Deer Lodge Valley for the occasional visit to the family home or to babysit her brother’s step-children. We never quite knew who was watching who. She moved into Frontier Assisted Living when she could no longer live on her own in August of 2004.                          
She attended church at a Lutheran church which she enjoyed when she was able and liked going to the Senior Citizen Center. Margaret enjoyed going on trips in the Frontier van. The staff at Frontier were like family to her and took very good care of her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her brother Charles (Junior) Best, and her two daughters Betty Cobb, and Carol Hardesty.
She is survived by brother William “John”  (Linda)  Best, Deer Lodge, son-in-law Frank Hardesty Sr., who always looked out for her and made sure she was taken care of, for which we are eternally grateful, also two grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the Livingston Senior Citizen Center, Diabetes Association or the donor’s choice.
Arrangements are under the care of Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory.

​Eva E. Bennett
Eva E. Bennett passed away peacefully at home on July 6, 2017.
She was born in Dodge, N. D. on December 8, 1931 to Raymond Friez and Magdalina Bleile.
Eva earned a diploma from St. Peter’s School in Anaconda then received her GED in 1983.
She worked most of her life as a cook and retired at age 62.
She married August L. Beierle with whom she had four children.  She later married Gene Bennett and was with him until his passing.
Eva was an avid crocheter, loved to dance, was on a bowling team and enjoyed fishing.  We enjoyed fun stories of her life and she filled our hearts with laughter.
She was preceded in death by her father Raymond Friez and her mother Magdalina Friez, her brothers George Friez and Martin Friez.
She is survived by her sister Katherine Hartman and brother Ben Friez, son Fred Beierle & his wife Carla, daughter Deborah Bozlee & her husband Raymond, son, Richard Beierle and his wife Cathy, and son William Beierle & his wife Donna.
Eva was a five-generation grandmother with seven grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren.
She will be missed dearly by all her family and friends.
There will be a graveside service at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 20, 2017 at Mt. Olivet Cemetery. There will be a luncheon following at Holy Family Catholic Church.
Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral & Cremation Service is entrusted with Eva’s funeral arrangements. You may pay your condolences at www.longfellowfinneganriddle.com.

William “Bill” O’Keefe
William “Bill” O’Keefe, Jan 29, 1931 - Jun 29, 2017.
William Moran O’Keefe, 86, of Great Falls, passed away at home just before sunrise on June 29, 2017. Anyone who knew Bill, knew it was his habit to watch the sunrise outside his window every morning, as he loved that quiet “morning” time. A blessing, then, to part with this world in this manner.
Born to Remy and Frances O’Keefe on January 29, 1931 in Missoula, Bill spent his early childhood in Maxville where his love for all things Montana and all things Irish were fostered and deeply rooted. 
After his father’s death in 1938, the family moved to Deer Lodge where Bill graduated in 1948. Bill then spent four years in the US Army serving in Germany. Upon his return from duty he met the love of his life, Sylvia Ann Ingraham, and they married August 13, 1953. Rare were the times spent apart and in his last months of battling lung cancer, Sylvia tended to him around the clock, with family and their loyal dog, Roadey, constantly by his side.
Early in his career he became a welder for Montana Power Company (MPC), moving his family first to Cut Bank and then to Butte before finally settling at Rainbow Dam downstream from Great Falls. Bill’s genius did not go unnoticed and soon his rise within the company was fostered by all those who encountered his analytical and inquiring mind. Before retiring January 29, 1996, he had become Superintendent of Hydro II, in charge of all MPC dams in Montana. He was known during his career of being a family man and an unselfish man of his time and knowledge. Bill had a deep interest in technology, which was a great asset to all, as was his passion for his work. 
Bill and Sylvia enjoyed touring Ireland and visiting the O’Keefe homestead. They also enjoyed traveling on their Gold Wing across the western United States and Canada. Photography, Montana history, family history and Irish history kept him active and engaged all his life. These interests naturally led to his involvement for many years in the Sons and Daughters of the Montana Pioneers. He especially loved to participate in the Bell Ringing Ceremony to honor the Montana History Teacher of the Year at the Capital each November 8, the anniversary of Montana’s Statehood. Bill was most proud of his heritage by being a direct descendant of one of Montana’s first pioneers. Bill’s love for history came full circle when he became engaged in the development of the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.
Although Bill passed away from lung cancer, he spent more than five years with dementia and fibrosis of the lungs after having survived throat cancer.
Bill is survived by his loving wife, Sylvia; their five children, Mike (Liz) of Butte, Pat of Great Falls, Sherry Faber of Billings, Mary (Rex) Streets of Billings, and Ray (Lourdes) of Vernon, Fla.; six grandchildren Jason (Renee), Justin, Kelsey and Conner O’Keefe, Will (Caitlyn) Faber and Beth (Trey) Gregg; great-grandsons Greyden and Kasen O’Keefe and his soon-to-be namesake, Liam Faber; sister, Barb (Jim) Beck Weis of Helena; and dozens of nieces and nephews, whose lives were carefully recorded on the family tree Bill kept in precise detail, the work and legacy of which has been enjoyed by many family members. 
He was preceded in death by his father, Remy; his mother, Frances; siblings Emmett, Edward, Donald, Daniel, Robert John (Pat) O’Keefe, and Gloria Corcoran; and niece Shelley O’Keefe. 
A memorial service was Thursday, July 6 at 2 p.m. at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel, 1410 15th Street S. Burial of ashes followed with full military honors at Highland Cemetery. Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
The family would like to thank the wonderful people at Great Falls Clinic Hospital, Grandview facility, and Peace Hospice for their excellent care and dedication.
In lieu of flowers, please consider Peace Hospice, Shriners Hospital for Children, Children’s Receiving Home of Great Falls or any charity of your choice for donations.

​Hazel May (Ray) Thomas
Hazel May (Ray) Thomas passed on June 14, 2017, at her oldest son’s house in Ogden, Utah. Hazel had been in hospice care in Ogden since March.
Hazel was born February 23, 1929, to Louis and Maggie Ray. She attended grade school in Gage, and graduated from the Roundup high school in 1947. In 1969 she entered the University of Montana, graduating in 1972 with a BA degree. She returned to the U of M to receive a degree in Special Education in 1978. Hazel taught at public schools in Hall and Jackson, ending up in Lincoln where she taught for seven years, until her retirement.
She married in 1947 and later divorced. She is survived by three children, David Thomas, Jr. of Ogden, Utah, Carol White of Newcastle, Wyo., and Danny Griffith Thomas of Sutton, Alaska. She has four grandchildren, Tess, Billy, Luke and Katie, and five great-grandchildren, Will, Addison, Paisley, Cyrus and Alan.
Hazel is preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Maggie Ray, and her brothers and sisters, Cleo, Harry, Ethel, Daska, George, Buster and Tommy.
Hazel loved fishing, hunting, dancing, playing cards and casino bingo but most of all she loved the freedom of the open road, of traveling around the West in her RV.
A remembrance will be held for Hazel in September at the Roundup Cemetery.

Death Notice: Leonard J. Barnes
Leonard J. Barnes, 97, of Deer Lodge, died Friday, May 19, 2017 at the Deer Lodge Medical Center in Deer Lodge.  
Graveside services will be held at Fort Harrison Veteran Cemetery on Friday, July 7, 2017 at 11 a.m. There will be a luncheon at The Servicemen’s Club following the service.
Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral & Cremation Service is entrusted with Leonard’s funeral arrangements. You may pay your condolences at www.longfellowfinneganriddle.com.

William Horn
Montana State Prison inmate William Horn, age 57, died on Sunday, June 25, 2017 at Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge following an extended illness. 
Mr. Horn was sentenced out of Missoula County in 1986 for the crimes of Aggravated Kidnapping, Aggravated Assault, and Theft. Mr. Horn was sentenced to 100 years, with no possibility of Parole. In 2001, Mr. Horn was sentenced out of Toole County for the crime of Assault with a weapon while incarcerated at Crossroads Correctional Center in Shelby. Mr. Horn received a sentence of eight years.