Megan Thompson, 83, of Deer Lodge, died Aug. 25. Vigil service will be at 6 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 1, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 605 Clark St., Deer Lodge. Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 2, at Immaculate Conception with Rite of Committal to follow at Hillcrest Cemetery in Deer Lodge. Visit www.axelsonfuneralhome.com to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Megan.

​Gene Allen Groome, 80, of Deer Lodge, passed away on July 31. Born on April 26, 1943, in Centralia, Wash., he was the son of George and Evelyn Groome.
He was a cabinet maker.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents.
Gene is survived by his sister, Kathleen Judkins of Tumwater, Wash.; brother, Dennis Groome of Tumwater; his children, Grace Novioff, Kathleen Pattison, Tracy Teten, Penny Anderson and Alan Groome; his grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.


A celebration of life and potluck will be held at 1 p.m., Aug. 22, in the Pen Gallery, 923 Main St., Deer Lodge.

Sheila Best, 65, passed away on Feb. 22, 2023, in Arizona in the arms of her loving daughter, Candice Delvaux, and loving husband, John. The world has lost a beloved angel that walked the Earth, and she will be so deeply missed.
Sheila was born on Aug. 20, 1957, in Deer Lodge, the daughter of loving parents Elaine Lee and Richard VonBergen. Sheila had four brothers, Danny, Marty, Rowdy and Troy. Sheila married the love of her life, John Best, on Oct. 5, 1984, and they spent 39 wonderful years together in Montana and Arizona. They had a daughter together named Candice.
Sheila’s greatest joy was being a mother to Candice, and they were the best of friends. Sheila was a loving grandma to Christopher and Evan. Sheila loved traveling, decorating, cooking and most of all, reading. Sheila loved to learn and attended the University of Montana and had several online certifications including travel agent and hospitality management.
Sheila was a giver and loved to bless everyone with gifts. Sheila loved God and spent many years volunteering with the church. Sheila loved her two precious dogs, Sassy and Rocky, and it gives us comfort she is cuddled up with them in heaven.
We will never forget you Sheila, and we love you with all our hearts.

​Valerie (Val) Yvonne Benson, 62, of Avon passed away on July 19, 2023. She was born July 15, 1961, to her parents, Bruce and Pauline Benson, and joined her older sister Evelyn.
Val attended grade school in Avon where she was involved in many activities, including track, 4-H and basketball, where she was the first female to play basketball on the boy’s team in Avon.
While in high school at Powell County High School in Deer Lodge, Val continued to excel in track and basketball where she was selected as an All District and All State Athlete. She was also crowned the FFA queen with Kathy Tamcke.
After graduating from high school, Val furthered her education by attending college and obtaining her business degree.
Val worked as a secretary for Greany Insurance and for Bonneville Power, along with helping her mom and dad at the ranch.
In Val’s free time you could find her enjoying league bowling, and her love for softball, always being the first one to be picked for a team or joining in a tournament. Not much slowed Val down when it came to a good game of softball.
Not many knew her other talents, but she was the expert when it came time to irrigate at the ranch, and you would always find her come haying season on her yellow bull rake. She was a member of the Avon Catholic Church and very involved in the community. Val was always up for a good challenge to a hand at pinochle.
Val was a good daughter, sister, aunt and friend to many and was always there to give a hand or a listening ear. Later in life Val, Bruce and Pauline enjoyed time caring for each other and taking care of the ranch.
Val was preceded in death by her mother, Pauline; aunts; uncles; and grandparents.
She is survived by her father, Bruce; sister, Evelyn; Aunt Eva; nieces, Sarah, Beth (Noah), Leigh (Kevin); along with many family members and friends. Val will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
The family would like to thank the Avon Ambulance QRU for their repeated care and support through the years.
Memorials may be sent to the Avon Ambulance QRU or the Avon Cemetery Association.
Services were held July 26 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Deer Lodge. Burial followed at the Avon Cemetery; reception followed at the Avon Community Clubhouse.
Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a favorite memory of Valerie.