​Henry Joseph (Joe) Hukill
​Henry Joseph (Joe) Hukill, 70, passed away Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Lewistown of natural causes. He was born in Deer Lodge on October 14, 1947 to Henry John and Kathryn (Dye) Hukill.  Joe grew up in Deer Lodge and graduated from Powell County High School in 1968.  He enlisted with the United States Air Force, serving his country as the officer in charge of helicopter maintenance and turn-around and jet loading and turn-around in Viet Nam and Thailand. Upon returning from Viet Nam, the Air Force deployed him to Alaska for his final tour. Joe earned an honorable discharge and worked for Bell Helicopter when he returned from the service. Throughout Joe focused his interests and skill sets in mechanical engineering, obtaining certifications in both Automotive and Diesel Tractor operation and maintenance in Colorado.
Joe’s heart was forever at home in Montana and he was happy to return to Missoula. He is remembered by his friends and family for the loving care he provided for his parents, for his generous spirit and for his compassion and eagerness to help others. Joe stayed in constant contact with friends and family, primarily to ensure that everyone was in good health.  To some extent, Joe was the conduit between our geographically disparate family and our Montana friends. Joe was a gentle man and he was a man who would give the shirt off his back without hesitation.  He brought his gifts of love and laughter to all who knew him. His sense of humor always earned him points. He liked to joke with friends, and he delighted in devising tricks that brought smiles all around, as well as entertainment for his young nephews. 
Joe is survived by his brother, John Dye Hukill of Lothian, Md.; his sister, Carol Rives of Salem, Ore.; several nieces and nephews who are scattered across the country.   
Joe was buried on Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 11 in Hillcrest Cemetery in Deer Lodge with Mount Powell and all its splendor in the foreground.  A memorial service for friends and family will be scheduled in June 2019.   The Cloyd Funeral Home of Lewistown is assisting the family.
Friends who wish to honor Joe’s memory, the family would suggest a donation to your Humane Society, being ever mindful of Joe’s well-loved and pampered kitties and they may be left at the Cloyd Funeral Home, PO Box 595 Lewistown, MT  59457. Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.cloydfuneralhome.com.

​Lawrence W. “Larry” Keele
Lawrence W. “Larry” Keele passed away peacefully on September 19, surrounded by family after a long battle with multiple health issues.
Larry was born in Salmon, Idaho on January 20, 1943 to Leroy and Linnie Keele.  Larry was the second of four children, joining sister Riva. Sister Rosie and brother Rod would come later.
After high school Larry joined the Navy and was always proud of his status as a veteran.
Larry’s first marriage was blessed with three daughters; Pam, Becky, and Kathy.  They also adopted three kids; LD, Peggy, and Janita. Some of the kids’ earliest memories are of riding in a log-truck with their dad and going camping and hunting for sapphires and garnets on the Skalkaho.
In 1981 Larry married Toni Mattila.  It was also the second marriage for Toni and she came with four kids of her own; Dale, Tana, Bambi, and Penni.  Larry welcomed the step-children with open arms and always treated them like his own.
Larry spent 33 years as a truck driver, from log trucks to long-haul over-the-road hauling.
From childhood on, Larry was an avid hunter and fisherman.  Some of his biggest joys were taking friends and family on his boat for fishing outings and weekends spent at the hunting cabin.  Larry was always up for a game of cribbage (or 20) and his skills were feared far and wide. There were few things worse than being left in the “stink-hole” by Larry.
Larry liked a cold beer, a fat steak, a tall whiskey, and a good read.  He had a great sense of humor and infectious smile. He was a man of great faith.  He was a proud and loving grandfather, never letting his grandkids leave without one of his famous bear-hugs.  
Larry was preceded in death by his parents Leroy and Linnie, sisters Riva and Rosie, and daughter Peggy.  He is survived by his wife Toni, brother Rod (Shirley), children Pam Carlson, Becky Snyder (Bob Bierhaus), Kathy (Mark) Peterson, LD Keele, Janita (Doyle) Van Heeder, Dale Mattila, Tana (John) Bignell, Bambi Mattila, and Penni (Joe) Gray, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Services will be Wednesday, September 26 at 11 at Our Lady of the Valley Church in Helena.

​Mary Jean Price
Mary Jean Price entered Heaven’s Gate on September 10, 2018. Jeannie, as everyone fondly called her, was born in the Garrison Valley June 11, 1929. She helped on the ranch herding sheep with her brother Conrad Martinz. She married Kenneth   Price on May 20, 1950 and they raised four daughters on the ranch in Finn.
She was a remarkable cook whose recipes will be a treasure to her family and friends. No one left her home hungry. She loved quilting, picking huckleberries, painting and most of all playing with her grandchildren.   She would spend hours playing with them, reading to them, cooking for them. She will be missed by all that knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by Kenny. Survivors include brother Cony Martinz, daughters Colleen Holt, Sandy Ackerman, Lynn Smith and Joey Webb plus 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Any donations can be directed to Hospice as they were wonderful to her in her time of need. As per Jean’s instructions the family will have a Celebration of her life next spring when the wildflowers are in bloom. 

​Leonard A. Benjamin
Leonard A. Benjamin (80) died of natural causes on September 11, 2018 at his home outside Dillon.  His ceremony will be a private memorial at his beloved family cabin in the mountains above Lima.
He is survived by Joye Benjamin, Dillon; children; daughter, Bonny L. (Benjamin) Peterson, Eureka; son, Vince L. Benjamin, Seward, Alaska; his sister, Victoria; and grandchildren, Virginia Cope, Clinton Kolschefsky and Cassandra (Benjamin) Kougl, Eureka; Wade Benjamin, Michael Benjamin, Seward, Alaska; and four great-grandchildren.
Leonard was born in Shelby, to Dr. Leonard M. Benjamin and Anthony (Striedenger) Benjamin on April 8, 1938.  His early years were dictated by his father’s medical school training.  This took him through Missoula, Minneapolis, Denver, Butte and finally Deer Lodge in 1946.  
Leonard was “Lenny” throughout his school years in Deer Lodge.  Lenny spent a lot of time with his beloved grandfather, Harry Benjamin, in Shelby and on the farm at Oilmont, north of Shelby.  After high school graduation in 1956 he attended the University of Montana for a brief period making the “dean’s list” as he would say.  The “dean’s list” where you drink beer and don’t go to school until they invite you to leave college that is. Leonard was in the Army National Guard at the time and upon taking the deans advice to leave the U of M, joined the Army.  
He put in two years in the Army, much of it in Fort Knox, Ky. On his way to Fort Knox, at 19 years old, in an old Buick he drove through Chicago. Upon stopping at a stop sign a man with a knife jumped in the passenger’s side of the car demanding he get out so he could steal the car.  At the same time, Lenny and the thief looked down at the seat at dad’s 38 revolver.  The thief’s eyes got really big and out he went, exiting the same door he entered.  Lenny never said a word, but did lean over and lock the passenger’s side door.
Upon returning to Montana, Lenny spent the early 1960s mining, ranching, trucking and driving school bus from the Jackson ranch, where he worked in Jackson, to Dillon, where he attended college.  This is where he met the one and only love of his life, Joye Van Gilder. Leonard and Joye were married in 1961 and soon had two children.  Lenny was now “Leonard” and his first teaching job was in Browning. After four “interesting” years in Browning he enrolled in graduate school back at the U of M.  This time, he made the correct “dean’s list” while completing his Master’s degree in School Administration. Leonard took the superintendent of school’s position in Geyser, in the summer of 1971. Leonard got out of the school business and went back to his true love of ranching in Stanford in 1975. He took pride in teaching his children his passion of hunting and fishing in the Judith Basin of Montana. All the while, instilling the work ethic that Montana ranch kids seem to learn. After his children finished high school in Stanford, Leonard and Joye moved back to the favored Dillon area in 1982 where he ranched and drove semi-truck.
Living out a lifetime bucket list, he followed his son to Alaska in 1993.  While in Alaska, he lived in Nome, Valdez, Dillingham and Seward.  Leonard enjoyed the outdoors of Alaska as much as Montana.  Hunting and fishing with his two children was a priority in Alaska.  
Finally retiring from Southwest School District in Dillingham, Alaska he moved to Seward, Alaska in the year 2000 to help his son build a business.  Leonard’s dry humor and gentle nature made him a man of many friends in Seward. Leonard had his “spot” at his son’s restaurant in Seward.  The locals knew his spot and looked for him when they entered.  He loved to talk at the restaurant. It was fun to watch.  Leonard loved kids, dogs, and tolerated the rest of us.  He would walk the restaurant floor nearly every evening with free candy suckers for the kids.
The last 10 years of his life were spent outside of Dillon in a small house that he built.  Much of his time was dedicated to gopher control, the gophers won that battle.  Leonard also gardened, and spent time at the family cabin outside of Lima.  Joye was with Leonard till the end, talking with him and helping him with his needs.  He was very grateful of Joye’s kindness.  Leonard passed away with dignity in his home outside of Dillon, just as he wanted to. 
Leonard was preceded in death by his parents, and his brothers Harry Benjamin and Darrell Benjamin of Deer Lodge.
Memorials are suggested in the form of hugs or a phone call to your family and friends as that is what Leonard would have wanted.

​Paul Childs
Paul Childs (64), March 1954 to August 2018. 
Paul Childs was born to Jack and Orlena Childs on March 27, 1954 on the USAF Base in Burtonwood England.   Over the next 18 years Paul and his family followed Jack as he was assigned to different USAF Bases.   In 1972 Paul moved to Montana with his family and attended the University of Montana.  In 1974 Paul joined the Army and was stationed at Fort Carson, Colo.   Paul found his calling in life after he left the Army.   He was very good with people and had a very quick wit and a way with words that helped him excel at sales and managing stores.   He managed several paint stores in Missoula, Hamilton, Kalispell and the last being Rhoda Paints in Helena.
Paul was very athletic and excelled at baseball, skiing, tennis, water skiing, and golf. He loved motorcycles and loved to take little road trips when and where he could find the time. Paul always had a bike of some kind but preferred the high performance road bikes over other types.  He liked quick sporty cars and owned several sports cars over the years. Paul loved everything there was about airplanes and flying.  It was not in the cards for him to get his pilot’s license or become a commercial pilot as he had dreamed of.  
Paul was loyal and devoted to his family and friends. Honoring his word and keeping promises were very important to Paul. He was quick to help out when and where he could.   Paul helped coach youth sports and was a big brother to several youths over the years.   Those kids learned a great deal about trust, honesty, integrity and the power of dedication and hard work!   
He passed away at home in Deer Lodge on August 25, 2018.  Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Orlena Childs. He is survived by Alese Moore and Linda Burnson Snow (sisters). Heidi Brown Rome and Brandy Moore Sheehy (nieces). Breanna  Rome and Nevaeh Sheehy (grand nieces).
A celebration of Paul’s life will be held at the Deer Lodge Elk’s Club Sunday, September 16 at 1 p.m.
A memorial fund has been set up in Paul’s name to help with his final expenses.  
Mailing address: 
Paul Child’s Memorial
c/o   Alese Moore  
 420 Montana Avenue    APT. 7 
 Deer Lodge, MT 59722

​Hans Joachim Lampert
Hans Joachim Lampert, 88, of the Deer Lodge Valley and later Butte, passed away on the morning of August 29, 2018, after a long struggle from the effects of diabetes. Hans was born April 10, 1930, in Altenburg, Germany to parents Kurt Erich Lampert and Marie Anna Lampert. Born during the economic and political instability of the Weimar Republic and coming of age during WWII; helped to shape Hans’ outlook on life. Hans was trained as a carpenter and attended the police academy.  Hans served as a journeyman and then master carpenter for the many construction projects needed to rebuild his war-torn homeland. He met and married Ingeborg Irma Schultz, his one and only love in Treuenbritzen, East Germany on July 5, 1952.  Their wedding was delayed due to having to wait for the steam car to heat up.
Shortly after their wedding they escaped from East Germany for life in the West. They lived in Kreuznach, West Germany for six years awaiting permission to immigrate to America. In 1959 he immigrated to America not knowing the language or anything about ranching.  The great-nephew of John Hofmann of the Deer Lodge Valley; Hans inherited the Hofmann Ranch near Warm Springs with his aunt, Martha Noack.   His carpentry skills served him well in this new land they would call home. Hans worked as a carpenter in the Anaconda Smelter, and then the Milwaukee Railroad. He also worked on the Tavener Ranch north of Deer Lodge, for the highway department, helped build the sawmill in Deer Lodge, and then as a Carman for the Milwaukee Road. Hans and Inge came to Montana on what they affectionately call their honeymoon since they didn’t plan to stay. Their original plan was to see the land, work, and save up enough money for the return trip. In 1972, they packed up their two children and headed to Germany to visit family.  They considered this trip to be the end of their honeymoon.  They had fallen in love with their new homeland of America.  In 1976, during the bicentennial celebrations, they became naturalized citizens and continued farming and ranching until moving to Butte in 2010.  He was open to the generosity and kindness of neighbors to show him the ropes and tried to pass on that same kindness to others.   Brave and adventurous, he had a great sense of humor, loved his family, and knew the value of hard work. He was proud of his accomplishments, felt blessed, and never took life for granted.  Remembered as a gentle soul, he will be missed by many. 
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Inge Lampert (Schultz), brother Peter Lampert of Altenburg, Germany; son Hans Lampert, (Angel), daughter Kay Lampert Farmer (John) of Tuttle, Okla. Grandchildren:  Corey Lampert (Britney) of Great Falls; Kathryn Shackleton; Hans Joachim Lampert (grandson) of Anaconda; Joshua Paul Farmer (Jessica) of Park City, Kans., Sarah Elizabeth Gragg (Alex) of Norman, Okla. and great-grandchildren: Ethan Farmer and  Joseph Blackburn.
He was preceded in death by his son Roy Joachim Lampert, parents Kurt and Maria Lampert.
Services will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 410 Missouri Ave., Deer Lodge, MT 59722, Friday, September 7, 2018 at 11 a.m. with reception lunch and life celebration to follow. 
Memorials can be made to the Butte Chapter of the Blind, 915 West Gold St. Butte,  MT or St. John’s Lutheran Church in Deer Lodge.
So nigh is grandeur to our dust, so near is God to man, when Duty whispers low, Thou must. The youth replies I can.