Gladys Geneva Reeves Knuchel Mom was born September 14, 1928 to Richard Reeves and Susie Rosenberg Reeves in Crawford, Nebr., the youngest of six children. The family moved to Portland, Ore. where mom graduated from Portland Girls High School in 1946. Mom made her way back to Missoula where she met and married Harry Knuchel (the milkman) on April 3, 1948. And, then along came the milkman’s kids, six in eight years, Cheryl Knuchel, deceased, Diane (Mike) Grey of Deer Lodge, Karl (Laurie) Knuchel of Livingston, Tim Knuchel of Deer Lodge, Gary (Polly) Knuchel of Belgrade and Mark Knuchel of Deer Lodge. They moved to Deer Lodge over Memorial Day weekend in 1959 where they proceeded to make a fun filled life following the trials and tribulations that their boys put them through. Mom loved following her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids as they played sports, danced or their academic achievements. Often times you could hear her calling out the referees when she didn’t quite agree with one of their calls and dad would tell her to be quiet. She was always our biggest fan and our biggest critic. In her later years, she loved hearing stories about her family and she especially enjoyed hearing about how naughty they could be. Mom loved animals and always had one or two or three dogs and a few cats. After the kids were all in school, mom went to work at Coast to Coast Hardware and then for Castilio’s. But, she only worked during the school year because she could never find anyone willing to watch the little boys and she always wanted to be available for any of the kids’ activities. Later, she worked at Keystone and New to You. Mom always loved interacting with others and truly enjoyed all of her kids’ friends when they came over. Mom has been a resident of Renaissance of Deer Lodge for the last three plus years and loved teasing everyone who worked or lived there. In these later years, whenever anyone asked how she was doing, the first question asked was “is she still feisty?” That would be a resounding yes as anyone involved with her would testify. Mom passed away on November 15 after a struggle with dementia. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry in 1998 and her daughter, Cheryl in 2009. She is survived by five of her children, 11 grandchildren, Debi (Scott) Casagranda, Stacey (Lee) Clark, Arie (Heidi) Grey, Necia Knuchel, Megan (Matt) Ballinger, Shane (Kassidi) Knuchel, Jacquie Pischke, Skyler Knuchel, Delaney (Ty) Pocha, Kylie and Tyson Knuchel and 18 great-grandchildren, Kadeshia, Tristen, Ariel, Myleigh and Trae Clark, Macee, Jake and Brady Casagranda, Raeder, Saege, Tymber and Aece Grey, HayLeigh and Carter Pischke, Kia Pasulka, Millie Ballinger, Annaleigh Knuchel, and Kaine Pocha. A memorial service will be held Monday, January 6, 2020. Memorials can be made to the Shriners’ Hospital or Frontier Home Health and Hospice. Rodney Wayne Berry Rodney Wayne Berry passed away suddenly on November 6, 2019. Rod was born on June 26, 1963 in Des Moines, Iowa. In 1966 his family moved to Anaconda where he lived and went to school. Rod graduated from Anaconda High in 1981. After finishing high school, he went on to work various jobs in the Deer Lodge Valley, before finally settling in Deer Lodge where he worked as a mechanic, cook and landfill manager. Rod was a jack of all trades, however, he was best known for his excellent cooking skills. He loved to BBQ and cook for his many friends who always enjoyed the food he made. Rod had a big heart and was happy to volunteer his time during the holidays to make dinners for others in town that didn’t have a place to go. His other hobbies included playing practical jokes on anyone that crossed his path, hunting, fly fishing, making jerky and sausage and enjoying a drink with friends. Rod is survived by his best friend and wife Cathy Curran, sister Tami (Gene) Stigen, nephews Gregory and Garrett Stigen, son Scott (Ashley) Berry, daughter Roni (Leland Goodman) Arnett, sons Jeremiah and Nicholas Maulding, grandchildren Logan, Kloee, and Makayla Maulding, Travon Arnett and Olivia Goodman, several aunts, uncles and cousins. A celebration of life potluck will be held on November 30 at 2 p.m. at Bar H Saloon, please bring a dish if you are able and a funny story about Rod. Terese Rachele DeLaney (Tessie) Terese Rachele DeLaney (Tessie) died peacefully on November 4, 2019, surrounded by her family at her parents’ home in Annandale, Va., after a long and courageous struggle with breast cancer. Tessie was born on September 8, 1973, in Salt Lake City, Utah. She lived her early years in Montana, and moved to Virginia in 1980. Tessie graduated in 1995 from James Madison University, and she moved to Colorado in 1998, where she would spend the rest of her life. She worked for many years as a primary school teacher in Virginia and Colorado, and she earned two Master’s Degrees in Education. She was an adventurous soul, who deeply loved the outdoors, especially the mountains in her beloved Colorado. Tessie was an experienced sky-diver, climber, and backpacker who could always be found on the trail with one of her yellow labs by her side. She had a wide and devoted circle of friends around the country, and the world, wherever her adventures took her. Those adventures grew to include her husband, Wayne Crill, and their son, Kaiden Crill, and the three of them spent many wonderful days hiking in the mountains together. Tessie is survived by her son, Kaiden, and her husband, Wayne; her parents, Bill and Mary DeLaney (Sewell); her brother Steven DeLaney and his wife Allison, and their sons Joseph and Ben; and her sister Kathleen DeLaney Thomas and her husband Courtney Thomas, and their children CJ and Evan. The Funeral Mass for Tessie took place on Saturday, November 9, at 11 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Annandale, Va. A Celebration of Life will be held for her in Colorado at Jester’s Theater in Longmont, Thursday, November 14 at 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be considered for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless. Jeannine Atkins Jeannine Atkins went to be with our Heavenly Father on Sunday, October 27, 2019. She had fallen and was suffering from a broken hip around Labor Day. She fought a hard battle trying to get her life back to normal. She fell again and dislocated the same hip almost two months later. The pain was just too much. She passed with many of her family around her throughout her last two weeks of life Jeannine was born as Syble Jeannine Montgomery on March 15, 1933 in Great Falls to Earle and Ruth Montgomery, but preferred to go by her middle name. She had two sisters, Earlene and Ann. She spent lots of time with her grandparents who lived in the oil fields. Her family also spent many days at their cabin in Essex. Jeannine graduated from Shelby High School in 1951. When she was just 18, she found the love of her life, Marvin Atkins. He had come to Shelby as a custom cutter, helping with the harvests. She followed him back to Missouri, where he proposed and the two were married at just 19 years old in Shelby. They moved back to Lawson, Mo. where they had a small farm. There they had three daughters: Debra, Bridgett and Janet. In 1964, they moved back to Montana to buy a farm from Jeannine’s dad, Earle. The farm was 10 miles north of Shelby. There they had a fourth daughter, Beverly. Jeannine was a wonderful farm wife, but also worked a few different jobs in town. The longest position she held was that of head cook at the local schools. She worked there for 10 years. Jeannine was active in her church, teaching Sunday school and Acteens. She took groups of Acteen girls for conventions to Memphis, Tenn. and Birmingham, Ala. She shared her faith with many of these teenage girls. Jeannine was a fantastic cook, preparing huge feasts at harvest time. She would bring the food out to the field, so the workers didn’t have to stop. She could drive trucks, unload them at the grain bins or drive them into the elevators in Shelby. There wasn’t much she couldn’t do for the farm. She had a horse named Willy, whom she loved to ride even in her later years. Jeannine grew huge gardens and canned most of her vegetables. She devoted her life to her girls, husband, and church. When Marvin and Jeannine retired, they built a house in Arizona. They spent 14 years splitting winters down south and summers back up in Montana, enjoying the sun and loving life. They made a major decision to sell the farm in Shelby and move to Deer Lodge as their second house. Finally, in 2013, they sold the Arizona house and moved permanently to Deer Lodge. Marvin passed away in 2015 and Jeannine continued to live in her own house until the day she broke her hip. She kept busy with her yard, her house, and visiting her grand and great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed visiting her daughters and their families over the holidays. She liked playing games with her friends and going to church. Jeannine will always be remembered as a loving and dedicated mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Jeannine was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Earlene, and her loving husband Marvin. Jeannine is survived by her sister, Ann Pettit, four daughters: Debra Burgin (Pat) Meridian Idaho, Bridgett Oliver (Chuck) Meridian Idaho, Janet Christnacht (Tom) Deer Lodge, and Beverly Davis (David) Tucson, Ariz., grandchildren, Jessica Bartley (Jesse), Nicholas Corisis (Jamie), Cody Oliver (Sami), Jennie Horne (Tom), Suzy Berland (Brian), Ashley Johnson (Tony), Jesse Oliver, Michele Christnacht, Henry and Griffin Davis great-grandchildren, Landon Corisis, Maci Horne, Evie Berland, Hallie Horne, Beau and Jordy Oliver and baby girl Berland to be born soon. Services for Jeannine will be held Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Deer Lodge. Luncheon will follow the service at the church. Burial will be at the Hillcrest Cemetery following. Memorials can be made to First Baptist Church. |
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