![]() Emmett Thomas Hogan Emmett Thomas Hogan was born April 3, 1929, the first of nine boys and one girl, to David Patrick and Marian Hollenback Hogan. He grew up and worked on the ranch at Gold Creek, surrounded by a large and loving extended family. He attended the Gold Creek grade school and Powell County High School. Emmett was a tough cowboy, even as a young boy. He contracted Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever while in grade school and then polio as a senior in high school. With his determination and hard work, not only did he beat polio and walk out of Shodair Hospital in Helena that year, but he also completed his studies and walked through commencement with his graduating class in May. Emmett married Dorothy Wilsonoff and began married life in Butte as a cattle buyer for Montana Livestock Auction. They moved to Dillon in 1960 and began raising four children, where the neighbors were our friends, classmates and teachers. The family enjoyed picnics at Birch Creek, fishing the beautiful streams of southwest Montana and long drives through Yellowstone Park. Loading cattle on rail cars and in semi-trailers were also part of the family activities through the years. In 1977 Emmett partnered with John Erb to buy Beaverhead Livestock Auction and his brother, Pat, worked for him at the yards. Uncle Pat became legendary with family friends in those years, a joy and great source of many adventures. Emmett worked tirelessly to build up the yards and the Livestock Auction over the next 25 years. Emmett and Dorothy worked side by side feeding cattle in fair weather as well as in 40 below zero. Incredibly, they calved out around 250 head in the worst Montana winter conditions. He remembers loading cattle when the mercury didn’t rise out of the bulb. After retirement and until his health restricted his activities, Emmett was at the yards twice a day to keep involved with friends and the yards. The family wishes to thank Judy Tash as well as the management and staff of Legacy Assisted Living for their loving care given to dad over the past three years. Emmett was preceded in death by his parents, wife Dorothy, daughter Connie, brothers David, Jerry, Patrick, Gene and sister Mary Ann and brother-in-law Russel. Emmett is survived by children Peggy Hogan (Ray) Blize of Spokane, Wash., Phil (Britt) Hogan of Ft. Myers, Fla., Debbie Hogan (David) Lampert of Worley, Idaho. Emmett is survived by grandchildren, Bree (Brian) Hickman, Brandon (Emily) Blize, and Phil Blize all of Spokane, Wash., Krista (Jeff) Cloward of Pueblo, Colo.; Ashley (Corey) Eckhoff of Alexandria, Minn.; Cory (Shannon) Hogan of Park Rapids, Minn.; Dr. Peter (Sarah) Lampert of Madison, Wis.; Danny Lampert, John Lampert both of Seattle, and Kathryn Lampert of Spokane. Emmett is survived by eight great-grandchildren. Emmett is also survived by his brothers Donald (Betty) of Great Falls, Thomas (Judy) of Gold Creek, Alan (Eileen) of Spokane, Wash., Sam (Linda) of Gold Creek, and sister-in-law Myrna of Tacoma, Wash. There is a visitation scheduled for Thursday, December 27 from 6 – 7 p.m. with a Vigil Service and Rosary following at 7 p.m. at Brundage Funeral Home. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Dillon at 10 a.m. on Friday, December 28 with committal services the same day at the Hillcrest Cemetery in Deer Lodge, at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to St. Rose of Lima Church in Dillon or a charity of your choice. There is a guestbook available online at www.brundagefuneralhome.com. ![]() Mary Lou Crossman Mary Lou Crossman, formerly from Deer Lodge, passed away in Billings on Tuesday, December 11, 2018. She was born on March 2, 1940, in Missoula to Sam Karras and Nettie Reichert. Because her parents were unable to care for her, at three months old she was taken to the Montana State Orphans Home in Twin Bridges where she lived until she reached the age of 18 years old. Upon graduation from the Twin Bridges High School, she took a job at Galen State Hospital. While working at Galen State Hospital she met and married James Crossman and two children were born from their marriage, namely Rick and Beverly. They later divorced and she never remarried again. When the family moved from Galen to Deer Lodge she took a job as a school bus driver with the Deer Lodge Public School System and remained in that job for 30+ years. She absolutely loved being a school bus driver! She touched many children’s lives over the years, however she would tell you that the children touched her life more. Moving to Deer Lodge also paved the way to attend the Presbyterian Church where she was member, Deacon and taught Sunday School for several years. Although her childhood was extremely difficult, she somehow found a way to become a wonderful mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and friend to many. She fought many demons with the help of treasured best friend Caroline Polish Sagunsky and confidant, Vicki Weida, whom she felt like she owed the world. She also treasured her morning coffee visits with her special friend, Deanna Schroeder. Mary Lou had a very strong work ethic and knew how to use every tool in the shed. In addition to driving bus, she also maintained several other jobs including lawn mowing, painting, cleaning service and really anything that she could do by using her hands. She also volunteered on the Powell County Ambulance for several years and drove busloads of people from surrounding areas to tour the Prison. She was a huge animal lover, especially dogs, and also loved the color blue, clowns, motorcycles, playing gameboy, doing crossword puzzles and cryptograms and unbeknownst to many she was a fabulous softball player and artist. Her goofy and funny nature drew many people to her. She loved to make people smile and loved dressing up in her clown costume. Material things were not important to Mary Lou as reflected in the simple life that she lived. The most important thing to her were her children and grandchildren and throughout her life she spent many moments with them and she treasured those memories with all her heart! Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents and her brother and sisters, Ruth, George, Lorraine, and Betty. She is survived by her children, Rick Crossman (Cathy) of Spokane Valley, Wash., and Bev Freeman (Dan) of Billings; her grandchildren, Rikki Crossman, Ryan Crossman, Andy Freeman (Caty) and Mackensie Smith (Chris) and one great-granddaughter, Layla Freeman. She also had two special step-grandsons, Chad Ward and R.J. Ward. The family would like to give a special thanks to mom’s caretaker, Barbara Evans, and Welcome Home Valley Care in Stevensville. Barbara and her whole family were mom’s angels in her final year of life. Services will be Friday, December 21 at 2 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Deer Lodge. Any donations or memorials are suggested to be made to the Powell County Ambulance in her memory. ![]() Dixie Hirsch Hargreaves Dixie Hirsch Hargreaves, 77, of Helena, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, Nov. 30, 2018. Dixie is survived by her husband Richard, her daughters Kelli Hargreaves and Traci (Jason) Orthman, the light of her life grandson Jack, sister Jackie (Chris) Zawada, brother Rick (Pam) Hirsch and her nieces and nephews. A celebration of Dixie’s life will be held on January 12, 2019, at 1 p.m. at Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church, 3580 North Benton Avenue, Helena, MT. David Gazzara David Gazzara, 63, of Hamilton, passed away peacefully at his home on November 17, 2018. He was born David Anthony Gazzara to Joseph and Shirley Archey Gazzara on September 10, 1955 in Roaring Spring, Pa. David was raised in Claysburg, Pa. where he received his education. Later in David’s life he became very interested in taxidermy and attended a taxidermy school. He became quite the artist and won many awards for his taxidermy work. David will be remembered for his love of his family and the gentle nature that he carried. He will also be remembered for his sense of humor. He loved the outdoors and was a lifetime member of Trout Unlimited. David loved fly fishing and hunting where he was proud of the many trophies he had collected. He was also a big Penn State football fan. David is survived by his wife Kathleen, son Nickolas (Molly) Gazzara and his brother William Gazzara. He is preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Shirley Gazzara. At David’s request, no formal services will be held. Please express your condolences with the family by visiting www.dalyleachchapel.com under the obituary section. ![]() Wallace Leroy (Wally) Atkinson Wallace Leroy (Wally) Atkinson,91, passed away Monday November 26, 2018 surrounded by his loving family. He was born May 8, 1927 in Belt, to Wallace Stewart Atkinson and Wonita Munden Atkinson. Wally was raised in Deer Lodge until the age of 12 when the family moved to Shelby. He was an athlete at Shelby High School quarterbacking the football team, playing point guard for the basketball team and setting a Montana state high jump record in 1945. He graduated from Shelby High School in 1945. His summers were spent with his grandmother Clara Munden in Deer Lodge where he worked for the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific railroad fixing track. The workers were called “gandy dancers.” He met Jeanette Rainville in Deer Lodge in 1943. He teasingly asked her to go to “The Gandy Dancers ball.” But being from a railroad family, Jeanette knew there was no such thing. However, they continued to date and were together from that time on. In 1945 Wally enlisted in the Navy and was honorably discharged in 1949. He married Jeanette Rainville May 7, 1950, residing in Deer Lodge until 2013 when they moved to Hamilton. Together they had five children. He taught his kids to love sports, outdoor activities and especially reading. He always said you can do anything if you can read about it. He was proof of that. He taught himself all the skills he would need and together with Jeanette he built his own house, doing all the carpentry, plumbing, electrical work and everything else to make a fabulous home for his family. Wally and Jeanette purchased 80 acres in the Sapphire mountains so their descendants could always own a piece of Montana. They of course built a cabin where the family spent many happy hours. Wally worked for the railroad and as a truck driver, a correctional officer reaching the rank of lieutenant and as a certified watch maker, (another skill he taught himself.) After retiring, not content to be idle, he started driving school bus and soon became a maintenance man for the school. He and Jeanette also had a lawn service with 30 clients which they operated until they were in their 80s. Wally was active in the Catholic church. Together with Jeanette and their friends Pat and Charlotte Healy, they started serving breakfast in the parish center after Sunday mass with proceeds going to the church. They hosted a free Thanksgiving dinner for anyone who wanted to come and provided a family atmosphere for many people. They served 250 to 300 meals and also sent out 70 boxed dinners. The dinner tradition started in 1984 and continued for many years. Wally is survived by his wife of 68 years Jeanette and sister Rena Hyvonen. Children Carol Andersen (Kris Anderson), Cheryl Terry (Golden), Cleo Klepzig (Casey), Tim Atkinson (Morgan Taylor) and Janet Wimmer (Tom), 14 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by nieces Julia Marples (Chuck), Linda Bookout and nephew Ronald Hyvonen and their families. “Well done Wally, a life well lived.” Funeral services will be announced at a later time with interment at Hillcrest Cemetery in Deer Lodge. ![]() Ronald Lee “CORK” Jennings Ronald Lee “CORK” Jennings, 76, died peacefully on November 19, 2018 in Tualatin, Ore., his home for 38 years. Cork was born in Deer Lodge to Ayres and Edna Jennings. He graduated from Powell County High School and later married Linda Gilbert in Deer Lodge in 1977. He is survived by wife Linda, daughter Jennifer, son Russell and his family, wife Jen and children Courtney, Hailey, Ashley, Hayden and Teagan. He is also survived by his brother, Russell, who lives in Arizona, numerous, nieces, and sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Hap and Ayres, Jr. Cork worked for the Milwaukee Railroad in Deer Lodge for many years before moving to Denver, Colo. with the US Government as a track inspector. He then moved to Oregon to work for Railco and later began his career as a Maintenance of Way Manager for TriMet Light Rail System. He loved the railroad! A funeral was celebrated on November 30 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Oregon. A graveside celebration will take place later in Deer Lodge. |
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