August 21st, 2019

​Fred Baker
​Fred Baker was a WWII baby born in Pensacola, Fla. and has been living in Deer Lodge.   He was born November 7, 1943 and died in a one vehicle rollover on August 12, 2019.   He was the son of Elvin M. Baker and Lucy Howe Baker and raised on a ranch near Drummond.   He stated that he was “ranch raised and rodeo bred.”   He was high school valedictorian and held degrees in psychology, auto mechanics, and auctioneering, but he felt his most valuable education came from “the college of hard knocks.”   He served in the U.S. Army after high school.   He held more than 100 jobs in a dozen career fields ranging from professional rodeo to roughnecking in the oil fields to social work and underground mining.
Fred is survived by his wife: Pamela Miller Baker, Hereford, Ariz.; two sisters: Donna (William) McLean, Philipsburg, and Harriet (Calvin) Mentzer, Drummond; two beautiful daughters: Kim (Sean) Jackson, Deer Lodge, and Kari Beagley, Nampa, Idaho; plus 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.   He was preceded in death by his parents, one niece, and three grandchildren.
When Fred could, he would often help people in need.   He had a kind heart and will be missed by many.

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​Kathleen Anne Shea
​Kathleen Anne Shea, 67. August 2, 1952 - May 29, 2019.
Kathleen Anne Shea, 67, passed away peacefully on May 29, 2019 at Deer Lodge Medical Center in Deer Lodge.   She was born in Denver, Colo. to William and Mary Shea, being the sixth child out of 13 children.   Her remaining 12 siblings include: Jerry, Bill, Mary, Richard, Paul, Nancy, Helen, Bea, Barbara, Tom, Robert, and Jo Anne.
She was educated in primary school in Denver at St. Rose of Lima.   There are many words to celebrate her personality and talents.   The following examples were compiled by her loving siblings.   They include: compassion for the suffering, rebus puzzles - Kath’s life a puzzling player, music lover with a melodious voice, playful, a passion for nature, a cheerleader, a beautiful free spirit taken too soon, stubborn, lively and life of the party, an eager smile, pensive, love for children, family and friends.
A memorial and luncheon were held on August 2.   The memorial at Castle Rock in Northern Calif., luncheon at her sister Barbara’s house in Vacaville, Calif. All 12 siblings and some extended family gathered in love and gratitude for Kathy.   She joins her parents in our Eternal Home.

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Joe Neville
Joe was born to Earl and Virginia (Davis) Neville in Roswell, N.M. on September 18, 1944. After an almost four year battle with the Big C, he passed away at his home on August 11, 2019 in Billings.
Joe had a strong work ethic, beginning when as a junior high student; he tagged along with a good friend (Doug Crichton) to Doug’s job at the East Side Dairy in Deer Lodge. After a while, the owner (Walt Hansen) started paying Joe as well ($3 a week, $5 after that)! When he was a junior in high school, he went to work for Jens Hansen at both the Rialto Theatre in Deer Lodge and the Rustic Drive-In Theater, which was located about two miles south of Deer Lodge on the east side of what is now the Interstate 90 highway.
Joe attended elementary school grades 1-3 in the one-room schoolhouse on the Warm Springs campus, where his mother was employed as an RN. He attended fourth grade in Rupert, Idaho, but the draw to Montana brought the family back to Deer Lodge where he completed his elementary and high school education, graduating from Powell County High School in 1962.
He married Dena Ahl of Elliston  in 1963, and from this union, two children, Theresa and Chuck were born. Joe and Dena later divorced.
He worked at the Montana Phosphate and Reylea Mines near Garrison in Powell County as well as at sawmills in Deer Lodge and Libby.
Joe joined the Navy in November of 1964 and served for six years. He was particularly proud of his service on the nuclear-powered carrier, USS Enterprise CVAN-65, as well as his time in Idaho Falls as an instructor at the Naval Nuclear Power Prototype site. He was discharged in November of 1970, and subsequently completed a two-year course study in Industrial Electronics from Helena Vo-Tech.
Joe and Kathy met at the home of Howard and Irene Wells of Elliston in 1971 and were married at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in East Helena on May 20, 1972.
In 1972, he went to work for Western Microwave, a division of TCI (Telecommunications Inc.), a position which afforded him the opportunity to share his talents around the world, including helping install a telephone system in Saudi Arabia, attending many historic events to facilitate uplink of TV signals to satellites, such as some of the Space Shuttle launches, the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Yugoslavia, professional tennis tournaments, baseball games and other events. When he wasn’t globetrotting, he spent many hours in the beautiful mountains of Montana and Idaho tending to microwave sites so that we all could enjoy our favorite TV programs. He retired in 2002.
After retirement, Joe became an accomplished woodworker, and received many blue ribbons and other awards for his entries into MontanaFair. He also enjoyed his Harley, family get togethers, and movies.
Joe is survived by his wife of 47 years, Kathy, and their daughters: Tonna Neville, of Bozeman; Nikki Neville (Faron Running Crane); and Trina Weston (former son-in-law Seth Weston III) of Billings. He is also survived by his oldest daughter Theresa Lauri (Randy) of Boise, Idaho; and his son Chuck Neville of Aurora, Colo. (former daughters-in-law Angelia Zipplies of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Becky Foster of Firestone, Colo.); nine grandchildren: Melanie Renk (Andy) of Seattle, Wash.; Megan Fox (Tim) of Boise, Idaho; Tom Lauri (Katelynn) of Boise, Idaho; CJ Neville (Joycelyn) of Highland Park, Ill.; Paul Neville (Julie) of Chesapeake, Va.; Jett Neville of Aurora, Colo.; Brayden, Ashton, and Emma Running Crane, and Olivia Weston, all of Billings; and five great-grandchildren: Josiah and Jazmaya Neville of Highland Park, Ill.; Evelyn (Evie) and Gwendolyn (Gigi)  of Chesapeake, Va.; and Tiegan Fox of Boise, Idaho.
Visitation was held at Heights Family Funeral Home at 733 W. Wicks Ln, Billings, MT 59105 on Friday, August 16, 2019 from 1 to 3 p.m. Graveside services with military honors were held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 17, 2019 At Hillcrest Cemetery in Deer Lodge.
Longtime friend, Jim Walker of Belgrade will officiate at the graveside service.
Memorials are suggested to The Rialto Theatre, PO Box 874, Deer Lodge, MT 59722 (Phone: 406-846-7900); RiverStone Health Hospice, 123 South 27th Street, Billings, MT 59101 (phone: 406-651-6555) or to Friends of Montana PBS, PO Box 173340, Bozeman, MT 59717 (Phone: 1-800-426-8243). Please indicate the donation is in memory of Joe Neville; or simply enjoy a Backroads of Montana, Doc Martin, woodworking, science, history, or nature program in his memory.
Heights Family Funeral Home has been entrusted with the care of Mr. Neville and his family.

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