August 3, 2022

Walter “Chris” Young
​ March 20, 1950 - July 18, 2022

Walter “Chris’” Young, 72, succumbed from a fall that resulted in serious brain damage. He is survived by his wife of 33 years, Marsha Young (Hauxwell); his brothers, Bill and Mike Young; his children, Russ Pulliam and Jennifer Miller; his grandchildren, Marcus, Nicholas and Hailey Pulliam and Cole Miller; as well as cousins, nephews and one niece.
Chris was born and raised in Deer Lodge, Mont. He served in the US Navy aboard the USS Kilauea AE 26 during the Vietnam War.
Upon returning he worked with his dad building gold mining equipment and an automotive repair/paint shop. He, his wife and children moved to California where he had a 20 year career as a warehouse dock technician. He retired in 2008 and moved with his wife to Pasco, Wash., where his brothers live.
Chris was very kind, compassionate and intelligent. He touched many lives with his wit and humor.
A remembrance of life will be at 1 p.m., Aug. 7, at his brother Bill’s house, 1605 North Road 56, in Pasco, Wash.

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Janice Enger
​ September 17, 1931 - July 18, 2022

Janice Enger, 90, born Sept. 17, 1931, in Corvallis, Ore., died on July 18, 2022.
Janice had a quiet elegance. She was never one to criticize and treated all she met with kindness.
Janice met Don Enger in Deer Lodge while working as a switchboard operator. They would marry in 1955 and raise three children in Belmont, Calif.
Janice was a homemaker who enjoyed gourmet cooking, crossword puzzles, novels and good times with family and friends (She played the piano for the many sing-alongs).
She was an avid sports fan, always working the concession stand during her two boys’ games.
In 1989, Janice became a Ham Radio operator, allowing her to communicate with her daughter who was sailing foreign waters.
Don and Janice retired to Fallbrook, Calif., where Janice volunteered at the Fallbrook Hospital and the Bottom Shelf.
Even at 90, she faithfully attended exercise classes at the Community Center.
Janice is preceded in death by her husband Don in 2012 and her youngest son, Gregg, in 2022.
She leaves behind daughter Teri Southworth; son Tom Enger; granddaughters Amanda and Elizabeth; and great-grandchildren Kimber, Weslee and Lynkon.

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Beverley Lorraine Hadley Thornton
November 7, 1928 - February 23, 2022

​Beverley Lorraine Hadley Thornton, 93, peacefully passed away on Feb. 23, 2022, at the certified family home of Kirsten and Julio Diaz in Athol, Idaho. At this time, the family would like to sincerely express their gratitude for the loving care given to her during her time with them.
Beverley was born on Nov. 7, 1928, in Winchendon, Mass., to Bessie and Ray Hadley. Beverley married James Thornton in 1945 who preceded her in death in 1995. They moved to Montana in 1956 to raise their family of eight children: James Thornton, Jr., Marjorie Thornton (deceased in infancy), Steven Thornton, Marjorie Anne (Thornton) Wahl, Carol (Thornton) Knight (deceased), Gary Thornton, Donna (Thornton) Kelleher, Randy Thornton (deceased), Lorraine (Thornton) Wood. Beverley and James also have 18 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and 9 great-great-grandchildren.
Beverley along with raising her family worked in many various occupations. She worked as a bus driver, cleaning lady, waitress, mail delivery, and her favorite, livestock care and general ranch hand.
Beverley was an avid reader and she enjoyed gardening, knitting, canning, bowling, cards and most of all, talking to and associating with people, even complete strangers. We will all miss her “brightness” very much.
There will be a memorial service at 11 a.m. in Helmville, Mont. at the Saint Thomas Cemetery on Aug. 27, 2022. Following the memorial service will be a luncheon.

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Jack Leroy Scharf
​ September 2, 1937 - July 6, 2022

Jack Leroy Scharf, 84, of Helena, Mont., died on July 6, 2022 after a short battle with cancer. He is survived by his children, Sandy (George) Countryman, Bruce (Nina) Scharf, Eric (Dini) Scharf, all of Helena, and Laura (Chet) Periman of Deer Lodge; his brother, Ron (Joyce) Scharf; his sister, Goldie (Dave) Enger; along with 10 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara (Ed) Johnson.
Jack was born in Deer Lodge, on Sept. 2, 1937, to August Karl and Lorean Scharf. He lived in Pioneer (Gold Creek), where his love for gold-mining began. At the age of 5, his family then moved to Deer Lodge, where he met and later married Marjie White on Jan. 2, 1958. Growing up in Deer Lodge gave Jack the opportunity to make several life-long friends, whom he talked fondly of and spoke about all of their adventures up until his death.
Jack enlisted in the National Guard in 1960. He served 9 years while working for the Milwaukee Railroad for 23 years. Following this, he and Marjie began a new adventure in Nevada City, Mont., where they started the Alder Gulch River of Gold Mining Museum. This museum allowed Jack to share his knowledge and tell his many stories about finding gold.
Jack and Marjie spent many winters in Quartszite, Ariz., where they sold gold panning kits, jewelry derived from stones they had collected, and many other items they had constructed with their own hands.
After supporting Marjie in her faith for many years, Jack was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses as well.
Jack and Marjie were passionate about life and being on the go. They enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing and scavenging for treasure with family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Helena at 2 p.m. on Aug. 6, 2022. A reception will be held immediately following the service at 715 Sewell Rd. Helena, MT 59601.

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Patty Meier Traverso
April 25, 1966 - September 2, 2020

Patty Meier Traverso, 54, passed away in Denver, Colo., on Sept. 2, 2020, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Patty was born April 25, 1966, in Deer Lodge to Nora and Dave Meier. Patty was a 1984 graduate from Powell County High School. She had one child, Katy Traverso Germain who was the light of her life! Patty spent many years in Gillette, Wyo. with her family and worked for a large mining company in Wyoming. Patty is remembered as a caring, generous, loving mother, daughter, sister, aunt, with a sense of humor and zest for life! Her positive spirit influenced both her family and those around her.
She appreciated life to the fullest and was always ready for a new adventure, hiking trail, spending time with her family and friends, traveling, rock climbing or riding a camel. Through her compassion and willingness to help those in need whether family friends or strangers, Patty touched many people throughout her lifetime.
Patty is survived by her parents Dave and Nora Meier, daughter Katy Traverso Germain, sister Shelly Deering, sister Mary Perkins, niece Zoey Perkins and niece Alyah Perkins.
After a long wait for all the family to be present, a memorial and celebration of life was held for Patty at Laurin Montana Cemetery July 23, 2022.
Those who wish to honor Patty’s memory may do so by making a donation to your local Humane Society or the Multiple Myeloma Foundation.

Norma Jean Witzel
​ August 28, 1944 - July 14, 2022

Norma Jean Witzel, 77, of Nevada, formerly of Deer Lodge, died on July 14, 2022. Norma was born in Townsend, Mont., on Aug. 28, 1944, to Carl Mienke and Hazel Vincent Weber.
Norma was raised in Deer Lodge, where she attended grade school as well as high school. She graduated in 1962 and briefly attended nursing school at MSU. As a teenager, she worked as a candy striper at the old hospital. Norma also worked at the Anaconda Lumber Company and later UBC as a secretary and bookkeeper.  She enjoyed traveling and was excited to have been able take a trip with her dad, Carl, and sisters, Dorothy and Shirley, to tour Europe.
She married Alfred Trask in 1965. They had one son, Jeffrey, in 1969. They later divorced and in 1976 she married her lifelong partner of 45 years, Dale Witzel. Norma and Dale worked alongside each other for years running Witzel’s Trailer Court and Home Rentals. She also worked at Colonial Manor in Deer Lodge as an Activities Director and loved being involved with and caring for the old folks.
In 1992, Norma and Dale moved to Jackpot, Nev., where they owned and operated Bluesky Properties and RV Park for 20 years. She loved assisting and visiting with all the travelers who stayed at their park and made many friends there. She and Dale retired to Las Vegas in 2010. In recent years, she lived in an assisted living facility, Legacy House, where she was chosen to be the Ambassador for the community, continuing her passion to help people.
Norma was crazy lucky at slot machines and always had a hunch for which ones were going to pay out. She enjoyed bingo, arts and crafts, seeing shows and live music. The list of people who Norma cared for and helped is too long to list as she had one of the biggest hearts a person could have.
Norma is survived by husband, Dale Witzel; sisters, Dorothy Kinsfater and Shirley McLaughlin; brother and spouse, Ed and Kathy Groves; son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey and Teri Lynn Trask; stepdaughters and spouses, Linda and Jimmy McMahon, and Rosie and Brad Grothwohl; stepsons and spouses, Ronnie and Michelle Witzel, and Randy and Sherri Witzel; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Norma is preceded in death by her father, Carl Mienke; mother and beloved stepfather, Joe and Hazel Weber; and younger brother, Bill Weber.
A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 11, at the First Baptist Church, 127 Sam Beck Road, Deer Lodge, MT 59722. Visitation with viewing will be held one hour prior to the funeral at the church. A graveside service will immediately follow the funeral at Hillcrest Cemetery in Deer Lodge.
Memorials in honor of Norma are suggested to Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation. Please visit www.axelsonfuneralhome.com to offer the family condolences or to share a memory. ​

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Edward Rosicky
​ December 29, 1936 - February 4, 2022

Edward Rosicky, 85, was born in Rezekne, Latvia on Dec. 29, 1936 to Joseph and Isabella Rosicky, their only child, who passed on to another world on Feb. 4, 2022, from a defective heart which he had inherited from his dad. It was a calm and quiet death at our house in Fremont, Calif., where we have lived together for over 44 years and have celebrated our golden anniversary. He is survived by his wife Valentina (Valia) Rosicky and some distant relatives in Latvia, of which I know only one. My life without Ed is completely different and now I am trying to adjust and accept it, but I miss Ed every day.
Ed’s parents were also born in Latvia. Life was good for them, and only reluctantly, during World War II, when the communist Russian army was nearing the Latvian border, the family took the last German train that was leaving Latvia, with other people, and ended in Germany, thankfully, far away from the war zone. There, the people were sent to factories to build weapons to continue Hitler’s war. Because Ed was from Latvia, he was allowed to go to a German school, but German kids never accepted Ed because they were taught that only German people were superior, and Ed was pushed away.
After the war ended in 1945, there was a possibility for refugees in Germany to emigrate to America, but Stalin wanted all slave people back home. So when the United States Congress had passed a special provision to admit refugees from Germany to the U.S., all slaves were excluded and left behind. But the Rosicky family, because they left the country before the USSR’s 1940 invasion of Latvia, could emigrate to the U.S. and ended in New Jersey, where summers are hot and humid. It was especially hard on Joseph who found work on a dusty chicken farm where he acquired a dust allergy for life. In 1950, the family moved to Deer Lodge because their Latvian friend who lived there found that all in Deer Lodge was favorable: the people, the climate with four seasons, and above all, the possibility of finding good physical work where fluent English was not required, and this was very appealing to the parents. After a short discussion, Joseph and Isabella packed their bags, and with their son, went to Deer Lodge, where they made their home.
Being Catholic, they enrolled Ed in St. Mary’s Academy, where Ed had to repeat one grade to improve his English; however, when it was time to go to high school, they allowed Ed to register in Powell County High School, where Ed wanted to be in the first place, and not be taught by nuns.  Here, too, Ed had quickly made friends and was accepted as if he had not come from far away. He played football, had a dislocated elbow and later, when his elbow was healed, also played basketball. In a good school, with good teachers and good courses, Ed was preparing himself to be an engineer, long before he knew what the word engineer meant. Therefore, Ed would say “I had no choice but to be an engineer.”
Ed was really into his education. Each summer, during the summer break, Ed worked for the Milwaukee Railroad to earn money for his education. At that time, it was possible to achieve that goal: Education was not expensive. Ed had chosen a dangerous and responsible job that paid over $3 an hour, a lot of money then, but he missed many of his classmates’ summer recreational activities. While they had a good time, Ed in his labor uniform went to work to earn money for his schooling.  Before graduating high school, Ed’s English became so elegant that he and Shirlee Bennett were chosen to compose, write and assemble the high school yearbook with teacher supervision.
Ed graduated from Powell County High School in 1956. In 1960, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Gonzaga University, and in 1962, a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering degree from the University of Washington.
Later, Ed was twice registered in the State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers in California.  The first registration was Feb. 12, 1975 as a Professional Engineer in Mechanical Engineering, and the second registration was Feb. 12, 1977 as a Professional Engineer in Nuclear Engineering.
In 1962, Uncle Sam called Ed to serve in the Army, and because of his technical education, Ed was relieved from the Army Active Duty and sent to Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland, the world’s largest military testing and research center. There, he was later assigned to the U.S. Army Ballistic Research Laboratory as a Technical Project Officer. His work consisted of research in the area of materials and structural behavior under dynamic conditions. Within these two years, Ed passed four major courses and was honorably discharged as a First Lieutenant in 1964. Later, Ed would say that it was the best time of his life.
Ed had a 34-year career with the General Electric Company (GE). During that time his many papers were published for future references. His work took him to many places in America, often to Sweden and once to Russia where American engineers had to negotiate an important GE contract with Russian engineers.  But after one week of intense negotiations and breaks for relaxation; eating, drinking vodka, playing the guitar, singing, laughing a lot, telling stories, taking city tours and almost becoming friends; Russian engineers never lowered their price. GE was unwilling to accept the Russian expensive price, so accepted the defeat and brought Americans home.
Most of Ed’s responsibilities consisted of developing, testing and evaluating materials for nuclear thermionic application. From GE, Ed had many written congratulations for significant contributions in that field. Ed loved his job and finished his career with GE as manager of engineers and technicians performing research on materials used in the construction and operation of nuclear reactors producing electricity.
After a long courtship, Ed and I were married in 1971 in a small Catholic Church near San Francisco with the reception following on the top floor of the Hilton Hotel in San Francisco with only about 50 close friends present. It was a marriage of love, support for each other and friendship. We traveled extensively in America, often to Deer Lodge, Mont., where I became acquainted with Ed’s friends and they became mine as well. We loved going to Europe and taking cruises in different parts of the world.
We had a good life until Ed started dealing with his health issues. Then, much later, suddenly Ed told me of his desire to have a Memorial Service and luncheon in Deer Lodge, where he had said many times, his normal life had begun, and where his parents are buried.
In accordance with Ed’s wish, a Memorial Service with luncheon to follow will be held on Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, at 11 a.m. in St. Mary’s Center, Deer Lodge, Mont.

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