December 31st, 2019

​William Thomas Coates
William Thomas Coates, better known as Bill or Mr. Bill, passed away on the morning of November 18, 2019 at the Nevada State Veterans Home in Boulder City, Nev. 
Bill was born February 9, 1923 in Deer Lodge to Thomas and Helga (Stay) Coates. He attended schools in Deer Lodge graduating from Powell County High School in 1940. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1943 during WW II. After leaving the Army at the end of WW 11, he returned home to Deer Lodge for a brief period of time. Bill reenlisted in the Army in 1946 making the Army and later the Air Force a career. He served in many locations including the United States, Western Pacific, Europe, Africa, and Canada. At the time of his retirement, he was the Base Operations Officer for the 4082nd Strategic Wing at Goose Air Force Base, Labrador. Since retiring from the military, Bill has lived in Montana, Texas, and Nevada. 
Bill was life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 689 in Deer Lodge, a member of American Legion Post 10 in Deer Lodge, The Military Officers Association, and the Knights of Columbus in Las Vegas, Nev. Bill was preceded in death by Vada, his wife of 53 years, his son, James, his two daughters, Shirley and Mary, and his grandson, James Cusick. His parents, and his brother John and sister Helen also preceded him death. He is survived by his daughter, Patricia Goeppinger of Nevada, sister-in-law Nancy Coates of Bend, Ore.; daughter-in-law, Eileen Coates of Camby, Ore.; and two son-in-laws, Dwayne Hart of Deer Lodge, and Kenny of San Diego, Calif. He has nine grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. 
Bill’s ashes will be buried next to his wife, Vada, at the Hillcrest Cemetery, Veterans Section, on a date yet to be determined in the spring of 2020. 

William L. Mosier
​The last grandson of Montana pioneers Andrew and Katie Christoffersen, William L. Mosier, passed away on December 29, 2019. He was Born to William and Emma Christoffersen Mosier June 6, 1920. At age 12, having lost his father, his mother moved the family to the ranch so she could keep house for her bachelor brothers. During high school Bill was active in FFA and enjoyed feeding and showing livestock. During that time he took a steer in a trailer he built himself to the Inland Stock Show in Salt Lake City. He and his steer took fifth place out of over one hundred entries. He graduated from PCHS in 1939, after which he moved to Seattle and worked as a carpenter. In 1941 he married Violet Schott. During WWII he served in the Air Force as a crew chief. During his service he was stationed in multiple places in the US and did a tour of duty in Okinawa. After discharge from the service, he returned to the Christoffersen Ranch and worked with his uncles until 1959, when he purchased the property. He continued to raise Hereford cattle and help his children with feeding and showing cattle through 4-H programs. 
In 1981 he turned the operation over to his son. After this he and Vi began to travel, his first foray being an agricultural tour with Conrad Burns to Australia. Fall trips thereafter included China, Japan, Germany, Italy, Hawaii and the East coast. 
He was proceeded in death by Violet (his wife of 73 years), his sister Maureen Scwartz, his daughter Darlene and her husband Larry Temanson; daughter Gwen and husband Randy Morrow; and granddaughter Kelly Mosier. 
He is survived by son Bill and wife Terry; grandchildren Greg (Jolee) Mosier; granddaughter Sara (Chris Foster); granddaughter Debbie Temanson (Doug) Malone; granddaughters Natalie Morrow and Stephanie Morrow; grandson Kevin Morrow; and 10 great-grandchildren. He was a member of Elks and the First Christian Church. He moved to the Renaissance Center at age 98. 
We would like to thank Powell County Medical Center and the Renaissance Center for their excellent care during his last days. 
Services will be held at the Jewell Funeral Home on Friday, January 3, at 11 with internment following. A reception will follow at the First Presbyterian Church. 

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Larry Carl Tilley
​On Wednesday, December 25, 2019 in Deer Lodge Larry Carl Tilley spent his first Christmas in heaven. Born 77 years ago to Loy and Dorothy Tilley in Osage, Okla., Larry led an adventurous life. He married Veva Gibson (Tilley). They had two children, Carla and James. 
He served in the Airforce in 1960 to 1963. Larry was a dreamer with a generous heart. His  grandchildren will miss golfing with him, especially driving the golf cart. He enjoyed telling his family stories about his life. He traveled around the country and played on an international volleyball team in the 1970s. In the 1980s the family settled in Deer Lodge.  
He was preceded in death by his parents Loy and Dorothy, his four sisters Helen, Ellen, Loretta, Loy Dean, and Cris, and his son Larry. He is survived by his wife, Veva, his son James and wife Sarah Tilley, and daughter Carla Tilley (Warner) and husband Kenneth, and nine grandchildren. He has nieces and nephews and cousins scattered through the world.
A graveside service will be held at the Deer Lodge Cemetery on Saturday January 4th at 11:30 am.

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