June 07th, 2017

​Max Lee (Mick) McGuire
Max Lee (Mick) McGuire passed away this spring in Helena surrounded by his extended family. His mom and dad, Mary Francis and Hugh Gibson, welcomed Mick to the family on June 7, 1933. He was the seventh of eight children. The family would move to Chinook and then to Lincoln before settling in Drummond in 1949. During his years in Drummond, Mick worked on the Mac Enman Ranch and later at the Cominco American Phosphate Mine. Mick moved to Washington and while there joined the National Guard. His next move was to Helena where he was employed by Caird Iron Workers as a welder. He would later retire from Lewis and Clark County as a maintenance worker. Mick was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to target shoot, fish and hunt, and he also enjoyed playing the guitar with his brother, Stony. Mick had even taken guitar lessons from country great Charlie Pride. Mick was preceded in death by his brothers and sister-in-law Stonewall and Patricia Mae (Rosenbeck), Frederick Hays; Sterling; Gene Allen and Dorothy (Clawson); Gerald Edwin; Hugh Gibson, Jr. and Edith (Powell); Wilford Alexander. He is survived by his extended family Pauline Mininger, daughters Jeannie Davis and Chere (Greg) McCall; granddaughters Skye, Marika, Hailee, Mollee, Veronica Tenaya, Kendell. There was a graveside service with honor guard for family only on June 10 at 1 p.m. There was a reception following at the city park and the family invited friends to come and celebrate Mick’s life with them at that time.  

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​Joan Barbara Gilman
Joan Barbara Gilman, 86, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 28, at Deer Lodge Care and Rehabilitation, surrounded by family and caregivers.
Joan Barbara Baustadt was born on June 26, 1930, in Clyde Park, to George E. Baustadt and Myrtle (Proffitt) Baustadt.  She attended schools in Clyde Park and Livingston.
She married Ronald Grant Gilman on December 27, 1948.  They started out their married life in Deer Lodge and soon moved to Garrison where they lived and worked for more than 60 years. Joan was a homemaker, raising three children.
Joan was a tiny, feisty 105 lb., eyes of blue, Energizer Bunny that could run circles around just about everyone she came into contact with.  Her family is quite sure that in her next life she might come back as a lawnmower.  Summertime, in the outdoors, defined her. Her great passion was her gardening and yard work.  Her petite body abounded in unexpected strength.
She was an excellent cook and both her and Ron were famous for their extraordinary Christmas  light displays.  People would flock to Garrison each holiday season to witness the magic.
Joan and Ron also worked as a team in the special carpentry and painting of wooden Yellow Ribbons for soldiers and their families during the Gulf War.  The Gilman lawn sat proudly with the Yellow Ribbons standing at attention.
Joan is survived by her three children, Sandi (Howard) Stevenson of Deer Lodge, Ronnie Kitzenberg of Deer Lodge, and Les Gilman of Elko, Nev.  
Grandchildren, Mark (Paula) Kitzenberg, of Billings, Josh Kitzenberg, of Billings, Samantha Kitzenberg, of Billings, and Jordan (Jake) Lowney of Draper, Utah, Howard (Sheryl) Stevenson of Deer lodge.
Great-grandchildren Sheyanne Stevenson, Deer Lodge, Katie Kitzenberg, New York, Cole Kitzenberg, Billings, and Jackson and Lily Grace Lowney of Utah.  Special nephew, Cody (Rachel) Frasier lives in Billings with children Taylor and Kane.  There are numerous nieces and nephews.
Joan was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Ronald, her parents, George and Myrtle, her sisters, Annalee (Norman) Smith, Betty (Jack) Kanouse, infant Helen Baustadt, and brothers, Bobby and Tommy Adams, Jimmy and Pete Baustadt.
Cremation has taken place.  A special luncheon in her memory will be held on June 24 at noon at the Senior Citizen’s Center in Deer Lodge.
Donations can be sent to either the Garrison Fire Dept. or the Garrison School.

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​Harley L. Pitman Jr.
Harley L. Pitman Jr. passed away on May 3, 2017. The son of Harley and Nora Pitman, he was born in Seattle, Wash. on November 6, 1938. He and his family moved to Deer Lodge in the early 1950s. They lived on Rock Creek and he worked with his dad in their mine. After finishing school he left for the Navy and was active duty for two years. He then served in the Naval Reserves for 20 years. He was an accomplished pilot and flew F15 during his time in the reserves.
Harley had various jobs during his life which included being a Greyhound bus driver, a long-haul truck driver, and a heavy equipment operator.
He and his wife Helen moved to Deer Lodge in July 1992. After retiring in April 2004 he started H&H Small Engine Repair. If it was broke, he could fix it. In his spare time he enjoyed flying, camping, fishing, family and friends.
He was preceeded in death by his parents, his brother Bert, his brother-in-law Bob Chaplin and his nephew Mike Richardson.
Harley is survived by his wife of 29 1/2 years, Helen, his daughter Jodi, his son Todd, and his bonus kids Neil (Dena), Laurel (Alan), Willie (Pam), and Diane (Steve); his sisters Lorraine and Norita (Don), numerous nieces and nephews, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Burial with graveside services will be at Hillcrest Cemetery on June 10, 2017 at 11 a.m. A celebration of Harley’s life will follow at noon at the Elks Lodge in Deer Lodge.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be made to the Deer Lodge Elks B.P.O.E. Lodge #1737 or to a charity of your choice.

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