October 23rd, 2019

Eugene Lee Hurlbert
October 7, 2019, Eugene Lee Hurlbert passed away. Born November 10, 1928 in Deer Lodge, the second of seven children born to Marion and Ferol (Cookie) Halverson Hurlbert. 
Gene spent his early years in Deer Lodge, then in the Flathead Valley where they worked a dairy farm. When his dad started working for the railroad they moved to Lester, Wash. Here, Gene quit school and began working for the railroad. 
A move to Forsyth would bring a devastating change to the family’s life with the sudden death of their father. The family retreated back to Deer Lodge where they were separated to live with other families. At that time, Gene entered the military. A member of the 45th Calvary, he was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone serving there as a Scout. He was also a member of the Rifle Team and Honor Guard. Upon his discharge, he returned to Deer Lodge and met his wife-to-be Delores Stoppler. 
They were married in Deer Lodge in 1951 and moved back to Forsyth where Gene worked again for the Northern Pacific RR. Their two sons were born there, Eugene Leon and Donald Edward. 
When the steam engines were decommissioned and an injury to Gene’s youngest son headed him west again where a stop in Deer Lodge to visit turned into a lifelong stay. He found work at the Anaconda Smelter and built his home on Oregon Street, not far from the remains of the house where he was born. 
When the smelter shut down, Gene found work in his own welding shop, the lumber and mining industries. A near fatal mining accident set him on the path to operating boilers for the Powell County and Galen Hospitals. After his retirement, Gene owned and ran his own septic pumping business until health issues forced him to again retire at age 90. 
Gene was active in the Boy Scouts and Powell County Search and Rescue for many years. Eastern Star and the Masonic Lodge played a large part in his and Delores’s lives. He was a member of The Order of Eastern Star, Floral Chapter #14 and held numerous local and state offices. He was awarded a 50 Years of Service citation for his work in the Masonic Grand Lodge. His participation ebbed away after the death of Delores, his wife of 66 years in 2015. 
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, his loving wife Delores, son Donald, half-brother Ervin, brothers Marion and Albert, sisters Dorothy (Tony) Manicke and Pauline Donna. He is survived by his son Leon (Susie), sisters Edna Brackney, Patricia Chevallier, and Peggy (Gary) Cloninger, daughter-in-law Barb Watanabe Hurlbert, grandchildren Chris (Sue) Hurlbert, Ben (Danielle) Hurlbert, and Jennifer Ciconte, great-grandchildren Giovanni, Matthew, Brianna, Jerika, Terra, and Lindsey and numerous nieces and nephews. A special thank you to Barb, Sherry, Dodie, Diane, and Andy for their time caring for dad. 
A service by Eastern Star and the Masons will be held on October 24 at 11 a.m. at the Broken Arrow with a luncheon to follow. A graveside serve with military honors will be conducted at the Hillcrest Cemetery after the luncheon at 2 p.m. 

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​Barbara McOmber
​Barbara McOmber, 84.
Barbara McOmber passed away peacefully on November 3, 2018, surrounded by family and friends.  A nearly life-long resident of Deer Lodge, Barbara was born in Drummond on July 17, 1934 to Arthur and Lorna Periman.  Her childhood was spent working on the family cattle ranch.
After moving to Deer Lodge, Barbara spent more than 30 years working first as the city treasurer and then as the city clerk.  Those who knew Barbara best would tell you she was a perfectionist in all that she did.  Whether it was at work or with a sewing needle in hand, everything she did was a masterpiece.  Barbara always had a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eyes.  She will be missed by all who knew her.
Barbara was preceded in death by her daughter, Shirley Murinko (April 2018); her parents, and her brothers, Robert and Lawrence.
Barbara will always be remembered as a loving and dedicated mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.  Barbara is survived by her son-in-law John Murinko, grandsons, Shawn (Rebecca) Murinko and Eric (Bonnie) Murinko as well as her great-grandchildren, Heather, Grace, Justin, Clara Joy, Brooke, and numerous close friends.
Memorials may be made to the Rialto Theatre, Deer Lodge in Barbara’s name.

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Teresa Ann (Hysong) Walters
Teresa Ann (Hysong) Walters was called home on October 14, 2019. Teresa was born July 25, 1959 in Tacoma, Wash. to Robert Hysong, Jr. and Sandra (Moe Guldemzopf). She graduated from Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma at the age of 17. 
Teresa and Allen met January, 1976 and were married September 10, 1977 in Bremerton, Wash. While she worked many jobs, none were more important to her than raising children. She always had words of encouragement or a swift kick-whichever she felt you needed. Her love was always tender, but stern in her beliefs. She, not only raised two daughters, but numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. 
Teresa is a beloved daughter, wife, sister, mother, aunt, grandmother and great-grandmother. She has touched so many lives and will be greatly missed by all. A wise and kind woman. Teresa had a generous and giving heart and will always be a true example of unconditional love and understanding. She always had a hug and advice, even if you didn’t know you needed it. Teresa was a treasure to have in our lives that brought beauty and grace to our hearts. She had a way of seeing the other side of things and explaining it to open other’s eyes and minds. 
Teresa was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Joe and Mae Tinker; paternal grandparents, Robert and Florence Hysong, Sr.; father, Robert Hysong, Jr., and nephew Jesse Walters. Teresa is survived by her loving, soulmate, Allen; her parents Sandra (Moe) Guldenzopf; her sister Bobbie (Roger); three brothers-in-law, Ted (Kerry) Walters, Harold (Cheryl) Walters, Dan (Molly) Walters; two daughters, Jennifer (Chad) Williams, Brandian Leistman; six grandchildren, Tiffany (Ernesto) Bautista, Tyler, Troy, and Taylor Mooney, Chandler (Kylee) Yount, Cierra Reap; seven great-grandchildren, Lago, Aliyah, Mikaela and Pablo Bautista, Kaylee Cole, Madelynn Woodard and Athena Reap; seven nephews, three nieces, six great-nephews and four great-nieces.

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