Lee Jacobson, 76, of Deer Lodge, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on Oct. 13, 2025. He was the oldest child of three, born to Lorenzo “Bud” Jacobson and Edna Wood Jacobson. Upon graduation from Powell County High School in 1967, Lee went to work full time for the family ranch until his retirement in 2006.
    Lee welcomed his daughter, Terri, in 1969. Not long after, he met Jackie Allen, and they were married in 1973. Together, they added daughters Niki, Janelle, Tracy and Shonna to the mix, completing their family with a perfect handful. From that moment on, Lee was surrounded by women. It would all work out for him though, as he had a tough as nails wife who tolerated his shenanigans and loved him through it all, as well as five girls who doted on him, even when he was in trouble with Jackie.
    Lee’s girls were the twinkle in his eye, and on occasion, less of a twinkle and more of a twitch. Once he came to the realization that his girls came by their mischief honestly, all was forgiven. He was even more willing to forgive when his grandchildren arrived, and he was then able to thoroughly enjoy the chaos that ensued.
    Lee accomplished many things in his 76 years. He was a passionate advocate for all things related to the western lifestyle. An avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing and a ride in the hills, whether it be on horseback or four wheels.
    He was on the board of directors for First Security Bank for a time, a member of the Stockgrowers Association, as well as school board trustee for the Deer Lodge School District. Lee was a proud member of the Masons, Shiners and Jesters organizations. Along with growing certified seed potatoes, he also raised Simmental Cattle on the family ranch before transitioning to Angus/Gelbvieh cattle. He even had a stint raising Suffolk/Rambouillet sheep well into his retirement. With the sheep came the livestock guardian dogs, which just might have been his favorite part of the sheep business.
    More than his accomplishments, it was who Lee was as a person that stood out. He was many things to many people. He was a husband and a father, a son and a brother. He was a historian and a mentor, a farmer and rancher. He was a loyal friend to many.
    His opinion was not subject to change depending on who was present. He was genuine, hardworking and true to his word. He believed in leaving people and places better than he found them. He valued family and good friends. He loved big, but not loud or flashy. His love was consistent and steadfast. You always knew where you stood with Lee, and you never doubted that he was in your corner.
    Lee is survived by Jackie, his wife of 52 years, and his siblings Rod Jacobson (Mona) and Lori Johns (Mike). He leaves behind his children, Terri Teague (Mark), Niki Pfeiffer (Nick), Janelle Jones (Jay), Tracy Jacobson (John), and Shonna Jacobson (Matt). He also leaves behind his grandchildren Kale, Lucian, Wyatt, Lockley and Jackie, all of whom will miss their Papa Lee beyond measure. Lee is also survived by multiple cousins, nieces and nephews, as well as many friends. There are too many to list in full, but know that he cherished every one of them.
    Lee requested all proceedings to be short and simple, with no fuss. It is incredibly difficult to condense a life well lived, especially when our love for him is so much more than simple or small. In keeping with Lee’s wishes, a graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Nov. 29, at Hillcrest Cemetery in Deer Lodge, with a celebration of life to follow at The Corner Bar. Everyone is welcome to attend and celebrate the life of Lee with his family. Share a story, a smile and a laugh, and maybe a drink or two.
    Expect a little fuss, for he was a man that earned it.
    Lee’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Hueftle and the nurses in the oncology center for their exceptional care. Lee adored every one of those girls and looked forward to seeing them every week.
    Another thanks to Stillwater Hospice for their care of not only Lee, but Jackie as well.
    It eases the heart knowing that Terry, Gay, Jules and Clyde are welcoming you home.
    On to new adventures, until we meet again.
    Please visit axelsonfuneralhome.com to share a condolence or leave a memory of Lee.

    Charles “Chuck” Hinkle, 76, of Philipsburg, was called to eternity into the arms of our Lord on Saturday, Oct. 18.
    Chuck was born in Bellingham, Wash., to Ben and Sylvia Hinkle. He graduated from Bellingham High School in 1967.
    As a teenager Chuck spent his years playing football, hunting, waterskiing and boxing.  His father was a champion boxer on his ship and his uncle was a navy fleet champion (WWII).
    Chuck studied Forestry in college, worked in Washington and moved to Alaska, working for the U.S. Forest Service. Chuck managed timber sales and had extensive experience in wildland firefighting. Alaska is where he met and married Heidi. They moved to Philipsburg in 1984. Chuck served as a Granite Co. Commissioner from 2019-2024.
    Chuck and Heidi had many adventures, traveling all over the USA and abroad, visiting many historical sites, as Chuck had a passion for history and documenting his own ancestry. Chuck directly traced his American ancestry back to Jamestown 1619 and to the Culpepper Minute Men who were integral in defeating the British in the Revolutionary war.
    They raised three children, Tambe Summers (John), Jedediah Hinkle (Kyndall), and Caleb Hinkle, and have five grandchildren, Trevor and Tanner Summers (Tambe and John), and Adelyn, Hezekiah and Annelise Hinkle (Jed and Kyndall).
    Chuck was an incredible hunter, built muzzleloaders, became proficient in French, and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, who affectionately called him Grandpere.  Chuck was very passionate about watching his two sons Jed & Caleb serve in the Montana Legislature as Representatives, watching them online every day. Chuck and both his sons were elected to public office and all served during the same time period.
    Chuck is preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his loving wife, Heidi, their three children, their five grandkids, and his brother Greg Hinkle (Gail).
    A celebration of life for Chuck will be held at the Philipsburg Community Church on Saturday, Nov. 1, at 11 a.m.

    Bill Perry died in his home in Deer Lodge on Oct. 9. He left this world with his 90 years and with a lifetime of service.
    He leaves behind the love of his life, Ellen Perry, his five children, 12 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
    He was born in Tucson, Ariz., to Elsie Lorenz Conlyn and Bill Cook on Oct. 9, 1934. The wild Arizona desert stirred the cowman in Bill, and it never left his soul. A horseman and a member of the Back Country Horsemen, you could always recognize him wearing well-worn blue jeans, a cowboy hat, boots and a big belt buckle.
    Bill married Beverly Beech in 1952. Shortly after, the two welcomed three beautiful girls, Rachel, Leah and Gwen.
    Bill was a hero both abroad and at home.
    His career in the Army began in 1952. He served three tours in Vietnam, including two in special forces. He parachuted into the hot and humid jungles with a mission that would sometimes last for months.
    Bill was a teacher behind enemy lines. He worked closely with the Montagnard villages to teach them how to protect themselves against the Viet Cong. His mission was to assist with preserving Indigenous Vietnamese against the atrocities they were subjected to. It was dangerous work, and he was good at what he did. History tells us his work made a difference.
    Later, he was deployed to Berlin to stop a Russian invasion. He was authorized to use radical force at the risk of ending his own life. His wife, Beverly, and children traveled there with him and lived on base.
    Bill was a humanitarian in the military. He was deployed to the Dominican Republic with orders to secure a communications tower with a four-block perimeter. Bill did so much more. He saw the people had no water and food, forced to work in the afternoon heat even though the temperatures reached extreme. He found an abandoned oil tanker, scrubbed it and used it to transport fresh water. Bill lifted the curfew to allow people to gather for parties in the evenings. The people tried to name the streets after Bill. This is the kind of American soldier he was.
    He attended college in Santa Monica, Calif., and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. Later, he divorced his first wife, Beverly. He retired in 1976 as a major, receiving his field commission in Vietnam.
    Bill then worked for the National Park Service. He found comfort and healing, serving as a ranger in Death Valley, driving a truck through the long, solitary roads. There, he found his love, a fellow park ranger, Ellen Haynes. He was smitten and, recognizing a good thing, married her on March 29, 1983. Together, they transferred to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming and then later moved to Corvallis, Mont. They moved to Deer Lodge, where they welcomed their first child, William S. Perry. Bill’s career history brought him to work at Montana State Prison as a correctional officer. He promptly joined the police force as a Deputy on Reserve. Their second child, Anna Perry, arrived seven years later.
    Bill raised his children with stories of war, justice and honor, always with a twinkle in his eyes and affection in his hugs.
    When the prisoners rioted in 1991, Bill was part of the SWAT team that contained the situation. His expertise and courage were invaluable.
    This was not the first situation where Bill’s training and initiative saved lives. When his brother, Bruce’s, sweetheart was kidnapped by a serial defiler and murderer, Bill tracked them down and brought the villain to justice. She lived.
    After Bill’s retirement, he served as an active member of both the American Legion, VFW and as an Honor Guard.
    Bill was an excellent soldier, a warrior, a good father and husband.  He was a man of sound moral character and honor with an appreciation for justice.
    His parents and brother are waiting for him on the “other side.” He leaves behind his beloved wife, Ellen, his five children, Rachel Perry, Leah Lawless, Gwendolyn Perry, William Perry and Anna Perry. Bill precedes in passing his grandchildren, Thomas and Grace Lawton; Mariah Perry; Liam and Ben Lawless; Kevin, Tim and Seth O’Brian; Liam Perry; Layla and Valorie Perry, and River Oran.
    We pay tribute to a true American hero and patriot.
    In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105, or Wounded Warrior Foundation at 3315 S. 23rd St., Suite 310, Tacoma, WA 98405.
Services were held on Oct. 21.
    Burial will be at Hillcrest Cemetery at a later date. 

    Jean Skinner Giles, 98, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and teacher, passed away peacefully in Palm Coast, Fla., on Sept. 24, 2025.
    She was a longtime Deer Lodge resident who taught two generations of third graders in Central and Granville Stuart schools.
    Born in Wadena, Minn., to Ralph and Ruth Skinner, Jean attended school in New York Mills, Minn., graduating from high school in 1944. She graduated from St. Cloud Teacher’s College in 1947 and began her career teaching second grade in the northern Minnesota town of Blackduck.
    Jean’s school years were deeply impacted by the Great Depression and the Second World War, leading to a lifetime love of big band music and war-era films and books, and a deep appreciation of family, home life and frugality. Aside from her teaching career, Jean’s passions were genealogy, cooking, baking, picnics, and hosting family gatherings. She was known for her sense of style and impeccable presentation, and her elegant holiday dinners.
    While teaching in Blackduck, Jean met next-door neighbor Murry Giles. They were married in October 1948 in the First Congregational Church in New York Mills. They later moved to Columbia Falls, Mont. Jean continued teaching and began a family, raising three children there, Kevin, Jeff, and Kathy. The family relocated to Deer Lodge, Mont., in 1958, where her fourth child, Kerry, was born.
    Jean began teaching third grade in 1961, and possessing a two-year teaching certificate, worked toward her degree in elementary education, graduating from Western Montana College in 1972. During this time, Murry suffered a devastating illness, and Jean held the family together during many difficult years while working full time, raising children, caring for Murry and advancing her education.
    Jean was an avid reader and writer. She promoted literacy and language arts throughout her teaching career. She was loved by her students and their families, and she received cards and letters from many of her former students throughout her retirement. She was active in the honorary teacher’s sorority of Delta Kappa Gamma, and the Elder Hostel. She taught Sunday school and played the piano in the First Presbyterian Church.
    Jean retired from teaching in 1987 to spend more time with her husband, who passed away in 1989. Jean subsequently pursued her dream of travel, visiting family and friends in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, the colonial city of Williamsburg in Virginia, Minnesota, Arizona and Florida. She also traveled to Alaska and the British Isles and had fond memories of seeing Miss Saigon in London’s West End, and Phantom of the Opera in Los Angeles on her birthday, where she was invited backstage after the show. She took great pride in her Irish heritage and often spoke of her excitement at viewing the Book of Kells in Dublin, Ireland.
    Survivors include her four children, Kevin Giles (Becky) of Stillwater, Minn., Jeff Giles of Palm Springs, Calif., Kathy Talmage (Gary) of Palm Coast, Fla., and Kerry Giles (Connie) of Las Vegas; her five granddaughters, Heather Peacock (Jim), Harmony MacDonald (Jim), Hillorie Brauch (Dwayne), Tara Cullen (Shawn) and Korie Pawlowski; step-grandsons Lee Talmage (Leann) and Alex Talmage; nephew Tom Karvonen; sister-in-law Janyce Von Lindern; and her 13 great grandchildren. Jean was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, her sister Phyllis Karvonen, her nephew Larry Karvonen, and a great granddaughter, Madison Welch.
    Celebration of life will be held at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in New York Mills at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery. Donations in memory of Jean Giles may be made to Gentiva Foundation (hospice) and to the World Literacy Foundation.

    Fred Lurie, 94, a Philipsburg resident for almost three decades, died on July 24 in Missoula, where he had lived for seven months. Born in Boston in 1930, Fred grew up in the Boston suburb of Belmont and spent summers in Antrim, N.H. at his family’s house on Gregg Lake. He distinguished himself as a fisherman at an early age by catching the largest bass on record for the lake.
    Fred received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a physics major and served as a member of the ROTC. He joined the Navy in 1952 and served on board ship as an ensign for several years. After leaving the Navy, Fred joined the Physics Department at the University of Illinois, Urbana, as a graduate student of Charles Slichter. His thesis research on “Spin Temperature in Nuclear Double Resonance” was published in Physics Reviews in 1964. The method described in this paper, referred to as the “Lurie-Slichter” method, is still in use, and was cited as recently as this year.
    After receiving his PhD in 1963, Fred spent several years at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1967, he joined the Indiana University Physics Department as an assistant professor and member of the solid-state group. In addition to his research and teaching, he supervised undergraduate laboratories and built the department’s nuclear magnetic resonance laboratory. His 1996 retirement tributes remembered him as the department’s “blackest sheep”—a position he undoubtedly would have been delighted to hold. His colleagues described him as a person who was “honest and disliked hypocrisy wherever he found it.”
    After retiring from Indiana University, Fred moved to Philipsburg for the fishing and spent the happiest years of his life as a member of the community. A card-carrying member of the coffee group – the Pedants of Philipsburg, he was also a member of the Philipsburg Rotary Club and worked on the construction of the warming hut at the skating rink. Fred participated on the Technical Advisory Committee of the Granite Headwaters Watershed Group, and he was instrumental in the founding of the Granite County Museum and worked on the historical displays. Fred worked on the Chamber Flag and Flower project every year, hanging flags and baskets (even when he shouldn’t have been on a ladder!) and helping at the breakfast. Fred was a strong supporter of the Five Valleys Land Trust, and was a lifetime member of Trout Unlimited. He spent many years taking stream flow measurements in the rivers of Western Montana for Trout Unlimited. Fred believed in actively supporting the activities and causes of all of these organizations.
    Fred is survived by six nieces and nephews, ten grandnieces and grandnephews, two great-grandnieces, and one great-grandnephew. Please join us on Oct. 12 at 2 p.m. at the Granite County Museum for a memorial gathering in Fred’s honor.

    On Sept. 21, Sharon, 79, entered into the refuge of the Lord after battling Parkinson’s and associated dementia.
    She was born June 17, 1946, in Orange County, Calif., to Robert and Anne Varrill.
    In an individual’s life, an event or personal contact will occur which will have a wonderful and everlasting effect. Sharon provided that realization to Carl, her husband of 58 years.
    She was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ as reflected in her voice, actions, and devotions. She was known for her willingness to express her views and dedication to helping others, specifically children and the elderly.
    Sharon had direct impact on numerous individuals through her work as a Director of Mary Kay cosmetics. Her three children, Margee, Brett, and Tait and five grandchildren will continue to embrace her love of life and legacy of supporting others as this was near to her heart.
    In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the national organization, Dress for Success at https://dressforsuccess.org/
    Funeral services will be held at a date to be determined that will involve immediate family only.
    The family will conduct a Celebration of Life with all of those who were impacted by Sharon’s love and fellowship. No location or date have been determined at this time.
    Please visit www.anacondafuneralhome.com to offer condolences to the family or to share a memory of Sharon.

    Thomas C. Hauck, 83, died in Missoula on Sept. 13 of natural causes after a brief hospice stay.  He was born in Butte on June 17, 1942, the son of John C. and Mary Taaffe Corette Hauck. Tom graduated from Butte High School and The University of Montana, where he earned a degree in mathematics and was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.
    Football was both Tom’s passion and his profession. In high school he was a three-sport athlete, earning all-state honors in both football and basketball.  In the spring, he found time to throw the shotput and discus. Away from athletics, he graduated near the top of his class.
    As a linebacker for the Grizzlies, he was compared to Dick Butkus, the legendary Chicago Bears linebacker, before a knee injury forced a position switch  to center. After graduating, he served a tour in Vietnam as a lieutenant in the Army.
    Tom’s coaching career began at Billings Senior High School, where he taught math and was the head football coach for several years. His next coaching assignment was at Rocky Mountain College where he was defensive coordinator before joining the Grizzlies in 1999. At Montana he coached the defensive line for 10 years under two coaches; first Joe Glenn and then Bobby Hauck, his nephew. Tom was on the staff for a national championship, nine Big Sky championships and two finishes as national runner-up.
    Coach Bobby Hauck remembers : “Tom was loved by all his players and coaching colleagues, and was always a steadying positive influence.  He had the right temperament, both calm and fire, when needed.”  
Tom was also inducted into the Butte Sports Hall of Fame.
    In his retirement years, Tom spent much time at his cabin at Moose Lake, where his family has summered for decades. One year he even spent the long Montana winter there, a wood stove as his primary companion.  Moose Lake is where his family will most fondly remember him.
    Above all, Tom was devoted to the blended Hauck and Moriarty family, brought about in 1957 with the marriage of Tom’s father, John Hauck, to Elizabeth Moriarty. Both were then widowed.
    Tom is survived by his sisters, Mary Hauck Rasmussen (Ronn) of Anchorage, Alaska and Jane Van Dyk of Billings; his brother, Frederic B. Moriarty (Donna) of  Midway, Utah; his sisters-in-law, Mary Lou Hauck of Lolo and Eleanore Hauck of Missoula.
    His brothers, John C. Hauck, Jr,  Robert L. Hauck and William J. Moriarty predeceased him.
    Among his 12 nieces and nephews are Bobby Hauck (Stacey), Tim Hauck (Robyn) and Katie Hauck Tirrell (Jason), all of Missoula. Many great  nieces  and nephews also survive. The family is especially grateful to Katie Hauck Tirrell for taking such loving care of Tom as his health began to decline.
    Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m.  on Friday, Sept. 26, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, 420 W. Pine St., Missoula 59802.  An evening vigil service will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 25, at the Garden City Funeral Home, 1705  W. Broadway, Missoula 59808.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hope Hospice Center, 3615 Union Pacific St., Missoula 59808;  UM Quarterback Club, Grizzly Athletics, 32 Campus Drive, Missoula 59812 or Sigma  Chi Building Foundation, P.O. Box 8874, Missoula, 59807.

    Daniel E. Beaumont, 73, died at home Aug. 6 in Rochester, N.Y. He was born in Seattle on Jan. 22, 1952, to Patricia and Robert Beaumont.
    Dan grew up in Portland, Ore., until high school when his family moved to Seattle. He attended Seattle Preparatory and graduated with honors from Bellevue High School.
    His interest in Arabic language and studies began when he worked for his Father in 1980 - 1982 in Libya. His father was hired by the Gaddafi Government to operate Cloud Seeding operations. He often said this experience set the course for his future.
    Dan earned a BA in 1975 and a Masters degree in 1986 from the University of Washington. He left there to earn a PhD from Princeton in 1991. He also was a Fulbright Scholar while at Princeton. University of Rochester hired Dan in 1992 to teach Arabic Language and Studies. His teaching included Arabic, Medieval and Contemporary Studies, European Philosophy and The Blues.
    He is the author of two books: “Slave of Desire: Sex, Love, and Death in The 1001 Nights,” 2002, and “Preachin’ the Blues: The Life and Times of Son House,” 2011. At the time of his death, he was working with a Hollywood Literary Agent on a new novel.
    Dan is survived by his daughter, Lily Beaumont, Kerrville, Texas; his brother, Peter Beaumont, Seattle; and sister, Cathleen Bryan, Palm Desert, Calif.; nieces and nephews, Patrick Bryan and Matthew Bryan, Seattle, Claire Beaumont, Seattle, and Samuel Beaumont, Bellingham, Wash. Lifelong friends, Lisa Salvati, New York City, Curtis Piltz, Portland, Ore., and Adham Hameed, Rochester, N.Y.
    In lieu of flowers, please send a contribution to the University of Rochester Scholarship Foundation, Rochester. Services handled by New Comer Cremation and Funeral, Rochester.
    Dan had a 33-year history with the University of Rochester and its staff and students, many of whom became lifelong friends. His family wishes to thank you for the care, friendships and appreciation shown him over his life.
    Celebration of Dan’s life and career will be held in the University of Rochester Chapel in October. Date forthcoming.

    Machille Frazer, 64, of Deer Lodge, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 13. Arrangements are under the care of Garden City Funeral Home.

    Elizabeth Ann Smith (Liz), 85, was at home and in the arms of her loving husband when she passed away peacefully from natural causes on the evening of Sept. 5, 2025.
    She is preceded in death by her parents, Nathaniel and Henrietta Hanson; her sister, Mary Ellen Hanson; and her daughter, Mary Smith.
    Liz was born in Bend, Ore. on March 1, 1940, to Nathaniel and Henrietta Hanson. She was the youngest of three children and her elementary school years were spent attending Indian Boarding Schools on various Native American Reservations in Oregon, Montana and Nebraska. Her father was a Federal Agent for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Liz loved sharing memories of childhood summers spent using horses to pack supplies into Montana’s back country sites complete with camping and fishing adventures and how exciting Native American Pow Wow ceremonies were.
    Liz graduated from Nevada’s Carson City High School in 1958. She then followed in both her Mother ‘s and Sister’s footsteps earning her RN diploma in 1961 from the Columbus School of Nursing in Great Falls. After graduating from nursing school, Liz moved to Tacoma to live with her sister and started working at Pierce County Medical Center. There she met and fell in love with the most handsome, kindest, hard-working orderly named Bill Smith.
    Bill and Liz were married on Sept. 30,1964, and remained in Tacoma until 1969, when they were able to return to Montana – first landing in Avon before re-locating to Deer Lodge in 1978.
    1983 was the year that Liz officially became known as “Nana.” She had an absolute love and passion for life and was so appreciative of being a stay-at-home Nana and Mom. Her faith in Christ could move mountains, but she had no problem going over his head if she needed to. We all agree that her one true passion was anything children (having six of her own as well as taking in families of foster children, neighborhood children, foreign exchange children, grand-children and great grand-children). She also loved cow dogs, lap dogs, sled dogs, ponies, horses, cats, hunting, fishing, mountain drives, Sunday night family rosary nights and her beloved cabin.
    Hospice nursing remained near and dear to Nana’s heart. She was instrumental in helping to establish Powell County Hospice, and through the years, she continued to keep her Montana RN License active as she wanted to be ready just in case she should receive a call to serve. She was also especially proud that she was able to be of service for three elected terms as Powell County’s State Representative.
    Nana is survived by her loving husband, Papa Bill;  her children, Tanya Wilkerson (Erik), Sabrina Brown (Scott), Troy Smith (Mary), Brock Smith (Denise), Celeste Davis (Todd), Holly Zeilie, Debbie Cooper; 17 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren;  one great-grand Baby Bean on the way; and her brother, John Hanson and his wife, Judy.
    Visitation will take place from 6 – 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 12.
    Funeral Service will be held 11:00 a.m., Sept. 13, at Immaculate Conception Church, 601 Clark St., Deer Lodge, MT 59722. Luncheon to follow at St Mary’s Center.
    In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to PAWHS