September 20, 2023

9/20/2023

Howard Stevenson
December 30, 1947 - August 2, 2023

Howard Stevenson, 75, passed peacefully at his home in Deer Lodge, on August 2, 2023. Howard had suffered with COPD the last few years.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sandi Gilman Stevenson; son, Howard of Deer Lodge; and granddaughter, Sheyanne Carpenter (Tristan) of Seeley Lake.
Howard is also survived by his stepfather, Orville Fraser of Laurel; sisters, Betty Przybylski of Florida, Valerie Boelter (Tom) of Park City, Lavonne Frank (Pete) and Carol Osmondson (Dan) of Thief River Falls, Minn., Stacey Gable (Dan) of Laurel, Thelma Lofink of Laurel and Rachel Fraser of Billings; brother, Chad Fraser of Deer Lodge; sister-in-law, Ronnie Kitenberg of Deer Lodge; and brother-in-law, Les Gilman of Elko, Nevada; special nephew, Cody Fraser (Rachel) of Billings, and their two children, Taylor and Kane; and, not to forget, numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces.
Howard was preceded in death by his father, Orville Stevenson; and mother, Florence Stevenson Fraser; brothers, Loren Stevenson and Hank Fraser; sisters, Tammy and Faith Fraser.
Born on Dec. 30, 1947, Howard served in the United States Army in Vietnam and in the Army National Guard for 12 years.
He drove truck for the Cominco Mine in Garrison until the close of its operation. He then worked for the Round Mountain Gold Corp. in Round Mountain, Nev., for 18 years.
An avid NASCAR racing fan all his life, his interest was shared by his wife, Sandi. Howard also enjoyed membership in the Drummond American Legion, the Deer Lodge Racing Association and the Moose Lodge.
A Graveside Service with Military Honors will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023, in the Veteran section of Hillcrest Cemetery in Deer Lodge. There will be another graveside service occurring at the entrance to the gate. Please go up the hill past this service. Howard’s graveside will be to your left. In lieu flowers, please visit www.axelsonfuneralhome.com to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Howard.
His family would like to thank Enhabit Hospice and Eden Home Health for their invaluable help in Howard’s last month of care.

Bruce Bartlett Benson
April 14, 1931 - September 11, 2023

Bruce Bartlett Benson, 92, of Avon passed away on Sept. 11. Bruce was born April 14, 1931, in Deer Lodge, to his parents, John and Esther, and was the fourth child, joining siblings: Betty, Cliff, Fred and later, Eva.
Bruce attended grade school in Avon and later graduated from Powell County High School in 1949. After graduation, Bruce continued to work on the family’s dairy ranch up until he was drafted to serve his country. He served from Sept. 20, 1951 to June 20, 1953, with 13 of those months being served in Korea as Headquarters Commanding Officer 58th Field Artillery Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division.
After Bruce returned home from Korea, he and his brother, Fred, went into partnership and became third generation owners of the Benson Ranch with their father’s dairy business. They later sold the herd in 1963 and transitioned into stock cattle, which is still in operation today and has been very successful.
On Sept. 20, 1958, Bruce and Pauline (Bignell) were married in Helmville. They were blessed with two daughters, Evelyn and Valerie. Bruce and Pauline were married for 63 years before her passing on Sept. 29, 2021.
In July of 2017, the Benson Ranch was inducted into the Montana Draft Teamster Hall of Fame. Draft horses were used on the Benson Ranch for more than a century, and it was one of the last ranches that utilized the teams up until the mid 1990s. It was a spectacle to watch as it took great skill that was mastered and that had been passed down from generations. The draft horse teams would pull mowers, rake the hay with dump rakes, and bunch and move the hay to the stack with buckrakes. The team would then be pulled off from the beaverslide, hoisting the baskets with loose hay that would be dumped onto the stack.
Bruce was an active member in his community, serving on the school board for Avon Grade School and Powell County High School. Bruce also spearheaded the Avon Stockyard Association where he was elected president in 1982, serving up until his passing. Bruce and Pauline were never a stranger to anyone; they were always welcoming and always had a pot of coffee ready to go along with a conversation.
Bruce is preceded in death by his wife, Pauline; daughter, Valerie; brothers, Cliff and Fred; and sister, Betty.
He is survived by his sister, Eva; daughter, Evelyn; granddaughters, Sarah, Beth (Noah), Leigh (Kevin); and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.
Viewing will take place from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. with funeral services to begin at 11 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 18, 2023, at the Avon Community Church followed by a graveside burial at the Avon Cemetery with Military Honors. A reception will follow at the Avon Community Clubhouse. Memorials can be made to the Avon Cemetery.
Bruce’s family would also like to give a special thanks to Southwest Montana Veteran’s Home in Butte and Cooney Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Helena for their care for Bruce. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Bruce.

Donald Edward Bacon
September 22, 1941 - September 5, 2023

Donald Edward Bacon, 81, of Elliston, died Sept. 5 on the Elliston hill surrounded by family and friends. He fought a courageous two-year battle with esophageal cancer.
Don was born in Lewistown on Sept. 22, 1941, to Lynn and Ruth Bacon of Harlowton and was the oldest of 9 children. Spending his youth in the Deer Lodge area, he fostered a life-long love for all things agricultural and livestock. While working on neighboring ranches, a strong work ethic was developed alongside the “Cowboy Way.” Additionally, he became very fond of shepherding and was an active member of the Deer Lodge 4H/FFA programs.
Don graduated from Powell County High School in 1960. In March of 1961, he married his pretty little gal from Elliston, Charla Ann Pierce, who would be by his side for the next 62 years. They were blessed with three wonderful children, Kevin, Kellie and Kyle.
For the first few years, he worked in construction and as an over-the-road truck driver. The family moved several times within Mont., S.D. and Wash. In the mid-sixties, a job with the Milwaukee Railroad brought the Bacon family to Wisconsin. As a purchasing and parts coordinator and subsequent promotion to material manager, Don perfected his meticulous organizational skills. Roots were established in Milton, Wis., for the next 2 plus years, where his desire to be a farmer and shepherd never left him.
In the mid 1970s, he established “Big Sky Suffolks” which quickly became a family obsession and business. Through Don’s leadership, they became a premier flock across the state, as well as nationally. Don proudly served as the Wisconsin Sheep Breeders Association President and Board Member for many years. A return to Big Sky country became a reality in 1989 as Don, Char and Kyle moved to their little slice of Montana heaven, Elliston; where they permanently settled.
Soon thereafter, Don started a 13-year career with the Helena Nabisco distribution center; many days were spent seeing glorious mountain views behind the windshield of his route truck. Retirement in 2003 did not slow Don down. He was either fixing, maintaining, organizing anything and everything around the home or working for Pierce & Associate Builders.

One of Don’s greatest joys was making his weekly trip to the Koon cabin in Avon with his best friends. He loved nature and the outdoors, especially his annual sabbatical to the high country for hunting season. He also enjoyed many lengthy snowmobile and ATV rides, catching a rodeo any and every chance he could, playing a good game of cards or berating his beloved Green Bay Packers, all while sharing a tasty Jim Beam to wash down the love, laughter and memories. Don was also recently recognized as a 50-year “Master Mason” from the Ottawa #51 Masonic Lodge in Marysville.

Even as he endured his recent health fight, he never tried to bring attention to his plight. He frequently offered help to those around him and often brought comfort to others with that Don Bacon smile and attitude. He was blessed with a rich life that had very little to do with money; there was a family that loved him, memories abound and hundreds of good friends … he will be missed by many.

Don is survived by his wife Charla and three children: Kevin (Jackie) of Elliston, Kellie (Paul) Langer of Helena and Kyle (Jeanee) of Mesa, Ariz.; grandchildren: Emily, Craig, Charlie and Will, Josh, Jason and Paul Jr, Lucy and Remy; great-grandchildren: Jolee, Davis, Zoe, Eddie, Henry, Landen, Abigail, Samuel and Miles. Also surviving siblings, Dennis, Karen, Dwight (Sandra), Kathy, Kim, Dean, David (Gail) and Kristie; brothers in-law: Fred (Carol) and Bill (Nancy) Pierce; aunts: Marilyn Robinson and Amy Ballentine; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Don was a terrific friend, wonderful father, great husband and a good shepherd of life. It’s now time for Don to be with his Mom and Dad, and other friends and family who’ve passed before.

A small mountain service will take place later this month and a broader service for family and friends will take place Memorial Day weekend (May 2024) at the Elliston Cemetery (details TBD). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either St. Peters Health Hospice, Elliston Cemetery or an organization of your choice. Condolences can be sent to PO Box 210, Elliston, MT 59728.

were spent seeing glorious mountain views behind the windshield of his route truck. Retirement in 2003 did not slow Don down. He was either fixing, maintaining, organizing anything and everything around the home or working for Pierce & Associate Builders.
One of Don’s greatest joys was making his weekly trip to the Koon cabin in Avon with his best friends. He loved nature and the outdoors, especially his annual sabbatical to the high country for hunting season. He also enjoyed many lengthy snowmobile and ATV rides, catching a rodeo any and every chance he could, playing a good game of cards or berating his beloved Green Bay Packers, all while sharing a tasty Jim Beam to wash down the love, laughter and memories. Don was also recently recognized as a 50-year “Master Mason” from the Ottawa #51 Masonic Lodge in Marysville.
Even as he endured his recent health fight, he never tried to bring attention to his plight. He frequently offered help to those around him and often brought comfort to others with that Don Bacon smile and attitude. He was blessed with a rich life that had very little to do with money; there was a family that loved him, memories abound and hundreds of good friends … he will be missed by many.
Don is survived by his wife Charla and three children: Kevin (Jackie) of Elliston, Kellie (Paul) Langer of Helena and Kyle (Jeanee) of Mesa, Ariz.; grandchildren: Emily, Craig, Charlie and Will, Josh, Jason and Paul Jr, Lucy and Remy; great-grandchildren: Jolee, Davis, Zoe, Eddie, Henry, Landen, Abigail, Samuel and Miles. Also surviving siblings, Dennis, Karen, Dwight (Sandra), Kathy, Kim, Dean, David (Gail) and Kristie; brothers in-law: Fred (Carol) and Bill (Nancy) Pierce; aunts: Marilyn Robinson and Amy Ballentine; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Don was a terrific friend, wonderful father, great husband and a good shepherd of life. It’s now time for Don to be with his Mom and Dad, and other friends and family who’ve passed before.
A small mountain service will take place later this month and a broader service for family and friends will take place Memorial Day weekend (May 2024) at the Elliston Cemetery (details TBD). In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either St. Peters Health Hospice, Elliston Cemetery or an organization of your choice. Condolences can be sent to PO Box 210, Elliston, MT 59728.

Sylvia Marie Gleason
February 14, 1949 - September 9, 2023

Sylvia Marie Gleason, 74, was born to Patrick and Sylvia (Billie) Gleason on Feb. 14, 1949. She was followed by her brother, Daniel, and sister, Linda. She was born in Butte and raised primarily in Deer Lodge (on the Gleason Ranch, as she liked to call it.)
Sylvia received her education in Deer Lodge and graduated in 1967 from Powell County High School. After graduation, she followed her husband to the Great Lakes area where she worked for the SOLO cup company, then on to Long Beach, Calif., where she worked as a teller in a bank while he pursued a naval career. It was there she became pregnant with her first son, Patrick. She moved home to Deer Lodge to have the support of her family as a single mother.
Sylvia remarried and had two more sons, Sean and Cody, and gained three stepsons. After a few odd jobs, she went to work on the furnaces at the Anaconda Smelter to help support her family. When the Anaconda Company closed, she pursued her true passion in life: nursing. She received her degree as an LPN from the nursing program in Helena. She then moved to Shelley, Idaho, where she continued her career as a trauma nurse and a nurse for the eye surgery center in Idaho Falls. She had found her niche in nursing: surgery. Sylvia loved the surgical part of nursing so much she decided to further her education with an RN degree from Ricks College. She moved to Spokane, Wash., to be closer to family and went to work for the day surgery center at Sacred Heart Hospital. Always wanting to be closer to her grandchildren, she moved back to the Gleason Ranch. She went to work as surgical nurse at the Community Hospital in Anaconda until her retirement.
After 25 years of being single and swearing she would never get married again, the love bug bit her one more time.
In 2016 she found love again at her granddaughter’s wedding. She and Leonard were married in Reno, Nev., on Sept. 1, 2018, and moved to Nevada. Always homesick for her grandchildren and the Gleason Ranch she would always return to spend her summers.
Sylvia was a curious soul who loved an adventure no matter how big or small. She traveled to Europe for four weeks with her sister in 1989. Took her father for his first trip to the Grand Canyon and traveled many miles and states with Leonard in their fifth wheel. They had many more trips planned; one in particular was Ireland.
Sylvia was passionate about her family, her friends, her patients, music and a good book. She was a voracious reader and consumed them like candy.
Her boys and grandchildren were at the center of her universe. She showered them with love, gifts, money, time and a good talking to if the occasion presented itself.
Sylvia is survived by her beloved Leonard; her sons, Patrick, Sean, Cody; and stepsons, Lee, Randy and Bill; her sister, Linda Morehouse (Lyle); 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends who were all family to her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother and a stepson.
Sylvia was the light that shined brighter than sunshine through her kindness, open heart and giving soul. She was the glue that held us altogether and will continue to bond us as one in her love. She was smooth like a Patsy Cline song swaying like a beautiful dance on a summer’s day. She will be forever missed, cherished and loved by all who knew her.
She was called Lulu, Silver, Mom, Sister, Nana and Baby by those closest to her.
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself: that where I am, there ye be also.
John 14:2-3
Services will be held in the Community Center of Deer Lodge, 416 Cottonwood Ave., Deer Lodge, MT, at 11 a.m. on Saturday, September 23, 2023. A graveside service will follow at Hillcrest Cemetery, W. Milwaukee Ave., Deer Lodge, MT, with a luncheon after at the Community Center. Dishes, salads, etc. are welcomed and appreciated by the family if brought.
Please visit longfellowfinneganriddle.com to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Sylvia.
Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home and Cremation Services has been honored to care for Sylvia and her family.

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