Leslie Joseph Melichar

Leslie Joseph Melichar passed away on Sept. 30, 2019 at the age of 75. He was born to Edward Antone Melichar and Virginia Madge Fox Melichar on July 1, 1944 in Lewistown. He spent his childhood growing up on the family farm just a mile south of Moore.

Les enjoyed a wide variety of hobbies including, boxing, NASCAR, football, fishing, gardening, road bikes, woodworking and traveling. From an early age, he loved to read and in junior high claimed he would try to read every book ever written.

Being a teenager in the late 50s and early 60s, a black jacket and his collar turned up (of course), proved to be a pretty exciting time. Les had a passion for music and cars along with “skipping” a few days from school and rodding cars with his best buds, including the late Clark Jennings. He took a lot of pride in his black Studebaker with the red interior. Les, his brother Ken, and a few of their friends formed a dance band in high school. He also spent a fair amount of time chasing the love of his life, Margie Hertel. They were known as the rebel and the cheerleader.

After high school, Les headed to U of M and earned his bachelors degree in music. One year in, he found he could not do without his high school sweetheart. He and Marge were married Sept. 7, 1963. Shortly after, he took his first teaching position in Hot Springs. Living and teaching on the reservation, inspired his passion for the Native American culture. Over the years, Les would return again and again to this spot with friends and family, building precious memories along the way.

A friend from college talked him into taking a teaching position in Stettler, Alberta, Canada. It was quite the opportunity for an adventure way up north, so he loaded up his family of five and off to Canada they went. While there, he also taught in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. What an adventure it was, and meant more good friends and memories. This included one year, while traveling home from Canada, the fan belt on the old Rambler broke. With nothing but a wink to his family and a pair of Marge’s nylons, they were soon on the road again. Les could fix anything.

The family returned to Montana when they heard his father was gravely ill. So in 1973, they once again loaded up and headed back to support the family farm. It was a boom/bust time in farming, but then again, when isn’t it?

During the “Shake your Shack,” years, and many of you will remember these, Les would provide hours of jamming on the piano and sing-alongs with family and friends into the wee hours of the morning. He would play the piano by ear, along with most of the other instruments. He was a talented man.

In 1989, Les took a job with the Farm Service Agency and was with them until he retired in 2011. After he retired, he and Marge spent most of a year traveling the country in an RV, and later became snowbirds, spending time with their family in both Montana and Arizona. He valued these experiences and family over everything else.

Les is survived by his wife Marge. As their children married, they were blessed with eight grandchildren and two great- grandsons. Brenda and Shawn had Elijah, Erin, Evan and Elissa. Elissa married Luke and they have a son Everett. Evan is married to Felicia. Maria and Dan had Molly and Joe. Derek and A’lynn had DJ and Gavin. Derek is now with Angie. DJ and Jordan had a son, Jettson. DJ is now with Dakota. Gavin is married to Merissa. Les was so-so proud of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

He will be so greatly missed and fondly remembered.

The family invites friends and family to attend a memorial to be held on Friday, Oct. 11, 2019 at the Moore School, with a luncheon to follow at the Office Bar.

Cremation has taken place and inurnment will be in the spring at the Moore Cemetery.

Mary Virginia (Tognetti) Lodman

Mary Virginia (Tognetti) Lodman March 10 1924 - October 6, 2019

Mary Virginia (Tognetti) Lodman, 95, a lifelong Lewistown resident, passed away at the Central Montana Hospital on Sunday Oct. 6, 2019.

A Friday night vigil will take place on Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. in the St. Leo’s Catholic Church followed

by the funeral service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12. Burial will take place in the Calvary Cemetery immediately after the service. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Central Montana Crematorium.

Mary was born in Lewistown on March 10, 1924. Her early childhood, until the age of 11, was spent on the Tognetti ranch in the Ross Fork area. The family then moved to Lewistown. Mary began her elementary education at the Tognetti School near Ross Fork and finished at St. Leo’s. She then attended Fergus high school for two years, transferred to St. Leo’s, and was a member of the first graduating class in 1941. She furthered her education at St. Joseph’s nursing school. After obtaining her license as an RN, she became a member of the Nurses Cadet Corps but did not see active service.

Mary married William J. (Bill) Lodman on June 18, 1947. The newlyweds made their home on Beaver Creek where they resided for many years and raised four children. Mary was very dedicated to her life as a homemaker. When her youngest child started high school, she returned to her career as a nurse. She enjoyed a 14-year employment at the Montana State Mental Health Center and, in the process, formed several lifelong friendships.

Mary’s life was well rounded through the many organizations to which she belonged. She was a member of the Beaver Creek Ladies Club, Moore Altar Society, St. Rita’s Guild, Moose Ladies, Pink Ladies, and Ministers of Care. She willingly volunteered her time to many church functions, crocheted mittens for the needy, and donated to several charities. The life she lived was very fulfilling. In the past year, the Villa Assisted Living staff and residents became her new circle of friends.

Family and friends felt the warmth of her welcome when they came to visit. She was always ready to assist when help was needed. When folks talk about Mary, her kindness to others becomes part of the conversation.

Mary is survived by her four children, Sue (Jim) Lorang of Great Falls, Pat (Jerry) Giedd of Lewistown, Barb (Mike Peterson) Lodman of Lewistown, and Dave (Kathy) Lodman of Idaho Falls, Idaho, 11 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to, the St. Leo’s Catholic Church, the Lewistown Public Library or the charity of your choice.

Edward Henry Lynes

Edward Henry Lynes, 82 passed away on December 20, 2017. He was born January 14, 1935 in Great Falls, Montana to Francis and Ida (Twigg) Lynes. Ed attended Belt High School in Belt, Montana graduating in 1952. Ed was drafted into the US Army in 1958 and was honorably discharged in 1960. While in the Army, Ed bacame buddies with Stanley Tarkowski from Michigan, who introduced Ed to his sister. She became the love of his life through letters. They married in September 1960. During the first few years of their marriage, Ed worked various jobs including warehouse and custom haying during summers. In 1975, a life long dream was fulfilled when the family of six moved to Lewistown. The Rainbows End Ranch was developed. For the next 40 plus years Ed farmed and ranched until the decline of his health. He was proud of all his accomplishments on the farm from building a successful cow herd to teaching his children all about farm life. He was proud of all the academic and personal accomplishments of his family. He enjoyed traveling, fishing, camping, visiting family, planning outdoor family activities. If you happened to sit next to Ed on a park bench, be prepared for an interesting conversation. There were no strangers in Ed’s life. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter (Marietta), two brothers, (Dick, John), two sisters (Dorothy, Leota). Ed is survived by his wife (Pat) of 57 years, children Colleen Criteli (Kevin) of Park City, Montana, Cindy Farago (Ken) of Missoula, Montana and Allen Lynes of Lewisown. Grandchildren Missy Lynes of Graham Washington, Kayla, Cassie and Anna Farago of Missoula. Numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be Thrusday, December 28, 2017 at St Leos Catholic Church in Lewistow at 11 AM with a reception lunch to follow.

Alice Marie Ruckman

Alice Marie Ruckman, 88, passed away on November 5, 2017 alter an extended illness. She was born on November 18, 1928 in Crosby, NO. Alice was the second of seven children born to Richard and Gladys (Stromstad)Walker. She played' a big role in helping with the younger children and remained close to all her siblings. Her family moved frequently whiles loe was growing up. She attended schools in Fort Peck (during the exciting dam building days), Cut Bank, Browning, Kalispell and she graduated from high school in Columbia Falls, MT. Alice was married to George R. Ruckman on September I, 1949. They were blessed with two daughters, Nicki and Gayle. Although they divorced in later years, they remained friends. She spent most of her adult life in Lewistown. She worked at the First National Bank of Lewistown for over 35 years where she made many friends with both her co-workers and customers. She stayed friends with many of them through the years even after her retirement. Alice was very involved with the Lewistown Soroptomist Club, she enjoyed playing bridge, working in her flower beds, watching sports and she loved going to garage sales and collecting antiques. She was a long-time member of the United Methodist Church. Alice was a wonderful mother, grandmother and friend. Her family and friends were so important to her and she loved spending time with them. She is survived by her daughters Nicki Martin and Gayle (Doug) Arntzen of Lewistown, her grandchildren Justin Martin, Jason (Tara) Martin, Brad (Stacie) Arntzen, Jennifer (Chad) Denowh, Erik (Amber) Arntzen and Derik (Corry) Arntzen and 13 great grandchildren, Sophie Martin, Jaden and Kenyon Martin, Abbie, Ashlen and Aleia Arntzen, Danica, Cambree and Peyton Denowh, Gus and Charlee Arntzen and Briella and Cooper Arntzen. She is also survived by her sister Barbara (Bill) Palmer, brother-in-law Harold Mallo, sister-in-law Pat Walker and many cousins, nieces and nephews, including her nephew Dave Ruckman, who was like the son she never had. He was so good to her through the years. A funeral service for Alice will be held at 11 :00 on December 2, 2017 at the United Methodist Church in Lewistown. The family suggests memorials be made to the United Methodist Church, the Friends of the Library or the Fergus County Council on Aging.

Bud (Alfred) Miller

Bud (Alfred) Miller was born to Tom and Mary (Wiederholt) Miller on February 27th, 1927 in Conception Junction, Missouri and was the sixth of ten siblings:

Leo Miller, Clara McQuinn, Mildred Miller, Robert Miller, MaDonna Fox, George Miller, Viola Williams, Bernice Vitorie, and Mary Agnes (Mickey) Jarrell.

Bud’s young life was filled with hardship by today’s standards. His family was of meager means and he only went to school through the 8th grade. His family farmed a small piece of land that supported four other large families in addition to the Miller family. The son of one of these families, Gene Stoll, became one of Bud’s closest and longest friends and the two saw each other even into their later years. Leaving Missouri with $20 in his pocket, and at the urging of his brother Robert, Bud and his friend Bill Brady rode the train to Montana in 1944.  Bud settled in Lewistown where he built his life from the ground up. He married Helen van der Hagen on April 20, 1950 and they raised their family as Bud worked on ranches and then rented several ranches around Lewistown.  In 1964 he was able to purchase the ranch on Castle Butte.  Bud also started and successfully ran his own construction business, Miller Construction. In 1984, Bud was elected as County Commissioner for Fergus County where he served until 1996.

Bud worked in and enjoyed the outdoors fishing, hunting, and spending time on Castle Creek spraying weeds and chopping brush. He liked jigsaw puzzles, had a sweet tooth for chocolate, and loved to read stories of Western history. Bud also got to tour Europe in 1999 with his cousin, Spud Miller, to search his family tree, visit the Vatican, and see dozens of castles.  He was disappointed that he saw no birds or wildlife there.

Bud passed away on July 28, 2017 in Lewistown. His memory is carried on by his five children and many grandchildren. Bud is survived by his children Carla (Dick) Dennison, Richard Miller,  Tom (Kim) Miller, Terry (Ellen) Miller, and

Douglas (Yvonne) Miller, all of Lewistown; his grandchildren Jada (Clint)

Beggar of North Dakota, Kodi (Jody) Kingsbury of Bozeman, Tyler (Kami)

Kingsbury of Bozeman, Kas Miller of Lewistown, Kylie Miller of Lewistown,

Jessica (Osvaldo) Miller Vargas of Lewistown, Crystine (Canon) Miller of

Helena, Whitney (Paul) Brady of Lewistown, Jared Miller of Bozeman, Jake Miller of Lewistown, Brandie Emerson of Billings, and Shane (Krystal) Emerson of Hilo, Hawaii; ten great-grandchildren; and his partner Julie Logan.

Jacqueline “Jackie” Rammelt

Jackie passed away on Friday, August 4th, 2017 at CMMC in Lewistown. She was born on December 27th, 1940 to Lloyd and Nelda (Harmon) Johnson in Lewistown, Montana. Jackie graduated in 1959 from Fergus High. After graduation, she worked numerous jobs in Lewistown, most recently at HRDC and Yellowstone Boys & Girls Club, where she loved working with the youth. In 1970 she met James Rammelt. Jackie and James were married in Cody, Wyoming in June 1973. A few years later they moved to Heath, MT.

Jackie enjoyed spending time with her family and many friends. Her grandchildren and great grandchildren were some of her greatest treasures. She enjoyed hiking, crafting and picking wildflowers.

Jackie is survived by her husband of 45 years, James of Lewistown MT, daughter Annette (Bob) Thom of Lewistown; and stepson Eric (Joyce) Rammelt of Lewistown; grandchildren, Kyrie (Ryan) Benes, Kylie Downs, Jordan (McKynzie) Karger, Samantha Karger, Tanna Rammelt, and James Rammelt, and many greatgrandchildren; and two living sisters, Guelda (Danny) Halverson, Melraine Johnson and two living brothers, Lloyd “Butch” Johnson, Roger (Bridgett) Johnson.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Nelda, her brother Donald and niece JaNeill.

Jim Beardo

On Sunday, July 23, 2017 Jim Beardo, 68, joined his son, Jason Beardo returning home to our Heavenly Father.

Jim was born in Los Angeles, Calif., on Feb. 13, 1949, where he grew up becoming an avid hunter and outdoorsman. Later, he moved to Oregon where his children were born. Jim returned to Los Angeles where he worked for Union 831 for over 20 years.

After retiring in 2005, Jim and his wife, Mary Beardo, moved to Lewistown to enjoy the open roads he loved to ride, as well as the fabulous hunting and fishing of Central Montana.

Jim never met a stranger. He had an infectious personality and a generous spirit. You would always see him with a smile on his face. He will be greatly missed by his friends and family.

Jim is survived by his wife, Mary Beardo; daughter, Candyce (James) Shirey; four grandchildren, Tristen Beardo, Trinity Beardo, Archer Shirey and Aiden Shirey; and his sister, Sheila Beardo.

A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, Aug. 5, 2 p.m. at the Creel Funeral Home Chapel.  Following the service, a celebration of Jim’s life will continue at Shirey’s Pub in Hilger, Mont. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Jim Beardo’s family.

Cremation by Central Montana Crematorium.

James C. Raw

James “Jim” Colwell Raw, son of Mary and James Raw, was born on April 26th, 1945 in Lewistown, Montana. He died on June 24, 2017 in the company of his family and his dog, “Casey”.

Jim was proud to be a 4th generation rural Central Montanan. He attended school in Moore, Montana and graduated from there in 1963 and went on to attend Northern Montana College in Havre, Montana before beginning a successful career as a long-haul truck driver and working in road construction. He was employed by Century Construction for 25 years and was recognized as employee of the year in 1997.

Jim married Jean Casey on September 19, 1970. His marriage to Jean was everything to him, and he was proud of their three children, Michael, Shannon, and Tamara. Life got even better when his three grandchildren, Meaghan, Morgan and Emily joint the family. He enjoyed interacting with them from infants to young adults, traveling to and observing may school and extra-curricular activities.

Jim was a proud member of the Montana Army National Guard, serving his country for more than 13 years as an artillery man with the 163rd Armored Cavalry Brigade. He made many lifelong friendships and enjoyed recalling his life experiences during that period.

Receiving his 50 years pin as a member of the Lewistown Friendship Masonic Lodge #37, where he was a two time past Master Mason, was an important milestone for him. He conducted community outreach activities, scholarship programs and participated in many 4th of July parades as a Shriner clown or driver.

Jim loved his community, his home, his friends, and his family. He welcomed a strong cup of coffee, conversations on wide and varied topics, a good book, a great home cooked meal, and a good (or bad) game of Pinochle, He had a sense of humor that was legendary. He enjoyed four wheeling with friends and family, knowing and showing parts of the Little Belt Mountains and Armell’s Creek near the Yaeger ranch. He was an avid camper, in the Little Belts and at Crystal Lake. He could tell wild stories of past hunting seasons and was relied upon by the next generations to show them where to find their hunting success. He was counted on by many for volunteering time and energy, dropping what he was doing to lend a hand: loading bales of hay, gathering cattle, or fixing equipment. He was a self-taught master mechanic who could diagnose and repair problems brought to him whether cars, tractors, lawnmowers or four wheelers. Some referred to him as the mechanical “miracle” worker. He volunteered alongside Jean with Relay for Life activities, and working with the First Presbyterian Church community dinners and other events.

Jim is survived by his wife, Jean; son Michael (Stacey) Raw of Clyde Park, Montana; daughter Shannon (J.R.) Killham of Great Falls, Montana; and daughter, Tamara Raw of Boise, Idaho; grandchildren Emily Killham and Meaghan and Morgan Raw; sisters Roxie (Odell) Ecker, Rosie (Chuck) Yaeger, and Nancy Maynard, and their many family members.

Funeral Services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church, Lewistown, Montana on Friday June 30th 2017 at 3:00 PM followed by a reception in the fellowship hall. Memorials may be made to Friendship Lodge # 37 Order of Masons, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), First Presbyterian Church, or the Veteran’s Memorial Park of Lewistown.