Obituaries

Sandra Hungate Armogost

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Sandra Hungate Armogost, long time resident of the Nye/ Absarokee area, passed away peacefully of natural causes on July 1, 2020, in her Absarokee home.

She was born Dec. 29, 1934, in Helena, Mont. She resided in Helena until moving to Billings in 1971.

A Cemetery Service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2020 at 11 a.m. This service will be held at the Nye Cemetery, Nye, Mont.

Merle “Betty” Elizabeth Whitford

Merle “Betty” Elizabeth Whitford was born in Harlowton, Mont., on June 19, 1940. She passed away on Aug. 15, 2020, in Columbus, Mont.

Betty spent her youth growing up in Harlowton, Big Timber and Greycliff. She met Harold Whitford at Eaton’s Inn where she was waitressing. They married Jan. 31, 1958. Betty went back to school and graduated from Reed Point High School with Harold’s sister, Leila Beckhardt and nephew, Larry Guy Terrel.

Donald Lee Stewart

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June 27, 1937 — Aug. 7, 2020

Donald Lee Stewart – 83 years old – died Aug. 7, 2020.

Don was born June 27, 1937, to Harold Stewart and Ann (Conley) Stewart. Don was the eldest of eight children. The family originally moved to the Silver Valley of North Idaho in 1939.

The young family moved between Montana and Idaho for a few years, then settled in Prichard, Idaho, and Don graduated from Wallace High School.

Don married Marsha Parmentier and had five children. He then married Billie Peterson and added four stepchildren to the family.

MaryAnn Simons

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Dec. 12, 1942 — Aug. 10, 2020

MaryAnn Feist Simons, age 77, passed away peacefully at her home on Aug. 10, 2020.

Born Dec. 12, 1942, in Pontiac, Mich., she was the daughter of Wendelin and Amelia Walker Feist.

MaryAnn grew up on a farm in Selfridge, N.D., and went to Saint Philomina Elementary School in Selfridge, which was a mile from their farm. She spent a year at Yankton Benedictines Sacred Heart Monastery in Yankton, S.D., then returned to Selfridge High School where she graduated valedictorian of her class.

Charles M. Handley “Mick”

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June 22, 1936 – July 2, 2020

Charles M. Handley “Mick”, 84, of Absarokee, Mont., passed July 2, 2020, at his home surrounded by family and friends.

He was born June 22, 1936, at Lee Summit, Mo., to Robert and Columbia Jane (Ruff) Handley, the youngest of 13 of the Handley-Morrison families. He grew up in Lodge Grass, Mont.

He enlisted in the U.S. Marines in 1954, serving in Korea.

John G. Lien

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June 25, 1937 — July 14, 2020

John G. Lien was born on June 25, 1937, in Columbus, Mont., and departed this life on July 14, 2020.

He was reared by his parents, Gabriel and Violet Lien, in the Absarokee Community. Attending school in Absarokee, he graduated high school in May 1955. After graduating, John joined the U.S. Navy and served 1956 to 1959. After serving in the Navy, John returned to Montana and attended Montana State University where he earned his accounting degree. He then used that degree to work for the Internal Revenue Service for 35 years.

Patricia Parker

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1938 — 2020

Patricia Caron Parker, a longtime resident of Citrus Heights, Calif., passed away peacefully in her home on May 14, 2020.

She is predeceased by her husband Robert Parker and her son Marty Parker. Patricia is survived by her two sons, Robert and Daniel, daughter-in-law Sonya, grandchildren Haley, Alex and Cloe, brothers Michael and Gary Ferguson of Townsend, Mont., and sister Maureen Newman of Great Falls, Mont., and many nieces and nephews.

Arthur “Art” Evans

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Aug. 1, 1939 — July 16, 2020

Arthur “Art” Aldan Evans passed away peacefully on July 16, 2020, in Absarokee, Mont., at the age of 80.

He was born Aug. 1, 1939, in a nursing home in Lakewood, Colo., to Charles and Violet (Edwards) Evans. They continued to live in Lakewood until they moved to Adams City, Colo., when he was 15-years-old. Unbeknownst to him at the time, they moved into a house neighboring his future wife, Shirley Elizabeth Lehman, who was then 13-years-old. The bond they possessed was immediate and will never be matched.

Sandra Hungate Armogost

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Sandra Hungate Armogost, long time resident of the Nye/ Absarokee area, passed away peacefully of natural causes on July 1, 2020, in her Absarokee home.

She was born Dec. 29, 1934, in Helena, Mont. She resided in Helena until moving to Billings in 1971 where she was an office manager for West Ad. Wholly owned subsidiary of KOA (Camp grounds of America).

In May, 1955, she married George Tiffany. They had four children. They divorced in 1963.

She married Billy Armogost April 11, 1971.

Arthur J. “Art” Yates

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Arthur J. “Art” Yates passed away July 9 at the Riverstone Hospice House in Billings. Art was born April 30, 1945, to Temple W. and Verta Norman Yates the seventh of 11 children. He was raised at the ranch on Fishtail Creek with his six sisters and four brothers. He graduated from Fishtail Elementary School and Absarokee High School.

On April Fool’s Day 1967, Art married his best friend and the love of his life, Mayme Fraser. Art and Mayme lived their married life at the ranch on Fishtail Creek, where they added two sons, Rob and Mark, to the family.