Obituaries

Benton Funeral Home Obituaries

In Memory of Our Dear Loved Ones

Kenneth E. Lefurgey

Kenneth E. Lefurgey

May 17, 2025

Kenneth Eugene LeFurgey, 66, passed away Saturday, May 17, 2025, at the lake house in Wolf Creek, Montana. His viewing will be Friday, May 23, 2025, from 4-6 p.m. at the Benton Funeral Home. His funeral service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, May 24,2025 at the Fort Benton United Methodist Church with Pastor Carl Ellis officiating. His burial will...

Waden George Fultz

Waden George Fultz

May 12, 2025

In Loving Memory of Waden George Fultz June 24, 1949 – May 12, 2025

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Waden "George" Fultz, 75, beloved family man and community leader, after a two-year battle with metastatic melanoma.

Born on June 24, 1949, George lived a life marked by compassion, purpose, and joy. During...

Richard Wayne Cook Sr.

Richard Wayne Cook Sr.

May 9, 2025

Richard Wayne Cook Sr., 84, passed away on Friday, May 9, 2025, at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls, MT, surrounded by his loving family. Cause of death was due to heart failure and his pure stubbornness.

Richard was born in Havre, MT on April 28, 1941, to Henry & Bertha (Pound) Cook, the oldest of thirteen children....

Jacqueline Joanne Welty

Jacqueline Joanne Welty

Apr 30, 2025

Jacqueline Joanne Welty, born on September 2, 1929, in Blaine County, Montana, to Jackson and Evelyn Norberg, passed away peacefully on April 30, 2025. She was the eldest of two, with a younger brother, Leonard "Joe". Jacqueline attended Northern Montana College, graduating as a medical secretary. It was there she met her future husband, Bill Welty, while he was...

Judith Carol Hicks

Judith Carol Hicks

Apr 26, 2025

Judith "Judy" Carol Hicks, 81, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Great Falls, Montana. Her graveside service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, May 8, 2025, at the Geraldine Cemetery with Pastor Kit Miller officiating. A fellowship luncheon will be held at the First Christian Church in Fort Benton immediately after the graveside...

Donald J Leaf

Donald J Leaf

Mar 18, 2025

Donald J. Leaf, 97, passed away peacefully, March 18, 2025, in Fort Benton, Montana at the Missouri River Medical Center. A private graveside service is planned at the Fort Benton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to V.F.W. Post 4047, P.O. Box 363 Fort Benton, Montana 59442. Please visit Donald's online memorial page to send...

Dena Lynn Salois

Dena Lynn Salois

Feb 21, 2025

Dena Lynn Salois, 53, unexpectedly lost her life on the 21st of February. It is an understatement to describe her as one of the most loving and selfless individuals. She was an incredible cook, a cherished daughter, sister, and friend, but most of all she was the most loving mother and grandmother.

Dena was born on June...

Helen O'Hara

Helen O'Hara

Feb 16, 2025

Helen Jordan O'Hara passed away peacefully Sunday, February 16, 2025, at the Benefis Missouri River Medical Center, she was 96 years old. Her funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at the Immaculate Conception Church with her burial to follow at the Riverside Cemetery,  in Fort Benton. Memorial donation's in Helen's...

Shirley Ann Yirsa

Shirley Ann Yirsa

Feb 9, 2025

It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Shirley Ann Yirsa, beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, on Sunday, February 9, 2025, at the age of 90. Born Shirley Ann Frieling to John Frieling and Veronica Nagengast, she was one of ten children. She married Edward Yirsa in 1954 and moved to a...

Phyllis Margaret Smith

Phyllis Margaret Smith

Jan 23, 2025

Phyllis Margaret Smith, 95, passed away Thursday, January 23, 2025, in Fort Benton, Montana. Cremation has taken place, and her Memorial Mass will be held in April at the Immaculate Conception Church, with her burial to follow at Riverside Cemetery in Fort Benton, Montana. Please visit Phyllis' online memorial page at www.bentonfh.com to send a card or leave a...

Janet Mann

Janet Mann

Jan 21, 2025

Janet was born November 25th, 1936, in Pondera County Montana. She was raised in Cut Bank, Montana.  In 1953, she won the state high school championship title of Rodeo Queen. Janet was the first state Rodeo Queen in Montana's history. She had a love of horses, a passion for rodeos, and was a member of the Daughters of American...

Petrina Burgess

Petrina Burgess

Dec 30, 2024

Petrina Burgess (Trina), 93, of Big Sandy, passed away on December 30, 2024, in New Boston, Texas.

Petrina was born in Minnesota to Frank and Ella Hasbrouck on August 25, 1931. She worked for the Fort Benton Hospital as a CNA for several years then moved to Big Sandy.

She was preceded in death by...

Ibbi Hansen Trainer

Ibbi Hansen Trainer

Dec 20, 2024

Ibbi Hansen Trainer, 89, passed away peacefully of natural causes on December 20, 2024 with family by her side.

Born in Copenhagen, Denmark on December 5, 1935 she was the eldest child of Svend and Ragnhild Nielsen.

As a young girl she moved to America with her family.  Passing through Ellis Island on to Reserve,...

Donna Lynn Schroeder

Donna Lynn Schroeder

Dec 15, 2024

In the early morning hours, Mom, 85 years young, saddled up and rode off to see her first heavenly sunrise, passing away at the Missouri River Medical Center of natural causes on Sunday, December 15, 2024. She started out in Great Falls, being the first of five children born to Floyd and Betty (Morrow) Zanto. She grew up in...

Helen Elizabeth Babcock

Helen Elizabeth Babcock

Nov 26, 2024

Helen Elizabeth Babcock was born 5/25/1948 in Neenah, Wisconsin to Roy and Isabel Babcock as youngest of 5.  Helen moved many times in her life in Wisconsin, Montana, Washington and Idaho.  Helen graduated from Columbia Falls in 1967. She married and divorced, having 2 daughters with her ex-husband.

Helen worked a couple decades as a floral designer...

Patricia E. Wutschke

Patricia E. Wutschke

Nov 21, 2024

Patricia (Pat) Clark Wutschke passed away peacefully on November 21, 2024 surrounded by her loving family. Her life started on May 7, 1939 at the St. Clair hospital in Fort Benton, MT. She was the 3rd child and 1st daughter of James Edward Clark Sr. and Frances Cecil (Nulf) Clark. She was raised in the Graceville community NE of ...

Arthur Albert Stone

Arthur Albert Stone

Oct 29, 2024

Arthur Albert Stone, 82, passed away Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at his home in Loma of natural causes. The viewing will be held at the Benton Funeral Home on Thursday, November 7, 2024, from 4-6 p.m. with graveside services 10 a.m. Friday, November 8, 2024, in Fort Benton, Montana at the Riverside Cemetery. Memorials in Arthur's honor may be...

Margie Arleen Stoner

Margie Arleen Stoner

Oct 16, 2024

Our mom went to heaven today, no longer is she in pain but restful peace. Marge spent most of her life raising her six children, who were the most important thing in her world. Mom always seemed to fix whatever it was that went wrong in our lives from scraped knees to broken hearts.

Margie Arlene Stoner,...

Merle Wayne Heitzman

Merle Wayne Heitzman

Oct 14, 2024

Merle Wayne Heitzman, 76, of Fort Benton, loved son, brother, husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully on October 14th, 2024.  Born to Walter and Mary Heitzman Jan 17th, 1948 and grew up in Hardin, MT on the Heitzman family farm with his three sisters, Joanne, Arlene, Rhonda and brother Duane.  He had a lifelong love of fishing, hunting...

Maryann Virginia Haugen

Maryann Virginia Haugen

Oct 4, 2024

MaryAnn Virginia (Simonson) Haugen, born on February 15, 1932, in Viking, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on October the 4th 2024. She was the beloved daughter of Gladys Ebba Skoglund Simonson and Albert T. Simonson, her arrival was joyfully welcomed by her aunt/midwife, Annie, who later became her cherished godmother. Named after her grandmother Mary and her aunt Annie, MaryAnn...

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