Central Montana Obituaries

In memory of those we've lived with,

loved with,

and learned with.

Our finest regards.

Walter Kennon Lacy 79 of Stanford Passed away on Thursday morning, December 24, 2020ending a long andvaliant battle with illness.  He was in the care of Benefis Healthcare in Great Falls.  He was born July 30, 1941 in LittleRock, AK the son of Walter K. and Ruth I. (Wiggins) Lacy.  

Walter’s childhood and early years were spent in McRae and Searcy, Arkansas and Fairfield and Vallejo, CA.  As an adult Walter moved to Alaska working various jobs, married and had 3 children. A good Samaritan he helped anyone in need if he possibly could do so.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing and dog mushing.  Rolling the road by car, truck, motorhome or motorcycle was his pleasure.  An entertainer at heart Walter loved to make peoplelaugh.  He loved to talk and talk he did….

Over the course of his life Walter was a logger, a cab driver, a car salesman, an ad man and photographer for the Anchorage DailyNews, a chef and baker at Barter Island on the DEW line (a series of defensive radar stationsnear the 70th parallel intended to give warning of hostile aircraftor missiles).  Walter wasalso a gold miner.  Returning to the lower 48 in 1998, he and his wife Barbara owned and operated Alaska Gold and Ivory Artifact Museum and Jewelry Shop in Pennsylvania and later in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas.  In 2000 Walt and Barb headed to Arizona where the lure of gold took them out into the mountains and deserts.  As a Fisher metal detector salesman, he instructed his clients in their use and provided them great enjoyment in guided field experiences.

Walter loved his wife, children and friends.  He isgreatly missed and loved by them all.

Walter is survived by his wife of 30 years, Barbara (Kalke) who came to be“our mom” to Walter’s three sons:James (and wife Michelle) of Jackson, CA,Charles (and wife Christina) of Grass Range, MT andWalter K., II of Miles City, MT and Devils Lake, ND.  Grandfather Walter dearly loved his 3 grandchildren, Barbara Joann Lacy, Joseph James Lacy and Charlie Christine Lacy.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents, hissister Carolyn Lacy and an infant brother William Lacy.

Cremation has taken place under the direction of the Cloyd Funeral Home.  A Celebration of Life will be announced later.

If so desired friends are asked to make memorials to the Trinity Lutheran Church of Stanford or thecharity of their choice and they may be left with the Cloyd Funeral Home.  Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.cloydfuneralhome.com.
 

Kenneth “Ken” E. Lahneman, 75, passed away Saturday, January 2, 2021 in Lewistown, MT.  

Kenny was born in Clementon, NJ on August 19, 1945.  Kenny worked as an apartment manager part-time and a full-time painter. He had many talents, but his profession was a painter until he retired.

Kenny was a hardworking man that supported his family.  He did not stop for anything because providing for his family was his main priority. He enjoyed spending time with his children every summer when they visited where they spent most days at Atlantic City Boardwalk. 

Kenny was loved by many and enjoyed spending time with family and friends.Kenny moved to Montana in 2008; where he called this, his last home.  

Kenny is survived by his children, Kenneth Lahneman of Alaska, Paul (Michelle) Lahneman of Williamstown, MT, Jason Lahneman and girlfriend Elisha Darnell of Cleveland, NC, and Lisa (Mitch) Bayonne of Natchitoches, LA; grandchildren, Nikolaus Lahneman, Kobe Sanders, Jared Lahneman, Cheyenne Lahneman, Jazzmin Lahneman, Harley Lahneman, and Patrick Bayonne; and brother, Donald Lahneman of New Jersey.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Frederick and Doris Jones Lahneman of New Jersey;sister, Doris Lahneman of New Jersey;brother, Frederick Lahneman of New Jersey; and son,Adam Lahneman of Louisiana.

Kenny was blessed by two amazing friends, Rula and Michael McKinlay that were by his side until he passed away.

At Ken’s request, cremation has taken place and no services are planned.  Memorial donations can be made to a charity of your choice.

Arrangements and cremation are under the care of Creel Funeral Home.  Ken’s family and friends can share memories and condolences at www.creelfuneralhome.com
 
 

Julia Ann Kaiser Licari, 83, passed away Tuesday, January5, 2021at the Central Montana Medical Center.  

A Memorial Service will be planned for a later date when we can gather safely; cremation has taken place.  In lieu of donations please hug your kids, make peace where you can, and plant something.

Creel Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.  Julia family and friends can share memories and condolences at www.creelfuneralhome.com
 

Joseph “Joe” John Hartman, 90, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 4, 2021, in Lewistown, MT. His illness was quick and he died without long-term suffering. There will be no memorial services per his wishes.

Joe was the son of John Hartman and Olga Hartman, who moved to Central Montana in the early 1900’s along with other Czech homesteaders to build their own small family farms from scratch.

Joe was born “at home” on Christmas Day, 1930, in the original family home 23 miles northwest of Lewistown, on Plum Creek Road. Joe would spend his entire life in that home. Along the way, he would watch his parents take a small plot of land and turn it into a successful farm using little money, but a lot of hard work and many handyman skills.

Farming and tending cattle would quickly become Joe’s labor of love--his dream occupation. Except for serving a term in the military (Air Force), Joe could always be found at the foothills of the North Moccasin Mountains plowing some field or fixing some fence in the hot summers or pulling some calf in the cold Montana winters. He worked tirelessly, even taking on additional construction jobs as far away as White Sulphur Springs to make ends meet and help out on the farm.

In 1957, Joe met Rita Elbert, an attractive, young “city girl” from Spokane, WA, who was working as a bank teller. They married on March 11, 1957, and stayed happily married for 59 years, until Rita’s passing in 2016.

After marriage, Rita quickly adopted Joe’s love of farm and cattle. Joe and Rita would become a strong husband-wife farmer partnership. They bought the original homestead from Joe’s parents, added a couple extra plots, and put their own special touch of pride on everything that was produced--from abundant grain harvests to millions of big, brown eggs for local restaurants in Lewistown. They would raise chickens, pigs, rabbits, and lots of vegetables, but their pride and joy would always be the cattle. Baby claves who needed extra attention would become extended family members in the warm home of Joe and Rita Hartman.

Joe and Rita would raise four kids on the farm--Kim, Doug, Dan, and Curt-- and instill in each kid that same dedication to work and family that Joe and Rita had. Dan and Curt would take over the original farm after Joe and Rita retired. But Joe’s pride and legacy as a farmer/rancher will never be forgotten: his very first tractor--a 1940’s Orange Alice Chalmers--still runs and is in mint condition. He tended to his vehicles and farm equipment just like his cattle.

Joe Hartman will also be remembered for his love of his grandkids. Even at 90 years old, Joe would remember each grandkid’s birthday or anniversary. His chest would puff out and he’d get a big smile when telephoning his grandchildren. It didn’t matter if they lived in Kalispell, Kansas or Missoula, Joe would keep track of the weather and news in each grandkid’s location.

By far, Joe Hartman’s biggest enjoyment was pinochle, pitch, or cribbage, especially with grandkids. While he was so proud of reaching 90 years of age, he didn’t show any lessening of his sharp card skills or competitive spirit. He could easily tell you which player played which card at a game of Pinochle last week. He also enjoyed inspecting the neighborhood on his four-wheeler, and trapping gophers.

Joe Hartman was preceded in death by his wife, Rita; parents, John and Olga Hartman; and siblings, Francis, Ernest, Charles, Libbie and Willie.

Joe Hartman is survived by his children and their spouses, Kim (Bill) Martin, Doug (Colleen), Dan (Michelle), and Curt (Julie). Joe was most proud of his grandchildren and their spouses, Misty (Mike) Holcomb, Shane (Jenni) Martin, Justin (Clancy, fiancée) Hartman, Ashley Hartman, Cody Hartman, Amanda Hartman, Austin Hartman, and Jada Hartman; and great-grandchildren, Conner Olson, Kylie Olson, Collin Olson and Khloe Martin.Joe is survived by his sister, Clara Donisthorpe.

Joe Hartman’s children (Kim, Doug, Dan and Curt) feel exceptionally blessed to be part of his wonderful life. Per Joe and Rita’s wishes, the children will spread Joe’s ashes on a hill overlooking the original home and overlooking the valley down the Plum Creek Road. Joe’s ashes will be next to Rita’s memorial stone. Joe and Rita will be back together, as God intended, tending to the fields of wheat and cattle in Heaven. Their farm – their legacies- will be in good hands down here, and the team of farmers up there in Heaven just got a lot stronger.

Creel Funeral Home is assisting with the arrangements.  Joe’s family and friends can share memories and condolences at www.creelfuneralhome.com
 
Sarah Arnott Ozment was bornon November 17, 1933 to Florence Heller Utgaard and SigurdUtgaard who were living in Anamoose, North Dakota, where Sigurd was superintendent of the Anamoose school.  The family lived in several North Dakota towns including Aneta and Granville, where Sarah graduated from high school.  Sarah was a singer and pianist and went to St. Olaf College where she majored in history and music.  She sang in the St. Olaf choir and graduated with honors in history.  She spent her college summers working at Many Glacier in Glacier National Park and loved Montana.  After college she moved to Lewistown where she taught vocal music in the Lewistown junior high school and supervised music in K through 12.  Because of voice problems, she had to abandon full time teaching and started law school on scholarship at the University of Chicago in 1957.

In 1958, she married John Arnott, a rancher in the Utica area and together they raised four children.  She taught K through 12 vocal and instrumental music part time in local schools, gave piano lessons and started a business selling rhythm instruments to schools.  In 1977, when all of her children were school age she and her family moved to Missoula so that she could get back to law school.

While at the University of Montana School of Law she was a founder of and contributor to the Public Land Law Review.  She graduated with honors in 1981 and received an award for the student who had contributed the most to the law school.  She worked two years for Montana Legal Services in Wolf Point on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and in Great Falls, serving mostly Native American clients.  While in Wolf Point she initiated an Indian health case which required Indian Health Service to take primary responsibility for the medical care of Native Americans without health coverage.  This became one of Legal Services’ most important cases nationwide in the 1980’s.

Sarah later served as a master in the Montana Water Court and was elected County Attorney in Judith Basin County.  She was appointed to the Human Rights Commission by Governor Stevens and to the Gender Fairness Taskforce by the Montana Supreme Court.  She spent the last ten years of her legal career in private practice in Park County, retiring in 2001.  Sarah was proudest of the work she did for the hundreds of abused women she was able to help as an attorney for Montana Legal Services, in her private practice and as a county attorney.  Many women paid for her legal work with barter, painting her home and outbuildings and cleaning.

After retiring from her legal practice and moving back to her family ranch near rural Utica, she attended the University of Great Falls where she earned an Art degree with honors.

Sarah’s first husband, John, died in 1988.  She and her second husband, Pat Ozment, were married for 30 years (married June 23, 1990 in Livingston, MT).  Pat was a YellowstonePark Ranger and they lived near the park for ten years before retiring to the Utica area where Sarah was able to spend time with her husband, children and grandchildren and to pursue her love of painting and ceramics.  Her work was inspired by the area where she lived—along the Judith River and near the Little Belt Mountains.  Sarah passed away peacefully at home with family by her side on Christmas, 2020.

Sarah is survived by her husband, Pat; son, Jack Arnott; daughters, Sigrid and Rachael Arnott; and grandchildren, Katlin Kjos, Nico Dregni, and Marco Dregni.  She is preceded in death by her son, David Arnott.

Throughout her life, Sarah was a faithful member of the Zion Lutheran Church.  A private family service will be held at Zion Lutheran Church on Monday, December 28, 2020.  It is requested that memorials be given to Saves, Inc. (local support group for battered women), P.O. Box 404, Lewistown, MT 59457.

Creel Funeral Home is honoring Sarah’s request for cremation.  Sarah’s family and friends can share memories and condolences at www.creelfuneralhome.com