All Obituaries

Bonnie Rae Berg, age 90, of Deer Lodge, MT, passed away on January 25, 2023. Services are pending and will be announced when set. Please visit the side bar to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Bonnie. Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Bonnie and her family.

Margaret Ann “Peggy” Durand, born on January 4th, 1944, in Anaconda, MT, passed away on January 22nd, 2023, at the age of 79.  A graduate of Granite High School in Philipsburg, MT, Peggy grew up in the “Flint Creek Valley” with her parents (Forrest “Buster” and Clara Ann Merrifield (Metcalf)) and sister Jamie on ‘the ranch’ near Porter’s Corner. Peggy married her late husband, LeRoy (d. April 19, 2021), on June 2nd, 1965, and raised...

Richard Griffin, age 63, of Deer Lodge, MT, passed away on December 31, 2022. Richard will be laid to rest at Hillcrest Cemetery in Deer Lodge, Montana. Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Richard. Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Richard and his family.

Patricia Ann Lee passed away from complications of Multiple Sclerosis on January 14, 2023 at the Crest Nursing Home in Butte, MT.  Born February 7, 1950 to William A. “Ty” Lee, a gentle Irish smelterman, and Ann Grgurash Lee, a tough-as-nails Croatian housewife.  Patsy was an Anaconda original whose values and character reflected her hometown. Patsy attended St. Peter’s Grade School and Anaconda Central High School (class of 1968).  She worked at the Washoe...

Cynthia Marie Ricci Fortner passed away peacefully at her home on January 14th, 2023. She was 68. She was surrounded by her family and her dog Poppy. Cindy was born in Anaconda, MT on January 11th, 1955, to Agnes Reagan Ricci and Alfred Caesar Ricci.  She grew up on Ash Street with her four brothers and they were part of the “Ash Street Gang”, which consisted of 5 girls and 22 boys.  They all enjoyed having the hills, springs and foundry as their backyard to play...

It’s with heavy hearts we say goodbye to our beloved Mother & Grandmother, Mary Lou (Fink) Malee, “LuLu” as many called her. She passed away here in her hometown of Anaconda, Montana, on Saturday, January 14th at the age of 86.  Mary Lou was born August 27, 1936, to William Michael (Bill) & Mary Josephine (Kalcich) Fink. She was the third of four siblings, Dorothy (Dodo), Betty Jean, and William (Billy), and was raised within a stone’s throw of the...

Helen Dianne “Helie” Varelia, 83, of Anaconda entered into eternal life on January 12, 2023. She was born October 25, 1939, in Anaconda to Joseph and Dorothy (Huestis) Varelia.  She attended St. Paul’s Grade School and graduated from Anaconda Central High School in 1957. Helen never married and was very independent. Her independence and strength were greatly admired by her friends and family. She was employed by the State Auditor in Helena from 1959 to 1963; Drs....

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Thomas (Tom) Crnich, on January 6, 2023, at the Community Nursing Home of Anaconda. Born in Butte, MT, to Zora (Likarish) Crnich and Edward (Tubie) Lawrence Crnich, Tom loved growing up in Butte. Meaderville and McQueen were his neighborhoods, and he had many fun adventures and misadventures there. He attended Holy Savior Grade School and Boys’ Central High School and then went on to...

Tom Sanders left this life on a beautiful moonlit evening in the late hours of January 5, 2023, at home with his son and daughter-in-law by his side. John Thomas (Tom) Sanders was born in the old hospital on Broadway in Philipsburg, MT on March 29, 1948, to Florence and Leonard Sanders. Tom never went by John and most who knew him had no idea that was his legal first name. He always said that parents should just go ahead and name their children what they want them to be called. Tom grew up...

Bonnie Joyce (Wire) Fraser peacefully passed from this life at home on January 5, 2023. She was the youngest of four children; born to Roscoe and Edythe Wire on October 31, 1930, in Fedora, South Dakota. After graduating from Methodist State Hospital School of Nursing, she married Daniel I. Fraser on July 6, 1951 in Laverne, MN. She worked as a nurse until 1958 when she devoted herself full-time to being a housewife. Bonnie gave her life to Christ in baptism at the Cleveland Ave. Church of...