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Longfellows Finnegan Funeral Home

107 Oak Street

Anaconda, MT 59711

(406) 563-3371

Anaconda MT Obituaries and Death Notices

Leon G. Billings, Architect of Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, Dies at 78 - New York Times

His parents, Harry and Gretchen Billings, were editors of a weekly newspaper, The People’s Voice. Owned by a farmer-labor cooperative, The Voice did battle with daily newspapers controlled by the Anaconda Copper Mining Company.“My folks had one rule,” Mr. Billings said. “Anybody’s welcome at the house as long as they bring their own bottle of whiskey.”His father was a firebrand. Above Harry Billings’s column in The People’s Voice was a quotation: “The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in a time of moral crisis, refuse to take a stand.”After graduating in 1959 from the University of Montana, where he majored in history and political science, Leon worked as a reporter and farmworker organizer in California. He met and married Patricia Harstad there. (When she died in 1990, he had by then been living in Maryland and succeeded her as a delegate in the Maryland General Assembly.)Besides his son, Paul, from his first marriage, he is survived by two daughters, Shannon and Erin Billings, also from that marriage; his second wife, the former Cherry Allen; and four grandchildren.After lobbying for the American Public Power Association, Mr. Billings was recruited to join the Subcommittee on Air and Water Pollution of the Senate Committee on Public Works in 1966. He was Mr. Muskie’s chief of staff from 1966 to 1978 and later followed him to the State Department when Mr. Muskie was named to the cabinet by Mr. Carter. Mr. Billings became Mr. Muskie’s executive secretary.He later taught and became a consultant, advising clients, including corporations, he said, on how to “live and profit” while complying with environmental laws.“Leon’s work helped prevent any wholesale efforts at eliminating or rolling back those statutes,” Thomas C. Jorling, his counterpart for the subcommittee’s Republican minority, told The Associated Press.Mr. Billings was wistful in recalling the climate of bipartisan compromise on the Senate panel during his years working for Mr. Muskie. Indeed, he said, he and Mr. Jorling would come to terms as they car-pooled to Capitol Hill together in a pickup truck.Correction: November 18, 2016An earlier version of this obituary misidentified the family member Mr. Billings was visiting in Nashville when he died. It was a grandson, not a nephew. The earlier version also misstated the year Mr. Billings graduated from the University of Montana. It was 1...

Axelson death notices September 20 - Montana Standard

ER — Mrs. Barbara L. Lester passed away on Sunday evening. In accordance with her requests, cremation will take place at Butte Crematories. Friends are asked to call at Holy Family Catholic Church in Anaconda on Thursday morning, September 22nd, beginning at 10 a.m. and then to join with the family for Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10:30. Interment will be in Upper Hill Cemetery with a reception to follow at Holy Family Hunthausen Center. Her obituary will appear in Wednesday’s Montana Standard.

Duggan Dolan death notices July 9 - Montana Standard

William “Bill” McBride after 10:00 am this Saturday in Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am. Private Interment of ashes will take place at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Anaconda at a later date.ATTN: United Veterans CouncilMULAR — Graveside Services for Mrs. Florence “Toni” Mular will be conducted this Saturday at 11:00 am in Mountain View Cemetery.GANNON — Friends of Mrs. Julie Catherine (Datres) Gannon are asked to join the family on Tuesday after 5:00 PM in St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Parish vigil will be recited at 7:00 PM. Friends may also call on Wednesday after 10:00 am in the Church. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am. A complete obituary will be published in the Sunday edition of The Montana Standard.RICKS — Funeral Services for Mrs. Leona Laura Ricks will be conducted today (Saturday) at 2:00 PM in the 1st Presbyterian Church, located on Excelsior Street at Platinum Street. Interment of ashes will take place in Wilbur, Washington at a later date. A complete obituary is published in today’s edition of The Montana Standard.BANOVICH — Mr. John Anton Banovich, 86, passed away on Thursday evening in St. James Healthcare. Friends are asked to join the family on Monday after 5:00 PM in the Duggan Dolan Mor...

Duggan Dolan death notice June 10 - Montana Standard

Cemetery at a later date.ANDREWS — Friends of Mr. John Franklin Andrews are asked to join the family this Friday after 5:00 PM in Holy Family Catholic Church, located on Pennsylvania Avenue in Anaconda. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:00 am with Rite of Committal to follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery.FEENEY — Rite of Committal for Mr. Michael Joseph Patrick Feeney will be conducted Saturday at 9:00 am in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.

Duggan Dolan death notices June 9 - Montana Standard

Catholic Cemetery at a later date.ANDREWS — Friends of Mr. John Franklin Andrews are asked to join the family of Friday after 5:00 PM in Holy Family Catholic Church, located on Pennsylvania Avenue in Anaconda. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:00 am with Rite of Committal to follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery.FEENEY — Rite of Committal for Mr. Michael Joseph Patrick Feeney will be conducted Saturday at 9:00 am in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.

Duggan Dolan death notices June 6 - Montana Standard

Catholic Cemetery at a later date.ANDREWS — Friends of Mr. John Franklin Andrews are asked to join the family Friday after 5 p.m. in Holy Family Catholic Church, located on Pennsylvania Avenue in Anaconda. Funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 10 a.m. with rite of committal to follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery.HARRINGTON — Mrs. Judith Joan “Judy” Harrington passed away on Saturday evening at the Crest Nursing Home. Funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday at 1 p.m. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Cremation will follow the mass with rite of committal to take place in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery at a later date. A complete obituary and further service information will be published in the Wednesday edition of The Montana Standard.FEENEY — Mr. Michael Joseph Patrick Feeney passed away on May 31 near Flagstaff, Arizona. Funeral mass was celebrated at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church in Phoenix, Arizona. Rite of committal will be recited on Saturday at 9 a.m. in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.

Anaconda News

Leon G. Billings, Architect of Clean Air and Clean Water Acts, Dies at 78 - New York Times

His parents, Harry and Gretchen Billings, were editors of a weekly newspaper, The People’s Voice. Owned by a farmer-labor cooperative, The Voice did battle with daily newspapers controlled by the Anaconda Copper Mining Company.“My folks had one rule,” Mr. Billings said. “Anybody’s welcome at the house as long as they bring their own bottle of whiskey.”His father was a firebrand. Above Harry Billings’s column in The People’s Voice was a quotation: “The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who, in a time of moral crisis, refuse to take a stand.”After graduating in 1959 from the University of Montana, where he majored in history and political science, Leon worked as a reporter and farmworker organizer in California. He met and married Patricia Harstad there. (When she died in 1990, he had by then been living in Maryland and succeeded her as a delegate in the Maryland General Assembly.)Besides his son, Paul, from his first marriage, he is survived by two daughters, Shannon and Erin Billings, also from that marriage; his second wife, the former Cherry Allen; and four grandchildren.After lobbying for the American Public Power Association, Mr. Billings was recruited to join the Subcommittee on Air and Water Pollution of the Senate Committee on Public Works in 1966. He was Mr. Muskie’s chief of staff from 1966 to 1978 and later followed him to the State Department when Mr. Muskie was named to the cabinet by Mr. Carter. Mr. Billings became Mr. Muskie’s executive secretary.He later taught and became a consultant, advising clients, including corporations, he said, on how to “live and profit” while complying with environmental laws.“Leon’s work helped prevent any wholesale efforts at eliminating or rolling back those statutes,” Thomas C. Jorling, his counterpart for the subcommittee’s Republican minority, told The Associated Press.Mr. Billings was wistful in recalling the climate of bipartisan compromise on the Senate panel during his years working for Mr. Muskie. Indeed, he said, he and Mr. Jorling would come to terms as they car-pooled to Capitol Hill together in a pickup truck.Correction: November 18, 2016An earlier version of this obituary misidentified the family member Mr. Billings was visiting in Nashville when he died. It was a grandson, not a nephew. The earlier version also misstated the year Mr. Billings graduated from the University of Montana. It was 1...

Axelson death notices September 20 - Montana Standard

ER — Mrs. Barbara L. Lester passed away on Sunday evening. In accordance with her requests, cremation will take place at Butte Crematories. Friends are asked to call at Holy Family Catholic Church in Anaconda on Thursday morning, September 22nd, beginning at 10 a.m. and then to join with the family for Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10:30. Interment will be in Upper Hill Cemetery with a reception to follow at Holy Family Hunthausen Center. Her obituary will appear in Wednesday’s Montana Standard.

Duggan Dolan death notices July 9 - Montana Standard

William “Bill” McBride after 10:00 am this Saturday in Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am. Private Interment of ashes will take place at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Anaconda at a later date.ATTN: United Veterans CouncilMULAR — Graveside Services for Mrs. Florence “Toni” Mular will be conducted this Saturday at 11:00 am in Mountain View Cemetery.GANNON — Friends of Mrs. Julie Catherine (Datres) Gannon are asked to join the family on Tuesday after 5:00 PM in St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Parish vigil will be recited at 7:00 PM. Friends may also call on Wednesday after 10:00 am in the Church. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am. A complete obituary will be published in the Sunday edition of The Montana Standard.RICKS — Funeral Services for Mrs. Leona Laura Ricks will be conducted today (Saturday) at 2:00 PM in the 1st Presbyterian Church, located on Excelsior Street at Platinum Street. Interment of ashes will take place in Wilbur, Washington at a later date. A complete obituary is published in today’s edition of The Montana Standard.BANOVICH — Mr. John Anton Banovich, 86, passed away on Thursday evening in St. James Healthcare. Friends are asked to join the family on Monday after 5:00 PM in the Duggan Dolan Mor...

Duggan Dolan death notice June 10 - Montana Standard

Cemetery at a later date.ANDREWS — Friends of Mr. John Franklin Andrews are asked to join the family this Friday after 5:00 PM in Holy Family Catholic Church, located on Pennsylvania Avenue in Anaconda. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:00 am with Rite of Committal to follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery.FEENEY — Rite of Committal for Mr. Michael Joseph Patrick Feeney will be conducted Saturday at 9:00 am in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.

Duggan Dolan death notices June 9 - Montana Standard

Catholic Cemetery at a later date.ANDREWS — Friends of Mr. John Franklin Andrews are asked to join the family of Friday after 5:00 PM in Holy Family Catholic Church, located on Pennsylvania Avenue in Anaconda. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 10:00 am with Rite of Committal to follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery.FEENEY — Rite of Committal for Mr. Michael Joseph Patrick Feeney will be conducted Saturday at 9:00 am in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.

Duggan Dolan death notices June 6 - Montana Standard

Catholic Cemetery at a later date.ANDREWS — Friends of Mr. John Franklin Andrews are asked to join the family Friday after 5 p.m. in Holy Family Catholic Church, located on Pennsylvania Avenue in Anaconda. Funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 10 a.m. with rite of committal to follow in Mount Olivet Cemetery.HARRINGTON — Mrs. Judith Joan “Judy” Harrington passed away on Saturday evening at the Crest Nursing Home. Funeral mass will be celebrated on Friday at 1 p.m. at St. Ann’s Catholic Church. Cremation will follow the mass with rite of committal to take place in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery at a later date. A complete obituary and further service information will be published in the Wednesday edition of The Montana Standard.FEENEY — Mr. Michael Joseph Patrick Feeney passed away on May 31 near Flagstaff, Arizona. Funeral mass was celebrated at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church in Phoenix, Arizona. Rite of committal will be recited on Saturday at 9 a.m. in Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery.