Avalon Marie Fuller Billquist
Avalon Marie Fuller Billquist was born in Spokane, WA, on Sept. 7, 1926. She passed away on Oct. 10, 2023, at Ruby Valley Hospital in Sheridan, MT. Avalon was the oldest of four children born to Margaret Barrett and Lyle Fuller. She grew up in Mill Creek under the shadow of the stack.
Her parents were the leaders of the first 4-H club in Deer Lodge County when Avalon was in 9th grade, and 4-H remained a big part of her life. She graduated from Anaconda Senior High School in 1944 and then attended summer school at The Normal School, now U of M Western in Dillon, and received an emergency teaching certificate. She began her teaching career at Finn MT, teaching grades 1-8 in a one-room schoolhouse. She was 17, turning 18, one week later. She retired after teaching for 34 years.
She met her future husband, Ole Billquist, at Finn. They dated for eight years, marrying on Feb. 6, 1951, when Ole was on leave from the Army. They were married 60 years before Ole passed away in 2011. Avalon and Ole moved to Mill Creek in 1954, where they raised their four children — Jerry, Marty, Peggy and Sandy — in the log home they built. In 1988, they were forced to leave their beloved Mill Creek, moving to Galen Road. Avalon loved the views from her new home, but it wasn’t Mill Creek. Avalon’s family meant everything to her, and she was proud of each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Avalon and Ole were very active in the Grange. Avalon received her 75-year membership pin two years ago. The Grange provided numerous opportunities for the whole family. Avalon served as State Grange Junior Matron for many, many years and National Grange Advisory Committee for six years.
Avalon opened a ceramic shop in the 60s and provided classes until she retired around five years ago.
Avalon was preceded in death by her parents, Margaret and Lyle Fuller; husband, Ole Billquist (2011); siblings, Adell “Babe” and her husband, Verl Johnson, Mick and his wife, Lois Fuller, and Ron Fuller; and son-in-law, Dave Morley (2020).
She is survived by her son, Jerry and Bonnie Billquist, and their sons, Dan (Jodi) (great-grandsons Cameron and Evan), and Rob (Amanda); son, Marty and Joyce Billquist, and their daughter, Jessie (Doug Sather) (great-grandchildren Jaycee, Cody, Justin, Tucker, Jerzey and Jake); daughter, Peggy and Larry Ohman, and their children, Erica (Chris Worden) (great-grandchildren, Avalon and Axel), Kelsey (John Mitchell) (great-granddaughter Sawyer), and Adam; and daughter, Sandy Morley, and her children, Jeromy (Shannon) (great-grandchildren Arianna, Bethany and Roman) Amanda Morley (Trent Crismore) (great-grandchildren, Kimberlie, Tucker and Dalton).
In lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Avalon are suggested to the Avon Grange #125, C/O Nancy Hartla PO Box 1367, Anaconda, MT 59711, OR Deer Lodge County 4-H Council, 811 E Park, Anaconda, MT 59711, OR Tri County Fair, PO Box 149 Deer Lodge, MT 59722 OR a charity of the donor’s choice.
A funeral service for Avalon was held on Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, at Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home Chapel, and a graveside service followed at the Avon Cemetery.
Please visit longfellowfinneganriddle.com to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Avalon.
Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home and Cremation Services, along with Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services, have been privileged to care for Avalon and her family.
Jim Mitchell
Jim Mitchell, 88, a long-time Bozeman resident, passed away peacefully on Nov. 2, 2023. Jim was born in Orleans, NE, on Dec. 3, 1934. He attended the University of Nebraska at Kearney, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts. He married the love of his life, Bernie, in January 1958 in Colorado Springs, CO and was then drafted into the Army, where he and Bernie spent two years in Germany.
After military service, he moved to Hardin, MT, and worked at Bullis Mortuary. He left Hardin to attend mortuary school in San Fransisco and returned to Hardin when finished. In 1973, he joined the ownership group with Howard Nelson and Rex Troth at Dokken-Nelson Funeral Service in Bozeman. Jim became sole owner of Dokken-Nelson in 1986, where he remained until his retirement in 2010.
He served as the President of the Montana Funeral Directors Association from 1981-1982 and was recognized for his 50 years of Funeral Director Service in 2014. Jim was a member of First Presbyterian Church for 50 years, where he served as an Elder and Deacon and sang in the choir. Jim served on the Bozeman School Board for six years and was a huge supporter of Bozeman Senior High School sports and music programs. He was Past President of the Bozeman Symphony Society and sang in the Bozeman Symphonic Choir for many years. Jim was Past President of the Bobcat Booster Club and loved his Bobcats. He wouldn’t miss a game and planned trips to visit his kids and grandkids around Bobcat games. In 2003, Jim received the Community Excellence Service Award for outstanding service to the community and university, which recognized his numerous contributions to Montana State University and the city of Bozeman.
Following retirement, Jim served on the Bozeman Schools Foundation Board, where he helped raise funds for the Willson School Auditorium renovation. He was passionate about his volunteer work at Love In the Name of Christ. He was an avid reader and loved to travel, fly fish and spend time with his kids and grandkids.
Jim is survived by his wife, Bernie, of almost 66 years; daughter, Andrea (Blane) Edwards; son, Jim (Amy) Mitchell; sister, Joyce (VT) Miller; grandkids, Keaton (Breckyn), Hannah and Logan Edwards and Henry, Oliver and Maggie Mitchell; special friends, Chris, Monica, Taylor and Ashley Remely; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Should friends desire, memorials in Jim’s name may be made to Love INC., P.O. Box 7117, Bozeman, MT 59771 or at loveincgc.org.
