Thomas Leslie Williams, age 83, of Broadus passed away on Sunday, October 21, 2012 in Broadus.
Thomas was born in Indiana while his dad was working on a construction job. He came with mother, Isabel Williams and sister, Loyce by train to Kendrick, WY (west of
Arvada), where they were met by father, Tom G. Williams. In his own words, I walked to school for all 12 grades. I graduated in the spring 1947. During my high school years after age 13 I worked on numerous local ranches in summer. The summer I was 16 I worked with a survey crew. After Graduation I went MSU at Bozeman 4 quarters, quitting for lack of money, and went to work in the oil field in the Worland, WY area.
Dad contacted me in May 1950 and asked me to return home to assist him. Thus began Williams and Sons Construction. In January 1951, I was eligible for the Draft for the Korean War. I chose to enlist in the Air Force, and deployed to Carswell AFB Fort Worth, TX as an airplane mechanic.
In March 1952, I met Johnie Ballard. We were married in May 1952. We had two girls born in Fort Worth: Pamela Frances 1953, and Patricia Ann 1954. Upon discharge in 1955 we returned to Montana, and rejoined Williams & Sons Construction. In 1956, we bought the property where we now live. Also in 56 we welcomed our third daughter, Rosemary into our family, and in 1959 Jake, our first boy joined us, followed in 1968 by our last child John.
In the early 80's due to a slow down Williams and Sons moved to Gillette, Wy and formed a joint venture with my son-in-law. I later went to work at a coal mine north of Gillette. Thomas L. was raised to a Master Mason, he was Master of Masonic Lodge twice, was a 50 + year member of the lodge. He was also Worthy Patron of Star 3 times, and served on the City Council. He was also Regional VP for LICA.
Thomas is survived by his wife, Johnie; two sons, Jacob Williams (Glende Hebestreet) and John (Katina) Williams of Gillette, WY; three daughters, Pamela (Greg) Boyd of Tacoma, WA, Patricia (Alan) Reeves of Aurora, CO, Rose Mary (Kenneth) Shubert of Gillette, WY; two brothers, Loren Williams of Texas and Kenneth Williams of Granville, OH; one sister, Eva Loyce Williams Cossitt of Broadus, MT; grandchildren, Josh (Shelbie) Boyd, William (Jessica) Reeves, Jennifer (Shawn) Boyd-Garwick, Bradley Reeves, Julie (Tony) Boyd-Fuoco, Emily (Joe) Reeves-Lostroh, Tiffany Joy Shubert, Alexander (Tiffany Dawn) Shubert, Allishia (Jonathan) Shubert- Allender-Zivic, Dustina Rose Williams, Johnathan Williams, Patrick Williams, Tequila Mader, Hunter Hebestreet and numerous great grandchildren.
Visitation will be October 28, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Broadus, MT.
Funeral Services will be held October 29, 2012 at 2:30 p.m. at the Powder River Congregational Church in Broadus.
Interment will be held at the Valley View Cemetery.
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Broadus is in charge of the arrangements.
Johnie Evelyn Williams, age 81, of Broadus, MT passed away on March 21, 2013 at the Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City, MT.
Johnie was born on March, 2, 1932 in Waxahachie, Texas to William Mckinley (Ken) & Ora Lee (Durden) Ballard. She joined a sister, Catherine, and two brothers, Carl and Bill. When she was five, her mother married Oscar Sandeford and two more girls joined the family, Faye and Ann. Johnie was raised in the small town of Forreston, Texas by her mother, as her stepdad died soon after Ann was born. She went to Dallas and worked as an elevator operator where she met Thomas L. Williams, who was stationed there in the Air Force. They were married two months later on May 3, 1952. The couple welcomed two daughters Pamela and Patricia before moving to Montana in 1955. In 1956 they bought the property they still have and Rose Mary was born. In 1959 they had their first son, Jacob and in 1968 their last child John was born.
Johnie was active as a seamstress, a member of Eastern Star, on a bowling league, promoted the city pool and supported the Powder River Congregational Church. Also she was an involved mother to her five children. She studied and received her GED in 1971, the same year that her oldest child Pam graduated. Johnie enjoyed kids, art, fashion, flowers and especially shopping. She was a very talented seamstress and designer.
In the early 1980's the couple moved to Gillette for work and Johnie opened a formal wear and costume store known as Eve's. After Tommy retired from Buckskin Mine, the couple returned to Broadus.
Johnie was preceded in death by her husband Thomas Williams, a sister Catherine (J.H.) Seabolt, and a brother Carl (Lola) Ballard.
She is survived by her daughters: Pamela (Greg) Boyd of Tacoma, WA, Patricia (Alan) Reeves of Arvada, CO and Rose Mary (Kenneth) Shubert of Gillette, WY, and sons Jacob Williams (Glende Hebestreet) and John (Katina) Williams of Gillette, WY; a brother Bill (Frances) Ballard of Forreston, TX; two sisters: Faye (Mickey) Ferguson of Forreston, TX and Ann (Norman) Eggleston of Forreston, TX; her grandchildren: Josh (Shelbie) Boyd, William (Jessica) Boyd, Jennifer (Shawn) Garwick, Bradley Reeves, Julie (Tony) Fuoco, Emily (Joe) Lostroh, Tiffany Joy Shubert, Alexander (Tiffany Dawn) Shubert, Allisha (Jonathan) Allender-Zivic, Dustina Rose Williams (Eric Destoff), Johnathan Williams, Patrick Williams, Tequila Mader, Hunter Hebestreet and numerous great grandchildren.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Broadus, MT. Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 28, 2013 at 1:00 p.m. at the Powder River Congregational Church in Broadus.
Interment will follow in the Valley View Cemetery.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Powder River Library, the Broadus VFW or to the Powder River Manor.