Great Falls Tribune from Great Falls, Montana • A4

4A TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2020 GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE Publication Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Deadline Friday 4 p.m. MST Monday 4 p.m. MST Tuesday 4 p.m. MST Wednesday 4 p.m. MST Thursday 4 p.m.

MST Friday 4 p.m. MST Friday 4 p.m. MST TO PLACE AN OBITUARY Go to www.greatfallstribune.com/obituary Choose and follow the easy steps. For assistance please call 406-791-1420 Ext. 2.

DEADLINES TO VIEW OBITUARIES Go to www.greatfallstribune.com/obituaries 205 River Drive Great Falls, MT 59405 Open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. GREAT FALLS A cel- ebration of life for Bob Thomas is planned for July 2, 2020 from 5:00 to 8:00 pm at Restaurant in Great Falls. Robert L. Thomas RAYNESFORD GeorgeD.

87, of Great passed away June 14, 2020.His wishes were to be cremated. His ashes will be given to his three sons. No services are planned. He wanted his life to be celebrated, so raise a glass and send him your love and prayers. Husband, Father, and Friend, he lived a life of many adventures.

He nev- er met anyone that he could not call friend. He was always willing to give help anytime, anywhere, and anyplace. He worked hard and played harder. He worked many jobs to provide for his family. He was a great storyteller who loved his Jeeps, horses, and themilitary, along with the great land in which we live.

Bud lived in Arkansas, Texas, and Montana. He abso- lutely loved Montana. Budwasmarried three times.His first marriage was to Patsy Popken (Deceased); thenMarie Fore (Deceased), and he is survived by his wife, Shirleen. He loved his three sons who survive him with his huge heart, John Popken, Larry D. (Joanne) Wheeler, and George C.

(Laura) Wheeler. His grandchildren, Christopher D. Wheeler and Maryah A. Schrock meant the world to him. He is also survived by his youngest sister, Bonita.

Preceding him in death are his dad, Othello and mom, Mary Vivian; brothers, Billy Daniel, Glen, and Lewis Jack; Bessie, Ann, and Joyce, who have all greeted him in heaven. There is no doubt that he was one of the greatest men I have ever known. He is watching us from above through the holes in the floor of heaven. Go Rest, see you when my chores are through. Condolences for the family may be shared online at www.OConnorFuneralHome.com.

George Dwight Wheeler Robert was taken abruptly from this world. A husband, a friend, father of three and grandfather of two. In life he endeavored racing motocross in Billing Montana, moving to Kalis- pell he attended Flathead High School class of he helped his father in auto- motive sales at Bob Meier Oldsmobile.He enjoyed skiing, shooting and fishing. He enjoyed his college years at of in Missoula and FVCC here in the valley where he met his wife. He enjoyed being a member of The Masonic Temple, The Elks Lodge, The Moose Lodge, The Royal Order of th Jesters and the Flathead Shrine Club.

The biggest joy aside from his wife and children, were his grandchildren. Dalemight have been take abruptly from this world, but will never be forgotten. His spirit lives on with his wife, Londa Meier, his son Brandon Meier and his daughter Tawnni Clouse(Meier) and family.He proceeded in death by his oldest son Brent Meier and his parents Bob and Marian Meier of Lakeside. He is survived by wife Londa Meier and children Brandon Meier and Tawnni Clouse(Meier), husband Zak Clouse and their childrenHadley andDaxonClouse of Kalispell. His Siblings Carrie Bentley and children of Arizona and Renea Erdman and children of Florida.

His brother inlaws, James Hudson and family of Chinook, Arron Ocheltree of Spokane and Allen Ocheltree and family of Great Falls. And Mother inlaw Brenda Ocheltree of Great Falls. Mosonic graveside service will be held at Conrad cemetery Thursday July 2nd at 3pm with a memorial service to follow at the Elks Lodge. Robert CHINOOK The world lost a shining presence. Shirley M.

Haney, 80, passed away due to natural causes at the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home in Chinook, MT, on Tuesday, June 2, 2020. A private family funeralMass will be held for Shirley at a later date, and burial will follow in HighlandCemetery. Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at www.hollandbonine.com. Shirley was born onOctober 2, 1939, to David and Kathryn (Schneider)Weimer.

She spent the first few years of her life in Milwaukee, then her family moved to Nisland, SD, where she graduated from high school. On December 1, sixty-four years ago, Shirley married EJ (Ellis James Haney, who was the love of her life! The couple went on to have five children. EJ worked as a sign salesman, and in the early the family moved to Rapid City, SD, where Shirley worked as a cake decorator. A few years later, they moved to Great and then on to when EJ started theMontana Sign Company. After starting the company, Shirley worked as the bookkeeper and learned to blow glass for the neon signs, while EJ expanded their business along the Hi-Line.

They moved one more time, to Havre, where they remained. Shirley enjoyed cooking (amazing chili and cinnamon rolls), crossword puzzles (to keep her brain active), gardening (best tomatoes in town), quilting (to give away as gifts), puzzles (to keep her hands busy), fishing (for the Friday fish fry with fam- ily), and even think about beating her at gin rummy! She was a sharp-witted woman with a hilarious sense of humor, who loved to make people feel good. She always had a gentle and kind smile. Shirley was very proud of her children and loved them with all her heart. She will be sadly missed by her loving husband and family.

Instead of a diary, Shirley had she wrote down her prayers to God over the years with blessings for anyone she felt needed a little help. She was very devout to her faith. She was preceded in death by her infant son, Stephen Patrick; parents, David and KathrynWeimer; and brothers, Alfred and LeroyWeimer. Shirley is survived by her husband, Ellis James Haney, Jr. of Havre, MT; children, Patricia Haney of Great Falls, Bryan (Cindy) Haney of Chinook, Theresa (Orris Scribner) Haney of theVirgin Islands, and Ellis III of Paso Robles, CA; six grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; sisters, Edna Seiroe of SD and Irma Johnson of WA; brother, Jerry (Debby)Weimer of CA; sister-in-law, Lorraine Weimer of SD; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the doctors, nurses, medical attendants, and the staff at The Sweet Memorial Nursing Home for all of the care and compassion that was provided to Shirley. Shirley Haney Shirley 80 Chinook 06-Jun Funeral Home Robert Pankratz, JanC. 64 Great Falls 27-Jun Schnider Funeral Home Shockley, A.Margaret 101 Great Falls 26-Jun Schnider Funeral Home Robert L. Great Falls 02-Jul GeorgeDwight 87 Raynesford 14-Jun Funeral Home Additional information in display obituaries Obituaries appear in print and online at www.GreatFallsTribune.com/Obituaries OBITUARIES AND DEATH NOTICES Name Age Town, State Death Date Arrangements May you find peace in this time of sorrow. For information on how to place an obituary, go to www.greatfallstribune.com/obituaries and follow the steps.

For assistance, please call 406-791-1420 option 2. For information on how to place an obituary, go to www.greatfallstribune.com/obituaries and follow the steps. For assistance, please call 406-791-1420 option 2. COLUMBUS, Ind. It was a scene Jeannine Lee Lake never would have imagined when she ran against Greg Pence, Vice President Mike brother, for a rural Indi- ana congressional seat two years ago: an almost entirely white crowd of more than 100 people marching silently in the hometown this month, prayers for Black people killed by police and an end to systemic racism.

Leading them was Lake, who is in a rematch against Pence. She is the only Black woman running for federal of- in Indiana this fall. The Democrat, who lost badly in 2018 and again faces long odds in the deeply conservative district, has spent much of the past few weeks at events such as the one in Columbus on Juneteenth. In communities across a district that is white, Lake has talked about seeing her children pulled over by police and for no She has spoken the names of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and oth- er Black people killed by police, telling crowds here to call for no way, shape or form is 2018 the same as the 2020 race in regard to the grassroots and the galvanization of the movement that is now Black Lives said Lake, 50. just a total The reenergized movement against racial inequality has the voices of Black candidates, in some cases pushing the political debate over race into Republican- leaning areas.

Democrats say seen a boost in fundraising and other engagement for candidates running on racial justice issues, and believe it could help the party some Republican-held districts in November. Polls show unusually broad bipartisan support for some change to the criminal justice system. But lawmak- ers in Washington are at an impasse after far-reaching fed- eral legislation passed the Democrat-led House on Thurs- day over objections from Republicans. Pence voted no, say- ing he opposes changes to the immunity system that shields from liability. In Arkansas, Democratic state Sen.

Joyce Elliott says seeing new momentum in her bid to unseat GOP Rep. French Hill and become the Black woman elect- ed to Congress. She began running digital ads shortly after death last month. In them, she spoke about her ex- perience integrating a school in the 1960s where she and other Black students wanted. It was the kind of fundraising appeal that typically would bring in about $1.50 for every $1 a congressional cam- paign spent on the ad buy.

This ad cost campaign about $2,500 and raised $24,000 within one week, said Ju- lia Ager, president of Sapphire Strategies, the digital for campaign. Other Black candidates are seeing a similar trend, she said. environment is and that environment has created a boon of Ager said. For people who are tired of inaction and want to see more Black people in Con- gress, seems like a clear place to direct Elliott, 69, has also been traveling to Black Lives Matter protests around the district, which includes Little Rock and its suburbs and has been represented by a Republican for more than a decade. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the kidney donor speaks to crowds from the back of a pick- up truck, often to predominantly white audiences.

She tells her story of overcoming adversity, mentioning the people in school who want her or other Black students there. At one recent event, the crowd gathered in the shadow of a Confederate statue, where the discussion turned to trying to have it removed. After a lifetime of feeling like she had to push, Elliott said, it feels like this is a big warm em- Her campaign has been backed by List, which supports women in politics, and the Congressional Black Caucus PAC. Sen. Kamala Harris, who is in the run- ning to be the Democratic nominee for vice president, en- dorsed campaign on Saturday.

feeling now as if a door has Elliott said. can look at someone like me and say, not Joyce Elliott? she the right person for this In North Carolina, Democrats saw Pat Timmons-Good- son as a strong candidate for a newly redrawn congression- al district held by Republican Rep. Richard Hudson even be- fore the discussion over policing and racial inequality was reinvigorated. Timmons-Goodson was the Black woman on the Su- preme Court of North Carolina and served on the U.S. Com- mission on Civil Rights, where she helped write recommen- dations on policing.

In 2016, President Barack Obama nomi- nated her to the federal court, though the nomination was among those blocked by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and other Republicans. Timmons-Goodson received national attention during that debate, as the seat on the court was left vacant for years and became part of a national over the courts. But her campaign says support for her candidacy exploded in recent weeks. Timmons-Goodson reported fewer than 1,000 individual contributions for the quarter of 2020. In the quarter that ends Tuesday, the campaign expects to report some 20,000 contributions.

Black candidates push race debate into GOP districts Sara Burnett and Casey Smith ASSOCIATED PRESS Jeannine Lee Lake, Democratic candidate for 6th congressional district, leads a march to honor George Floyd during a Juneteenth event in Columbus, Ind. MICHAEL.