Obituaries

Ringsrud, Larry, 70, of Phoenix, passed away on November 26, 2014.  ​Larry is survived by his wife of 50 years, Bonnie, his children Steve, Rita, Robert and four grandchildren. He served in the Army in Vietnam, graduated from North Dakota State University, then returned to military service until retirement.  A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30AM, Friday, December 5,...

Beverly Davis Hagen, 81, Phoenix, AZ, passed away November 25, 2014. Beverly was a loving and caring wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Beverly was an Arizona native and worked for St. Luke’s Hospital for over 35 years before her retirement. She was an animal lover and devoted a large part of her life caring for her pets. She...

Beverly Davis Hagen, 81, Phoenix, AZ, passed away November 25, 2014. Beverly was a loving and caring wife, mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Beverly was an Arizona native and worked for St. Luke’s Hospital for over 35 years before her retirement. She was an animal lover and devoted a large part of her life caring for her pets. She...

93, of Phoenix, Arizona passed away on November 24, 2014. We lost one more from the Greatest Generation. Born in East Liverpool, Ohio, 1921, he is a veteran of WWII. Vincent moved to Arizona in 1950 and worked for A J Bayless Market for 32 years retiring in 1985. He was a big sports fan and enjoyed his D-backs, Suns...

Ann Irene (Hansen) Vaaler, beloved wife of Raymond Alden Vaaler, passed away on November 21, 2014. Ann was born December 18, 1923 in rural North Dakota, the eldest daughter of Sigrid (Enkgvist) and Lawrence Hansen.In 1945 Ann graduated from the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Philosophy degree. Graduating with honors, she was elected to Pi Alpha Honor...

Nora Kirkish passed away peacefully in Phoenix, Arizona on November 15, 2014. Nora was born in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada to Peter and Nabiha Davis. The Davis family moved to Phoenix in 1947. Nora graduated from St. Mary’s Catholic High School in Phoenix in 1948. Shortly after, she met her husband, Robert (Bob) Kirkish and married on April 22, 1957 in...

80, passed away peacefully on November 15, 2014 after bravely losing a 2 year struggle to pancreatic cancer. Born on November 7, 1934 to Robert and Frances Connor in Omaha, Nebraska, she spent her early childhood years living in Pocatello, Idaho. Her family moved back to Omaha where she attended Cathedral High School and was then employed at the Union...

60, of Tempe passed away on November 12, 2014. He was born January 5, 1954 in Gallup, NM, to Bill and Alynne Evans Falkner. Highly is best remembered as a devoted husband and father, a protector, a mentor to many, and a loyal friend. He was passionate and selfless above all else: an outdoorsman, avid cyclist, entrepreneur, philanthropist and a...

68, of Fountain Hills, AZ, passed away peacefully in his home on November 8, 2014. Tom was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 16, 1946, to John and Mary Greenwald, who preceded him in death. He attended West Technical High School and entered the US Navy serving aboard the USS America. He then earned a B.A. at Cleveland State University....

73, died September 20, 2014 from complications of COPD.  Born January 13, 1941 in Bellevue, Illinois, he grew up on his family’s dairy farm in Germantown, Illinois.  More of a reader than a farmer, he fought hard to attend high school and college.  He attended St. Louis University on the prestigious General Motors Scholarship.  The first person in his family...

passed away on November 4, 2014 surrounded by his family. Scott was born in Boise, Idaho on October 27, 1956. He moved to Phoenix with his family at a young age. Scott enjoyed fly fishing, playing basketball with his sons, watching the Phoenix Suns, Green Bay Packers and spending time with his family. He had a great sense of humor...

77, died on November 10, 2014. Services were held privately by the family. Jackie was born April 14, 1937 in Chicago to William and Therese (nee DeCoste) O’Gara. The oldest of eight children, Jackie was deeply involved in raising her younger siblings. On February 11, 1956, she married her childhood sweetheart, Raymond J. Slomski. Ray was irresistibly drawn to her...

93, of Mount Claret Retreat Center, Phoenix, AZ, died peacefully at his residence on Thursday, November 6, 2014.Born September 3, 1921 in County Cavan, Ireland to Rose and Peter McMahon. He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Bernard and Peter, sisters Rose, Margaret and Kathleen. Msgr, John is survived by his sister Mary (McMahon) Duke, 12 nephews...

41, of Tempe, AZ, passed away on November 7, 2014. She was born to Gilbert and Rosalie Montanez in Phoenix, AZ on June 5, 1973. She attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel School and then went on to graduate from Tempe High School. Julie loved her family and enjoyed spending time with her son, nieces, and nephews. Julie is survived...

Frank Burton “Burt” Whitman, Jr, 85, of Gilbert, AZ, formerly of Bloomington, passed away peacefully October 30, 2014, at Chandler, AZ, after a recent illness. Services will be arranged at a later time. Burt was born Jan. 10, 1929, in Normal, IL, attended Normal Community High School and Illinois Wesleyan University before marrying Mary Katherine “Katie” O’Rourke on May 29,...

Marian Bennetts Sanderson passed away on November 2.  She was born on April 30, 1923 in Detroit, Michigan and relocated to Phoenix with her family in 1960.  Marian was a wonderful wife and mother of four children.  She led an active life, volunteering for many years on the St. Joseph’s Hospital Women’s Auxiliary.  She served as vice-president as well as...

Beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, Janet Ann Violette (Riley), age 71, passed away at her Phoenix home surrounded by loved ones on October 31, 2014. Janet was born to Earl Riley, Sr. and Clara DiCaire on November 23, 1942 in New Britain, Connecticut. She and her husband Raymond I. Violette were married for 52 years on October 20th of this...

“Gerry,” 82, passed away on November 1, 2014. Born on March 1, 1932, in Manchester, N.H., Gerry earned his undergraduate degree from St. Anselm’s College. Following two years in the Army, stationed at Fort Huachuca, Gerry graduated with Masters Degrees from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY and Arizona State University in Tempe, AZ. Before moving his family to Phoenix...

Betty Keefe, 91, of Phoenix, AZ, peacefully passed away on Monday, October 27, 2014, while surrounded by family and loved ones. Betty was preceded in death by her husband William, son Kelly, and daughter Peggy Keefe-Walsh.   She is survived by her children Mike, Steve, Patricia Guzman, Peter, Rob, and Tom, 15 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and sister Barbara Arends.   Betty was...

60, passed away peacefully on October 21st, 2014 at Good Samaritan hospital surrounded by family. He was born and raised in Arizona. Pete loved to hunt, fish, golf and spend time with his family and friends. Pete was preceded in death by his father, Vernon Pierce Brubaker II. He is survived by Joyce Stewart; his mother, Patricia Miller; brother, Pierce...