K&L Mortuaries - Ennis

11/05/2025

Reaching out with condolences can sometimes feel difficult — especially when you’re unsure what to say. But even a short, heartfelt message can mean so much to someone who’s grieving. 💛 A few kind words can bring comfort and remind them they’re not alone.

10/31/2025

👻 Happy Halloween from all of us at K&L Mortuaries! Wishing everyone a safe and fun evening filled with sweet treats, laughter, and maybe a friendly scare or two. 🎃

10/22/2025

“You will smile again—not because you’ve forgotten, but because you’ve learned to carry the love with you.” – Unknown

10/20/2025

Meet Frank Taylor, Preneed Specialist at K&L Mortuaries!

Frank is our dedicated Preneed Specialist, helping families plan ahead and find peace of mind for the future. With over five years of experience, he has guided countless families through important decisions that protect and provide for their loved ones.
Outside of work, Frank enjoys the outdoors- riding horses and camping. Above all, he cherishes time with his family, especially spending time with his amazing nieces and nephews.

Frank is committed to serving every family with compassion, sincerity, and a genuine desire to make the planning process as smooth and comforting as possible.

10/15/2025

Every family has their own unique wishes when it comes to saying goodbye. Whether you choose burial or cremation, what matters most is creating a service that reflects your loved one’s life, values, and story.

At K&L Mortuaries, we’re here to help you explore every option and design a service that feels meaningful and personal. 💐

Reach out to us at (406) 287-3271 to talk through what’s possible.

10/09/2025

John McCall

John Dee Glen McCall, 84, of Ennis, Montana, passed away peacefully on October 6, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of hard work, humor, and unwavering love for his family and friends. John's life was a testament to hard work, loyalty, and larger-than-life spirit. His magnetic personality and kind heart left an impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him.

Born in 1940, in Bakersfield, California, John was the son of John McCall and Geraldine Lee, and grew up surrounded by the values of hard work, determination, and a strong work ethic. After graduating from high school, John proudly enlisted in the United States Air Force, where he served his country with honor and dedication. His time in the service left a mark on him that he carried throughout his life, instilling discipline, pride, and patriotism in all he did.

In 1973, John married the love of his life, Patty McCall. Their marriage was a source of great pride and joy until Patty's passing. John considered his children his greatest achievement, and he devoted himself to being a loving and supportive father. His family was his proudest accomplishment, and he was happiest when surrounded by those he loved.

A master tradesman, craftsman, bladesmith and contractor, John built a life around his many talents. John built more then just houses, he built legacies. He owned his own business, constructed several of his own homes, and was well known for his custom furniture and knives, each piece crafted with care and precision. There was no project too big or too small for him' his hands could build homes, shape steel, and create beauty from raw materials. His work was not just a profession, but an expression of his dedication and creativity.

John's skills extended beyond the workshop. A self-taught chef and grill master, he was known for his legendary barbecues and cookouts, bringing together friends and family for laughter filled gatherings that embodied his spirit of hospitality.

An avid outdoorsman, John found peace in Montana's wilderness, where he spent countless hours appreciating nature's simple joys of hunting, fishing and golf. John was also a proud and active member of the Elks Lodge, where he served as Exalted Ruler. His leadership and community involvement reflected his deep commitment to helping others and giving back to the town he loved. His service to both his country and his community defined a life built on purpose and compassion.

John is survived by his children, Rhonda Crittenden, John McCall, and Betsey Pettis (Lindsay) ; his brothers, Mel McCall (Sue), Randy Horton, and Ken Horton (Kathy); many grand children, great grand children, extended family members and friends. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Patty; his daughter, Glenda Salazar; his sisters Carol Spears and Doris McCall; his sister-in-law Evelyn Horton; and his parents John McCall and Geraldine Lee.

A celebration honoring John's life will be held at a later date. The family extends a heartfelt thanks to all who cared for him in his later days. John was larger then life and will forever remain in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. His legacy of love, laughter and craftsmanship will continue to live on. He will be deeply missed and never replaced.

View John McCall's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

09/15/2025

Harold Peterson

Harold R. Peterson

Our dear brother, father, and friend Harold Robert Peterson III passed away on September 1, 2025. Each of his 66 years represented a life filled with adventure, love of the outdoors, and caring for the people in his life. Born and raised in Minnesota, he eventually found his home in Montana along the Madison River. Harold would always show up when you needed him most. He loved to work and was an accomplished carpenter, mechanic and outdoorsman. He made friends wherever he went. His many beloved dogs were his constant companions.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Mary Peterson. He will be severely missed by his children, Jason (Arianna) Peterson, Harold Peterson IV, and Abigail Peterson, siblings Barbara Peterson, Rolf (Kathy) Peterson, and Susan Peterson, four grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews, and many great and caring friends. Rest in Peace, Harold. We are so fortunate to have called you our brother, father, and friend.

A memorial gathering will be held spring/summer of 2026 in the Madison Valley area of Montana.

Memorial contributions may be made to Little People of America (www.lpaonline.org), a cause close to Harold's heart.

View Harold Peterson's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

07/12/2025

Steven Paris

Steven D Paris 1948-2025

Steven D Paris left this earth to return to his Heavenly Father on July 6, 2025.

Steven was born on March 5, 1948 in Elko, Nevada into a family of his father Arthur L Paris; Mother Anna Gail Cooper Paris Nielsen; one Sister CCCherrieone brother Michael. Steve and Michael were 11 months apart and were the same age for 26 days each year. Later the family grew to include brother Roger, sister MerryAnn and brother Paul this rounded out his family. Until Steven met the Love of his Life Georgeann Oliver in Ogden and they married on April 20, 1974 to start their own family.

Steven and GGeorgeannwelcomed into their family Michael Aaron and Steven Russell together they traveled the country following Steven as her served in the United State Navy. Steve spent one tour of duty in Vietnam and the rest station at various stations in the United States. Steven retired from the Navy after 25 years of service and relocated to Coeur d' Lane Idaho. After his retirement he went to work for the State of Idaho working for the Department of Protective Services. Were he worked until 2011.

In 2011 Steven suffered a massive stroke and was not expected to ever be able to be independent again; however he was with us for eleven more joyous years giving us his crooked smile, his 1, 2, 3 answers to most of the question we asked, the 1, 2, 3 when he was excited about the deer or the antelope he could see outside his window, his game playing on his I-pad or the loud TV, most of all we will miss his "I love you" that he could say perfectly.

Steven was blessed to have Georgeann as his life mate her devotion to him from the day they were married until his passing was a wonder to witness. They were truly the families perfect love story.

Steven leaves behind a great legacy in his two sons Michael Aaron and his wife Victoria and Steven Russell and his partner Nicole. Grandchildren Lori Paris and Joshua his wife Litzy and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren, a plethora of nieces and nephews (who say we love you uncle wwweirdy

Steven was preceded in death by his father Arthur L Paris, his mother Anna Gail Nielsen, Max A Nielsen (stepfather) brothers Michael Paris and Paul Cooper Nielsen, Nieces Melissa Whetton & Jennifer Bennett.

A grave side service will be held for the family on July 22 at Yellowstone National Cemetery.

A short Celebration of Life will be held on July 21 from 11 - 1 at the Madison Valley Baptist Church 1550 Hwy 287.

The family would like to thank the first responders for their compassionate care at "a time when the rest of the world didn't make any sense". Thanks to the staff at the Madison Valley Medical Center for their gentle ongoing care.

View Steven Paris's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

06/11/2025

Regina Faye Rutherford

Regina Faye Rutherford was born in Closplint, Kentucky on September 3rd, 1932, to Alexander Rutherford and Ethel Sasser Rutherford. She had two brothers, Robert Edward Rutherford and Charles William Rutherford and one sister, Betty Lou Halcomb. She spent her growing up years living between Kentucky, Ohio and Indiana. As a child of the depression era, in her own words, her "childhood years were rather bland, we were poor, so did not get to do too many activities. I do however have fond memories of going to Grandma Rutherford's for Sunday Dinner." Here she would play with her 20 cousins, throwing tobacco stalks, jumping in the buckwheat bin, jumping from the hay loft or making paper dolls from the Sears Robuck's catalog. She considered herself "Uptown" when her folks felted the outhouse seat and they purchased Ivory soap instead of the homemade lye bars that burned the skin.

During the second World War, she remembered helping in the war effort. As she said, every dime they had went to war bond stamps. She helped collect scrap metal, old rubber tires, and milk weed pods. She was very proud of her patriotic efforts as a child. In 1944 to help with the war effort, her family moved to San Francisco, so her father and stepmother could work at a war plant. After a year, her father joined the Cee Bees and was stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii. The rest of the family moved back to Paris Crossing, Indiana.

In 1949 she met Rodney Ray Sturgill in Evarts, Kentucky. The two fell madly in love and were married in November 1950. She was blessed with two children, Dorlan Lee "Chuck" Sturgill and Debra Ann. Tragically her husband would pass right before Debra's birth in 1955. In 1958 she vacationed in Montana and fell in love with the state. In 1960 she would pack up her children and move to Virginia City, Montana.

While living in Virginia City, from 1960 to 1970 she worked for the Richman family at the Madisonian learning how to use the old press equipment from 1917. After marrying her second husband Harold Griffin, the family drove the Alcan Highway to Fairbanks, Alaska, so Harlod could work on the Alcan Pipeline. She moved from Fairbanks, Alaska to Mount Vernon, Washington 7 years later.

In 1979 she decided to move back to Virginia City, Montana where she took a job working at the VC café. When the café closed in 1990, Joanne Erdall hired her to work at the Thompson-Hickman Library. She worked there for the next 21 years. Retiring in 2012 at the age of 80. She cherished her time at the library. She loved seeing the town's people and all the children at the library. She was proud to be able to learn computer skills and attended various classes put on by the state library during her time there.

After retirement, she spent her time with family and friends. She loved quilting and those that were blessed with a quilt knew it was made with love just for them. Faye had a deep love of the lord and enjoyed studying the bible. On June 2, 2025, after a long fulfilling life, she went to be with the lord.

Faye is preceded in death by her parents Alexander Rutherford and Ethel Sasser Rutherford, her brother Charles Rutherford, her husband Rodney Sturgill, her daughter Debra Ann Sturgill, and countless friends and family members.

She is survived by her son, Dorlan "Chuck" Sturgill (Karla), her brother Robert Rutherford, her sister Betty Halcomb, her grandchildren, Rodney Sturgill, Jamie Sturgill-Tronson (Ken), Christopher Sturgill (Kristee), and Timothy Sturgill, her great grandchildren, Colin Sturgill (Brittney), Tyler Sturgill, Hailee Street (Jeff), Madison Adams, Trent Sturgill, Zoey Sturgill, Jayce Sturgill, Jamison Sturgill, Benjamin Brown, Adrianna Brown, Virginia Sturgill, and Asher Sturgill. Her hope was to one day meet a great-great grandchild, she was blessed to have three, Weston Sturgill, Waylon Sturgill and William Gary.

Graveside services will be held at the Virginia City cemetery on August 2nd, 2025 at 11:00am. Potluck to follow at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Virginia City. Please bring a side or salad to share. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to send monetary donations in Faye's honor to the Thompson-Hickman Library P.O. Box 128, Virginia City, MT 59755.

View Regina Rutherford's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

06/09/2025

Mark Douglas Wolter

Mark was born on Oct. 2, 1952 to Lyle and Phillis Wolter in Minneapolis, Minn. He died peacefully and unexpectedly on April 13, 2025 at his home in McAllister, Mont.

Mark graduated from Bemidji State University with a bachelor's degree in theatre arts. He worked in professional theatre in the Minneapolis area for several years. His proudest achievement was working at the Minneapolis Children's Theatre Company as the national tour technical director, bringing live professional theatre to large and small communities across the country, from Alaska, Canada, the lower forty-eight states and a special exchange tour to Moscow, Russia. After moving to Montana, he worked in the film and television industries in Montana and in Los Angeles. He most recently retired from the Montana State Park Service at Lewis and Clark Caverns.

Marke loved the outdoors, was an avid fisherman, camper and hunter. He enjoyed canoeing the lakes and rivers of Minnesota and Wisconsin on his many visits to Montana, he fell in love with the mountains and the wide open spaces. He and his wife, Nancy, moved to Montana 35 years ago and have called McAllister their home ever since. Mark will be greatly missed by his family and countless friends. He lived his life to the fullest and will be remembered for the sound of his deep resonant voice, his kind and quiet manner and his easy laughter.

He was preceded in death by his parents Lyle and Phillis Wolter of Bemidji, Minn.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Nancy Dombrock, Mcallister, Mont., son Travis Norman (Leigha Horton), Finlayson, Minn. and brother Paul Wolter, McAllister, Mont.

A celebration of Mark's life will be held on August 16, 2025. Beginning at 1:00pm in his home in McAllister.

View Mark Wolter's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

05/16/2025

Doris Delayne Dotson Davidson

Doris Delayne Dotson was a force to be reckoned with-a woman who met life head-on with grit, humor, and a heart big enough to carry five generations of love. She passed away on May 10, 2025, in her home in Ennis, Montana, surrounded by the peace of the valley she loved so dearly (and probably a few cans of homemade jelly tucked in the pantry).

Born on April 11, 1937, in Park Grove, Montana, Doris entered the world as lucky number 7 of 13 children born to Raymond Clifford Dotson and Blanche Luella Quilling Dotson. Her arrival coincided with her father's work on the Fort Peck Dam-perhaps that's where she got her inner strength. Raised between Lambert and Sidney, Montana, Doris learned the value of hard work early-and she never stopped applying it.

After the birth of her first son, Ronald, in Sidney, Doris made her way to the apple orchards of Medford, Oregon, where she met Earnie McAllister. The two built a life in Porterville, California, and raised four boys together, adding Bob, Lonnie, and Clifford. The boys were wild, but Doris was wilder-and somehow, they all survived.

In the early 1980s, after successfully launching her boys into the world (more or less), Doris followed the magnetic pull of Montana back home. She worked tirelessly at the Madison Valley Hospital and later spent her days caring for homes-and the people in them-with her signature blend of grit, grace, and sass. If Doris cleaned your house, you got more than a tidy space-you got a friend for life, unsolicited advice, and likely a jar of chokecherry or pomegranate jelly.

Doris started every morning with a cup of strong black cowboy coffee (no cream, no sugar, no nonsense) and ended each evening with an ice-cold Budweiser. She lived life by her own rules, and those rules included hard work, loyalty, and showing up-every single time.

She was fiercely loyal, full of laughter, and equipped with a will as steady and unyielding as the Montana mountains she loved. Cancer may have tried to take her, but Doris wasn't having it-not for two and a half years past when everyone thought her time had come. She lived on pure determination and the love of her family and friends, and don't you dare say otherwise.

Doris devoted herself to the Madison Valley Fire Department and was known to have a soft spot (and likely a casserole) ready for any firefighter in need. She was a champion of people, a gatherer of the lonely, and the knitter of approximately 8,426 baby blankets-each made with love and only minor cussing.

She is survived by four of her beloved siblings: Jack Dotson, Larry Dotson, Delores Dotson Leveno, and Minnie Dotson Krueger; her four sons: Ronald (Patti), Bob (Donna), Lonnie, and Clifford; 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren-each of whom knew exactly where to go for a slice of 7-layer German Chocolate cake (or to get scolded for not calling enough).

She now joins the heavenly ranks of her parents and eight siblings, two daughters-in-law, and three grandchildren, who no doubt welcomed her with open arms, a coffee pot on, and maybe some pie.

Doris Dotson was not a woman you forgot. She was a woman who showed up. She gave her all-every day, for everyone. And if you were loved by her, you knew it. She didn't whisper her love; she wrapped it around you in yarn, baked it into crust, and handed it to you in a jar of jam.

In true Doris fashion, she'd probably roll her eyes at all this fuss. But we're going to make it anyway. Because she earned it.

A celebration of Doris's extraordinary life will be held on Friday, May 23rd at 11 a.m. at Madison Valley Cemetery, followed by a gathering at Madison Valley Rural Fire Station #1. In the meantime, hug your people, bake a pie, and call your mother. Doris would insist on it.

View Doris Davidson's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.