K&L Mortuaries - Whitehall

11/03/2025

Sandra Kieckbusch

Sandra "Sandy" Kieckbusch

June 22, 1940 - October 31, 2025

Sandra "Sandy" Kieckbusch, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully in Butte, Montana. Born on June 22, 1940, to Evan and Virginia (Dougherty) Martinsen Sandy was a lifelong Montanan whose warmth and generosity touched countless lives.

Sandy attended McKinley Grade School and graduated from Butte High School before earning her Bachelor's degree in Education from Western Montana College. She began her teaching career in Whitefish and later taught at Butte Business College. In 1963, she married the love of her life, Larry Kieckbusch, beginning a partnership filled with devotion and adventure.

Together, Sandy and Larry lived in Lewistown and Sheridan, Montana, where Larry taught and coached, and Sandy worked as a substitute teacher and coach. She later found her professional calling with the U.S. Forest Service, serving as Office Manager in the Sheridan District Office and later transferring to the Jefferson District Office in Whitehall, where she worked until her retirement in 1994.

After Larry's passing, Sandy returned to her hometown of Butte, where she continued to serve her community by volunteering at local elementary schools and staying active in her church. She found joy in walks and drives around Butte, often gazing at the Lady of the Rockies from her window at The Springs Senior Living.

Above all, Sandy cherished her family. She was a proud and enthusiastic supporter of her children and grandchildren, attending their events and celebrating their achievements with unwavering love.

Sandy was preceded in death by her husband, Larry; her parents, Evan and Virginia; and her sister, Susan (Len) Harrington. She is survived by her children, Mark Kieckbusch of Billings and Julie Kieckbusch of Butte; grandchildren, Alli and Connor Kieckbusch of Austin, Texas, and Max Feight of Bozeman; and her sister, Sally Bardsley of Butte.

Sandy will be remembered for her radiant smile, kind heart, and steadfast devotion to those she loved. Her legacy lives on in the lives she touched and the family she adored.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date when all family members can attend. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Spirit of Columbia Gardens Carousel, P.O. Box 4133, Butte, Montana 59702.

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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.

10/13/2025

Jacqueline Uivary

Jacqueline Uivary passed away October 9, 2025 at Meadowlark Manor in Whitehall, MT.

Jackie was born March 11, 1930 to Earl & Helen Heberling in Northampton, PA. She was an only child for 10 years until her 4 brothers, Jim, Dick, David and Dan were born. During the summers of her childhood, her family tent camped full time at a local reservoir so her father could be closer to his work. It was here that Jackie's love of the water and reading began.

Jackie was a good student and especially enjoyed reading and geography. As an adult she always had an atlas close at hand to find some new town or exotic foreign place.

The summer before her senior year of high school she started dating a young man from the neighborhood, John Uivary. They later would marry, have 3 children and were together for 70 years until his death.

Following high school, she attended nursing school and became a registered nurse. Nursing was huge part of her identity her entire life. After graduating from nursing school she flew to Rapid City where John was stationed with the Air Force and they got married. When his service was finished they went back to Pennsylvania where John attended college on the GI bill. One summer during college the couple, with an 18 month old daughter, drove to Oregon where he worked and they lived in a fire tower with no running water or electricity.

After he graduated and went to work for the Forest Service, they lived in many small towns in Montana and South Dakota where Jackie was often the only person with any medical knowledge. Long before the advent of Google Search, she was the go to source for medical answers. Once, she was called to help a child who had broken a femur in a horse accident. A local rancher volunteered to fly them to a hospital, so Jackie secured the child to an ironing board so they could safely fly the 100 miles to the nearest hospital. During her career, Jackie worked as the school nurse at a residential Indian school and later worked as a public health nurse for the Northern Cheyenne reservation. In Whitehall, she was the public health nurse and school nurse. In Missoula she was an industrial nurse for Champion Lumber. Prior to retiring at 62 she worked at the Park Royal nursing home in Butte.

In retirement, she and John went on extended trips to Vancouver Island and Alaska doing what they loved to do the most, camp and fish. These trips often became an extended family event, and her last trip was a 4 generation salmon fishing trip to Sitka Alaska.

After John died, she moved into Meadowlark Manor where she enjoyed bible studies, book readings and bingo. The family would like to thank Velda and her staff at the Manor for their wonderful care of Jackie. Also her church family for faithfully giving her rides to church and bible studies. Jackie's faith was an essential and central part of her life. We would also like to thank the Whitehall Library ladies who kept mom supplied with fresh books every week. Not an easy job as she often read 3-4 books a week.

Jackie was preceded in death by her parents, 3 of her brothers, her husband John and son Johnny who died at age 17 in an accident. She is survived by her daughter Andrea (Tim) Mulligan, son Mike Uivary (Robert Wisdom), Grandson Matt Mulligan (Jessica Backus), Granddaughter Kate (Mike) Welch and 5 Great grandchildren Annabelle, Evan, Brynn, John and Franklin. She is also survived by her brother Richard and numerous nieces and nephews.

Jackie's memorial service will be held at the Whitehall Zion Luthern Church on Friday October 24th at 10:30 AM.

A private family remembrance will be held at a later date.

Donations can be made to PULSE/Whitehall EMS or to The Friends of the Whitehall Library.

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08/25/2025

Ruben Gonzalez-Romero

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08/16/2025

Lelland Johns

Lelland Leroy Johns, 84, a lifelong rancher from Whitehall, Montana, passed away peacefully of natural causes at his beloved Johns Ranch on August 13, 2025. Born February 7, 1941, in Missoula, Montana, Lelland was the devoted son of William Henry and Bertha Elmira Johns.

Lelland dedicated his life to the spirit of the open range, beginning his ranching career at just twelve years old and never looking back. In 1973, he fulfilled a lifelong dream by purchasing the ranch that would remain his pride and joy for the next 52 years. He poured his heart into the land, raising cattle and horses, and found joy in every sunrise and season. For Lelland, ranching was more than a profession-it was a calling-and he worked tirelessly until his final days.

In 1962, he married the love of his life, Marion Carole Scheeler. Together they shared years of laughter, adventure, and partnership, raising three children-William, Susan, and Kristy-and making countless memories at rodeos, on horseback, and fishing or hunting on the ranch. The loss of Marion and their daughter Kristy were heartbreaks he bore with his characteristic resilience.

Known as a proud, dedicated, old-school cowboy, Lelland would give a friend the shirt off his back. He was deeply involved with his community, generously providing stock for local youth rodeos and mentoring the next generation through 4-H programs. Hardworking, loyal, and irreplaceable, Lelland was truly one of a kind.

He is survived by his son, William Johns (Michelle); his daughter, Susan Johns; and his grandchildren, Jay Smith, Ty Smith (Micki), Jess Smith (LaShae), Casey Johns (Janae), Jacob Johns, and Hunter Johns. He also leaves behind two great-grandchildren, Zahara Smith and Finn Smith.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 23, at 10 a.m. at the Catholic Church in Whitehall, with burial to follow at Old Whitehall Cemetery and a reception at the K-Bar. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Lelland's memory.

Lelland's boots may be empty, but his legacy will continue to ride on in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. He will be deeply missed and never replaced.

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08/14/2025

Gary Latta

Gary Ray Latta, born March 25, 1943, in Harper Kansas, passed away peacefully on August 13, 2025 at the age of 82.

He graduated from Harper High School in 1961, married Carol Jennings in 1964, and served in the U.S. Army (active duty) from 1964-1967, including a year in Viet Nam.

After his time of active duty, he worked on the Apollo 11 project in Tulsa, Oklahoma. In 1976, he relocated to Montana, where he worked for several years as a general contractor. While in Montana, he also served in the Army National Guard and Navy SeaBees.

Gary was strong Christian who was passionate about serving the Lord by serving others. He was very involved in his church and supported overseas missions. In 2007, he had the opportunity to help build an orphanage in Tanzania, Africa, which was a highlight in his life.

Gary is survived by his wife Carol, daughters Colleen Minahan (Tim), and Cheri Shaw (Paul), and son Aaron Latta (Brandi), along with 17 grandchildren (including spouses) and 4 great grandchildren.

He is also survived by his sister Velda, sister in law Sue, and dear friend, cousin and mentor Norman Latta.

Gary is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Verna Latta, and his brother Duane, and brother in law Gene Geller.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to the staff at the Veteran's Home in Butte for their faithful service and compassionate care for Gary.

Memorial contributions can be made in Gary's Honor through the Cardwell Church to Restoring Hope Nepal.

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