Dennis Jasper Abeyta

Dennis J Abeyta went to heaven in the evening hours of April 19th surrounded by his loving family at the age of 80.
Dennis was born on December 4th 1944 in Rock Springs Wyoming to Jose & Juana Abeyta.
Two years later his sister Gloria was born. The family moved to Butte MT where he attended school & graduated from Butte Central in 1964. He married Sheryl Melby & from that union he had Dennis, Teresa & Robert.
Dennis worked in the Butte mines & met Darlene Tadej at Butte Business College in 1965. They were married on April 16th, 1966. They moved to Phillipsburg MT where his parents lived. Dennis was in the Army National Guard & was sent to Fort Polk Louisiana in March of 67. His wife was expecting their first child so she went to live with her parents on the farm where she grew up. Dennis returned in August of 67 to his 3 week old daughter. They moved back to Philipsburg until September of 68 & then moved to Helena.

Dennis went to votech & studied electronics. He got a job with the Helena School District where he worked for over 30 years. He was very well known for being able to fix anything from slide projectors to vcrs & anything in between. His kids & grandkids were always happy to see him working at their schools. He videotaped sporting events, programs & graduations. He was always behind the camera capturing all our family moments.

Dennis enjoyed hunting, fishing & especially cooking. His specialties were chili & tamales. He also loved watching old westerns.

I want to thank the staff at Cooney who gave him care and love and hospice who was there in his last stages of his life. Also, St Petes when he was in the hospital, wound care staff who took care of him every week who became like family. We are so grateful to all for his great care. We would also like to thank everyone who came to visit him, prayed with him & just sat with him.

Dennis was so loved by his family & we will miss him so very much!!

He was preceded in death by his daughter Terri, son Robert, parents Juana & Jose, his in laws Carl & Anne Tadej.

He is survived by his wife Darlene of 59 years, sister Gloria(John) of Arizona, daughters Teresa(Bubba) of Florida, Michelle(Corey) of Helena. Sons Dennis(Renee) of Wyoming, Danny of Helena.

Grandchildren Cody(Sunny) of Helena, Levi of Helena, Andrew of Wyoming, Desirae of Washington, Nyha of Wyoming, Steven of Florida, Dennis(Micca) of Florida, Donnie of Florida, Kristen of Florida, Angie(Gerald) of Oregon, Brett(Heidi) of Oregon, Jordan(Mikayla) of South Carolina.

Great grandchildren Liam & Logan of Wyoming, Jacob & Bryan of Florida, Landen & Giuliana of Florida, Gabe & Josie of Florida, Brooks of South Carolina, Dylan & Alexia of Oregon, Christina of Oregon, Kaylie(Logan) of Washington, Tatum(Blake) of Helena, Reese of Helena, Brendan(Sam) of North Carolina

Great great grandchildren Brycen, Eli & Landon of Washington, Teigan, Taelynn & Ollie of Helena; and many extended family members and friends.

A family memorial will be held at a later date.

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Douglas Gene O'Connell

August 10, 1946 - February 16, 2025

Douglas Gene O'Connell, known to family and friends as Doug, passed away on February 16, 2025, in Post Falls, Idaho, at the age of 78. Born on August 10, 1946, in Butte, Montana, Doug was the beloved son of M.D. and Hedy O'Connell. He grew up in a large and loving family alongside his siblings Madeleine, Michael, Gregory, Christopher, and Frank, with Madeleine and Greg preceding him in death.   Doug dedicated many years to the lumber industry, working alongside his brother Mike to run Western Dimension before finishing his career at Lumber Yard Supply in Great Falls. He was also a proud member of the Army Reserve, serving his country with dedication and commitment.   Faith was at the core of Doug's life, shaping his values, guiding his decisions, and bringing him great comfort and strength throughout the years. His belief in God was unwavering, and he lived his faith not only in prayer but in actionthrough his kindness, his generosity, and his deep sense of compassion for others. He found great solace in scripture and leaned on his faith through life's challenges, always trusting in God's plan.
Doug was also a man of redemption and grace. After finding his own path to recovery, he felt a calling to help others do the same, sponsoring many struggling alcoholics and offering them the support, guidance, and encouragement they needed to rebuild their lives. His faith gave him a profound understanding of second chances, and he embodied that belief by extending a hand to those in need.
Above all, Doug cherished his family. He loved taking his children and grandchildren on long Sunday drives and thrilling dune buggy adventures through the Montana wilderness. Fishing was one of his greatest joys, and he found peace and gratitude in the beauty of nature.
Doug is survived by his children: Matthew Douglas, Mark Daniel, Summer Donn, and Chelsey Elizabeth, along with his cherished grandchildren and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, M.D. and Hedy, and his siblings, Madeleine and Greg.
A remembrance will be held in the spring to honor Doug's life and legacy. His family invites loved ones to join in celebrating the man who brought joy, adventure, and unwavering support to those around him. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages acts of kindness in Doug's memory, reflecting his lifelong commitment to faith, love, and service.To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Montana Standard on Mar. 1, 2025.