Phyllis Geraldine (Dassonville) Berge, 96, of Bainville, died April 19, 2020, at her home in Bainville. She was born at home in Frazer, on Oct. 23, 1923, to Paul J. Dassonville and Hazel May (Redfield) Dassonville. She joined oldest brother, Lloyd, and older sister, Margarite (Peggy). She was followed by brothers, Henri “Hank” and Curtis; and sister, Janice. She attended Frazer Elementary School where she met Dick Berge. He was in the sixth grade and she was in the fifth grade. She attended Frazer High School, graduating in 1941. While in high school, she played basketball with a half-court rule. She was quite proud of being “high point man” in the games. She stated many times, “I’ll always be a Frazer Bearcub.” After graduating, she attended Havre Normal School, where she obtained an associate degree that enabled her to teach first grade at the Southside School in Wolf Point during World War II. She married Dick Berge in 1947 and had two daughters, Rochelle “Rocky”and Paulette “Pauly.” In 1953, she and Dick built The Rancho Motel in Frazer. In 1957, they moved the motel to Wolf Point, where they operated the motel and campground until 1981. In 2012, they relocated to Bainville. She enjoyed growing up with so many siblings. She talked about how she and Hank could really cut a rug with jitterbugging in the living room. She was a very good dancer and proved it when she taught her great-grandson to dance before his first prom. She could play the guitar and piano by ear and could yodel with the best of them. She loved to sing, especially at church. She always enjoyed and made every holiday memorable by making special food and hosting dinners. She and Dick loved to share their recipes with their granddaughter by teaching her how to make dressing, among other things. She was an avid crafter. She crocheted dolls, doilies and afghans. She made plastic canvas projects and enjoyed trying new crafts and recording craft shows from the TV. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick; brothers, Lloyd and Hank; and sister, Peggy. She is survived by daughters, Rochelle Romo of Bainville and Pauly of Plano, Texas; brother, Curtis of Bozeman; sister, Janice Long of Wolf Point; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Private graveside services were held and a public memorial service will be held at a later date. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.

Damon Nelson Heck, 42, of Great Falls died April 13, 2020. He was born Jan. 5, 1978, at Deaconess Hospital in Great Falls to Julie and Rick Heck. He was the oldest of three boys, though he had several extra “brothers” who joined the Heck family throughout the years. The “brotherly love” the three experienced growing up is something that will never be forgotten. While he wasn’t an avid church attendee, he knew his Lord and Savior. He graduated from C.M. Russell High School in 1996, he then attended Montana State University - Northern and Montana State University - Bozeman. After returning to Great Falls, he began his work as a draftsman for the family business, Blue Mountain Enterprises. He eventually went to work at TC Glass as an accomplished glazier and automatics coordinator. He was a jack-of-all-trades — or as he would say, “It’s what I do.” There wasn’t much he couldn’t do and, if he didn’t know how to do something, he would figure it out — a skill he learned during his time as a Boy Scout. After Rick’s passing in 2006, he stepped up to help Julie with managing the family home. He met Amber in the summer of 2002 and was open about the fact that he knew, from first sight, he would marry her one day. By December of the same year, he knew he had won her heart, telling her bright and early one morning shortly after Christmas, “We should go look at rings today.” They were married Sept. 6, 2003, in Great Falls. Four years later, their first child, Kylor Gene, was born. Two years later, Kason John joined the family. The boys have added to, and will continue, Damon’s hockey legacy. Kylor honors him by wearing Damon’s #51 jersey. Khloe Anne was born in 2012. He was adamant that his daughter would never play hockey, but it didn’t take long for him to realize he would give her anything she wanted. Recently, Khloe also decided to take to the ice, giving Damon the pleasure of becoming a figure skating dad. Daughter Koroa Rhee was born in 2019. Throughout his life, he was always active in sports and tried out a few before falling in love with hockey. He started his hockey career as a junior novice and continued playing throughout high school. He moved on to the men’s league. He devoted countless hours to the sport — becoming a coach, mentor and official. Even as an adult, he was always active in sports, participating in multiple softball and golf leagues. One of his longest-running hobbies was hunting. He spent winters as a child hunting with his father and brothers. Later, he spent many weekends walking through the woods with his father-inlaw and brothers-in-law. He is survived by his wife, Amber Rivera Heck; sons, Kylor and Kason; daughters, Khloe and Koroa; mother, Julie Nelson Heck; brothers, Nick Heck and Tanner Heck; and grandparents, Delores Nelson of Wolf Point and Clif and Helen Heck. A memorial will be planned at a later date.

Rita Nichols. 96, died April 16, 2020, in Bozeman. She was born April 21, 1923 in Slinger, Wis., to Francis (Frank) and Frances Kachelmeier. She was the second youngest of 10 siblings. Music was her life. At a young age, she traveled by train from her home in Slinger, where her family operated a bakery shop, to Milwaukee to take voice and music lessons. She graduated with of bachelor of arts in music from Milwaukee State Teachers College. She ventured out West in the early 1950s to teach music at the St. Labre Indian School in Ashland. While teaching in eastern Montana, she met Louis Robert Nichols. They wed in 1952 in Billings, where they eventually settled. She continued her passion for music in Billings, directing choir, singing and playing organ and piano for more than 50 years at the Little Flower Catholic Church. Her talents were not lost on her children, who all learned to play some musical instrument and sing. She belonged to the Billings bowling leagues, golfed into her 90s and took daily walks along the Yellowstone River near her home. She loved playing cards, reading, watercolor painting and carrying on her family tradition of fantastic baking. She sang with a Billings hospice group, sharing her beautiful soprano voice. Her backyard Fourth of July celebrations were a tradition the extended family looked forward to every year. She remained in her home in Billings until 2019, when she moved to an assisted living facility in Bozeman. She is survived by six children, James Nichols of Santa Clarita, Calif., Clare Marley of Sandpoint, Idaho, Theresa Schuster of Bozeman, Robert Nichols of Billings, Ray Nichols of Phoenix, Ariz., and John Nichols of Escondido, Calif.; and nine grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Louis; daughter, Louise; siblings, Julia, Marie, Joey, Sister Anne; Sister Limana, Sister Jo Marie, Vera, Al and Laddie. Burial will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery in Billings. A celebration of life is planned for later.