Please remember these individuals in your thoughts and prayers.
Larry Olson
Larry Dean Olson, 50, of Billings, died Sunday, March 28, 2010, from complications from a stroke.
Larry was born in Billings on Dec. 6, 1959, to Pauline and Sheldon Olson. Larry attended school in Billings and graduated from West High in 1978. Larry was a pipe fitter from 1980 to 1989 through the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 30. He then received his Mechanical Engineering Technology Degree from MSU Bozeman. After graduation, Larry worked for Boeing and then the last 20 years for Unifield/Worley Parsons Engineering. Larry married the “loves of my life,” Leigh Ann Williamson, in Billings, on Sept. 12, 1992. Larry and Leigh Ann enjoyed their lives together to the fullest, from riding their scooters to remodeling their home and taking vacations to Hawaii and Mexico.
Larry’s passion was riding his trials bike and his KTM 300 with many close friends. Larry was a lifetime member of the Billings Motorcycle Club, holding proudly his club number 44. His favorite ride was around Deer Creek. Larry was also a snowmobiler and a skier.
Larry was always a very happy, thoughtful and compassionate person, which was evident by the numerous friends he had wherever he went: at the Squire, in the South Hills or out in the mountains that he loved so much. He often said, “everything is okay as long as you have a smile on your face.” Larry, “Mr. Clean,” took pride in keeping everything clean and polished from his motorcycles and cars to keeping the best yard on the block.
Larry is survived by his loving wife, Leigh Ann, and her family, including two nephews Josh and Zach Williamson, whom he loved and adored as if they were his own. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Sheldon and Pauline Olson; and a brother, John Olson. Larry is survived by his six siblings, sisters Pauline (Walt) Stauffer, Penny, brothers Jimmy (Debbie), Donny (Sari), Dick (Kay) and Tommy Olson, all of Billings. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, but especially his nephew Rick (Ann) Stauffer and their daughter Elizabeth.
Larry’s family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to the doctors and nurses of the Billings Clinic ER and ICU unit. You are all angels on earth.
As per Larry’s wishes, some of Larry’s ashes will be interred in Yellowstone Valley Memorial Park, where his parents are buried, and some by he and Leigh Ann’s favorite spot on Rock Creek in Red Lodge, some by his best friends and fellow riders on Deer Creek and, at a later date, some to be spread by his wife in the ocean by Maui, where they shared special time together.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to a charity of their choice. We also ask you to remember to sign your organ donor cards as Larry did. God speed Larry… “Who Dat!”
Mark Chamberlain
   |
Because BMC is a club, it relies upon volunteers to not only work our events but help set our direction and build our organization. Fortunately, we have had some exceptional members who have given tirelessly of their time, talents and commitment to make us one of the best motorcycle clubs in the region. Sadly, we have lost one of our staunchest supporters. Mark Chamberlain passed away in 2010 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Mark Chamberlain joined the BMC in 1965, and quickly saw that the sport of motorcycling was a great opportunity for many. He became immersed in club activities, bringing motocross to Montana by promoting races when this type of event was in its infancy, assisting Kenny Glenn with the building of the Montana State Championship (renamed to the Great American Motorcycle Hill Climb) into the event it is today, and filling in wherever and whenever needed. He was the “voice of reason” in the club, serving on the board many times. Mark was one of the new era of members who recognized that if we were going to have places to ride in the future, we needed to secure our own property. He, along with Gary Frank and Kenny Glenn encouraged the club members to use money from our major fundraiser, the Great American Championship Motorcycle Hill Climb, to purchase the Sagebrush property. When the South Hills land became available, he and our other future planners quickly went to work finding a way to finance the land we all use today and often take for granted. Not surprising, you will find his name on the Outstanding Member award.
Mark’s wife, Darlene (left side photo above), has stood by his side at hundreds of events and through many a ride doing what BMC wives do, running events, recording scores at the Great American and enjoying the fun with a great group of friends. His brother, Merritt, was a nine-time champion of the Montana Championship/Great American and helped inspire Mark’s son, Shannon Chamberlain (right side photo above), to take up the sport. Mark and Darlene were in the pits to encourage Shannon every step of the way as he competed and when he won three Great American Championships. The Chamberlains are a great example of the close knit families found in the BMC.
Mark Chamberlain was a great example of the kind of BMC member that makes the Billings Motorcycle Club such a strong organization. He was a great husband and father, a good businessman, and a wonderful friend and supporter of our club. His friendship and advice will be sorely missed by many. His contributions to the sport of motorcycling in Billings will be appreciated by thousands for decades to come.
Donna Rae Cardwell
The wife of Bob Cardwell and long time supporter of the Billings Motorcycle Club, Donna Cardwell, passed away December 29, 2008. The Cardwell ‘clan’ has for years been one of the largest and most active families in the BMC, with Mrs. Cardwell there for her husband, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren for those many years. God Speed.
Click here for the Billings Gazette obituary from December 31, 2008…
Richard Jerome ‘Dick’ Slagowski
Richard Jerome “Dick” Slagowski passed away on June 13, 2008, at the Billings Clinic Hospital, of complications from lymphoma.
He was born on Oct. 27, 1943 in Toledo, Ohio, the son of Viven Slagowski and Harriet Pilliod. He spent his childhood years in Olathe, Colo., and later moved to Estes Park, Colo., where he graduated from Estes Park High School in 1961. He graduated from Adams State College, Alamosa, Colo., in 1965. He was united in marriage to Alice Tanaka at the Chapel of Transfiguration in Moose, Wyo., in 1966.
He taught high school in Worland, Wyo.; worked at Husky Oil in Cody, Wyo.; then moved to Billings, where he was the Collection Manager at the Billings Clinic; worked at Norwest Bank and was the Assistant Manager at downtown Tire-Rama for many years and retired this year from his ADS RV Sales business. He was a very active lifetime member of the Billings Motorcycle Club and was looking forward to announcing at the Great American Motorcycle Hillclimb in July. He was a member of the Rainmakers Motorcycle Club and GWRRA and thoroughly enjoyed riding his Goldwing “SLUGO” motorcycle. He had a true love for his family, motorcycles and old cars. Dick was an avid reader and enjoyed sports, especially football games. He had a great sense of humor and an amazing memory and never met a stranger.
Dick is survived by his wife, Alice; son Todd; daughter Tana and granddaughter Jazzlyn Pulley; his mother, age 90, in Rifle, Colo.; his two sisters, Vicki Noell of Highlands Ranch, Colo., and Frances (Phil) May of Aurora, Colo.; two nieces and three nephews and four great-nieces