Joseph Jonutis

Visitation: Thursday, January 29, 2009 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City.

Vigil Service: Thursday, January 29, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City.

Funeral Service: Friday, January 30, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City.

Interment: Eastern Montana State Veterans Cemetery

Joseph Anthony Jonutis, Jr passed away peacefully on January, 20, 2009. He was born in a log house, built by his father, near Knowlton, MT, to Joseph and Stella Jonutis on October, 22, 1919. He was the oldest of four children.

Joe graduated from Custer County High School in 1940. He enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in March 1942 and served as a WWII crew chief on B-25 bomber aircraft in North Africa and Italy until his Honorable Discharge in November 1945. He attended Miles Community College and then enrolled at the University of Montana, graduating with an accounting degree 1949. He loved his Montana Grizzly's.

Joe married Betty Mae Dobson in Miles City, in 1962 and to this union he inherited three young daughters. Tereasa (Terry) Taylor, Carol (Thomas) Baer and Regina (Thomas) Zeilstra. He was very active in the VFW and the VA Hospital in Miles City. Joe worked for Montgomery Wards for many years, then worked for the Custer County Road Department before retiring. In 1989, due to illness, Joe an Betty moved to Billings to be closer to their daughters. Joe volunteered for 19 years at St. Vincent Healthcare where he was loved by many people. Betty was the love of his life; and when she passed away on June 8, 2005, he remained living at Prairie Towers with his beloved dog Daisey. Daisey died in the spring of 2008 and Joe missed her very much.

Joe love the Billings Mustangs, and is honored with a brick with his name for eternity at the new Dehler Park. He loved his daughters very much and appreciated having them in his life. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Betty, and granddaughter Darci Rae Zeilstra and many aunts and uncles.

He is survived by his siblings, Edward (Ann) Jonutis of Glendive, MT and Charles J. Jonutis of Miles City, MT; a sister, Lillian Jonutis of Miles City, MT; Daughters: Tereasa (Terry) Taylor of Colstrip, MT; Carol (Thomas) Baer of Billings, MT and Regina (Thomas) Zeilstra of Billings, MT; Grandchildren: Peggy (Mike) Barnes of Billings, MT; Lyndsey (John) Dudley of Colstrip, MT; Thomas (Georgi) Baer of Colstrip, MT; Travis (Jen) Zeilstra of Billings, MT, and Jessica (Kurt) Kaufman of Arvada, CO; Great Grandchildren, Sari, Ericka, Hannah, Owen and Echo Barnes; Ashely, Alexis and McKenna Dudley; JT and Abigail Baer, Elizabeth and Evan Zeilstra; and Claire and Kyla Kaufman and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A Vigil service will be held on Thursday, January 29, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 30, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Rite of Committal will follow in the Eastern Montana State Veterans Cemetery with full military honors provided by VFW Post 1579. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to American Cancer Society.