GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE Saturday, May 18, 2002

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Mabel Cronce

BIG TIMBER -- Mabel (Billmayer) Cronce, 94, a homemaker, died of natural causes Tuesday at a Big Timber hospital.

Her funeral is 11 a.m. Monday at Hogeland Lutheran Church. Cremation has taken place at Cremation and Funeral Gallery of Billings.

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BILLINGS GAZETTE Tuesday, May 28, 2002

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Mabel Billmayer Cronce

BIG TIMBER - Mal Cronce died surrounded by her loving family, Tuesday, May 14, 2002, at the Pioneer Medical Center in Big Timber. She was 94.

Mabel Rhoda McGuire was born Oct. 20, 1907, in Bourgon, Ill., the eighth of 10 children to Sterling and Minnie McGuire. She moved to Montana when she was 6 years old. She attended school in Harlem. She married Roy Billmayer of Harlem. When Roy accepted the job of rural mail carrier on Route 2 for the Tweet Post Office, they moved to the Wing area. When the railroad came and the town of Hogeland was started, they moved Roy's folks homestead house to Hogeland and started a dairy. To this union, six children were born. They later built a new ranch house one mile west of Hogeland, where they farmed, ranched and carried mail. Mabel enjoyed helping her husband Roy and being a housewife and mother. They planted many trees near their "Big Flat" home. She belonged to the Wing Ladies Aid. While her children were in high school in Harlem, she owned and operated "The Confectionery." She later worked at the Harlem Rest Home. She was a member of the Harlem Saddle Club, she enjoyed "Chuck Wagon Days." She danced with the Big Flat Square Dancers, was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and was a 4-H leader helping with the Blaine County Fair.

She helped start the hot lunch program in the Hogeland Public Schools, she was a Jr. leader for Farmer's Union and helped with camps. "Gram," as she was known to everyone, was a very generous, kind, quiet, gentle person. She loved her family. She enjoyed going to all the events while her grandchildren were growing up. During the summer, she was sleep under the stars at "The Farm," with who's ever turn it was to stay over. She loved to raft on the dam and fly kites. Gram would set up her camper at the fairs and rodeos, she always had her little brown first aid kit handy and plenty of food, pop and snacks for the grandkids and all their friends. She loved to load her big blue Cadillac up with grandkids and go to a movie or over to the "Flathead" for a family reunion.

Roy died in January of 1965. She later sold the farm and moved to Kalispell, where she built a new home and eventually married Clyde Cronce in June of 1972. Mabel and Clyde did a lot of traveling, they took many trips to Alaska and spent some winters in Niland, Calif. They enjoyed fishing, mushroom hunting and camping in their Winnebago. They attended the grandchildren's graduations and weddings and all the family reunions. Mabel grew beautiful roses and huge tomatoes while living in Kalispell.

Clyde passed away in December of 1992. She then sold her home and moved to Big Timber.

She was preceded in death by her parents; eight brothers and sisters; husband Roy; infant son Donald; sons John and Frank; stepson Myron Cronce; and husband Clyde.

She is survived by son James (Helen) Billmayer of Hogeland and Sun City, Ariz.; daughters, Lois (Merlon) Alcorn of Custer, Wash., Doris (Art) Egbert of Big Timber; one sister, Ruby (Jake), Homchick, Wash.; 24 grandchildren; 74 great-grandchildren; and 18 great-great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; a sister-in-law, Mary Lou Benson of Sunburst.

Mabel was an avid sports fan, thoroughly enjoying watching Mark McGwire and Tiger Woods. She also liked birds. She was a great fisherwoman and enjoyed raising violets; at one time she had 40 different plants. She loved to play baseball with the great-grandkids. She was in her height of glory when she was planning a family reunion. She was known for her "Twisted Cinnamon Rolls," they were a staple at every family gathering.

Gram's Twisted Rolls

2 cups warm whole milk

2 T. yeast

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup warm water

1/4 cup oil

6 cups flour

1 tsp. salt

Mix milk and yeast. Add remaining ingredients. Knead to form a soft dough - let rise until double.

Roll out on slightly floured surface. Spread 1/2 stick margarine over 1/2 of dough circle, sprinkle with cinnamon, fold dough over to form 1/2 circle. Cut in 1" strips. Stretch and twist until 24-26" long, loosely shape on pan in a circular fashion to resemble a butterhorn. Do 6 to a cookie sheet. Let rise and bake at 375 degrees 8-12 minutes until lightly browned. Frost while hot with:

1/2 cup boiling water

1/4 stick margarine

1 T. flour

1 1/2 # powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Sprinkle with nuts. Enjoy!

We love you, dear Gram. You will be missed terribly, but never forgotten. Rest in peace.

Gram has been cremated; her ashes were buried during a private family burial in the Wing Cemetery beside her late husband Roy on May 20. A memorial service with family and friends was held at the American Lutheran Church in Hogeland, which Pastor Rowlie Hutton officiated.

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GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE Tuesday, May 28, 2002

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Mabel Billmayer Cronce

BIG TIMBER -- Mabel Billmayer (McGuire) "Gram" Cronce, 94, a longtime resident of Hogeland, died May 14 at a Big Timber care facility of natural causes.

Services and cremation have taken place.

Survivors include a son, James Billmayer of Hogeland and Sun City, Ariz.; daughters Lois Alcorn of Custer, Wash., and Doris Egbert of Big Timber; a sister, Ruby of Homchick, Wash.; 24 grandchildren; 74 great-grandchildren; and 18 great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Roy Billmayer in January of 1965, her second husband, Clyde Cronce in December of 1992, an infant son, Donald, sons John and Frank, and a stepson, Myron Cronce.

Also surviving are a daughter-in-law, Helen Billmayer of Hogeland and Sun City; sons-in-law, Merlon Alcorn of Custer, and Art Egbert of Big Timber; a brother-in-law, Jake of Homchick; a sister-in-law, Mary Lou Benson of Sunburst; and many nieces and nephews.

To this union six children were born. They later built a new ranch house one mile west of Hogeland, where they farmed, ranched and carried mail.

Mabel enjoyed helping her husband Ray and being a housewife and mother. They planted many trees near their "Big Flat" home. She belonged to the Wing Ladies Aide.

While her children were in high school in Harlem, she owned and operated The Confectionary. She later worked at the Harlem Rest Home. She was a member of Harlem Saddle Club, and enjoyed Chuck Wagon Days and danced with the Big Flat Square Dancers. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and was a 4-H leader, helping with the Blaine County Fair. She helped start the hot lunch program in the Hogeland Public Schools, and she was a junior leader for the Farmer's Union and helped with camps. "Gram," as she was known to everyone, was a very generous, kind, quiet and gentle person. She loved her family. She enjoyed going to all the events while her grandchildren were growing up. During the summers she would sleep under the stars at "the farm" with whoever's turn it was to stay over. She loved to raft on the dam and fly kites.

Gram would set up her camper at the fairs and rodeos. She always had her little brown first-aid kit handy and plenty of food, pop and snacks for the grandkids and their friends. She loved to load her big, blue Cadillac up with the grandkids and go to a movie or over to the Flathead Valley for a family reunion.

After her husband Roy died in 1965, she sold the farm and moved to Kalispell, where she built a new home and eventually married Clyde Cronce in June of 1972. Mabel and Clyde did a lot of traveling. They took many trips to Alaska and spent some winters in Niland, Calif. They enjoyed fishing, mushroom hunting and camping in their Winnebago. They attended the grandchildrens' graduations and weddings and all the family reunions. Mabel grew beautiful roses and huge tomatoes while living in Kalispell. Clyde passed away in December of 1992. She then sold her home and moved to Big Timber.

Mabel was an avid sports fan and thoroughly enjoyed watching Mark McGwire and Tiger Woods. She was a great fisherwoman and enjoyed raising violets -- at one time she had 40 different plants. She loved to play baseball with the great-grandkids. She was in the height of glory when she was planning a family reunion. She was known for her "Twisted Cinnamon Rolls." They were a staple at every family gathering. The recipe is as follows:

2 cups warm whole milk

2 T. yeast

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup warm water

1/2 cup oil

6 cups flour

1 tsp. salt.

Mix milk and yeast, adding remaining ingredients. Knead to form a soft dough. Let rise until double.

Roll out on slightly-floured surface. Spread 1/2 stick margarine over half of dough circle, sprinkle with cinnamon and fold dough over to form half a circle. Cut in 1-inch strips. Stretch and twist until 24-26 inches long and loosely shape on pan in a circular fashion to resemble a butterhorn. Do six to a cookie sheet.

Let rise and bake at 375 degrees for 8-to-12 minutes, until lightly browned. Frost while hot with:

1/2 cup boiling water

1/2 stick margarine

1 T. flour

1 and 1/2 pound powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Sprinkle with nuts and Enjoy!

We love you dear Gram. You will be missed terribly but never forgotten. Rest in peace.

Gram has been cremated and her ashes were buried during a private family burial in the Wing Cemetery beside her late husband Roy on May 20th. A memorial service was held at the American Lutheran Church in Hogeland, which Pastor Rowlie Hutton officiated.

She was also preceded in death by her parents and eight brothers and sisters.

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THE BLAINE COUNRY JOURNAL, NEWS-OPINION Wednesday, May 29, 2002

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Mabel Billmayer Cronce

Mabel Bilimayer (McGuire) "gram" Cronce, 94, a longtime resident of Hogeland, died May 14 at a Big Timber care facility of natural causes.

Gram has been cremated and her ashas were buried during a private family burial in the Wing Cemetery beside her late husband Roy on May 20th A memorial service was held at the American Lutheran Church in Hogeland, which Pastor Rowlie Hutton officiated.

Mabel Rhoda McGuire was born October 20, 1907, in Bourgon, Ill., the eighth of 10 children to Sterling and Minnie McGuire. She moved to Montana when she was 6 years old. She attended school in Harlem. She marned Roy Bilimayer of Harlem. When Roy accepted the job of rural mail carrier on Route 2 for the Tweet Post Office, they moved to the Wing area. When the railroad came and the town of Hogeland was started, they moved Roy’s folks’ homestead house to Hogeland and started a dairy. To this union six children were born. They later built a new ranch house one mile west of Hogeland, where they farmed, ranched, and carried mail.

Mabel enjoyed helping her husband Roy and being a housewife and mother. They planted many trees near their “Big Flat” home. She belonged to the Wing Ladies Aide.

While her children were in high school in Harlem, she owned and operated The Confectionery. She later worked at the Harlem Rest Home. She was a member of Harlem Saddle Club, and enjoyed Chuck Wagon Days and danced with the Big Flat Square Dancers. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and was a 4-H leader, helping with the Blame County Fair. She helped start the hot lunch program in the Hogeland Public Schools, and she was a junior leader for the Farmer’s Union and helped with camps. “Gram,” as she was known to everyone, was a very generous, kind, quiet, and gentle person. She loved her family. She enjoyed going to all the events while her grandchildren were growing up. During the summers she would sleep under the stars at “the farm” with whoever’s turn it

was to stay over. She loved to raft on the dam and fly kites.

Gram would set-up her camper at the fairs and rodeos. She always had her little brown first-aid kit handy and plenty of food, pop, and snacks for the grand-kids and their friends. She loved to load her big blue Cadillac up with the grandkids and go to a movie or over to the Flathead Valley for a family reunion.

After her husband Roy died in 1965, she sold the farm and moved to Kalispell, where she built a new home and eventually married Clyde Cronce in June of 1972. Mabel and Clyde did a lot of traveling. They took many trips to Alaska and spent some winters in Niland, California. They enjoyed fishing, mushroom hunting and camping in their Winnebago. They attended the granchildrens’ graduations and weddings and all the family reunions. Mabel grew beautiful roses and huge tomatoes while living in Kalispell. Clyde passed away in December of 1992. She then sold her home and moved to Big Timber.

Mabel was an avid sports fan and thoroughly enjoyed watching Mark McGuire and Tiger Woods. She was a great fisher-woman and enjoyed raising violets-at one time, she had 40 different plants. She loved to play baseball with the great-grand-kids. She was in the height of glory when she was planning a family reunion. She was known for her “Twisted Cinnamon Rolls.” They were a staple at every family gathering.

Survivors include a son, James Billmayer of Hogeland and Sun City, Ariz.; daughters Lois Al-corn of Custer, Wash., and Doris Egbert of Big Timber; a sister, Ruby of Homchick, Wash.; 24 grandchildren 74 great-grandchildren; and 18 great-great grandchildren.

Also surviving are a daughter-in-law, Helen Billmayer of Hogeland and Sun City; sOfls-lfllaw, Merlon Alcorn of Custer and Art Egbert of Big Timber; a brother-in-law, Jake of Horn-chick; a sister-in-law, Mary Lou Benson of Sunburst; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Roy Bilimayer in January of 1965, her second husband, Clyde Cronce in December of 1992, an infant son, Donald, sons John and Frank, and a stepson Myron Cronce.

She was also preceded in death by her parents and eight brothers and sisters.

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