The Obit Project

Climbing Out of the Dark Hole

When Bea Burnham [https://www.gardencityfh.com/obituaries/bea-beulah-burnham] walked up to her house one day, she saw her husband of 30-plus years lying dead in the lawn. That stopped her world from spinning for a while, but she pulled herself up, fixed what needed to be fixed and got on with life, eventually outliving three more husbands. She worked hard and taught her daughters about women’s rights. She took care of her friends in their grief. She was buried in her fur coat and shaved her legs one swipe at a time, so that it was always in progress. After her dearth, her daughters come to a new understanding about a mom who carved her own way. Reported and narrated by Elinor Smith, UM Journalism alum former host and reporter at Montana Public Radio. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Deciding to Say Goodbye

Clifford Marion [https://helenafuneralhome.com/obituaries/clifford-p-marion-age-64-of-helena/] was a jokester and a lover of card games and gambling. He was a force where he worked for a decade at the Town Pump. And then he got sick. At the end, surrounded by his family, it was his wife who had to make the decision about when to let go, a moment at the heart of this story. Reported and narrated by Sophia Marsolek, current student at UM Journalism. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

The Farmer Who Never Left His Land

Wayne Boyes [https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/missoulian/name/wayne-boyes-obituary?id=36093289] was the de facto mayor of the unincorporated town of Tarkio off Interstate 90, though he’d never want that title. He was too busy with his cows. Wayne was born in Tarkio, he married his neighbor, and he died on his land with a list of chores. His family picked up that list in his honor and because some chores just need to get done. It’s what Wayne would have wanted. Reported and narrated by Kathleen Shannon, alum of UM Journalism’s graduate program   See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Off the Grid by Choice

A lot of people in Billings, Montana, knew Stanley Littleboy [https://www.smithfuneralchapels.com/obituaries/Stanley-James-Littleboy?obId=30858849] by sight. He was that homeless guy with the great face you’d see downtown or in South Park. But he had people who loved him. His kids and grandkids in Billings tried to give him options, including a roof over his head. Stanley said no. He preferred his lifestyle, even though it ended when his body was found frozen near the railroad tracks. His family reconciles what they knew and what they tried to understand about Stanley now that he’s no longer running from them. Reported and narrated by Paul Hamby, UM Journalism alum currently at the Billings Gazette See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

An Imperfect Parent

Darrel Johnson [https://www.gardencityfh.com/obituaries/darrel-johnson] was someone people thought they knew. Maybe they worked alongside him at a high school dance. Maybe they knew him from Boy Scouts or through the camp he ran for troubled boys. His son knew his dad was also involved in some grisly investigations because Darrel would develop crime-scene photos in the family bathroom. Darrel’s job and personality were darker than most knew and time has allowed for honest, nuanced reflection. Reported and narrated by Bayliss Flynn, current student at UM Journalism. See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.