William “Smitty” Ollinger, age 65, a mechanic and heavy equipment operator from Heart Butte, passed away Friday, January 14, 2006 at a Browning Hospital due to kidney failure. The wake will begin after 11 a.m. today (Sunday) at the Glacier Homes Community Center in Browning where a rosary will be said at 7 p.m. on Monday. Funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Heart Butte with burial to follow in the St. Anne’s Cemetery. Whitted Funeral Chapel in charge of arrangements.  Condolences can be sent to the family at www.whittedfuneralchapel.com

Survivors include his children, Brenda (Daryl Croff) Lahr, Lynn (Ray) Augare, Jeannie Ollinger, Marla Ollinger, Bill (Lara Williams) Ollinger, Anna Ollinger, Becky (Don) Running Crane, Joe Evans and Leo (JoAnn) Wolvering all of Browning; his special friend, Rita Peterson; a sister, Fern Ollinger Parent of Alaska and 21 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Gail Ollinger; sisters, Pinky Ollinger, Ellen Brown and Alfreda Wilson and a brother, Clifford Ollinger Sr.

He was born July 16, 1940 to Earl Joseph and Ursula (Rutherford) Ollinger. He grew up in the Montana Botton/Cayton Lake area near Heart Butte. He attended Birch Creek Grade School and high school at Flandreau Indian School.

Smitty had lived in various parts of the country working as a mechanic, heavy equipment operator and a cowboy.

He was a member of the Catholic Church and enjoyed chasing horses and hunting.

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