History
Mountview Cemetery
Mountview Cemetery together with the adjacent Billings Cemetery is the largest and oldest continually operated cemetery in the region. It has a history that is visually represented by the historical stones dating back to the early 1880's. Most of our founding fathers of Billings are buried in either the Billings or Mountview Cemetery.
Billings Cemetery
Billings Cemetery was started in approximately 1881 by the O’Donnell family and operated by them until the City bought it in 1926. Edward O’Donnell was the first owner/manager of the cemetery followed by James O'Donnell, his son, when he returned from WWI. The Billings Cemetery is visually different in appearance by its widely diversified stones.
Operations
In 1920, our City fathers purchased land adjacent to the Billings Cemetery and started the Mountview Cemetery. James O’Donnell was the first superintendent to live in the cemetery house and operated the cemetery until he retired at the end of 1959 after working for 41 years. Arnold “Bud” Kautsky was the next superintendent, followed by LeRoy “Stew” Stewart. Stew was the last superintendent to live on the cemetery grounds and was the third longest on the job with 25 years. Lee Stadtmiller is the current manager and started in 2000.
In 1952, the cemetery bought land adjacent to the cemetery for future use. It remains to be seen, but the agreement was that when the cemetery needs it, the Par Three Golf Course will revert back to cemetery use. Even so, we have enough land at the current levels of use to sell graves for another 60 years and we will be burying Billings residents well into the twenty-second century.
Famous Occupants
Many of the pioneers of the Billings area are buried in the Billings and Mountview Cemeteries. One of the first people to be buried here was Ellen Anderson who was buried in Boothill before being moved. Her stone and many of the stones in this part of the cemetery, have been damaged by time.
Some of the famous people buried here are:
Mountview Cemetery together with the adjacent Billings Cemetery is the largest and oldest continually operated cemetery in the region. It has a history that is visually represented by the historical stones dating back to the early 1880's. Most of our founding fathers of Billings are buried in either the Billings or Mountview Cemetery.
Billings Cemetery
Billings Cemetery was started in approximately 1881 by the O’Donnell family and operated by them until the City bought it in 1926. Edward O’Donnell was the first owner/manager of the cemetery followed by James O'Donnell, his son, when he returned from WWI. The Billings Cemetery is visually different in appearance by its widely diversified stones.
Operations
In 1920, our City fathers purchased land adjacent to the Billings Cemetery and started the Mountview Cemetery. James O’Donnell was the first superintendent to live in the cemetery house and operated the cemetery until he retired at the end of 1959 after working for 41 years. Arnold “Bud” Kautsky was the next superintendent, followed by LeRoy “Stew” Stewart. Stew was the last superintendent to live on the cemetery grounds and was the third longest on the job with 25 years. Lee Stadtmiller is the current manager and started in 2000.
In 1952, the cemetery bought land adjacent to the cemetery for future use. It remains to be seen, but the agreement was that when the cemetery needs it, the Par Three Golf Course will revert back to cemetery use. Even so, we have enough land at the current levels of use to sell graves for another 60 years and we will be burying Billings residents well into the twenty-second century.
Famous Occupants
Many of the pioneers of the Billings area are buried in the Billings and Mountview Cemeteries. One of the first people to be buried here was Ellen Anderson who was buried in Boothill before being moved. Her stone and many of the stones in this part of the cemetery, have been damaged by time.
Some of the famous people buried here are:
- Henry Frith - first settler of what is now Yellowstone County
- Jean McCormick - who claimed to be the daughter of Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickock
- P. B. Moss - who built the Moss Mansion for his family
- I. D. O’Donnell - who was instrumental in bringing the sugar beet factory and the “Big Ditch” to the area
- Sheriff James T. Webb - who was murdered in 1908 and has a monument erected in his honor at the Yellowstone County Courthouse
- Lewis McClellan - his birth was the occasion that caused the only civilian death during the battle at Gettysberg. His aunt, Jennie Wade was killed by a stray bullet.