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BOZEMAN — Capt. T. Booth Holker, 25, Bozeman, an Air Force jet pilot on special duty with the Navy, was killed in a takeoff accident from an aircraft carrier, it was learned here Wednesday. Date of the accident, or further details, were not known here. The carrier was operating near the Hawaiian Islands. Capt. Holker was a veteran of 69 Korean War combat missions and was credited with downing at least one Russian-built MIG jet. The Bozeman officer was en route to Formosa on a special assignment with the Navy at the time of his death. He had been on the Navy assignment since last fall when he was sent to Mof fet Field, near Palo Alto, Calif. He received his overseas orders about a month ago. Capt. Holker enlisted in the Air Force in August, 1949, and completed his training at Wil liams Field, Ariz., in September of 1950. After his Korean duty, he was stationed at Truax Air Base, Madison, Wis. The Young airman was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Booth Holker of Bozeman, now in Amman, Jor dan, where Mr. Holker is an agri culturalist for the Foreign Opera tions Administration. Mr. Holker is on leave from the Montana Extension Service at Montana State College here. Capt. Holker was born in Boze man, April 3, 1929, attended local schools and graduated from Gal latin County High School in 1947. He attended MSC two years be fore his enlistment. He was married in the fall of 1953 to Marlene Joyce Schantz of Madison, Wis. Besides his widow and parents, Capt. Holker is survived by a brother, Air Force Lt. Ralph L. Holker, now on duty in Japan. Sheriff-coroner Dave Middleman of Lewis and Clark county said, “There is every indication that the girl, Renee Marlene McCarty, was murdered.” The 18-year-old victim was found dead in a downtown Helena apart ment by an aunt Tuesday after noon. A 28-year-old Helena hotel work er, described as a ‘‘friend of the family’’ was being held without charge, Middlemas said. Middlemas said the girl appar ently was strangled but said, “I have not been able to find a mo tive.”’ Middlemas said, ‘There are no signs of a sex attack.”’ Helena Chief of Police John Fred said late Wednesday night that his department was interro gating several persons whose stories ‘‘don’t jibe’ for compari son. However, Fred said nothing def inite had been established. The Police Department was called into the case at noon Wednesday, Fred said. The police chief said his depart ment is ‘“‘bearing down’”’ in an ef fort to unearth clues in the girl's death. County Atty. John Harrison said he had nothing to report Wednes day night. Middlemas said report of an au topsy performed Wednesday morn ing would not be made public until an inquest was held, probably Fri day. Members of the coroner’s jury are Vernon Cougill, Robert Kirk land, A. T. Schultz, F. A. Nelson, Howard Gullickson, William Eck erson and C. F. Wise. The jury viewed the body in Hagler Mortuary Wednesday aft ernoon and also visited the girl's room in the Atlas Block. Funeral services tentatively have been scheduled for Saturday morning at 9 o’clock in St. Helena Cathedral. The girl’s father, Frank Mc Carty, arrived in Helena from Portland late Wednesday. Renee, who lived with her moth er, was found in pajamas and a housecoat under bed covers. The girl had been staying alone because her mother was in a hos pital. The 5 feet 7, light brown haired Renee was last seen leaving the (Continued Page 14, Col. 3)
Newspaper Details
The Montana Standard
Butte, Montana, US
Thu, Mar 10, 1955
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Mark B.
USA 24 Jul 2026
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