Beverly Ann LaFournaise, 58, a former resident of Fort Peck, died Friday, Jan. 28, 2000, in Oregon. The funeral Mass was Monday, Jan. 31, at 2 p.m. in St. Joseph Catholic Church, Salem, Ore. Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service wsa in charge of arangements. 
She was born in Glasgow on May 16, 1941. Her parents were Adolph and Pauline Kuszmaul of Circle. She attended grade school in Ft. Peck and graduated from Nashua High School in 1959. She married Jim LaFournaise in Glasgow Jan. 12, 1963. She lived with her family in Billings for 13 years. After 1977 she and her family lived in Salem, Ore. She attended Chemeketa Community College and worked for the Oregon Department of Revenue. She especially liked to travel and spend time with her children. She enjoyed reading and working in her garden, caring for various plants and flowers, as well as making crafts and ceramics. Bird watching and feeding squirrels also gave her many hours of enjoyment. 
She is survived by her husband, Jim; her daughter, Catherine Ann LaFournaise; her son, Christopher James LaFournaise; a son-in-law, John Meyers; and a brother, Allen Kuszmaul of Maryland. Memorial contributions may be made to OHSU Heart Failure Clinic, Cardiology Department UHN 62, Guilotte, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, Ore. 97201.02-03-00 

Thomas Robert Burns, 61, of Billings, a former Fort Peck resident, died unexpectedly Saturday, Jan. 29, 2000, of natural causes. Vigil services will be held Thursday, Feb. 3, at 7 p.m. in Queen of Angels Catholic Church in Nashua. The funeral Mass will be Friday, Feb. 4, at 10 a.m. in Queen of Angels Church. Rev. Thad Kozikowski will officiate. Interment will be at the Nashua Cemetery. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.  
He was born Jan. 21, 1939, to Donald C. and Anne F. Burns in Glasgow. He graduated in 1957 from Nashua High School, where he participated in all sports. He was an avid fisherman and enjoyed the outdoors. His careers varied over his life. The latest was Sun Burns Bait Shop and Deer Repellent operated out of Billings. 
He is survived by his children Loretta, Mike, Darin, Dustin, Damon and Shana; six grandchildren; two brothers, Dan of Frazer and Don of Fort Peck; and sister, Maryann O'Connor of Fort Benton. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Pallbearers will be Ken Bondy, Mike Johnston, Frances Laumeyer, Herb Martin, Hal Halverson and Terry Pointer. Honorary pallbearers will be Brent O'Connor and Bud Yeager. 02-03-00 

Roger Osborne Nasset, 54, died Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2000, at his home in Sidney. Funeral services were held Monday, Jan. 31, at 2 p.m. in the Fulkerson Memorial Chapel, Sidney, with Pastor Erik Jelinek, of the First Lutheran Church, Savage, officiating. Interment followed in the Sidney Cemetery. Fulkerson Funeral Home of Sidney was in charge of arrangements.
He was born April 2, 1945, in Glasgow, to Osborne "Bud" Oscar and Lorraine Montgomery Nasset. He grew up and attended school in Hinsdale. He ranched with his parents. Later he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. Following his career in the navy, he returned to Glasgow, where he worked for many years with his good friend Bill Morehouse at the service station. He also worked for the City of Glasgow for several years and at the Hershel Ranch near Richland before moving to Sidney in 1998 to be closer to his daughter. He was working for K-Ram with the County Market and M&M Cafe at the time of his death. He loved to read books and watch TV, tinker on his van and tell a good joke.
His wife, Victoria, died in 1975. In 1977, he married Gloria Stiteler in Spokane, Wash. He was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church, the Society of American Foresters, and the Kootenai Environmental Alliance. He was active in his church. Traveling and skiing were among the things he enjoyed.
He is survived by his son, Roger H. Nasset of Kalispell; his daughter, Tammy L. Lunstad of Sidney; his sister, Bonnie Frye of Havre; and a niece, Shelly Frye of Billings. He was preceded in death by his parents. Pallbearers were Lenny Carver, Scott Carver, Keith Carver, Earl Tobiason, Ricky Tobiason and Scott Olson.02-03-00 

William Henry Sugg Sr., 72, died of natural causes on Friday, Jan. 28, 2000, at Valley View Home in Glasgow. His funeral was held Tuesday, Feb. 1, at 11 a.m. in Calvary Baptist Church with Jerry Overcast officiating. Interment followed in Highland Cemetery. Bell Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.
He was born to Troy and Elby Sugg Jan. 9, 1928, in Cave City, Ark. He was raised and attended schools in Arkansas and joined the U.S. Air Force in 1946.  
He worked as a mechanic a Malmstrom Air Base Fire Station. He married Mary E. Beauchamp April 2, 1947 in Great Falls. He worked for Glasgow Auto Wrecking until he retired. He taught his sons how to hunt and fish and enjoyed Indian powwows, fishing and working on cars. He liked to visit with his grandchildren. 
He is survived by his sons, William Sugg Jr. of Glasgow, Ernest of Glasgow, Jeff of Longview, Wash., and Joseph of Wolf Point; two daughters, Judy Bow, of Wolf Point, and Margaret Sugg, of Glasgow; brothers and sisters in Arkansas; 12 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Pallbearers were Joe Sugg, Jeff Sugg, Joseph Sugg, Levi Sugg, Edward Sugg and Billy Bow. 02-03-00 

Mary Joyce Hidy, 77, of Lewistown and a former Livingston resident, died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2000, at the Lewistown Hospital. Graveside committal and burial were Tuesday, Feb. 1, in Mountain View Cemetery, Livingston. A memorial service at the Livingston Bible Church followed the committal. Franzen-Davis Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
She was born July 14, 1922, at Deer Lodge, the daughter of John T. and Frieda Kakuske Groth. She spent her early life and attended schools in Garrison, where her father was employed with the Northern Pacific Railroad. The family later moved to Bozeman, and after several years, to North Dakota. They also lived in Billings for a year before moving to Reedpoint, where she graduated from high school. They then moved to Livingston. On Nov. 22, 1942 she married Wilbur C. Skillman in Livingston. The couple ranched and operated a small sawmill on Mission Creek south of Livingston. Wilbur died in an accident at the mill in May 1956, 14 years after they were married.
The family sold the ranch and moved into Livingston where she took training as a secretary and worked for Downer Lumber company. She also worked in Livingston restaurants for many years. In 1969 she married Lee Hidy and they were later separated. She was afflicted with mental illness in the later years of her life and spent several years in the hospital at Warm Springs, the Bozeman and Livingston Convalescent Centers and, since 1994, at the Montana Mental Health Nursing Care Center in Lewistown. She was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church. She enjoyed music and played both the piano and accordion. She also enjoyed going for drives, picnics, hiking, reading and baking. Her family was very important to her and she worked hard to raise them. 
Survivors include two sons, Charles R. Skillman of Glenwood Springs, Colo., and John T. Skillman of Lustre; two daughters, Eloise Skillman of Cleveland, Ohio, and Charlotte M. Pilon of Belgrade; two sisters, Doris Carter of Northglen, Colo., and Phyllis Brabec of Bellevue, Wash.; four grandchildren and four nieces. Memorials may be directed to the Montana Mental Health Nursing Care Center, 800 Casino Creek Dr., Lewistown, MT 59457. 02-03-00 

Chester Moen, 90, died Thursday, Jan. 27, 2000, at Valley View Nursing Home in Glasgow of natural causes. Services were held Monday, Jan. 31, at 11 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church, with Rev. Dave Hodsdon officiating. Interment followed in Highland Cemetery. Bell Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.
He was born April 17, 1909, in Manfred, N.D. to Erik Knut and Bertha Marie Bendickson Moen. At the age of six months his family moved to a homestead south of Tampico. He attended schools at the Billingsley School and Tampico School. He went to work for the railroad at age 14 and he also worked on several ranches. He joined the U.S. Army in 1929 and served in Hawaii until 1932. On Oct. 22, 1935, he married Eunice Burrus in Glasgow. He worked on the construction of the Fort Peck Dam. During World War II he worked for the Todd Pacific Ship Yards in Seattle from 1942 to 1945. After the war he returned to Glasgow and worked for the elevator, Sinclair Produce, and then for Johnson Plumbing and Heating for 20 years until his retirement in 1974. He enjoyed traveling all over the United States, golf, playing cards, bingo, and he was an avid reader 
He is survived by his wife, Eunice of Glasgow; by his daughter, Phyllis Sanguine, and her husband, Bill, of Kalispell; by six grandchildren: Beth Tisdell of Honolulu, Hawaii, Bill Sanguine Jr. of Walla Walla, Wash., Brian Sanguine of Seattle, Wash., Shannon Sanders of Missoula, Sheely Freese of Miles City and Robert S. Sanders of Conrad; by three great-grandchildren; and by a sister, Lorna Russell of Temple Terrace, Fla. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Lila Sanders, in 1981; by sisters Mona O'Connell, Thelma Ellefson, Mabel Martin and Alice Cuniff; and brothers Leonard, Victor, Morris, Floyd, Oliver and Glenn Moen. Pallbearers were Mark Gilleland, Rob Sanders, Bill Sanguine Sr., Bill Sanguine Jr., Bart Freese, Paul Ellefson, Marlin Martin and Leonard Puchalla. Honorary pallbearers were Ernie Martin, Bob Mustad and Leonard Moen.02-03-00 

David D. Unrau, 93, died Friday, Jan. 28, 2000 at his home in Lustre. Viewing will be Thursday, Feb. 3, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Clayton Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Funeral services are Friday, Feb. 4, at 10 a.m. at the Lustre M.B. Church with Pastor John Skillman and Rev. Frank Wiens officiating. Interment will be in the Lustre E.M.B. Cemetery. Clayton Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements. 
He was born in Rosehill, N.D., to David and Anna Becker Unrau on April 2, 1906. He lived there until 1916 when his family moved to the Lustre area and homesteaded there. He lived in the Lustre area all his life, except during his schooling. In 1922-23 and 1942-25 he attended Mt. Lake Bible School in Minnesota, two winters, and Northwestern Bible School, graduating in 1932. He also attended Minnehaha Academy in Minneapolis, Minn., and graduated in 1933. He married Marie Olfert March 29, 1934, in Mt. Lake. He operated a dairy farm until 1960 and farmed in the Lustre area until 1976, when he retired. He accepted the Lord at a young age and was baptized Aug. 28, 1921. At that time he joined the Lustre Evangelical Mennonite Brethren Church. He was a church deacon for more than 50 years. He was also a charter member of the Wolf Point Gideons which started in the 1950s. He was very dedicated to the work of the Gideons, all Missions, Lustre Christian High School. He served on the school board. He enjoyed reading, especially the Bible. 
She is survived by his wife, Marie of Lustre; three sons, Eldon and his wife, Elaine, Arden and his wife, Darlene, and Gerald and his wife, Bonnie, all of Lustre; by two daughters, Florence Chambers of East Amherst, N.Y., and Marian Kirk and her husband, Donald, of Fairbanks, Alaska; one brother, Arthur Unrau of Hillsboro, Kans., nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Alvin and Henry; one sister, Esther Teichroew; one son-in-law, Daniel Chambers; and one granddaughter, Jennifer Unrau. 02-03-00 

Agnes Rose Lee Hopstad, 85, a former Glasgow resident, died Friday, March 10, 2000, in Tucson, Ariz. She was born on Dec. 25, 1914, the daughter of Frank and Rose Anne McDermott Lee at Deadwood, S.D. She was a pioneer woman who spent most of her life in North Dakota and Montana.
Survivors include daughters Elaine Morgan of Tucson and Joan Ventsam of Leoti, Kan; nine grandchildren; eleven great-grand-children; and two former sisters-in-law, Margaret Hopstad Rorvik of Glasgow and Thelma Hopstad Dostert of Nashua.
She was preceded in death by her husband Howard Benson and her husband Harold Hopstad, from whom she was divorced. 
A funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Cyril's Catholic Church in Tucson, with Father Jerry Tulley presiding. She was buried at Our Lady of the Desert Cemetery. The Desert Rose Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. 04-13-00 

Sandra Loftsgaard Dohl, 49, died suddenly from a cerebral aneurysm on April 2, 2000. She was born on June 5, 1950, in Glasgow to Bjarne and Katherine Loftsgaard and spent her childhood on the family farm north of Richland, three miles from the Canadian border. She entered school in Richland and graduated 11 years later at age 16 co-valedictorian of her class from Opheim High School. 
She received her elementary education degree from MSU- Bozeman in 1971 and spent her first few years of teaching at Annette (Island), Alaska. By 1974 she had ventured into a two-year teaching position in Camden, New South Wales, Australia. The wanderlust settled when she returned to Montana, next making her home in Billings where she was director of Youth Services Center, a youth-at-risk nurturing agency. Sandy also owned Bathtub Ginnys, a sandwich shop in downtown Billings. 
Sandy married Wayne Dohl on Jan. 4, 1984, and they made their home in Wise River and later Cardwell. She ran a café in Wise River and then worked with Family Outreach, Inc. in Butte in a home- based intervention program for families with children with developmental disabilities. During this period she was also instrumental in making Dillon schools handicapped- accessible. For health reasons, the Dohls moved to Lake Havasu City, Ariz., in 1996 and she joined the Mohave Mental Health Clinic as a vocational coordinator. She supervised job coaches and a day treatment program in Lake Havasu, Kingman and Bullhead, Ariz. 
Together she and her husband enjoyed gardening, fishing, boating, camping and their pets. They have two "kids": Thumper, their cat, and Boomer, their yellow Lab. Her other kids also include those babies and children whom she helped while in Billings and the Butte area, the third-world child she supported by mail and her special nephews and nieces: Thor, Adam, Garth and Ashlee Loftsgaard and Richard and Katherine Aldrich. 
She is also survived by her husband, Wayne Dohl; her brother, Tom Loftsgaard and his wife, Kay; and her sister, Thora Aldrich and her husband, Greg. She lives on in the hearts of her family and friends and also in the recipients of her organs through the organ donation program. 
Memorials may be made in her name to a local humane society, child welfare agency or charity of choice. Memorial services were held in Lake Havasu on Friday, April 7, and will also be held at the Lutheran Church in Peerless on Saturday, April 22, at 2 p.m. 04-13-00 

Elmer R. Culver, 72, of Prescott, Ariz., died Sunday, April 9, 2000, in Phoenix, Ariz. He was born July 1, 1927 in Mott, N.D., to Adrian and Emma Mehrer Culver. 
He served in the U.S. Navy for four years in WW II aboard the USS Princeton. He studied the field of electronics in the navy. Upon leaving the service, he settled in Glasgow and began raising a family. He introduced the first television signals into north central Montana by designing, installing and maintaining large TV translator towers atop the nearby mountains. He opened a radio and television business which became a career that spanned 30 years, in Glasgow, Phoenix and Prescott. 
He moved from Montana to Prescott 38 years ago. He was the owner of Culver's TV, opened in 1967, and introduced the first compact audio tape systems to the area. In his business dealings and his personal life he was always known as honest, sincere and extremely hardworking. He loved being in the outdoors, whether it was traveling in his motor home with his wife, fishing, dunebuggying or just simply being out absorbing the beauty of nature. 
He is survived by his wife of 17 years, Adeline; sons Robert Culver of Prescott Valley, Ariz., and Richard Culver of Prescott; stepson Dan West of Avondale, Ariz.; brothers Earl Culver and Adrian Culver of Prescott; sisters Betty Lou Walkup of Albuquerque, N.M., Carmen Goswick and Sharon Goswick, both of Poland Junction, Ariz.; and several grandchildren. 
Visitation was Thursday, April 13, at Memory Chapel Mortuary. Funeral services were Friday, April 14, at Memory Chapel Mortuary. Memory Chapel Mortuary was in charge of arrangements. 04-13-00 

Eva P. Stunkart, 90, of Floodwood, Minn., died Friday, March 24, 2000, in Duluth, Minn. She was born Aug. 6, 1909, in Mountain Lake, Minn., the daughter of Peter and Eva Becker Unrau.
She married William Stunkart Jan. 1, 1933 in Nebraska. She worked alongside her husband, sharing in the chores on their farm. In 1936 they lived in Frazer. A deeply religious person, she loved to read her Bible every day. She was a member of the former Floodwood Bible Chapel and its Ladies Guild and she attended the Assemblies of God Church in Floodwood.
She was well known for her wonderful homemade bread. She never measured the ingredients, just threw in "a little bit of this and a little bit of that." She also enjoyed sewing, crocheting, gardening and growing her houseplants.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William, on April 16, 1999; an infant daughter, Marlene; and several brothers and sisters.
She is survived by three sons, Alfred, James and his wife, Lynnette, and Harvey, all of Floodwood; three daughters, Darlyn Strom and her husband, Dick, of Hillsboro, Ore., Leona James of Sauk Rapids, Minn., and Albertha Spradling and her husband, Oscar, of Van Buren, Ark.; two brothers, Toby Unrau of Glasgow and his wife, Margaret, and Ben Unrau of Los Angeles; three sisters, Nellie Baerg of Glasgow, Agnes Baerg of Wolf Point and Ruth Coulter of Maryland; 13 grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on Tuesday, March 24, at the Assemblies of God Church in Floodwood. Interment was in Forest Hill Cemetery in Van Buren Township. Arrangements were handled by Northland Funeral Home, Cloquet, Minn. 04-13-00

Birdell "Birdie" Hill, 65, died on Wednesday, April 5, 2000, at the Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow following a long battle with cancer.
She was born July 19, 1934, to Schuyler and Mabel Buer Hill in Scobey. She graduated from Scobey High School in 1952 and went to Kinmen Business College in Spokane, graduating in 1959, then went on to get her B.S. degree from Gonzaga University.
She worked for the Internal Revenue Service in Spokane and H&R Block in Glasgow as an accountant and tax preparer. 
She was a willing helping hand to many. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, and being outdoors, especially on the golf course. She was a member of the Episcopal Church in Spokane, Business & Professional Women, Rebekahs, and was active in the Saco Methodist Church.
She is survived by her mother, Mabel of Saco, an aunt, an uncle, and many cousins. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 10, at the Saco Methodist Church. Burial followed in the Grandview Cemetery in Saco. Adams Funeral Home of Malta was in charge of arrangements. 04-13-00

Paul B. Kronebusch, 42, died Wednesday, April 5, 2000, in Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital of cancer. He was born in Glasgow on Nov. 4, 1957, to Richard M. and Fay Marie French Kronebusch.
He was raised on the family farm in Larslan and graduated from Opheim High School. He owned and operated Kronebusch Trucking for six years. He cleaned grain for area farmers. He moved to Arizona where he built steel buildings. Later, when his brother was ill, he moved to Larslan to be a bone marrow donor and he stayed to work on the family farm. He enjoyed riding his HarleyDavidson and he loved to be at the lake.
He is survived by two brothers, Richard Lee Kronebusch of Opheim and Kenneth Michael Kronebusch of Glasgow; an aunt, Margaret Kronebusch of Havre; a nephew, Brandon Kronebusch of Glasgow; and a niece, Elissa Stingley of Glasgow. He was preceded in death by his father, Richard, in July 1990; his mother, Fay, in July 1998; and his brother Tim in June 1992.
A vigil service was held on Sunday, April 9, at 7 p.m. at St. Raphael's Catholic Church. The funeral service was Monday, April 10, at 10 a.m. at St. Raphael's with Fr. Tony Schuster and Fr. Thad Kozikowski officiating. Burial was in Highland Cemetery in Glasgow. 
The pallbearers were Tim Miller, Steve Maas, Scott Gundermann, Frank Jensen, John Larson and Scott Peters. The honorary pallbearers were Kelly Donovan, Gordon Erickson, Doug Fauth, Bim Cotrell, Dick Foulton, Mark Hayworth, Danny Floyd and Lester Nassett. Bell Mortuary was in charge of arrangements. 04-13-00 

Ronald P. Lux, died Sunday, April 9, 2000, at Billings Deaconess Hospital. 
He is survived by his wife, Sharon of Glasgow; two sons, George Lux and his wife, Pauline, and Doug Lux and his wife, Krista; and five grandchildren, Jessica Haggarty and Kieran, Siobhan, Cody and Kayla Lux. 
Memorial Mass will be held Thursday, April 13, at 12 p.m. at St. Raphael's Catholic Church in Glasgow. 
Memorials may be sent to Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, 1732 S. 72nd W., Billings, MT 59106 or a charity of choice. Arrangements were handled by Cremation or Funeral Gallery. A complete obituary will appear next week. 04-13-00 

Nellie Evelyn Parke, 88, died April 3, 2000, in Phoenix, Ariz. A graveside service will be held Friday, April 14, at 11 a.m. at Highland Cemetery in Glasgow with Rev. Emory Robotham officiating. A luncheon at the Congregational Church in Glasgow will follow the service. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. A complete obituary will appear next week. 04-13-00 

Madeline Snell, of Poplar, died Thursday, March 30, 2000, of heart failure in Billings Deaconess Hospital. A vigil service was held Monday, April 3 at 7 p.m. in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Poplar. The funeral service was Tuesday, April 4 in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church at 10 a.m., with Fr. Michael Schneider officiating. Burial was in the Snell Family Cemetery in Fort Kipp. Bell Mortuary was in charge of arrangements.
She was born Aug. 27, 1936, to Levi Stretches Himself and Rose Lambert in Fort Yates, N.D. She was raised by her grandparents, Charles and Angeline Iron Bear. She attended school in Pierre, S.D. She enjoyed gardening, watching classic movies, reading the Bible and sharing her knowledge of Catholicism and the scriptures with her children. She felt her greatest gift in life was spending time with her grandchildren and her most valued accomplishment was watching all her children graduate from high school and college.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her grandparents, Charles and Angeline Iron Bear, and her maternal grandfather, John Lambert; two brothers, Alexander and Thomas; her favorite niece, Angeline Rose Wallowing Bull; and a special friend, Gloria Anne Comes Last. She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Levi James Snell of Poplar; three sons, Alexander Snell of Miami, Fla., David Ricker of Taos, N.M., and Cory Snell of Poplar; six daughters and their families, Harriet and Monty Crowder of Taos, N.M., Trudy Snell of Poplar, Angela and Clifton Cheek of Brockton, Joanetta and Craig Kalvig of Billings, Juanita Snell of Olathe, Kans., and Heather Snell of Poplar; her only sister, Carmelita Eagle Boy of Poplar; an adopted son, Gordon Comes Last; an adopted daughter, Jeanine DeCoteau; four nephews, Choya Eagle Boy, Kurt Big Leggins, Terry Eagle Boy and Melvin Eagle Boy; three nieces, Doremis DeMarrias, Carmen Eagle Boy and Pat Iron Cloud; several grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She is also survived by longtime special friends Bernice and Fred Cummins, Saralou O'Brien, Mary Crowe, Pearl Hopkins and numerous other friends, cousins and relatives. Pallbearers were Choya Eagle Boy, Terry Eagle Boy, George Willow, Craig Kalvig, Maynard Hawk and John McClammy. 04-06-00 

Benjamin L. Opheim, 69, former Valley County resident, died Monday, March 20, 2000, of congestive heart failure at his home in Sun River. His funeral was Friday, March 24 at Redeemer Lutheran Church with cremation following the service. Croxford and Sons Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
He was born July 7, 1930, in Great Falls and attended schools in Opheim before joining the Army, serving in the 204th Field Artillery Battalion in Korea. He married Dorothy Milner March 1, 1952 in Power. He was a maintenance engineer and bus driver for the Opheim public schools, worked at the Glasgow Air Force Base and as a carpenter. After moving to Sun River in 1966, he worked as a carpenter for several contractors in the Great Falls area.
He was a volunteer and treasurer for the Sun River Volunteer Fire Department and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoyed hunting, camping, fishing, woodworking, puzzles, and playing cards, especially cribbage and whist.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy of Sun River; a daughter, Kim Woodin of Evansville, Wyo.; five sons, Steve Opheim of Fort Shaw, Mitch Opheim of Tracy, Brad Opheim of Vaughn, Tony Opheim of Gilbert, Ariz., and Randy Opheim of Phoenix; a sister, Marketa Halverson of Rollins; a brother, Rex Opheim of St. Ignatius; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. 04-06-00 

Bernice J. Cummins, 68, died Sunday, April 2, 2000 of cancer in Poplar Hospital, Poplar, Mont. A vigil service will be held on Friday, April 7, at 8 p.m. in the Assembly of God Church in Poplar. Funeral services will be Saturday, April 8, at 2 p.m. in Poplar High School gymnasium. Rev. Jay Daniels, Rev. Jay Cummins and Pastor Roger Hunt will officiate. Bell Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
She was born in Poplar on April 16, 1931 to Francis and Eva Allison Eagle Bear. She lived her entire life in Poplar. She was a teacher's aide in the Poplar school system for many years. She also worked for Fort Peck Housing. She married Fred Cummins on July 9, 1952 at Lodge Grass. She was a very active member of the Poplar Assembly of God Church. She enjoyed sewing and taking pictures, always carrying her camera around like someone carrying a purse, even in the hospital. She attended her grandchildren's activities, and was a great and loyal fan of Poplar basketball. 
She is survived by her husband, Fred of Poplar; by a son, Jay Cummins and his wife, Joanne, of Poplar; by an adopted son, Phillip Crazy Bull of Albuquerque, N.M.; by many grandchildren, including Aleena Morgan of Ellendale, N.D., Evan Lee Cummins of Poplar, and Jacob Rocky Cummins of Poplar; by two sisters, Violet Parriette of Ft. Duchesne, Utah, and Sylvia Rising Sun of Poplar; and by one brother, David White Man of Billings. She was preceded in death in 1987 by one son, Fred Rocky Cummins. The pallbearers will be Zane Rising Sun, Darin Dimas, Royce Baker, Maynard Prentice, Arnold Douglas and Pierre Berger. The honorary pallbearers are Maynard Hawk, Mike Dimas, Alfred Parriette, Harry Greufe and Larry Hamilton. 04-06-00 

Clarence Basil Cuts The Rope, 64, died Wednesday, March 29, 2000 at Benefis East Hospital in Great Falls of congestive heart failure. Wake services were Saturday and Sunday, April 1 and 2, at St. Paul's Mission at Hays with the Rosary at 7 p.m. on Sunday. Funeral Mass were 11 a.m. Monday at St. Paul's Mission with burial and military honors in the Cuts The Rope Family Cemetery south of Hays. Adams Funeral Home of Malta was in charge of arrangements.
The son of Frank and Matilda (White Plume) Cuts The Rope, he was born on April 12, 1935 at his parents' log cabin in Hays. He was an enrolled member of the Gros Ventre Tribe. He attended the Mission Grade School in Hays and later high school. During his school years it was well known by his peers that he had a natural artistic ability. He was always drawing comical situations of classmates and many different types of wildlife. After graduating from high school, he attended the Haskell Indian School at Lawrence, Kan. In the two years he spent there, he was involved in exterior and interior painting as well as professional sign making for local businesses in the Lawrence area.
He served in the U. S. Army for two years and was honorably discharged in 1959. During his time of service in a mortar battery unit he served with the 24th Infantry Division and the 11th Airborne Division in Munich, Germany. His paratrooper wings were his most prized achievement in the army. He married Margaret E. Hickey, who was his wife for 28 years. Together they made their home in Hays with their five children: Catcher, Delina, Jauquene, Thelma and Edna. He was a self taught professional Native American artist. He maintained the Cuts The Rope Gallery in the original log cabin where he was born, just off Route 66 in Hays. He and his wife, Margaret, attended art shows in Montana, Washington and North Dakota, while putting on local showings of his art at the Cuts The Rope Gallery. He sold his art throughout Montana as well as many other states, Canada and Germany. He was exceptional in that he worked with many mediums equally, such as oil, water color, charcoal, pencil, acrylic and sculpture. As a Native American, he was able to portray many aspects of Native American cultura in his art. He did a wide variety of wildlife and western art, depicting scenes from the past, from Montana lifestyle and from his childhood. He enjoyed telling comical stories with his close friends, spending time with his family, the outdoors, his cattle and horses.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret Cuts The Rope; sons Catcher of Hays, Jauquene Paul of Great Falls; daughters Delina of Hays, and Thelma and Edna of Kansas; sisters Cecelia DeCelles of Fort Belknap Agency, Hazel Doney of Hays, Ida Doney of Fort Belknap Agency, Theresa Werk of Hays and Philomene Hawley of Hays; grandchildren Paul Doney, Serina Cuts The Rope and Angelina Scott; and numerous nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Jimmy, Andrew and Frank Cuts The Rope; father in-law John Hickey of North Adams, Mass.; and sisters Esther Doney and Virginia Cuts The Rope. 04-06-00 

Kenneth S. Truax, 80, died Thursday, March 30, 2000, at the Phillips County Hospital from a massive stroke. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 3, at the Adams Memorial Chapel in Malta with burial and military honors at the Malta Cemetery. Adams Funeral Home of Malta was in charge of arrangements.
He was born July 14, 1919 at Saco, the son of Silas and Ivy Balance Truax. He was raised on his parents' homestead at Corwine Center northeast of Whitewater, attending Plainsview, Dunbar and Nelson Elementary Schools, graduating from Whitewater High School in 1937. He was inducted into the U.S. Army April 21, 1942 and trained at Camp Roberts, Calif. A member of the 1st Army, 981st Field Artillery, he was shipped to England on December 29, 1943, and dispatched to France on June 13, 1944. He was awarded the European Theater of Operations Ribbon with five Bronze Stars for the battles of Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe and the Good Conduct Medal, and was discharged on Oct. 10, 1945.
He did many things in his life. He worked as a ranch hand, primarily for the Dunbar and Anderson Ranches and later was a heavy equipment operator. He drove a street car in Kansas City, Mo., for two years. He was a Whitewater School maintenance man, bus driver, and postmaster of Whitewater. He and his wife, Ruth, ran the Diner Café in Malta for a while and he made great hotcakes! He was secretary/treasurer of North and South Phillips County Cooperative Grazing Districts, secretary /treasurer of Square Butte Grazing Association (1968-1996), and Cottonwood Grazing Association (1968-1998). For a time he was bookkeeper for Ezzie's Wholesale of Malta. He became a Farmers Insurance Group agent in 1968, operating his own agency from 1977 to 1987. He enjoyed riding and fishing, dancing, laughter, and he loved to play the fiddle. He played for country dances in his younger days and as long as he was able, for the residents of the Good Samaritan Center and County Home in Malta. He was a member of the District 5 Fiddlers Association, a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4067, and served as post commander and was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans. He was a Milk River Wagon Trainer, receiving the Top Hand Red Bandanna in 1990. He married Ruth Opland Pray May 5, 1956 at Saco and they had one daughter, Roxanne.
He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter, Cindy Sue; and two sisters, Alice Majors in 1986 and Edith Taylor 1997. He is survived by his wife, Ruth; his children, Roxanne and Gerard Van Houdt of San Diego, Calif., Sherry and Ray Reede of Wolf Point, and Sandy and Lorna Pray of Malta; grandchildren Dina and Kenny Van Houdt, Shawna Jensen, Rusty Pray and Rebel Levesque; great-grandchildren McKenna and Mcall Levesque, and Tel Z Jensen; a special daughter, Dixie Moore; grandchildren Julie, Mary and Scott Moore; and numerous nieces and nephews. 04-06-00 

Thomas Melford Fisher, 84, died Saturday, April 1, 2000 at the Holy Rosary Extended Care Center in Miles City. Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 4 at the Trinity Lutheran Church with Rev. James Mavis officiating. Interment followed in the Custer County Cemetery in the Eagles Section. Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of arrangements.
He was born Dec. 22, 1915 at Panora, Iowa, the son of Lawrence T. and Mabel (Coleman) Fisher. As a young child his family moved to Wilton, N.D., where he attended school. Following his schooling, Thomas moved to Miles City, then on to Fort Peck where he went to work for the Stuart Cleaners, during the Fort Peck Dam days. In July 1938 Thomas and Anna Knudsen were married. Following their marriage they moved to Minneapolis, Minn., where he worked for the Defense Plant, then in 1946 he went into the dry cleaning business in Nashua, until 1962 when he returned to Miles City working construction. On March 21, 1968 he married Inez McMakin-Konig in Gillette, Wyo. He retired from the construction business in 1983 and remained in Miles City since.
Fisher loved to work with wood and putter around the house. He was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Miles City, the Moose Lodge, the Eagles Lodge and the Local 400.
He is survived by his wife Inez Fisher of Miles City; two sons, Larry Fisher of Billings, and Richard Fisher and his wife Janice of Lewistown; two daughters, Gloria Doucette and her husband Leon of Nashua and Carole Sauter and her husband Don of Moreno Valley, Calif.; two step-daughters, Marjorie Patterson and her husband Jim of Greenacres, Wash. and Virginia Shevela and husband Ron of Glendive; four sisters, Olive Strand of Concord, Calif., Blanche Mongsene and her husband Roger of Antioch, Calif., and Louise Smith of St. Francis, Minn; and Joyce Graham of Cambridge, Minn.; a sister-in-law, Geneva Fisher of Keizer, Ore.; 20 grandchildren and numerous great and great-great grandchildren. Should friends desire, memorials may be made to any charity of friends choice. 04-06-00 

Helen Kathryn (Kassy) Marshall, 84, died Sunday, April 2, 2000, of natural causes at the Big Sandy Medical Center Long Term Care. Funeral mass was held Wednesday, April 5, at 11 a.m. in St. Francis Catholic Church in Saco with burial following at the Malta Cemetery. Adams Funeral Home of Malta is in charge of arrangements.
She was born July 3, 1915, to N.J. and Josephine Brandt in Grand Forks, N.D. She attended schools in Minnesota, graduated from Saco High School and attended Sacred Heart School of Nursing in Havre. In 1936 she married Clarence S. Marshall. They later divorced. She worked at C. P. Martin Mercantile in Saco and Brian's Clothing and Shoe Store in Wolf Point. She retired and moved to Malta in 1984. She had been a resident of the Long Term Care in Big Sandy since 1995.
She enjoyed knitting and visiting with long time friends. She was a member of the St. Francis Catholic Church Altar Society for several years.
Survivors include two sons, Jack Marshall of Big Sandy and Tom Marshall of Laramie, Wyo.; a brother, Robert Brandt of Malta; a sister, Bernadine Smith of Malta; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Memorials are suggested to Big Sandy Medical Center or to a charity of the donor's choice. 04-06-00 

Lois Holtan, 76, former Valley County resident, died March 22, 2000 at Sheridan Memorial Nursing Home in Plentywood. A funeral service was held Saturday, March 25, at the First Congregational Church in Plentywood. Pastor Johnette Grefe officiated. Interment took place at the Plentywood Mausoleum following the service.
She was born in Avondale on May 26, 1923 to John and Laura Padgett. She rode her horse to school in Green Valley and graduated from Opheim High School. She married and moved to California where her first son, Duane, was born. She worked in a factory that manufactured diamond saw blades. She also attended and graduated from beauty school, then moved to Plentywood. She married Howard Holtan on Feb. 12, 1951 and they honeymooned in Cuba. Howard sold welders and farmed and Lois worked as a beautician. They had two sons, Randy, born in 1953 and Brian, born in 1955.
She worked for the ASCS office for nine years while also keeping up her hair dressing business, fixing hair for friends and neighbors. She worked many years at the nursing home and Pioneer Manor as a hairdresser. She was talented and loved golfing, music, dancing, sewing, quilting, painting and cooking. She and Howard belonged to a square dance club for many years. She was active in the church helping out whenever she was called.
She is survived by her husband, Howard; three sons, Duane, Randy and Brian; nine grandchildren, Kurt, Kim, Wade, Corey, Jessica, Brandy, Aaron, Chase and Whitney; one great-grandchild, Kedar; one brother, Ray Padgett; and one sister, Nancy Runningen.