Kayleigh Jeri Nico Jones Ownspipe, 24, of Wolf Point died Oct. 8, 2023. Given her grandmother’s name of Itunka Ota Win, she was born on April 7, 1999, to Sandra Ownspipe and Wylan Jones in Wolf Point. She grew up in Wolf Point and attended school in Wolf Point until her freshman year, then transferred to Brockton where she graduated as a Warrior in class of 2017. Growing up, she loved to dance. Her sisters and her would even play pow-wow when they weren’t at a powwow. She was a champion traditional dancer. She made many friends on the powwow trail. At 11 years old, she was inspired to hoop dance. So her family got her hoops made and away she went, making shapes and animals with her many hoops. This took her to many places and schools. She enjoyed this as many faces lit up when she would make a new shape. In 2012, she attended a celebration in Fort Yates, N.D. After her finals, a lady approached her and asked if she would be interested in modeling at the He Sapa Style show in Rapid City, S.D., that October. She went and was picked by out of four of the five artists. The fifth came to her and said he wished he made woman’s apparel because “Kay would be the face,” which put a huge smile on her face. After the show, a gentleman asked if she was serious about modeling. He invited her to classes in JRP in Williston, N.D. After seeing a large number of people auditioning for the spots, she looked at her mom and asked, “What do we do?” Her mom shook her head and said, “I don’t know, audition?” When they called her name, they told her she didn’t need to audition because she was an invite. After a few months of training with a group of 15, she attended a show case in Minot, N.D. There, she was told high fashion models are about 5’9” and any other modeling she should be at least 5’6”. She was only 5’4”, but that didn’t seem to phase her much. She signed with IMG models and later with MM6 Talent. She did clothing flyers, hair and makeup shows, a dental commercial and modeling for Dick’s Sporting

Barbara Link, 91, of Wolf Point died Sept. 21, 2023. She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Link, who died three years ago. She and Ken met in their senior year at Alleman High School in Rock Island, Ill., in chemistry class. He loved chemistry, Barb not so much. Their first date included her painting a number on his motorcycle for an upcoming race. This courtship was full of dates bowling, ice skating on frozen creeks and movies. While courting, he attended Saint Ambrose University while she attended Marycrest College, both in Davenport, Iowa. He often exclaimed “she’s the only woman for me” — a sentiment he continued throughout their life together. They were married Oct. 4, 1953, in Rock Island, Ill., at the family church, Sacred Heart Catholic church. October 2023 would have been their 70th wedding anniversary. In 1952, he joined the Navy and served in Korea as a medic. She worked at John Deere until moving to Lansing, Ill., for the birth of their first child, Leah, and son, Kurt. He worked as a railroad detective in the Quad Cities (Moline, Ill.;, Rock Island, Ill.; Davenport, Iowa; and Bettendorf, Iowa) at the time of the birth of their son, Kendall, in Rock Island, Ill. Daughter Karen was born after they moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He joined the Border Patrol and the family moved to Harlingen, Texas, where son Frank was born. The family transferred to Wolf Point where youngest daughter Diane was born. She worked for numerous years at Citizens First National Bank and then shifted to her dream job at the Roosevelt County Library from where she eventually retired. He retired from Border Patrol and began work as a Montana brand inspector. He continued his career by joining Alaska’s Fish and Game Department, during which he participated in the Valdez Oil

Jamie Red Thunder, 53, of Poplar died Oct. 3, 2023. She was born on July 22, 1970, in Poplar to Linda Redboy and John Red Thunder Sr. She lived in Poplar most of her life, but also lived in Canada and Brockton in her younger years. She also went to Chemawa her freshman and sophomore year 1985-86. While she was in Chemawa, she played basketball and her sister Johnny was her biggest fan. She was also a champion traditional dancer while she lived in Canada. After she was home from Chemawa, she started dating Clarence FastHorse Sr. They had five children to this union. She went firefighting in 1994, volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club, worked in the Poplar School’s kitchen, was a home health worker for a long time and also worked at Sidney Sugars. Her hobbies included playing bingo/keno, cruising, hanging out with her children and friends and loved playing with her grandchildren when she could. She is survived by her children, Clarence FastHorse Jr., Teaira FastHorse, Kaine and Kassius FastHorse, all of Poplar; sister, Johnelle Red Thunder;