Phyllis L. Sethre was born on Aug. 10, 1945, in Williston, N.D., to Oscar and Lucille Olson. She passed away peacefully on Dec. 13, 2023, in Billings, Mont. Phyllis was raised on a farm north of Culbertson, Mont., and attended the Mc-Cabe Country School until the sixth grade. Her family then moved to Sidney, Mont., and she graduated from Sidney High School in 1963. After a brief time as a social worker, she graduated from Montana State University in 1969 with a degree in agriculture business management. She began her career as an agricultural loan officer in Great Falls, Mont. In the winter of 1977, she met Gary Sethre in Great Falls and they were married six months later. They returned to his family farm north of Wolf Point and together they built and enjoyed a successful farming operation for the next 45 years. During this time, she also acquired her real estate appraisal license and opened Sethre Appraisal Services. Appraising took her all across northeastern Montana and she thoroughly enjoyed the work and meeting people. Phyllis believed in volunteering in her community. She invested her time in many organizations including 4-H, the Roosevelt Country Fair board, the Montana Republican Party, First Lutheran Church, American Legion Auxiliary and the Theodore Roosevelt Foundation. She was honored to be named Grand Marshal of the Wild Horse Stampede in 2019 along with her husband. She loved to be on the road for work and pleasure. Gary and Phyllis enjoyed many trips to Medora, N.D., Hostfest in Minot, N.D., and spending time in Oregon to see her grandson’s school and sports activities. Phyllis was survived by her husband, Gary Sethre of Wolf Point, Mont.; daughter, Heather (Jacob) Stefanik and grandson Luke of Beaverton, Ore.; brother, Peter (Donna) Olson of Culbertson, Mont.; brother, Steve (Monica) Olson of Kannapolis, N.C.; brother, Mitch Olson of Sidney, Mont.; and many dear friends and family including Lora Davis who she considered a sister. She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters-inlaw, Carol (Sethre) Pomeroy and Joan Olson. A memorial service will be held later this summer in Wolf Point, Mont., on a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Montana 4-H Foundation. (Paid Obituary)

Mabel Hackley Renz, 94, passed peacefully Dec. 4, 2023, with family present. Mabel was born on the family farm in the Cherry Creek community south of Culbertson on July 23, 1929, fourth of eight children to H.T. and Leoma Hackley. She attended Cherry Creek School and graduated from Culbertson High School. She worked in the bank in Culbertson and then moved to Wolf Point and worked at Western Bank and in the evenings at the theater — she told us she never attended the free movie after her shift. She met Robert Renz in Culbertson and they were married in Miles City in 1955. They resided on the Renz family homestead along the Missouri River south of Poplar where they farmed and ranched for many years. She moved thousands of small bales with her Oliver tractor and bale wagon! Although they never had children of their own, they were very involved with generations of nieces and nephews- following their school and sports events and taking them on the Culbertson Trail Ride. Mabel was a long-time active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Poplar. She also belonged to the Mona Homemakers for many years. One of her favorite pastimes was hiking in the badlands with her friends from church, enjoying nature and visiting. Many people probably have received a quilt or other hand sewn items over the years. During many winters, you could find her living room filled with stacks of fabric and the massive quilt frame that took up almost the entire room. When Robert passed in 1999, Mabel stayed on the farm until she had to go to the Faith Lutheran Home — where her first question when visitors was, “How are the cows and Sparky doing?” Mabel was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Renz; parents, H.T. and Leoma Hackley; sister, Alice Walker; and brothers, Charles and Henry Hackley. She is survived by her siblings, Robert (Margaret) Hackley and family, Amy (Jerry) Pittman and family, Tom (Sandi) Hackley and family and Ray (Peggy) Hackley and family; and by her beloved dog, Sparky. Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 27, at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 28, at the First Presbyterian Church in Poplar. Interment will follow at Poplar City Cemetery. (Paid Obituary)