Lela Lucille Handran, 100, formerly of Wolf Point and Scobey, died March 29, 2024. She was born at home in Agency, Mo., on July 18,1933, to Cecil and Inez Leonard. She had a twin brother, Leland, join her as well. She often mentioned that Leland was a gentleman right from the beginning as he said ladies first and stepped aside for her to be born first. She had an older brother, Jim; younger brother, Chester; and two younger sisters, Barbara and Cecile. She started school in a two-room schoolhouse in Willow Brook, Mo., and attended Benton High School in St. Joseph, Mo., for the first three years. Her family moved and she graduated from high school in Lone Star, Colo., in 1951. Some of her best memories from her younger years included rollerskating with her brothers and working at F. W Woolworths in Sterling, Colo. In September 1955, she traveled to Scobey to visit her sister, Barbara, and her husband, Dick Bennis. They took her to Silver Star Hall to watch a Little Oscar play and dance. During the show, Dick introduced her to his “friend,” Michael Handran. The couple married April 17, 1956. They lived on the Handran hill and raised eight children. She loved getting lost in various parts of the country and bringing along grandchildren and seeing her family along the way. Her love of family led her to many adventures to see grandchildren and great-grandchildren across the United States. Her never-ending faith in Jesus gave her the confidence to know she would always find her way. She instilled that faith in all her children. After raising her family and sending them out into the world to make it a better place, she decided it was time to fulfill her lifelong dream of being a CNA. She went to work at Faith Home in Wolf Point. She also worked as a CNA at Daniels Memorial Home and Just Like Home in Scobey. She spent her 90th birthday with her twin brother, Leland, in Sun City, Ariz., last July thanks in large part to her daughter, Pam, taking her on yet another adventure. She loved spending hours tending to her garden, stoking the fire in the burn barrel and crushing cans in the kitchen around midnight. She moved to Miles City in January 2023 to be closer to her daughter, Pam. She was preceded in death by her husband, Michael, after 46 years; son, David; granddaughters, Lauren Handran and Erin Hurr; brother, Chester Leonard; and sister, Barbara Ediger. She is survived by her sons, Steven, Gary and Ron; daughters, Patty Christman, Peggy Cox, Penny Dimino and Pam Hurr; 27 grandchildren; and 33 great-grandchildren (and counting). Her funeral service was held Tuesday, April 2, at the Scobey Assembly of God.

Jerriann Hilma Hanel, 81, died at Highgate Senior Living in Billings on March 29, 2024. She was born in Glasgow on Jan. 29, 1943, the fourth daughter of eight children to Frank and Alice Hanel. She was described by her siblings as “much like her dad”: kind, funny, sensitive, strongwilled, stubborn, fearless, determined and loved to be the center of attention. She also displayed a love of the Lord at an early age and continued this strong relationship with God until her death. During her youth, she participated in band, synchronized swimming, art and ice skating, among others. She became known by some as the “farm girl” for her love of being outdoors and especially enjoyed gardening. She was also always looking to have a good time. An early example of is when she joined the carnival the summer after she graduated from high school, working in the ticket booth. Her next brave adventure began when she moved to Minneapolis, Minn., to attend the College of Medical Technology and X-ray. She achieved that degree in March 1963. She also met, and later married, Dennis Williams. From that marriage, four children were born. They later divorced, and thus began her very busy next adventure as a single working mother attending nursing school in Miles City. She graduated with a nursing degree in 1977, about the same time she met John Obye. After they married, she moved to Baker, where her social life continued to thrive as she joined Toast Masters, community/ church choirs and a sorority group. She made friends easily and quickly became a beloved member of the Baker community. In 1979, she added a new dimension of adventure to her life with the addition of her fifth child. While raising another child, she also continued her career working such jobs as hospital nurse, clinic nurse, public health nurse and she had a special passion for the individuals she served as a drug and alcohol counselor. Her most recent position, however, was perhaps the most impactful and brought her the most joy. She was the school nurse in Baker for 28 years. She touched the lives of hundreds of staff, students and their families providing care, encouragement, counseling and developing long-lasting friendships with colleagues and students alike. In 2016, while living at her cherished home on Baker Lake, she fell while playing a solo game of darts. This incident became the beginning of a series of events leading her to transition to the assisted living care facilities in Billings that she would reside in for the remaining eight years of her life. The move to Billings was a tough adjustment for her and she always spoke of getting better and moving home. She never lost faith. Although the Parksinon’s tried in vain to slow her down, she would not be overcome. Some of her favorite pastimes included spending time with family/friends, singing, kazoos, puzzles, Yahtzee, riding recumbent bike, canoeing, gardening, making homemade cards, children, ice cream and being in the company of handsome men. She also had a passion for kites and has been seen flying one out of the window of a moving vehicle, along the interstate next to a tour bus, and alongside her train during a station stop. She continued these and many more shenanigans at both Sweetwater Retirement Community and Highgate Senior Living. She was preceded in death by her sister, JoAn Houg. She is survived by sisters, Joyce Mann, Jeanie Bickle, Janny Parsley, Judy Lanterman and June Vogt; brother, Frank Hanel Jr.; children, John S. Williams, Dawn Benth, Jennifer (Paul) Bitts, Stacy Williams and Jana King; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. She also had a special relationship with John Obye’s four children, Erin, Brick, Bryce and Shawn. A celebration of life was held April 3, at 2 p.m. at the Dahl Funeral Chapel in Billings. An additional celebration will take place this summer prior to the burial of her ashes in Wolf Point.

Ronald L. Adams, 61, of Wolf Point died March 21, 2024. He was born Nov. 23,1962, to Elmer “Jiggs” Adams and Tessie Horse Capture-Adams in Wolf Point. He attended schools in Wolf Point and graduated in 1982. During his grade school years, he was a member of Yellow Jackets baseball team. He was one of the best pitchers on the reservation. He also enjoyed playing pool growing up. He also enjoyed traveling to powwows and loved to go to hairband concerts. He met Nancy Speed in 1997. Two children were born, son, Alex Jiggs, on Oct. 22, 1998, and Alaina Mae on Feb. 14, 2001. His grandchildren were his pride and joy. He began his work career as an employee for Petty Ray Seismometer, Looking Eagle, as a silk screener and worked for diabetic outreach until the time of his death. He enjoyed going out and monitoring patients, laughing and joking around during his house visits. He is survived by his partner, Nancy; son, Alex; daughters, Alaina, Aleesha and Andrea; seven grandchildren; brother, Les Adams; sisters, Norma Dionne, Lorraine Adams, Sadie Hamilton and Chrissy Adams; and Joan and Buddy Pipe and family who adopted him as their son traditionally. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Johnny, Ray Elmer and James; and sister, Carol Adams. Funeral services were held on Thursday, March 28, at at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel. Interment followed at King Memorial Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point was in charge of the arrangements.