Aaron Paul Hiller, 55, died July 4, 2026, in Lustre. He was born on April 21, 1971, at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, to Philip and Betty Hiller. As the oldest of five children born into an Air Force family, his childhood took him to many cities, including George Air Force Base and Edwards Air Force Base in California and Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico before eventually settling in Las Vegas, Nev. He earned an associate degree from New Mexico State University in Alamogordo, N.M. Throughout his life, he worked in a variety of fields, including bartending, food service, petroleum logistics management, sales and convenience store management. One of his earliest accomplishments was achieving the rank of Eagle Scout, an honor he carried with pride throughout his life. He attended Philmont Scout Ranch twice, experiences that deepened his appreciation for the outdoors and adventure. Of all his accomplishments, however, he considered being a father to his two boys his greatest blessing. He married Jennifer Rice in June 1999 at St. Joseph Husband of Mary. They had two children, Ethan Hiller in May 2000 and Noah Hiller in April 2002. He gave back to his community by coaching youth baseball and helping where he could with his church, often doing maintenance. He was baptized, confirmed and married in the Roman Catholic Church and, during the last four years of his life, found fellowship and spiritual community among the Mennonites in his Montana community. He found particular comfort in learning about Jesus Christ in the television series The Chosen, deeply connecting with its portrayal of Jesus’ compassion, forgiveness and acceptance of people just as they are. He loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing with his dad. He enjoyed watching movies and history documentaries, playing board games, antique shopping in search of hidden treasures and spending hours building LEGO creations with his nieces and nephews. He had a special affection for animals. Family traditions like opening Advent calendars together and celebrating Independence Day with fireworks created lasting memories that will be treasured

Carol Edna Nichols, 68, died Aug. 2, 2026 in Missoula. She was born Nov. 24, 1957, in Culbertson to Aldon and Thelma Nichols. She attended Culbertson elementary school and high school and graduated in 1976. Later in life, she was the theater director at the school. After high school, she joined the National Guard and served alongside her father for several years. She attended Northern Montana College in Havre and received a degree in business. After college, she returned to Culbertson to work for the ASCS office and eventually transferred to Bozeman and Great Falls. She retired from the USDA office in 2019. She had a prestigious 30-year career working for the government, creating bonds with all she met. When she retired, she moved to Apache Junction, Ariz., and became a snowbird traveling between Apache Junction and Great Falls. In 1984, she became a mother and found her true calling in life. Her and her daughter, Elly, were two peas in a pod. In 2008, she became a grandmother — “Maamma.” She and her grandson traveled and saw the world together.

Michael Aaron Vandall, 41, of Wolf Point died Aug. 4, 2026 in Grand Forks, N.D. He was born in Wolf Point on Oct. 15, 1983. He spent his younger years in Wolf Point attending head start before his mother moved the family to Portland, Ore. The family moved back to Wolf Point in 1992. As a child, he was the youngest sibling and would perform his spontaneous “performances”, singing, telling jokes and loving the attention he got from the entire family. He attended schools in Wolf Point, Chemawa and Riverside Indian Schools, then graduated from Kicking Horse Job Corps with his diploma and a degree in facilities management. In 2025, he attended Fort Peck Community College. Following school, he worked various jobs and was notorious for taking care of all his nieces and nephews. His passion was taking them fishing and giving all of them unconditional love. He was known as the “River Monster Assassin,” self-proclaimed, of course. He was always known for his big smile, his offers of help and kindness. He had three daughters. He met Kaytlin Nation in 2007. Not long after that, in 2008, came his first daughter, Layla Marie Vandall. Daughter Vanessa Eileen Fatih Vandall was born in 2011 and, in 201, daughter Briana Lee Vandall was born in 2023. His first grandchild is expected in September.