Claire Lynn Potts, 15, of Jordan died Oct. 30, 2024. She was born May 11, 2009, to Clint and DaLauna Potts. She joined her brother, Forrest, just 12½ months after he was born. The two siblings were inseparable. As soon as they could walk, they could ride and, from then on, the family was able to cowboy till the job was complete. Her work ethic was never questioned. From a young age, her determination and grit shined through. Her horsemanship skills were something to see, especially her trick riding. Not only could she handle the regular cowboying tasks, but she could look stunningly beautiful while hanging off the side of her loyal steed, Batman, to entertain a crowd. She always seemed at ease flying on the back of her horses. Her fearlessness was a part of everything she did. It was part of her presence when she entered the room, court, track or arena. She could smile and everyone knew she was ready for whatever came next. On the flip side, if she didn’t smile, all knew she was not in a mind to be bossed around. Fortunately, these moments never lasted long, and her smile would return, ready to find fun with any of her many friends or family. She found success in many things. She was a successful student, state-record track athlete, accomplished livestock judger, rodeo competitor, artist and 4-H’er. Her medals, buckles and ribbons proving her work ethic and confidence served her well in any competition. She is survived by her parents; brother, Forrest; grandparents, Rick (Lisa) Potts, Terri Potts (Terry Mason) and Jacque Gregg; and great-grandmother, Margaret Cremer. Her funeral was held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at the Garfield County High School multi-purpose room. Interment followed in the family lot at Pioneer Cemetery in Jordan.

Iola Bighorn Scott, 81, of Poplar died Oct. 31, 2024, in Poplar. A wake will be held on Friday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. at the Brockton Cultural Center. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 11 a.m. at the Brockton Cultural Center. Interment will follow at Fort Kipp Cemetery.

Funeral services for Dixie Donalynn Portra of Bainville, Mont., were Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024, at 1 p.m. at the Bainville School. Dixie will be laid to rest at the Bainville Cemetery. A luncheon will follow the service for a time of fellowship and sharing. Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home of Sidney, Mont., is assisting the family. Remembrances, condolences and pictures may be shared with the family at www.fulkersons.com. Dixie Donalynn Portra was born on July 11, 1962, in Williston, N.D. She was the daughter of Larry and Jewel Portra. Dixie was the youngest of five children. She spent her first year in Bainville, Mont., before the family moved to Froid, Mont. Dixie attended Froid Public School and later she moved to South Dakota where she attended Job Corps classes. After returning home, she married Jeff Torgrimson in 1980. They had one son, Levi Torgrimson. After divorcing, she met Dave Granley who has been her life partner. Dixie moved onto Dave’s ranch north of Bainville,

Aloysius Jake Bet His Medicine, 60, died Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, at Poplar Community Hospital. He was born Feb. 5, 1964, in Poplar to Marie Bets His Medicine and Joe Bauer. Also, father in life, Jim Brunoski. He attended elementary school in Brockton, junior high school in Riverside, Calif., graduated from Brockton High School and went to college at Concordia in Morehead, Minn. He was a man of many talents and held numerous jobs throughout his life, often working two jobs at a time. He worked at A& S Industries as a netter, went on to be cook, CNA, dietary aide, housekeeper, musician and started his own detailing business, along with other miscellaneous odd jobs. Of all the jobs and career paths he chose, his passion was writing, playing, singing and recording music which took him on an exciting journey in life where he met many people and established lifelong extended family and friends.

Bennie Baker Finnicum, 91, died Oct. 15, 2024, at St. Vincent’s Healthcare Center in Billings. He was born on March 8, 1933, to Frances (Harkins) and Ross Finnicum in Clinton, Iowa. He moved to Andes community, Richland County at the age of three months. He attended school at Andes School until the third grade and Mona School until Christmas of seventh grade when he then stayed home to help on the farm while his brother was deployed. In 1951, he met Anne Ochs. They dated for two years before getting married in the courthouse in Sidney on Aug. 22, 1953. They made their home on the family farm seven miles west of Andes. It was the beginning of a long and happy life, raising their five children and then enjoying the many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed feeding the cows in the winter and tinkering in the shop. He was always happy to help the neighbors. His favorite time was harvest. He was a strong and quiet man and had a passion for local history. He enjoyed roller skating and ice skating in his younger years. His eyes sparkled when he was happy or mischievous.

Lyle Lambert, 73, of Williston, N.D., passed away on Oct. 9, 2024. A funeral service for Lyle was held Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at 1 p.m. Mountain Time at the Bainville football field. Certified funeral celebrant Heidi Coughlin will be officiating the service. Visitation was held at the Everson- Coughlin Funeral Home Chapel on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, from 1 to 5 p.m. Lyle Gene Lambert (Bean) was born on May 23, 1951, to Alfred “Smokey” and Doris (Hansen) Lambert in Williston, N.D. Lyle was raised in Bainville, Mont., and graduated from Bainville High School in 1969. He then attended college at Montana State University - Billings. Lyle married his wife, Mary Lou (Nice) Lambert on April 19, 1980, at the First Lutheran Church in Bainville, Mont. Lyle worked at Public Works and for BNSF Railroad where he retired. He received a BNSF Safety Award in July of 2006. Lyle received the Waste Water Operator of the Year Award in 2024. He was a member of the Sidney Country Club, Bainville Booster Club and Teamsters Representative of the Railroad. Lyle was the Bainville Rural Fire District #64 Fire Chief. He was the town of Bainville Fire Chief. Lyle was also the Bainville Volunteer Firemen Chief. He was active on the 911 Board, Bainville School Board and the Montana Rural Water Systems committee. He was a proud supporter of the Bainville Bulldog sporting events. You could always find him at the scorers’ table, running the clock. He looked forward to the events, including football, basketball, volleyball — you name it and he was there enjoying the games! When the weather permitted, he spent as much time as possible on the golf course. In the winter months, he spent his time at Smokey’s Bar playing pinochle. Lyle is survived by his wife, Mary Lambert (Bainville, Mont.); daughters, Leona and MiKayla (Bainville, Mont.); brother, Dan Lambert (Bainville, Mont.); sister, Darlas Rogers (Bainville, Mont.); grandpets, Luna, Nova, Freya Mae and Peaches Marie; and many other loving relatives far and near. Lyle was preceded in death by his parents, Smokey and Doris Lambert; father-in-law, Benny Nice; mother-in-law, Betty Nice; and his son, Kent Eugene Lambert. Friends are welcome to visit www.eversoncoughlin.com to share memories or leave condolences for his family. (Paid Obituary)

Verona Lea Boger Bubak, 84, died Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. She was born to Albert and Hazel Boger on Oct. 12, 1939, in Plentywood. She grew up in Froid and attended Froid High School before meeting Leonard Bubak. The two were married on June 15, 1958, in Froid at Grandview Church of the Brethren. Their loving marriage of 58 years until Leonard's death in 2016 was the foundation behind their numerous relationships with family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, fellow volunteers and church members. They raised two sons in Billings and cherished their many visits with their three grandchildren and daughters- in-law. Together, they volunteered at St. Vincent's Hospital and served at First Christian Church in Billings for decades. She taught Sunday school for many years and contributed to various church committees. After graduating from Froid High School, she attended business school in Minot, N.D. She and Leonard lived in several states in the northwest before settling down in Billings in 1967. She was known as a loving neighbor who helped others any way she could, whether by offering an encouraging word, spending time with an ailing friend or sharing sweet treats that she had baked. She was well known by children and parents in the Billings Heights community from her decades working as the Bitterroot Elementary School secretary from 1972 to 1999. This past May, she moved to Birmingham, Ala., to live near her younger son. A memorial gathering with family and friends will be held at a later date in Billings and Froid.

Jerome “Jerry” Osterhout, 86, of Culbertson, Mont., passed away on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, at the Roosevelt Medical Center in Culbertson, Mont. Graveside services for Jerry were held Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at 11 a.m. (MDT) at the Sentinel Butte Cemetery, east of Sentinel Butte, N.D. Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home in Williston, N.D., is assisting the family. Friends may sign the on-line register and give their condolences at www.fulkersons. com. Jerome “Jerry” was born to Ernest and Violet (Waldahl) Osterhout in Beach, N.D. Jerry and his sister, Joan, were raised by his aunt and uncle, Bill and Muriel Waldahl, in Sentinel Butte, N.D. He graduated from Sentinel Butte High School with the Class of 1956. Jerry’s passion for the rodeo began early in his life by riding cows and he would start competing in amateur rodeos in 1954. Jerry qualified for the 1956 National High School Rodeo in Reno, Nev., competing in bareback riding and bull riding. Jerry won the second go-round in the bareback riding event. One of Jerry’s proudest moments was winning the state high school bull riding championship on a spinning bull. Today, his grandson wears that buckle. He also competed in bareback riding at Harrison, Neb. Jerry would say his bull ride at Harrison, was “just short.” Amid Jerry’s rodeo memorabilia is a $6.34 check dated July 25, 1955, from the Sioux National Bank in Harrison. At that time, one-fourth of the gross gate receipts were set aside and paid to contestants as mileage for travel expenses. While continuing to compete in amateur rodeos, Jerry would take over his father’s ranch. He rode Jim Barnhart’s Whiz Bang in Medora, N.D., and recalled it was pretty tough but, nonetheless, Jerry won first place in 1959. Along with a high school buckle from the state rodeo, Jerry won bull riding buckles at Killdeer’s RA rodeo and at an amateur rodeo in Richey, Mont. In 1961, he won bull ridings at New Salem, N.D., Sidney and Helena, Mont. He then decided to retire from rodeo competition that year. Jerry would marry Judy Myers and have four children, Jesse, Jack, Jerald and Jodi. He went on to work at various ranches in western North Dakota and eastern Montana. Jerry’s love for horses and Hereford cattle would forever be his calling. Since retirement, he lived on his ranch west of Medora, N.D. Jerry later moved to Culbertson, Mont., to be closer to his family and form strong bonds with his grandchildren. Jerry lived a full and adventurous life, but his family and friends will also remember him for how gentle and kind he was. Jerry’s family will forever be grateful to the staff at Roosevelt Medical Center in Culbertson, Mont., for their exceptional and loving care! He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Violet Osterhout; aunt and uncle, Bill and Muriel Waldahl; sons, Jesse and Jerald Osterhout; sister, Joan Barkland; and nieces, Sandra and Linda Barkland. Jerry is survived by his son, Jack Osterhout; daughter, Jodi (Dale) Nelson; grandchildren, Paydon, Cordel and Nolan Nelson; great-grandchildren, Miles and Briggs; and nephews and nieces. In lieu of flowers, Jerry’s family would suggest donations be made in Jerry’s name to the Roosevelt Memorial Heathcare Foundation at 818 2nd Ave E, Culbertson, MT 59218. (Paid Obituary)

Judy (Gandrud) Hofman, 78, of Walla Walla, Wash., formerly of Culbertson and Ritzville, Wash., died at Providence Medical Center on Aug. 21, 2024. She was born on March 31, 1946, in Wilmar, Calif., now known as Rosemead, Calif., to Joseph and Marie Gandrud. She was raised in Culbertson where she attended school and graduated from high school in 1945. Following high school, she married John Hofman and raised four boys, John Jr., James, Chris and Kevin. She was a die-hard sports fan and cheered for the Seattle Seahawks, Mariners and Supersonics for most of her life. She loved country music, especially George Strait. She was involved with multiple church activities including many years as secretary for Emmanuel Lutheran in Walla Walla, quilting and potluck dinners. She never missed a football, basketball or baseball game or event her children were involved in. After her children graduated high school, she and John loved to travel and visit them and their families. She is survived by her husband, John; sons, John Jr. of Norwalk, Iowa, James of Norwalk, Iowa, Chris of Far West, Utah, and Kevin of Walla Walla, Wash.; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and sister Nancy Sundvold of Billings. She was preceded in death by her brother, Joey Gandrud Jr., and sister, Debbie Gandrud. A graveside service was held Tuesday, Aug. 27, at Hillside Cemetery in Culbertson with Jo Nelson officiating.