Harold James Culbertson passed away at the age of 83 on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, after a long battle with cancer. Harold was born in 1937 in Poplar on the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Reservation to Harry Alexander Culbertson and Matilda Marie Culbertson (Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate). The family lived on the reservation until 1943, then moved to Milton, Wash. They moved again to Vanport, Ore., in 1944, and escaped the 1948 Vanport flood with nothing but the clothes on their backs. They eventually settled in northwest Portland, Ore. At the age of 15, Harold headed back to the reservation. He spent his sophomore and junior high school years in Poplar before heading back to Portland for his senior high school year. On his fourth day of college at Portland State University, Harold wandered into the military recruiting office. The Army and Navy recruiters were occupied so Harold enlisted in the Air Force. He spent four years in the service, including an 18-month period in Okinawa. Back in Portland, Harold re-enrolled in classes at Portland State and this time stuck with it, graduating in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in business. Harold met and married elementary school teacher Brenda Brown in Eugene, Ore., in 1967, six months after meeting her. They moved from Eugene to Lexington, Mass., where Harold earned his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1970. After two months in Albuquerque, the couple moved to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation where Harold worked as the executive director of Standing Rock Industries, and they had their first daughter, Kaydee. The Standing Rock Tribe gave Harold his name, Aŋpetu Teča Wičaša (New Day Man) because he created new business opportunities in the community. In 1972, Harold, Brenda and Kaydee moved to Portland, Ore., where Amy was born, then to Seattle, Wash., where Harold earned his Ph.D. in business (organization management) from the University of Washington in 1977, at which time the family moved to Edmonds, Wash. Armed with his Ph.D. and a CPA certification, Harold started his own accounting firm and worked with tribes in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Montana and Oklahoma. In 1990, Harold accepted a position as a professor of accounting at Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minn. He traveled to the Cass Lake and Red Lake reservations to teach accounting courses at their community college and worked with Fort Peck as a comptroller for several years. He and Brenda retired from Minnesota in 2006, to move closer to their first grandchild (and her parents) in Albuquerque. To his delight, his three grandsons (and their parents) moved to Albuquerque in 2014. Harold was known for his sense of humor, generosity and gentleness. He was a devout Catholic, guitar player and devoted family man who enjoyed spending his time with relatives playing dice or card games, laughing and joking. A storyteller, who loved to say “stop me if you’ve heard this before,” and kept talking over all protests and objections. Harold is survived by Brenda, his wife of 54 years, his daughter Kaydee Culbertson, her partner, Phil Begay and their daughter, Elana; his daughter, Amy Armistad, her husband, Chris, and their sons, Will, Devon and Sam. He is also survived by his sisters, Jo Zollinger, Karen Harvey and Gloria Culbertson, and many other cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives. He is predeceased by his sister, Joyce Nelson, and his brothers, David, Olly, Joe and Pierre. There was a public viewing on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, from 5-7 p.m. at French-Westside. (Paid Obituary)

Pearl Marie Beauchman Lapke, 92, died April 11, 2022. “Marie” Pearl was born at home on Oct. 24, 1929, in Harlem. Her Grandma “Kookum” delivered her. She was the first daughter of 10 children to Thomas and Victoria Beauchman of Wolf Point and Glasgow. She recently told stories of her favorite childhood memories, such as playing baseball with the neighborhood kids and making “band instruments” out of coffee cans and milk jugs. In her early adult years, she loved bowling and dancing with her girlfriends. She first married Lance Hack, through which they had two children, Thomas and Victoria. They later separated. While working at a grocery store in Glasgow, she went on a blind date through mutual friends with Howard J. Lapke. Their love blossomed into marriage in September 1961. They had a blended family of seven children: Don, Karla, Patsy, Glen, Thomas, Victoria and together had Gordon. The beginning of their marriage was spent raising children while owning and operating a grocery store in Poplar. They then went on to run the Diamond Bar X in Augusta. After, they packed everything up to move to Simms to own and operate The Fireside Inn, where they spent the duration of their lives. The Fireside was a place for everyone. She loved dancing to Saturday night bands, celebrating holidays, and conversing with their patrons. She loved spending time at pow-wows, as well and lived for “a good piece of fry bread.” She also loved her nickname as “Wahpu” to her family in the Glasgow area. After Howard died in 1997, she spent her days filling her best role as Grandma or “Gma”. There was no tree house too big for her to help build, no rummy game she couldn’t win or story she couldn’t tell by memory. When she wasn't wrangling grandchildren, she spent her time living for her life's passions. For 50 years, she was a devoted member of St. Ann's Catholic Church in Fort Shaw. She spent much time volunteering, cleaning, and growing closer with the parish family and priests. Another highlight was when she was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Montana Cowgirl's Association. She spent 15 years volunteering to read to children at Fort Shaw Elementary through the Montana Foster Grandparents Program. She is survived by her children, Vicki, Gordon, Glen and Karla; brother, Jim of Georgia; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Thomas, Albert, Franklin and Robert; sisters, Ramona, Ruby, Dean and Patricia; and children, Thomas, Patsy and Don. Her service was held Monday, April 18, at St. Ann’s Church in Fort Shaw. An urn placement followed at the Sun River Cemetery and a celebration of life was held at the Lions Hall in Simms.

Noreen Beth IronBear White Bull, Grey Elk Woman, “Hehaka Hota Winyan”, 68, of Poplar died Tuesday, April 5, 2022 at Poplar Community Hospital. She was born Feb. 2, 1954, to Mary Red Feather Iron Bear and Harry R. Iron Bear Sr. in Chelsea. She was raised until they moved to the “old place” southwest of Poplar on the Iron Bear Estate, then onto the hill and eventually moved to the family home west of Poplar. She attended school at Poplar Schools. She was an Oil Celebration Princess of 1972-73. She went off to Anadarko, Okla., Riverside Boarding School where she graduated in 1974. The summers of ‘72-’74, she came home she babysat and cared for her niece Debra Granbois. She loved Debz as her own daughter. She worked at NEMHS as a CNA for many years. She then moved on to the BIA Realty Department, where she worked for many years until she retired in 2007. She enjoyed pow-wows. She enjoyed the music as well as watching grass dancers. She also loved cruising with lifetime partner, Jake White. She loved her sons, Merle and Jada, as well as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She continued a lifelong friendship and relationship with Jake White Bull, giving birth to their son, Loudon IronBear White Bull. Reluctantly, life took them both in different paths and they separated for some years. During this time, she met and married Kenneth Olson Sr. From that marriage, she gave birth to Kenny Olson Jr. and Troy Olson. She and Kenny divorced and she remained single for some years. Jake moved back to Poplar and they found each other again and remarried. She is survived by her sons, Loudon Iron Bear White Bull, Troy Iron Bear White Bull and Kenny Olson Jr.; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; siblings, Gloria Buckles, Linda Lezard, Myra Daniels, Cheryl Boyd, James K. IronBear, Anthony IronBear, Ivan Roberts, Debra Granbois, Cindy Bear, Lisa IronBear, Harry III, Mandy and Heather Iron Bear. She was preceded in death by brothers, Merle Iron Bear, Hoksina Harry Iron Bear Jr., Alfred Iron Bear Sr. and Lonnie Iron Bear; sisters, Sandra Red Elk, Betty Jo Iron Bear and Charmaine R. Iron Bear; husband, Jake White Bull; and granddaughters, Kenzlie Olson and Mikaela Mato Maza. A wake was held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, April 13, at the Poplar Cultural Center. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, April 14, at the Poplar Cultural Center. Interment will follow at the Chelsea Cemetery.

Joyce Lorraine (Christensen) Sylvester, 80, of Fort Peck died Thursday, April 8, 2022. She was born Oct. 28, 1941, in Hinsdale to Margaret Ann (Renken) Christensen and Julius Oliver Christensen. She joined older brother Darrel Christensen and then two younger sisters, Janice Christensen (St. Claire) and Linda Christensen (Porteen). As a child, she loved acting, dancing, playing dressing up with her siblings. She also enjoyed making paper dolls out of old catalogs and clothes for her kittens but she said “they didn’t like it very much” and laughed. During her teenage years, she loved singing at the church, teaching Sunday school and playing the baritone at Hinsdale High School. She married after high school and lived in Glasgow. She had four children, Stacey, Daniel, Margot and Harlin. They tragically died at a very young age. She felt God had a special calling for her in her life. “I feel the only and most important purpose to my life was to contribute in the best way I could as a friend, wife and especially as a good mother. I believe He taught me, after the loss of my children, that maybe I could help and be there for others who were having troubled times in their lives. I have worked very hard at this.” She married Sam Sylvester on Nov. 4, 1969, in Glasgow. They had three children, Rockwell Joel Sylvester, Shawn Lear Sylvester and Tara Lynn Sylvester, and Dennis Hanzlik was loved as one of her own. She enjoyed raising her children and being active at Nashua School being a school cook, sewing uniforms for choir, band and cheerleading and helping with all her children’s multitude of events and activities. She was an active leader in the Lucky Clover 4-H Club and ran the 4-H food booth at the Glasgow Fair for several years. She was a leader in the Nashua Community Club and in the construction of Ol’ Smokey Rodeo grounds in Nashua and the Nashua Winterfest. One of her favorite pastimes was gardening. She and Sam enjoyed their time traveling the southern part of the U.S. with good friends and meeting new people. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and having them at the family farm. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sam Sylvester. She is survived by her sons, Rock Sylvester of Highland Village, Texas, Shawn Sylvester of Brookfield, Conn., and Tara Sylvester, Billings; and six grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 14, at Bell Mortuary in Glasgow. A private family inurment will be in Highland Cemetery.

LaDonna Tade Sauer, 89, of Billings, formerly of Nashua, died April 4, 2022. She was born on Sept. 29, 1932, to Edward and Lillian (Stroud) Tade in Ossette. She was the third of six children. She was raised in a farm family in eastern Montana where she attended Nashua School. She met Simon Perter “Sam” Sauer and wed him on Oct. 6, 1951, at Queen of Angels Church in Nashua. With their adventurous spirits, they moved to Anchorage, Alaska, in the spring of 1952. While in Alaska, she worked at the post office for 10 years, was a house wife, earned her high school diploma at the age of 40 and received her real estate license and sold property. Her love for real estate and the stock market continued through the remainder of her life. They lived in Alaska for 25 years where they raised two children. After her husband retired in 1976, they moved to Glasgow to live their dream of farming. They farmed the Tade farm until Sam’s death in 1992. She stayed on the hill and farmed with her son, Jason, until 2007. For health reasons, she moved to Billings in 2007 where she resided until her death. She loved spending with her family and extended family. Her years of traveling to Arizona to spend time with her brothers and sisters were some of her favorite memories. She loved to play games and entertain guests. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sam Sauer; brothers, Edward Tade Jr. and Marvin Tade; and her sister, Helen Elkin. She is survived by her daughter, Cheryl Sauer; son, Jason Sauer; two grandchildren; a great-grandson; sister, Marcia Zygmond; and brother, Ron Tade. A graveside service will be held April 19 at 10:30 a.m. at Highland Cemetery.

Amedie F. “Bud” Iwen, 84, of Helena died April 4, 2022, at Touchmark in Helena. He was born March 11, 1938, in Froid to Ada and Austin Iwen, the seventh of nine children. He and his wife, Mary Helen, met at Wolf Point High School and married June 16, 1959. They had five children. He was raised in Wolf Point and graduated from Wolf Point High School in 1956. He continued his education at Jamestown College in North Dakota, transferring to Carroll College and graduating in 1960 with a B.A. degree in English. He was bureau chief at United Press International and a broadcaster on radio and TV. He was employed by Carroll College for three different positions and was a season ticket holder for both football and basketball for many years. People may remember his voice from announcing local games. He was honored to be named the Montana Sportscaster of the Year in 1964 and 1968. He finished out his career at Shodair Hospital as foundation director. He and Mary Helen are members of St. Helena Cathedral Parish and he was parish council president in 1974. Many friendships began at the cathedral and his involvement with the Helena Lions Club also led to lasting relationships they treasured. On Sundays during the summer after attending mass at the Helena Cathedral, he and Mary Helen would pack up the family and picnic food to spend the afternoon at Moose Creek Campground with the Crants family. While the adults were enjoying their quality time, the children would “accidentally” fall into the creek. Those moments at Moose Creek created long-lasting memories for friends and family. Another valued family tradition was to load the family station wagon and head north to the Hi-Line to visit relatives in Wolf Point. These yearly trips solidified family relationships between Bud and his brothers, nieces and nephews. He is survived by his wife, Mary Helen; children, Suzy Harlen, Jackie Schmoldt, Chelle Fields, Helen Yuhas and Ken Iwen; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A funeral was held Monday, April 11, at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home in Helena.

Melvin Azure Sr., 58, of Wolf Point died March 31, 2022, in Wolf Point. He was born in Baker to Ervin Bruno Azure and Donna Mae Boyd on June 21, 1963. He attended schools in Wolf Point and graduated in 1982. After graduating high school, he went to work at A& S Industries and, during the summers, he went firefighting. A few years later, he began his life of roughnecking, which he loved immensely. Through all of this, he found the time to run, which was his passion. He could outrun anyone around, even while wearing his fire fighting boots. He competed in many races, including the Human Stampede during the Wild Horse Stampede weekend and the Longest Dam Run at Fort Peck. He placed first many times and acquired his very own fan club from people who admired and looked up to him. It wasn’t until the last 12 years that he became a laborer, to where he wore many hats from mechanic, construction worker, cement layer, lumberjack and the list goes on. There was nothing that he couldn’t and wouldn’t do. In 2013, he almost died of hypothermia to where he lost eight of his fingers and all of his toes. He never let his disability keep him from hard work and never looked at himself as being disabled. He told everyone that he could still outwork anybody, even without his fingers and toes. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, who loved the outdoors. He loved to laugh, had a great sense of humor, wore the biggest smile and was full of life. He worked hard all his life and played just as hard too. It was in 1986 that he became a father and his daughter Arden Morales Anderson was born. Later on, he met Laurette Wetsit and, from this union, they had five children, Da’veau, Mariah, Melvin Jr., Jacob and Joclynn. He is survived by his children, Arden, Melvin Jr., Jacob and Joclynn; five grandchildren; brothers, Ervin Azure, Curtis Azure, Craig Azure and Michael Nelson; and sisters, Brenda Calder, Paula Azure, Cindy Welch and Julie Azure. He was preceded in death by his children, Da’veau and Mariah; and brother, Robert Azure. His funeral was held Saturday, April 9, at the new Community Hall in Wolf Point. Interment followed at St. Ann’s Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.