Heidi “Faye” Johnson, 42, of Poplar died April 15, 2022. She was born to Gayle Lynn Wetsit and Lionel Dean Johnson on Sept. 7, 1979, in Poplar. She graduated in 1998 from Poplar High School. She worked for most of her employment time at Tribal Express where she was exposed to all walks of life and that was one of many doorways to meeting a plethora of adopted family members. She had a wealthy social life and was passionate about her beliefs, her family — in all forms. She always lived by her code, a code that honors a sense of love that went beyond blood. When she loved, she loved completely and without judgment. She didn’t waste her breath on pointless praise and only spoke her mind. She loved to spend time with friends and family, doing the things she loved such as playing pool, bonfires,

Violet Irene Desjarlais, 87, of Wolf Point died April 28, 2022, at Eagle Cliff Manor in Billings. She was born in Fort Totten, N.D., Feb. 25, 1935, to John and Mary Miller. Shet was an enrolled member of the Spirit Lake Nation of Fort Totten. She attended Fort Totten High School and graduated in 1953. In 1954, she married Francis Richard Dionne and moved to Wolf Point in 1955 and had seven children. She met Gordon Desjarlais in 1966 and were married June 9, 1967. They celebrated 48 years of marriage. Gordan passed away on July 13, 2015. Some of Violet’s special interests were sewing pillows. She created her own unique pattern for star pillows and were shared throughout the United States, some going as far away as Russia. She loved taking pictures of family and her pictures were well organized in photo albums. She was an avid sports enthusiast and loved to discuss with her grandchildren her favorite sports of basketball, figure skating and tennis. Her favorite NBA team was the Lakers, and her favorite player was Kobe Bryant. She would discuss basketball stats with her grandchildren.

Reuben Carl Damm, of Columbus, 82, died April 28, 2022. He was born Nov. 1, 1939, the third of six children of Alexander and Mollie Damm. He was born at the family home near Froid and attended Culbertson Public Schools, graduating in 1958. He served honorably as a member of the Montana National Guard while obtaining his teaching credentials and bachelor’s degree from Northern Montana College. He taught school in Plentywood, Hysham and Harlowton, where he met Joann White whom he married in 1966. Their daughter, Anna Karenina Damm, was born in 1968 while both worked in the Granite County School District. In 1971, he completed a master’s degree in education. Beginning in 1975, he worked at White Pine Sash in Missoula. In 1981, he and Joann divorced. He then met Beth Runge at the Solo Stars Square Dance group in Lolo and they married on Oct. 30, 1982. After over a decade at White Pine, Reuben returned

Robert Orene Bahls, 77, formerly of Lambert, died April 20, 2022, at the nursing home in Wibaux. Nicknamed Butch by his mother, he was born Aug. 24, 1944, in Sidney, the son of Robert and Edna (Burgess) Bahls. He was raised on a farm north of Lambert, went to a country school at 3 Buttes which is still standing today. When the weather was nice, Bobby and his sister, Elaine “Laney”, would ride horses to school. He liked old cars, trucks and telling jokes, but he especially liked John Deere tractors. He would attend many auction sales collecting tractors. He could always be found working on a John Deere. He participated in many parades either on horseback, tractors or in cars. He also enjoyed entering and driving in tractor pulls around the area. He was a member of the Culbertson Threshing Bee for many years and served as president of the association for a while. He would get on the radio Buy & Sell and advertise his tractors for sale. On Sept. 7, 1985, he married Lorean Curnutt. When he left the farm and moved to Sidney, he would take his daily walk to Millers Corner to visit with the guys, or you could see him around town riding in his Flex Car. Oct. 3, 2015, was the saddest day for Bob, it was the day he held an antique tractor auction at his home in Sidney and sold all his tractors. He moved to the Culbertson Nursing Home, then went to The Lodge in Sidney before moving to the nursing home in Wibaux. He is survived by his children, Charles, John and Rhonda; sisters, Elaine “Laney” Hill of Lambert and Linda Hanson of Sidney; and his special friend, Patti Schwenke. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lorean Bahls. Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 26, at Fulkerson’s Memorial Chapel in Sidney. Burial was at the Sidney Cemetery.

Amber Rae Calftail, 37, of Poplar died April 11, 2022, at Poplar Community Hospital. She was born to Madelyn Scott McKay and Louis Calftail on Jan. 24, 1985. She was raised in Poplar by her grandmother Estelle Loves-Him. She attended to Poplar High School and later went to Portland, Ore., where she met her sister Krystallyne Snow. She loved reading, writing poems, visiting friends, taking walks, watching movies and joking around. Amber loved her nieces and nephews; she has one daughter, Krystallyne Calftail Vandyke. She is survived by her mother, Madelyn (Jared) McKay of Williston, N.D.; father, Louis Calftail of Browning; daughter, Krystallyne Calftail Vandyke of Billings;

Amber Rae Calftail, 37, of Poplar died April 11, 2022, at Poplar Community Hospital. She was born to Madelyn Scott McKay and Louis Calftail on Jan. 24, 1985. She was raised in Poplar by her grandmother Estelle Loves-Him. She attended to Poplar High School and later went to Portland, Ore., where she met her sister Krystallyne Snow. She loved reading, writing poems, visiting friends, taking walks, watching movies and joking around. Amber loved her nieces and nephews; she has one daughter, Krystallyne Calftail Vandyke. She is survived by her mother, Madelyn (Jared) McKay of Williston, N.D.; father, Louis Calftail of Browning; daughter, Krystallyne Calftail Vandyke of Billings; and siblings, Luke Scott, Deona Eagle, Diane McKay, Orvella McKay, Shilow McKay and Mason McKay. Funeral services were held on Friday, April 22, at the Poplar Cultural Center. Interment followed at St. Ann’s Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with arrangements.

Alda Rae Nelson was born on Sept. 12, 1941, in Wolf Point, Mont. She was the oldest child of Nieles and Helen (Kuester) Nelson. Alda enjoyed growing up on the family farm in Vida along with her sister Cheryll and brother Dennis. After graduating from Circle High School, Alda took the brave step of applying to and being accepted at the flight attendant training school in Kansas City. Upon completion, she was still too young to be on a flight route but was offered a government position in the U.S. Department of Defense, registering naval personnel in Virginia. After many life experiences, Alda returned to Montana to be near family. In 1968, she married her sweetheart Robert Olson and they raised two children: son Barry and daughter Cyndi. As a family, they enjoyed many years of camping, fishing, games, hard work and all things that rural farm life had to offer. They eventually moved to Sidney and Billings before returning to farm life in Vida. On the farm, Alda enjoyed her many flowers, plants, canning, games, puzzles and continuous camping and fishing adventures. Alda especially enjoyed her role as a grandmother and great grandmother and was known for her competitive spirit when playing games with her grandkids. In 2017, her husband and soul mate, Robert, died but Alda chose to remain on the farm despite many health complications of her own. Alda was determined to remain on the farm and, other than a few short stays at Cyndi’s, she did accomplish that. Eventually her health declined significantly and at the age of 80 she died on Easter Sunday, April 17, 2022, at Wolf Point Trinity Hospital surrounded by family and caring staff. Alda was preceded in death by her mother, Helen; father, Nieles; husband Robert; and her special pets, Tiki and Puppy. Alda is survived by her sister, Cheryll Traeholt (Carl); brother, Dennis Nelson (Karen); son, Barry Hammond (Lisa); daughter, Cyndi Ritter (Mike); six grandchildren, Derrick, Cassie, Brennan, Austin, Haylee and Nicole; and eight great-grandchildren. Alda gained eight bonus sisters when she married Robert who played an important part in her life: Ruth Borg, Norma Pawlowski, Diana Lawson (deceased), Edna Niccolls, Connie Buxbaum, JoAnn Olson, Donna Torres and Julie Azar. Memorials can be made St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. A family and friends service was held from 2 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 24, at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. The funeral was held at 10 a.m. on Monday, April 25, at the First Lutheran Church in Wolf Point. Interment was at the Vida Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements. (Paid Obituary)