02 December 2021

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Floyd DeWitt

Floyd DeWitt


Noted sculptor Floyd Tennison DeWitt died at his Bozeman home on Nov. 14, 2021. It was a Sunday morning; Chopin was playing and people who loved him held his hands. He was 87. Floyd was born in Wolf Point, Mont., where his mother was a nurse, and his father was a full-time barber and farmed the nearby Missouri River bottomland. Floyd was crazy about horses and, as a small boy, would walk two miles every day just to sit on a fence rail and watch them. He loved riding them, training them, drawing them and sculpting their images. In Wolf Point, most people called him Tenny, an abbreviation of his middle name, and he was an untrained prodigy who modeled his early artwork after that of Charlie Russell, the only artist he knew anything about. His eyes opened a lot wider when the Army stationed him in Germany in 1955. While his young comrades pursued other interests, Floyd spent every available minute in museums, soaking himself in classical art, learning to see what the masters saw. After the Army (“I was the one nobody asked to re-enlist,” he once said.), he returned to Wolf Point, where he broke some horses and busted some drunks as a city cop. But his mind burned to create. He signed up in 1957 for a stint at the Minneapolis School of Art, where an academic focus on avant garde themes left him unsatisfied. He returned to Europe in 1961 when he won a sixyear scholarship to the Royal Academy of Fine Art in Amsterdam, Holland, which focused on intellectual rigor, the importance of metaphor, the ability to study nature and “remember what you saw and draw truths from it.” In 1966, he married Carmen Maria Johanna Kohinor van Vliet and made a home with her and her children Basja, Marischa and Serge. Though a full-time student, he also took a janitorial job to help support the family. Floyd and Carmen’s daughter, Donna, was born in 1969. After that marriage ended, Floyd moved in with Carla Marina Bussemaker. He was a night owl who retained his intellectual rigor until the end, studying Kant, Marcus Aurelius and Robert Frost while the television murmured in the background. He demanded excellence from himself and constantly challenged others to do better, be better. With his dark eyes twinkling, he asked people very difficult questions. An afternoon with him could be exhausting and exhilarating. In a 2015 profile in Montana Quarterly magazine, writer Alan Kesselheim said this: “Floyd DeWitt is not a man or artist you come to know, as much as a man and artist you experience. Like weather. As with a storm, DeWitt is unpredictable, powerful, fitful, intimidating, challenging and very real.” Floyd spent 25 years in Europe, where his art still resides in public squares, museums and many collections, including that of the Danish royal family. His list of public exhibitions spans 60 years and two continents. When he returned to the United States with Carla and Donna in 1984, he settled first in Livingston and then in Bozeman, where he designed his light-bathed studio, a place that could elicit gasps from visitors. That’s where the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse thundered, made somehow weightless under Floyd’s hand; where Pegasus raged overhead, where beauty and metaphor melded and resided in wax and clay and bronze. He didn’t achieve wide commercial success, in part because he refused to compromise his ideals or cater to markets. But he sold enough to make a living and he won many awards, including top honors from the National Sculpture Society in New York City. He was a sculptor’s sculptor. And his own man. Floyd his survived by his wife of 48 years, Carla De-Witt of Bozeman; and his daughter, Donna DeWitt of Barcelona, Spain. A memorial will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at Dahl Funeral & Cremation Service, Bozeman. Condolences & memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlcares.com. (Paid Obituary)

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Marlene Shumway

Marlene Shumway


Marlene Shumway passed away at her home on Nov. 27, 2021, with her family by her side at the age of 89. Marlene (Stephens) Shumway was born in Glendale, Calif., on Jan. 24, 1932. She was the only child of William and Eudora (Sandy) Mae Stephens. At the age of five, Marlene’s parents divorced and she moved to Fresno, Calif., to live with her Grandma Celesta Morris where she resided until 1946. In 1946, as a sophomore in high school, Marlene moved to Wolf Point, Mont., with her mom and stepfather, Bill Sands. She graduated from Wolf Point High School in 1949. Marlene married the love of her life, Herman Shumway. Together, they raised five children, Johnny, Steve, Dan, Bill and Sheila. Her family was the pride and joy of her life. Herman and Marlene lived on the family farm for a couple of years after being married. In 1951, they moved to San Diego, Calif., when Herman enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1951. Discharged in 1954, they returned to Wolf Point. Marlene worked for J.C. Penney’s and Citizens Bank for a total of 26 years. Marlene was resilient, raising five children, working six days a week at J.C. Penney’s and still she always had time for Herman and her family. In 1976, Herman and Marlene bought Dad’s Bar. Marlene was bookkeeper, bartender and janitor, a woman of many hats doing what was needed. They also bought a small horse ranch south of Wolf Point on Nickwall Road where they raised paint horses. Herman worked the colts and Marlene sold them for him on the internet. After 27 busy years, they sold Dad’s Bar and retired. Marlene was a kind and gentle person who loved spending time with family and friends. She was a true lover of books. She loved a mental challenge and was fiercely competitive at cards, games and puzzles. Together, Marlene and Herman shared a wonderful, adventurous and productive life together for 74 years. Marlene was diagnosed late in life with Parkinsons. This disease unfortunately took a toll over the years on Marlene’s quality of life and independence. Marlene is survived by husband, Herman; sons, Johnny, Steve and Bill, all of Wolf Point; daughter, Sheila Woods of Idaho Falls, Idaho; daughters-in-law, Rhonda and Linda; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by parents, William and Eudora (Sandy) Stephens; stepfather, Bill Sands; great-grandmother, Celesta Morris; son, Dany; and sonin- law, Joseph Woods. Cremation has taken place. Graveside services at later date for family and friends. (Paid Obituary)

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Roger White Sr.

Roger White Sr.


Roger D. White Sr., 66, died Nov. 20, 2021, at Trinity Hospital in Wolf Point. He was born in Poplar on Feb. 1, 1955, at the Fort Peck Agency to Faye White and Daniel Medicine Horse. He had multiple families growing up. He was first raised by his mother, Faye, until her death, then Grandma Nellie and Grandpa Herbert Bull Chief, along with Marvin Bull Chief, raised him. He then moved in with Harry and Midge Follet and finally with Sadie and Dean Blount. He grew up in Frazer and attended Frazer schools, graduating in 1974. He received many awards for his excellence in sports. He participated in cross country, track and basketball. He excelled in academics and athletics in high school. He held numerous records in basketball and, in one of his games, he scored 53 points (with no 3-point lines back then). He loved to hunt with all of his friends and enjoyed many backyard basketball games. After high school, he married his high school sweetheart, Judy Bauer. To this union, four children were born, Roger Jr., Amanda Faye, Jacob Allen and Kayla Rae. He loved to spend time with all his children and enjoyed the time spent with his grandchildren. He had his pick of colleges and universities after high school with full ride scholarships offered to him. Dillon was one of his first picks but he chose Northern Montana for a couple semesters. He was a cop for a spell and moved on to labor and carpentry throughout his life. He worked for the tribal HIP and housing program, tribal fencing, tribal ranch and the Flynn ranch. He fought fire during the big Yellowstone fire and was a crew boss for the Fort Peck Tribes Fire Department. Recently, he worked at Fort Peck Community College in maintenance. Throughout his life, he maintained work wherever he went. He lived all over the country. He lived and worked in White Center, Wash. He worked and lived in Fort Belknap, doing maintenance at Fort Belknap College. He loved to play men’s slow pitch softball and won many tournaments in this pastime. He also loved to play horse shoes as a pastime. He was passionate about hunting and fishing. He is survived by his son, Roger White; daughter Amanda White; son, Jacob White; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; adopted sons, Roberto and Fernando BearHill with his companion Denise Bear-Hill; sister, Tammy Dawn Olsen; brothers, Tyrus Follet, Rollie White, Chad Nelligan, Waylan Blount and Thomas Blount; sisters, Carol Wallette, Melanie Cole and Vicki Dahl. He was is preceded in death by his daughter, Kayla White; and brothers, Richard Blount and Russell White. His funeral was held Monday, Nov. 29, in the Frazer School gym. Interment followed at the Oswego Presbyterian Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.

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Drew Acheson

Drew Acheson


Drew J. Acheson, 52, of Sheyenne, N.D., died Nov. 24, 2021. He was born June 15, 1969, to James “Jim” Drew Acheson and Yvonne Marie Chase in Fairbanks, Alaska. During his life, he served in the U.S. Army Reserves and was proud to be a member of the federal police force. He was also a man of many trades from leather craftsmanship, horses, dogs, ranching, truck driving, and construction. He married Julie Robyn Moran Dec. 25, 1993. He is survived by his wife, Julie Acheson; daughters, Brandi Sweet, Jocelyn Acheson, Natasha Acheson and Josette Acheson; siblings, Tracy Acheson and Jason Acheson; and five grandchildren. Per his wishes, no services will be held.

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Bonne Perry

Bonne Perry


Bonne Lu Perry, , died Nov. 24, 2021, at Sheridan Memorial Nursing Home in Plentywood. She was born March 26, 1929, to Glenn and Mabel (Scriven) Harris in Miles City. In her early years, she lived on a ranch south of Miles City with her older sister, Wanda Wankel. Their mother died of an aneurysm at 31 and they lived on the ranch with their father for another year. Their father, Glenn, decided the girls would be better off with his sister in Conrad. At the age of seven, Bonne moved to Havre where she lived with Bert and Al Perry. In retrospect, they wished they had kept the girls together. From this point on, she and Wanda didn’t see each other often and this ignited a longtime desire to be together. She attended college in Missoula acquiring a bachelors and masters degrees in English, drama and education and, upon graduation, she taught at Whitefish, then Great Falls. At age 30, she began teaching in Long Island, N.Y., where she was an accomplished director for 10 years. In 1967, she moved back to Montana with sister, Wanda, and family on the Wankel family farm near Raymond. After three years, she moved to Wolf Point, starting a second career in social work. She then moved to Sidney, where she became director of social services for Roosevelt, Daniels and Sheridan counties. She retired to Sheridan County in the early 2000s, then moved to the Pioneer Manor to be with her sister, Wanda. She was a huge fan of Daniel O’Donnell and Lawrence Welk and her favorite color was blue. She was also a devoted member of People’s Congregational Church in Sidney. There will be a graveside committal at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, at the Huffman-Wankel Cemetery, one mile west of the Wankel farm.

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Mike BadHawk

Mike BadHawk


Mike S Badhawk (Little Charging Buffalo), 51, died Nov. 20, 2021. He was born in Glasgow to Delores McConnell and Jacob Badhawk Jr. on Nov. 9, 1970. He grew up and attended schools in Frazer and Havre. He graduated high school in Frazer with the class of 1990. During his high school years, he participated in football and basketball. He also studied at the Salish Kootenai College where he received his class A type 1 CDL airbrakes and tanker certificate. He had many jobs throughout Montana, some were with Wagner Construction, Safe-Tech Inc., Plains Construction, Western Geophysical Inc., and Northern Border Pipeline. He also worked down in Greeley, Colo., and with the Fort Peck Tribes. He married Trisha Mason on Sept. 16, 2011. They lived a good life together until Mike’s death. He adamantly loved his children and grandchildren; he loved the time spent with his “cubs” as he called them. Teaching them things, cooking for them and taking them fishing and hunting were some of the best times he had. He also loved working on cars, especially his “War Pony.” He spent many hours on his block truck, always posting pictures of it on Facebook. He is survived by his wife, Trisha Mason; children, Cole Badhawk of California, Leticia Badhawk of Great Falls and Clay Badhawk of Rocky Boy; sister, Connie of Frazer; brother, Darrin of Wolf Point; and numerous grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Mike Jr.; and his brothers, Greg Badhawk and Wayne Badhawk. His funeral service was held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 1, at the new Community Hall in Wolf Point. Interment was at St. Joseph Cemetery in Frazer. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with arrangements.

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