Mass of Christian Burial for Allen Bummer will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 18, 2023, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Plentywood. A reception will be served immediately following the Mass with interment to follow at Rock Springs Cemetery. A vigil service will be conducted at 5 p.m. Sunday evening at the Fulkerson Memorial Chapel in Plentywood. Loving husband, father, grandfather and brother Allen Virgil Bummer passed away on Dec. 6, 2023, after a short battle with gallbladder failure and infection. Allen was 83 years old and was surrounded by many loving family members when he passed at the Billings Clinic Hospital. Allen was the fourth child born to Leonard and Kathryn (Engh) Bummer on April 16, 1940, in Scobey, Mont. He grew up on a farm west of Reserve, Mont., and graduated from Medicine Lake High School. Allen joined the Army National Guard in 1958. Allen married the love of his life, Marlene Nielsen, on Sept. 30, 1961. From then on, Allen and Marlene spent a wonderful lifetime dancing the night away. Shortly after they married, Allen continued his education by attending Billings Vo-Tech Center welding school in Billings, Mont. Following graduation, Allen returned to the farm in Reserve. Allen was a certified welder who loved to take on the challenge of fixing anything and everything. He was a jack of all trades with a knack for carpentry, something he learned from his father-in-law. Allen farmed and ranched with his family and always adored his cows and horses. Allen and Marlene had three children together — Sherry, Glen and Machelle. He loved his family deeply and was always so proud of his grandchildren. Allen enjoyed meeting new people as he never met a stranger. He treated every person with kindness and would take in anyone who needed it with open arms. Allen was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Medicine Lake, Mont. Allen attended his first Cum

Barbara “Barb” Stephens, 74, died at the Sheridan Memorial Nursing Home in Plentywood on Nov. 27, 2023. Barbara Jean Benner Stephens, the second of four children of Elaine Jensen and Harold Benner, was born in Havre on March 24, 1949. Her grandparents, Bettie and Palmer Jensen of Medicine Lake were early pioneers. She grew up in Cavalier and Fargo, N.D. She graduated from Fargo High School in 1967. After high school, she worked at the 1st National Bank in Fargo. She and Robert Ekerberg were married in Fargo, N.D., and two sons, Robert and Randall Ekerberg, joined their family. While her family was growing, she worked at Hombacher’s Grocery in Fargo. She moved to Wolf Point, where she married James “Nim” Stephens Nov. 21, 1987. She worked for a time at the Tastee Freeze and later worked as a special ed aide for Northside School in Wolf Point. She and Nim retired to the Medicine Lake area in 1999. She spent many hours of her day with her craft projects and began selling her crafts at many of the local craft fairs. She was well known for her “scrubbies” and she sold them throughout Montana.

Barbara Jane Swift Eagle Birdsbill, “Wawokiya winyan” Helps Others Woman, 86, of Wolf Point died Dec. 3, 2023, in Browning. She was born Jan. 18, 1937, in Poplar to Daniel Swift Eagle and Lucy Bow. She was raised in Hogan Yutapi community, Fort Kipp, raised by her grandmother Agnes, great-grandmother See’s End of Horn, Sterling and Mamie Red Eagle, who also raised her brothers William and Alfred. She was an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes and a member of the Church of Latter-day Saints in Wolf Point. In 1953, she met Verdell Birdsbill. They married in Wolf Point and had three children: Carmen Dale, Colleen Ann and Charlene Kay. She worked various jobs. She was a waitress at the Triangle Café, Huskies Diner, Jessi Supperclub, Fort Peck Tribal gun factory, Bureau of Youth Services, Fort Peck Tribal commodity office and she also served five terms on Fort Peck Tribal Council from 1993-2003. She retired in 2003. She was a fluent speaker of her Sioux language and also a founder of the Silver Wolf Casino, along with Earlena

Charlene Kennedy, 61, of Billings died Nov. 28, 2023. A wake will be held at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 15, at the Poplar Cultural Center. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 16, at Makaicu Presbyterian Church in Riverside. Interment will be at Riverside Presbyterian Cemetery.

David Ira Harris, 81, of Circle died Dec. 3, 2023. He was born July 15, 1942, in Belle Fourche, S.D., the oldest of three born to Jimmy and Jessie Harris. His siblings are Donna Weeden and Dixie Knutson. He grew up on the Harris family ranch near Ridge. The distance was too great for a daily drive when he reached the age of high school, so off he went to Belle Fourche, S.D., where he stayed with a widower friend of his mother’s and her son Harvey. To say that he was a prankster was an understatement and he loved to share stories and laugh about his adventures with Harvey. He attended a “Christian high school” in South Dakota for a stint only lasted for half a year. It’s rumored that he caused a bit of mischief while there. During high school, he started playing for country dances. His piano ability spread to the point that old fiddlers in the area wanted to play music with him. He learned old country songs and while playing music was a passion, so was dancing. After he graduated from high school, he worked for some neighbors in the Ridge country while building his own herd of sheep. He became a pilot around the age of 21. Bachelorhood was filled with ranching and flying until Joanne Wead came along. It only took six full years for him to convince her to marry him. They were married in 1968. As the years went on, they had four children, leased land, ranched and farmed. In 1986, they bought the Big Sheep Mountain Ranch north of Terry. In 1997, they sold that ranch and moved to Circle, where they started Harris Spraying, Inc. In 2002, he was voted in as the “Common Sense” Sheriff of McCone County. He protected and served as sheriff for 19 years. His cooking skills included eggs, steak and taters. Otherwise, he would eat just about anything that someone else would fix for him. He loved listening and playing country music. He played the tuba, lead and rhythm guitar and the piano. There was a time when he learned the fiddle and all the cats left the ranch. When asked what his favorite thing was about being sheriff, he said it was “helping” people — pulling them out of the ditch when stuck or being there when families were dealing with tragedy or heartache. It’s a true reflection of who he was. He was preceded in death by his son, Devin. He is survived by children, Brent Harris of Lake George, Colo., Bill Harris of Circle and Julianne Harris of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and seven grandchildren. Funeral services were held Monday, Dec. 11, at Break Forth Bible Church in Glendive. A graveside service was held Tuesday, Dec. 12, at Ridge Cemetery in Carter County.

Parker Alan Teske, 44, died Nov. 27, 2023. He was born April 7, 1979, to Alan Teske and Judy Ramblin. He brought warmth, joy and an unforgettable spirit to the lives of all who were fortunate enough to know him. He enjoyed a successful career in sales and served in the Montana Army National Guard. He had an uncanny ability to steal the room with his mere presence, a magnetic force that drew people in and left an indelible mark on their hearts. His infectious laughter and vibrant energy lit up every gathering, making sure that everyone around him was having a great time. One of his most remarkable qualities was his ability to connect with anyone he met. He possessed a genuine, open-hearted nature that allowed him to effortlessly make friends with people from all walks of life. He wore his emotions on his sleeve, expressing joy, compassion and empathy in a way that touched the lives of those around him. He faced

Loy Remley, 82 years of age, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023, at Mercy Hospital in Redding, Calif. She was surrounded by her loving family. Loy Rae (Montgomery) Remley was born on Jan. 28, 1941, to Garnet and Maxine Montgomery in Wolf Point, Mont. Loy graduated from Wolf Point High School in 1959. While living in Wolf Point, she met the love of her life, Robert (Bob) Remley. Bob was from California, but was serving our country in the Air Force in Glasgow, Mont. After leaving the Air Force, they relocated to California where they would raise their three sons, Les, Scott and Craig. The three boys and Bob were the loves of her life, and everyone knew don’t come between her and her boys. Bob and Loy were just a few days short of celebrating their 59th wedding anniversary. She dedicated her life to her family and to her passion for helping others. She was active with Shasta County Special Olympics for over 40 years and was a founding member of Out and About Shasta County up until her passing. Out and About provides outings for special needs adults throughout Shasta County. She had a huge impact on the lives of

Russell Lee 'Rusty' Denny Sr., Ampa U “Coming day, 71, of Poplar died Nov. 23, 2023, in Poplar. He was born Dec. 28, 1951, to Vearle and Eunice (Blacktail) Denny. The youngest, he joined his siblings, Nancy Denny Dumont, Sunny Bill Whitehead, Iris “Cissie” Anderson, Orrin Denny, Jeanne Denny Reinlasoder and Lyle Denny. He grew up in Poplar for most of his life. He worked many jobs, but his main occupation was truck driving. He was an old school cowboy, living and participating in the cowboy way. He had a great honor to be able to coach his nephew Zach Atkinson in his bull riding days. He also practiced in his traditional ways, which he took great pride in. He is a member of the original Bad Land Singers. He followed the powwow trail and gained numerous friends and family throughout Indian country. In June 1967, he met Janice Chapman, where he gained a daughter Bernita Chapman Granbois, who was the first to call him Dad. Later, they had one daughter, Vearlene Emerine. In 1983, he met Andy Gray. To this union, they had one daughter and two boys, Benicia Gray, Russell Lee Jr. and Royce “Miles” Denny. In 1989, he met Gwen Gourneau. To this union, Holly Rae was born. In 1993, he met Claudia Scott and welcomed into his life, Neal Garrick, Miranda Rose, Carla Mckenzie and Alexis Dawn. Later, Thomas Lee, Debbie Lynn and KayLee Marie were born. He took the rope of a father figure to Jalee, Zack and PJ after his brother JD died.

Sherman Douglas Boxer, 66, died at his home in Denver, Colo., on Oct. 28, 2023. He was born and raised in Poplar, the last child of Tony and Mattie Ricker Boxer. He was born during Thanksgiving dinner on Nov. 23, 1957, at Grandma and Grandpa Ricker’s home. He attended school in Poplar and the state of Washington. Later in his life, he attended Southwestern Polytechnic Institute in Albuquerque, N.M. He also lived in Grand Junction, Colo., for a brief time. No matter where he lived, he always gravitated back to Denver. He was an avid Denver Broncos fan. He is survived by his two brothers, Tony Boxer of Durango, Colo., and William Richard Hawk of Miles City; sister, Ardey Boxer of Poplar; and daughter, Carla Clincher of Wolf Point. He was preceded in death by brothers, Irvin “Buddy” Iron Cloud, Lawrence