Herman Red Elk III, 66, of Poplar, a member of the Rides the White Horse Clan, died Nov. 5, 2020, at St. Vincents Hospital in Billings. He was born May 11, 1954, to Herman Red Elk Jr. and Alberta Kennedy in Poplar. He was part of the Morman Placement Program where in 1966, Herman was raised in the home of Rulan and Margaret Callister and family. He attributed his success in life to the hard work ethics Herman taught to his own sons and daughters, learned on the family farm. He jumped on his motorcycle after his junior year in 1971, saying he needed to get back to his roots, graduating from Rapid City High School, Rapid City, S.D., in 1973. He joined the United States Navy after high school, following the deep military roots of his ancestors. He was honorably discharged after returning from the Vietnam War. He returned to Poplar, where he met Bonnie Clincher. They were married May 11, 1985, in Poplar. He raised her son, Clifford Country, as his own. The family home grew by three more, joined by Charley Jae, Vern James and Randy Leon Red Elk. He later started Red Elk Renovations. He was never undeterred by the winter storm calls at 2 a.m. for furnace calls or the 3 a.m. calls by his children. He made sure he was there to help and always would make a way for people’s calls for help were completed. He and Bonnie took in many nieces, nephews and family, guiding each and opening their home with a good heart. Some of them were Keith Kennedy, Angie Kennedy Figueroa, Joseph Cloud Boy, Mundo Cloud Boy, Carly Clincher, Josephine Youngman (Ilona Jo) and Derrick Red Elk. He loved his family and their home was always filled for family dinners, having Grandma Lenore over every Sunday evening. The famous Red Elk reunions every other summer were very special to him as family from across the country attended. He took his family every summer to the Black Hills in Rapid City to stay in the home of family friend Ken Bergland. He is survived by children, Charley Snell, Vern RedElk, Randy Red Elk, all of Poplar, and Holly Red Elk of New York; four grandchildren; sisters, Valerie Schurz of Arizona and Kim Adams of Ohio; brother, Marlon Red Elk of Arizona; adopted brothers, Jay, Seth and Jeff Callisterof Idaho; and many grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Clifford Country; brother, Eugene Lorne Red Elk; and sisters, Randi, Kathy Red Elk Cloud Boy and Sandra Red Elk. Funeral services were held Monday, Nov. 16, at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel. Burial was at Chelsea Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point was entrusted with the arrangements.

Verle Follette, 57, of Poplar died at the Harbor View Medical Center in Seattle, Wash. He was born in Havre April 13, 1963, to Dennis Follette of Helena and Carmelita Lambert. He had five brothers and five sisters. He attended many schools in his younger years. For high school, he went to school in Culbertson. He enjoyed running and various sports. At Culbertson High School, he held two track records, one record still unbroken. The one record is still listed at the school for the 3200m time of 10:37. After high school, he attended college at Montana State University in Bozeman. He married Mary Buck Elk Feb. 19, 1983. Together, they raised four daughters and one son. They also adopted two other children, one son and one daughter. As a family, they enjoyed spending time together. They made many memories by fishing, camping and traveling together. He instilled the word of God into his children and grandchildren. Another major part of his life was he was the pastor of the House of Prayer Church. He became a spiritual leader in the community. People would come to him not only at the church but at his home, where he would offer prayer, counseling or any other assistance that was in needed. He was employed at the Indian Health Service at the Fort Peck Service Unit in Poplar. During his employment, he served as the National Federation of Federal Employees Union president for the Billings area, which serves service units throughout Montana and Wyoming. He worked diligently for union members and any employee that asked for assistance. He was preceded in death by his step-father, Robert “Bob” Lambert; daughter, Sierra Follette; brother, Dennis Follette; sisters, Denise Follette and Lisa Lambert. He is survived by his wife, Mary Follette; children, Jennifer Gong, Verle Follette Jr., Erin Follette, Lana Follette, Trent Follette and Blake Shya Follette; father, Dennis (Flora) Follette; siblings, Darlene Follette, Leonard Follette, Jackie Follette, Darrel Follette, David Follette, Lexi Follette and Neal Follette, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; adopted father, Larry Little Owl Sr.; and adopted mother, Gloria Deserly. Services are pending under the direction of Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel.

Harvey James Neufeld, 93, of Lewiston, Idaho, formerly of Wolf Point died Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020, at Evergreen Estates in Clarkston, Idaho. He was born Nov. 7, 1926, to Gerhard “George” H. Neufeld and Helen Sukau Neufeld in Mountain Lake, Minn. The family moved to Wolf Point around 1929. He was raised in Wolf Point, graduating from Wolf Point High School in 1944. During high school, participation in the marching band as a trumpet player and on the softball team provided enjoyable times, as did his part-time delivery-boy job with Buttrey’s. High-school-day summers granted enthusiastic recreation for him. Along with several of his friends, the Tule Creek Baseball Team was founded. The team worked together, creatively and with perseverance, to create their own baseball field and to acquire their own uniforms. They won many games, with him most frequently and with agility, playing right field. Beginning in March 1945, he joined the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, ranked staff sergeant, serving in Korea from July 1945 until December 1946. Returning to Wolf Point, ambitious and hardworking, he established, owned and operated “King Pin Alleys” from 1949-51. As an accomplished bowler, he was honored with numerous trophies and awards. Music always brought him joy. He was blessed with an innate ability for listening to and playing music. He was a self-taught, talented drummer. He and his musical buddies formed their own dance band, The Music Makers. From 1951-57, he again worked diligently for Buttrey’s with his new clerk position. He married Evelyn Helen Schillinger June 17, 1952, in St. Ann’s Catholic Church at Vida and continued to reside in Wolf Point. Beginning in January 1958, notable events transpired. First, he relocated to Lewistown as the manager of Buttrey Foods, followed by the birth of their first child, Helen Claire. Two years later, another daughter, Mary Kay, was born. August 1965 brought another opportunity for the family with their move to Lewiston, Idaho, where he opened and managed Buttrey’s Super Store, retiring in June 1984. Community involvement was eminently valued with his service on the Lewiston Chamber of Commerce from 1965-84, including three years during the mid-1970s on the board of directors. Additionally, for seven years, he was active on the board of directors for the North Idaho Children’s Home. His time was also productively spent, serving on the board of directors for the United Way (1983-84) and on the board of directors for the Lewis-Clark Broncs (1966-70). He served on the board of directors for one year (1984) during his membership in the Downtown Rotary Club (1980-85). While residing in Montana, he belonged to the Veterans of Foreign Affairs, Wolf Point/ Lewistown (1947-58) and the Eagles Club, Lewistown (1960-65). As well, he was a Lions Club member while in Lewistown from 1958-65. Lifetime memberships include B.P.O. Elks, beginning in 1948, and the Knights of Columbus from 1953. He converted to Catholicism as a young man. He and Evelyn raised their children as Catholics, members of Our Lady of Lourdes, the most valuable component of their children’s upbringing. More recently, as the Lewiston Catholic churches consolidated, he was affiliated with All Saints Catholic Church. He was an avid Washington State University fan and booster, having season tickets to both basketball and football for approximately 40 years. He pursued golf while living in Lewiston and relished every occasion to do so, especially after retirement. Achieving a hole-in-one highlighted his golfing experience. He was preceded in death by his wife; brother, Sylvester Carl Neufeld; and sisters, Elsie Mildred Mooney, Nina Gretchen Bond and Bernice Frances Hummer. He is survived by his sister, Vernell Violet Knapp of Loveland, Colo.; daughters, Helen Claire Wanechek of Cle Elum, Wash., and Mary Kay Yuditsky of Coeur d’Alene; and two granddaughters. Mass of Christian Burial was held Oct. 2, with a graveside service at Normal Hill Cemetery.