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.

Steve Boysun Jr., 78, passed away on Oct. 28, 2020, in Billings. Steve was born on May 18, 1942, in Roosevelt County, Mont., to Steve Boysun, Sr. and Louise Kassner. He was raised in the country and joined by a younger sister, Bonnie Boysun, when he was 10 years old. Steve attended high school in Wolf Point, Mont., where he graduated in 1960. After high school, Steve enlisted in the Navy and was a corpsman. He was stationed on ships in the Pacific and visited Japan. While in the Navy, he sailed over the Equator, earning him the honor of Shell Back. Steve worked in the oil fields, then later for Waggoners Trucking Company and finally as an electrician for Burlington Northern Santa Fe. Steve had many hobbies. He enjoyed fishing, boating and camping. He enjoyed learning new things and had started to learn Mandarin. He learned how to tie fly fishing lures and to fly fish. As a young man, he learned how to scuba dive and ski. Steve was also an excellent bowler and archer. He enjoyed hunting, both with black powder and rimfire rifles. He enjoyed going metal detecting and panning for semi-precious stones. Steve loved to travel and made friends easily. He was very generous and was always available to help his friends. He loved reading books, listening to music and watching historical programs. Steve married Bobbie Jo and divorced. They had one child, Kristi Boysun (Thomas Moore). Steve has three grandchildren whom he loved very much. He enjoyed spending time with them and teaching them various things like boating and fishing. Steve was preceded in death by his parents, Steve Boysun Sr. and Louise Kassner. He is survived by his sister, Bonnie (Ray) Olson, and her children Irene Connor, April Unruh, Gary Olson and Mary Willard; and his daughter, Kristi (Thomas) Moore and her children Jerrik, Marjorie and Robert. Cremation & Funeral Gallery of Billings is handling arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.cfgbillings. com. (Paid Obituary)

Ronald Gene LaRoche, 59, of Poplar died Nov. 13, 2020, at Poplar Hospital. He was born in Poplar on June 9, 1961, to Joe LaRoche Sr. and Viola Kelsey. When he was 14, he first met Diane Barman. She still remembers his leather jacket and cowboy boots with a knife tucked inside. He won her heart when they were 17 and they married two years later on Friday, June 13, 1980. Their 40-year marriage was filled with laughter and love. He had a quick wit and way with words, always keeping a smile on everyone’s faces. He had a big loving heart under his tough exterior. He loved his family and was a very involved grandfather, adored by all his grandchildren. He’d do anything for them, from recording books in his voice so he could read to them even when he wasn’t there, to teaching granddaughter KaiLeigh to ride her scooter. The only line he drew was the slip and slide because it ruined his grass. He enjoyed spending his free time fishing. He was in many tournaments with Jamie Atkinson, but he had many fishing buddies. He also enjoyed pool and played in a league for many years. Even as a child, he always liked to keep busy. When he retired, Diane knew he was going to need something to do and Cruzer was exactly what he needed. They were inseparable. He worked at the school for 11 years, L.A.W. Construction for about 10 years and Atkinson Rain Gutter for over 20 years. Survivors include his wife, Diane LaRoche; son; Josh LaRoche; daughter, Whitney Kelsey; and father, Frank Kelsey. A viewing is scheduled from 11 a.m. to noon on Friday, Nov. 27, at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. The funeral will be at noon on Friday, Nov. 27, at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Interment will be held at Poplar City Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.