Viola Mae Wood, (Wahohbi Waste Wiya-Good Nest Woman), 81, died Sept. 29, 2025, in Billings. She was born in Poplar on June 6, 1945, to TaShunga Hunga “His Horses Chief”, Harvey Bearcub and Hee Numpa Wiya “Two Teeth Woman”, Nellie Struck the Ground. She received her Nakota name from her grandfather Old Bearcub. She was a member of the HudeSana Red Bottom Clan and raised in both the Wicohan and LDS religions. An outstanding horsewoman, she traveled with Lois Hansen to many rodeos to barrel race, adding to her buckle collection. Her red paint horse was called Red Bottom in honor of her clan. He’d only let her ride him. All others he tried or did bite them and bucked them off. She was Wolf Point Stampede Queen in 1968. She married Larry Wood in Plentywood on Sept. 9, 1972. As a duo they traveled, attending many PRCA and INFR Finals. Many professional bull riders became lifelong friends. They ranched for many years, hosting many brandings and helping birth calves in the freezing cold until they retired a few years ago. She and Beaver were lifelong supporters and participants of the Red Bottom Celebration Committee, serving and sponsoring grandchildren in various positions. She graduated from Job

Ira Follet Jr. died Sept. 28, 2025, in Wolf Point. He was born to Ira Follet Sr. and Leeann Loveshim in Wolf Point. He had three children — a son, Kyrie Brown with Kyra Brown, and two daughters, Kaizlee and Kya Beauchman with Katie Beauchman. He had many friends and was well loved in the community. He enjoyed hanging out with his friends and family. He always walked around town with his friends and family, too. He also enjoyed playing football and basketball and loved to skateboard. He had moved to Billings and worked at Burger King for a while. He also had a few others jobs too, such as working at McDonalds and Albertsons. He was a fun and caring person who always had a smile on his face. He always had something to say and was never afraid to speak his mind. His smile and laughter would light up any room he walked in. He was a devoted father, a loyal brother and a true friend to many people. He had a gift for making others

Rubin “Windy” Ackerman, also known by his Dakota name Hehaka Wakan Mani (Elk Walks Holy), 70, of Red Lodge died Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. He was born Feb. 18, 1955, in Browning and was the last remaining of 13 children from parents Wesley Ackerman and Bertha Sharp Ackerman. He had many passions in his life, including indigenous dancing and craft works, riding Harleys and being a shark on a pool table. He was also a talented seamster and owned and operated his own tent and tipi making company for a few years. But, these pursuits paled in comparison to his love for his wife of 42 years and his love for Jesus. He is survived by his wife,

Shirley Mae (Jensen) Grimsrud Nail, 90, of Middleton, Idaho, and Nashua died Sept. 27, 2025, in Middleton. She was born to George and Mildred (Kimmel) Jensen on May 8, 1935, in Wolf Point. She joined her three brothers: Leonard ‘Bud’, Larry and Arlie. She attended school in Wolf Point. After graduation, she married Master Sergeant Don Grimsrud and moved to California. They moved back to Wolf Point in 1954. Upon their return, they bought a farm north of Nashua, where

Sharon Red Thunder, 80, of Poplar died Oct. 6, 2025, in Poplar. The funeral service will be announced at a later date pending the completion of the arrangements with Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point.

Fonda “Crystal” BigHorn, 77, died Oct. 5, 2025, in Billings. The funeral service will be announced at a later date pending the completion of the arrangements with Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point.

Charles “Chuck” Rathert, 78, of Wolf Point died Sept. 17, 2025. He was born on June 25, 1947, in Wolf Point to Francis and Charles Rathert. He was the youngest of four siblings, Donna, Fred and Bill. He was a devoted father to his three children, Tiffany, Tarah and Bron. He was also a proud grandfather to six grandchildren. His final time was spent back in his hometown at Faith Lutheran Home, where he was able to spend time pestering his older brothers, Fred and Bill Rathert, before their deaths in September 2022 and December 2024. He was also blessed to have his nieces and nephew checking in on him prior to his death. He was always a hardworking man, beginning his career in Wolf Point at the family dealership, formerly known as Rathert Ford. He then moved his family to Minnesota and finally Texas, where he continued to work in the automotive industry. He was a stout Republican and had a great sense of humor. His journey on this earth was one marked by love, compassion and an unwavering faith in God. A family gathering will be held at a later date to celebrate his life. He will be laid to rest next to family at Greenwood Cemetery in Wolf Point.

Stacy Crowe, 57, died Sept. 18, 2025, in Poplar. He was born Feb. 3, 1968, to Lois Longtree and Richard Feather in Poplar. He graduated from Brockton High School in 1986. After graduation, he embarked on a new chapter by starting a family with Judy Falcon. From that union, two sons, Lawrence and Theo, were born. He had various jobs locally. He loved firefighting during the time MIFF crews were being dispatched to fires throughout the United States. Other jobs included a hired hand with Nygaard Farms and Anderson Ranch. His true passion was helping people and sharing his time generously. He loved to help out with yard work, often helping neighbors and friends maintain their outdoor spaces. His willingness to lend a hand extended beyond physical labor. He frequently babysat his nephews and nieces, cherishing the moments spent with his family. Known for his cheerful personality, he was always ready to share a story or a joke, making everyone around him laugh and feel at ease. His sense of humor

Richard Eugene “Dick” “Smitty” Smith, 81, died Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025, at the Extended Care Facility in Sidney. He was born Feb. 23, 1944, in Paso Robles, Calif., to Wilbur Henry and Alma Louise (Ellis) Smith. He was less than a year old when his dad completed his military service duties and moved back home to Crawford, Neb. Dick was the first living child of Wilbur and Alma followed by brother Duane in 1945, sister Linda in 1946 and brother Billy in 1952. He was lucky to have two aunties, Joy and June, who were only a few years older than he was. They lived with him in high school, had a lot of fun together and also got into a lot of trouble together. Growing up was a happy time, especially at Grampa Bill’s farm. He learned early on the value of being strong, independent and resilient. He had the grip of an iron man and, even up to the end, he had a hell of a grip and didn’t want to let go. He was a born leader, a jokester, a big cheater at cards and a fighter. He had many interesting conversations, many stories shared, with a Marlboro in one hand and a beer or cup of coffee in another. He loved to dance the two step and jitter bug. He was a dance partner to many through the years. When the band or jukebox started, he grabbed the nearest pretty girl and hit the dance floor. He was even in a band called the “Kaylon 5” and was told he sang “just like Elvis.” He graduated in 1962, excelled in school, in sports as a star athlete and was the prom king. He really was hell on wheels and had the motto “life’s really short,” especially being a bull rider in the Little Britches Rodeo. He was working north of Crawford at the Norman Ranch when he and Patricia “Patty Mae” Forsberg started dating in 1964. They married in 1965 in Crawford, Neb., at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. To this union, daughters Lisa Dawn was born July 1965 and Tracy Yvette was born July 1966 in Gering, Neb. He was working as a ranch hand, a cowboy and at the sales ring. Many job changes had them drifting through the states of Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming where Richard “Corey” was born March 1969 in Newcastle, Wyo. Corey was a baby when they moved to Belle Creek. This is when he began his oil and gas career. In Broadus, he met Russ Compton and his family and were lifelong friends. His job transferred him and the family again to Utah, Colorado and finally to Sidney in 1978. The life of living in the “oil patch” was never boring. He was a pumper for Crystal Oil and Gas, Flint Engineering, Mitchell’s Oilfield Service, co-owner of Rebel Roustabout and lastly co-owner of Talon Contractors with John Welnel. He and John had a very successful oil construction company. He was proud

Albert William Foote Sr., Mato Sapa – Black Bear/ Mo’ohtaveaenohe – Black Hawk, 71, died Sept. 9, 2025, in Conifer, Colo. He was born Sept. 27, 1953, in Poplar to Rita Louise (Youngman) Long Chase and Joseph Alfred Foote. He spent most of his younger years in Lame Deer with his Cheyenne ge-eh/grandma and family. In his teen years, he traveled back and forth between his Fort Peck family and Lame Deer family. He attended and graduated from Flandreau Indian School and later attended art school in Santa Fe, N.M. It was down there that he met Loretta Pine and, from this union, came Albert Jr., Lori Ann and Sioux Dawn. After art school, he spent