Anna Mae (Jerrel) Whitmus, 81 years old, passed away in the early morning hours of April 2, 2024, at the McCone County Health Center in Circle after a long battle with cancer. She is now with her guardian angels. She was born at the old hospital in Miles City on Sept. 20, 1942, to Willis and Dorothy (Martelle) Jerrel. She was a wife, a mother, grandmother and a longtime schoolteacher. She was the oldest of five children, Wilma, Bill, Bob and Betty. Her childhood home was on a farm in Kinsey, Mont., later moving into Miles City where her father worked as a well driller. She also spent part of one summer living in a sheep wagon north of Terry around Cherry Creek as her father worked building fence. She began her education at the Kinsey Country School, after a 2-mile walk or 3-mile bus ride. When she missed the bus, she had to walk, arriving at recess. So, she went to Miles City to finish first grade, living with her grandparents. When she was in second grade, the family moved into town. She graduated eighth grade from Washington School and high school from Custer County High School. During her high school years, she worked at the hospital and The Olive Hotel. She started college in Nampa, Idaho, at Northwest Nazarene College, which began her educational journey through every college in Montana. Wherever she lived and worked, she began teaching in country schools on emergency certificates. Her first school year was south of Miles City for one year, then north of Lewistown for two years, two years at Nickwall School in McCone County, and two years at the Cow Creek school in McCone County. That school building is at the McCone County Museum in Circle. Before she graduated from college, she fell in love and married Don Whitmus on May 25, 1968, in Miles City. They made their home west of Wolf Point where Don rented the Terry Ranch/Farm for three years before they moved to Frazer, Mont. Their three sons, John, Jeff and Justin were born while living in Frazer. Being a parent was more enticing than teaching. As times changed, after three children, she was hired at Frazer School to finish out the school year for a teacher who had quit. She taught a couple more years after that before going back to school to graduate from Eastern Montana College. Then, in 1980, they moved to the Nickwall turnoff in Mc-Cone County. After graduating, she taught at Southview School on Hwy 201 in Mc-Cone County for two years. In the following years, Anna Mae and Don welcomed their surprise daughter, Jerrelynn. From Southview School, she went back to Frazer where she taught almost every grade level up to sixth and retired after 23 or more years. Upon retiring in 2008, she was asked to give the graduation address by one of her favorite classes, and her last class she taught made AYP (Annual Yearly Progress) that year for the first time ever, which was the highlight of her teaching career. After retiring, she enjoyed traveling with Don all across the country visiting family and friends and seeing the sights and, in 2010, they became official “snowbirds” and moved to Tucson, Ariz., in the winters, making many long-lasting friendships. Anna Mae was extremely talented with her passions for painting, crafting, quilting, antiquing and cake decorating. She was especially proud and supportive of her four children and seven grandchildren, Trinity, James, Quinn, Hunter, Tiara, Jordyn and Walker, and their wrestling football, 4-H, and many other activities. Traveling many miles over a span of 40 some years to sit all day in a loud gymnasium to watch each of them wrestle for a few minutes. She also loved going to the Wild Horse Stampede, seeing a lot of her old students and the parade every year. She was preceded in death by her parents, Willis and Dorothy; daughter, Julie Ann; grandson, Quinn; brotherin- law, Chuck Randall; and nephews, Michael Watts, Chuckie Randall and John Celander. She is survived by her husband, Don; sons, John (Lisa) Hunter and Walker of Fairview, Jeff (Donna) Trinity and Tiara of Wolf Point, Justin (Stephanie) and James and Jordyn of Shepherd; daughter, Jerrelynn (Josh) Mansfield of Wolf Point; sister, Wilma (Vern) Watts; brother, Bill (Ginger) Jerrel; brother, Bob Jerrel; sister, Betty Randall; and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 12, at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Her funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 13, at First Lutheran Church in Wolf Point. Interment will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Wolf Point. Memorials can be made to McCone County Health Center or to one’s choice. (Paid Obituary)

Sylvia Ann Cantrell, 63, of Poplar died March 21, 2024. She was born on March 31, 1960, to Otto and Nida Cantrell. She was born and raised in the Fort Peck area. She attended Wolf Point High School and got her GED in 1997. She held a job at the Fort Peck Community College daycare from 1996 to 2010, of which she was very fond. She became a state certified care provider and also state certified for the adult food program, where she bonded with many children. In 2011, she attended the Federal Law Enforcement training for basic correctional officers. She wasn’t one bit shy to show off her new moves she learned in Artesia, N.M., where she graduated from the U.S. Indian Police Academy on April 19, 2011. She continued with her career with law and justice until 2017 when her health forced her to take a lighter job duty. She then worked at the Poplar Elementary School as a cook for over 1,000 students until June 2022. Early in life, she a daughter (Looneytunes) whom she was very much excited to have a little girl. In 1980, she married Tony WiseSpirit. In this marriage, she had two sons, Jason and Joe WiseSpirit. She always had an open door for whoever needed a place. She relocated to Minneapolis, Minn., where she spent many years with Gordon WhiteBull. From this union, Autumn, Tashina and Josh WhiteBull were born. Then, in the early 1990s, she met Johnnie Ray Stormy and welcomed Crystal Belle Stormy, her seventh baby, and took Red Fawn Stormy as her own. She loved to listen to music, cruise, cook, tend her garden and flowers, gamble and visit with Charlie P., who was her very special companion for the last 20 years and up until her death. She is survived by her children, Yolanda Bleazard, Jason WiseSpirit, Autumn WhiteBull, Tashina Cantrell and Josh WhiteBull; six grandchildren; brothers, Leanord Cantrell, Newton Cantrell, Otto Cantrell, Arthur Cantrell and Virgil Cantrell; and sisters, Ida Cantrell Yongman, Mary Wolfchild, Cheryl Cantrell, Mary Plante, Cheryl Fox and Lahoma Young. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Courtney, Jiggs, Llewellyn, Frankie, Merle, Melty, Stevie, David and Richard; and sisters, Hazel, Roseanne, Puggy, Emily and Emma. Funeral services were held Friday, April 5, at the Poplar Cultural Center. Interment was at Chicken Hill Cemetery in Wolf Point. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was in charge of the arrangements.

Jerrold Hegdahl, 80, of Wolf Point died April 5, 2024. Funeral services are pending under the direction of Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point.

Marion Miller, 87, of Wolf Point died March 3, 2024. A memorial service will be on Saturday, April 20, at 11 a.m. at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Wolf Point.

Joanne Steele, 55, of Poplar died April 3, 2024. A wake will be held Monday, April 22, at the Poplar Cultural Center at 7 p.m. Her funeral service will be held Tuesday, April 23, at 1 p.m. at the Poplar Cultural Center. Interment will be at the Poplar City Cemetery.

Lela Lucille Handran, 100, formerly of Wolf Point and Scobey, died March 29, 2024. She was born at home in Agency, Mo., on July 18,1933, to Cecil and Inez Leonard. She had a twin brother, Leland, join her as well. She often mentioned that Leland was a gentleman right from the beginning as he said ladies first and stepped aside for her to be born first. She had an older brother, Jim; younger brother, Chester; and two younger sisters, Barbara and Cecile. She started school in a two-room schoolhouse in Willow Brook, Mo., and attended Benton High School in St. Joseph, Mo., for the first three years. Her family moved and she graduated from high school in Lone Star, Colo., in 1951. Some of her best memories from her younger years included rollerskating with her brothers and working at F. W Woolworths in Sterling, Colo. In September 1955, she traveled to Scobey to visit her sister, Barbara, and her husband, Dick Bennis. They took her to Silver Star Hall to watch a Little Oscar play and dance. During the show, Dick introduced her to his “friend,” Michael Handran. The couple married April 17, 1956. They lived on the Handran hill and raised eight children. She loved getting lost in various parts of the country and bringing along grandchildren and seeing her family along the way. Her love of family led her to many adventures to see grandchildren and great-grandchildren across the United States. Her never-ending faith in Jesus gave her the confidence to know she would always find her way. She instilled that faith in all her children. After raising her family and sending them out into the world to make it a better place, she decided it was time to fulfill her lifelong dream of being a CNA. She went to work at Faith Home in Wolf Point. She also worked as a CNA at Daniels Memorial Home and Just Like Home in Scobey. She spent her 90th birthday with her twin brother, Leland, in Sun City, Ariz., last July thanks in large part to her daughter, Pam, taking her on yet another adventure. She loved spending hours tending to her garden, stoking the fire in the burn barrel and crushing cans in the kitchen around midnight. She moved to Miles City in January 2023 to be closer to her daughter, Pam. She was preceded in death by her husband, Michael, after 46 years; son, David; granddaughters, Lauren Handran and Erin Hurr; brother, Chester Leonard; and sister, Barbara Ediger. She is survived by her sons, Steven, Gary and Ron; daughters, Patty Christman, Peggy Cox, Penny Dimino and Pam Hurr; 27 grandchildren; and 33 great-grandchildren (and counting). Her funeral service was held Tuesday, April 2, at the Scobey Assembly of God.

Jerriann Hilma Hanel, 81, died at Highgate Senior Living in Billings on March 29, 2024. She was born in Glasgow on Jan. 29, 1943, the fourth daughter of eight children to Frank and Alice Hanel. She was described by her siblings as “much like her dad”: kind, funny, sensitive, strongwilled, stubborn, fearless, determined and loved to be the center of attention. She also displayed a love of the Lord at an early age and continued this strong relationship with God until her death. During her youth, she participated in band, synchronized swimming, art and ice skating, among others. She became known by some as the “farm girl” for her love of being outdoors and especially enjoyed gardening. She was also always looking to have a good time. An early example of is when she joined the carnival the summer after she graduated from high school, working in the ticket booth. Her next brave adventure began when she moved to Minneapolis, Minn., to attend the College of Medical Technology and X-ray. She achieved that degree in March 1963. She also met, and later married, Dennis Williams. From that marriage, four children were born. They later divorced, and thus began her very busy next adventure as a single working mother attending nursing school in Miles City. She graduated with a nursing degree in 1977, about the same time she met John Obye. After they married, she moved to Baker, where her social life continued to thrive as she joined Toast Masters, community/ church choirs and a sorority group. She made friends easily and quickly became a beloved member of the Baker community. In 1979, she added a new dimension of adventure to her life with the addition of her fifth child. While raising another child, she also continued her career working such jobs as hospital nurse, clinic nurse, public health nurse and she had a special passion for the individuals she served as a drug and alcohol counselor. Her most recent position, however, was perhaps the most impactful and brought her the most joy. She was the school nurse in Baker for 28 years. She touched the lives of hundreds of staff, students and their families providing care, encouragement, counseling and developing long-lasting friendships with colleagues and students alike. In 2016, while living at her cherished home on Baker Lake, she fell while playing a solo game of darts. This incident became the beginning of a series of events leading her to transition to the assisted living care facilities in Billings that she would reside in for the remaining eight years of her life. The move to Billings was a tough adjustment for her and she always spoke of getting better and moving home. She never lost faith. Although the Parksinon’s tried in vain to slow her down, she would not be overcome. Some of her favorite pastimes included spending time with family/friends, singing, kazoos, puzzles, Yahtzee, riding recumbent bike, canoeing, gardening, making homemade cards, children, ice cream and being in the company of handsome men. She also had a passion for kites and has been seen flying one out of the window of a moving vehicle, along the interstate next to a tour bus, and alongside her train during a station stop. She continued these and many more shenanigans at both Sweetwater Retirement Community and Highgate Senior Living. She was preceded in death by her sister, JoAn Houg. She is survived by sisters, Joyce Mann, Jeanie Bickle, Janny Parsley, Judy Lanterman and June Vogt; brother, Frank Hanel Jr.; children, John S. Williams, Dawn Benth, Jennifer (Paul) Bitts, Stacy Williams and Jana King; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. She also had a special relationship with John Obye’s four children, Erin, Brick, Bryce and Shawn. A celebration of life was held April 3, at 2 p.m. at the Dahl Funeral Chapel in Billings. An additional celebration will take place this summer prior to the burial of her ashes in Wolf Point.

Ronald L. Adams, 61, of Wolf Point died March 21, 2024. He was born Nov. 23,1962, to Elmer “Jiggs” Adams and Tessie Horse Capture-Adams in Wolf Point. He attended schools in Wolf Point and graduated in 1982. During his grade school years, he was a member of Yellow Jackets baseball team. He was one of the best pitchers on the reservation. He also enjoyed playing pool growing up. He also enjoyed traveling to powwows and loved to go to hairband concerts. He met Nancy Speed in 1997. Two children were born, son, Alex Jiggs, on Oct. 22, 1998, and Alaina Mae on Feb. 14, 2001. His grandchildren were his pride and joy. He began his work career as an employee for Petty Ray Seismometer, Looking Eagle, as a silk screener and worked for diabetic outreach until the time of his death. He enjoyed going out and monitoring patients, laughing and joking around during his house visits. He is survived by his partner, Nancy; son, Alex; daughters, Alaina, Aleesha and Andrea; seven grandchildren; brother, Les Adams; sisters, Norma Dionne, Lorraine Adams, Sadie Hamilton and Chrissy Adams; and Joan and Buddy Pipe and family who adopted him as their son traditionally. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Johnny, Ray Elmer and James; and sister, Carol Adams. Funeral services were held on Thursday, March 28, at at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel. Interment followed at King Memorial Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point was in charge of the arrangements.

Sylvia Cantrell, 63, of Poplar died March 21, 2024. A wake will be held Thursday, April 4, at 7 p.m. at the Poplar Cultural Center. Funeral services will be held Friday, April 5, at 11 a.m. at the Poplar Cultural Center. Interment will be at Chicken Hill Cemetery in Wolf Point. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was in charge of the arrangements.