William Edward Tronson, 93, of Medicine Lake died Oct. 16, 2024. He was born June 14, 1931, to Melvin and Lula Tronson at their farm west of Medicine Lake. He moved with his family in 1936 to the farm east of Medicine Lake, where he grew up, attending school and working on the farm. As a boy, he spent many weekends with his grandfather, Edward Spencer, at his farm six miles to the northeast. He enlisted and served in the U.S. Army from November 1951 to November 1954. He attended basic training at Fort Ord, Calif., and Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga. He served in the Korean War with the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. After the Korean War, he was stationed in Japan with the 187 RCT, Sergeant and Qualified Jump Master. Returning home in 1954, he began raising cattle along with custom grain harvesting. His cattle were well cared for and handled gently. His grain harvest run each year began in Texas, working his way north through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Montana and into Canada. He acquired lasting friendships on his harvest run over the 34 years. He was a fair man, respectful of others. He enjoyed driving around northeast Montana and northwest North Dakota looking at machinery, buying hay, checking pastures and stopping for coffee. His quiet nature followed him into his retirement years where he enjoyed reading history and stories of early time settlers. He always kept an eye on the weather station. He is survived by sisters, Mae Reynolds of Billings and Betty Hendrickson of Medicine Lake. He was preceded in death by his sister, Shirley Wallander; and brothers, Donald and Melvin Tronson Jr. A funeral service was held Oct. 22, at the Fulkerson Funeral Home Chapel in Plentywood. Interment in Medicine Lake Cemetery followed the service.

Garrett Gray, 53, of Wolf Point died Oct. 5, 2024. A visitation was held from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel.

Jason Allen Kust, 52, of Williston, N.D., died at his home on Wednesday morning, Oct. 9, 2024. He was born on Dec. 26, 1971, to Clarence and Rose Kust in Bismarck, N.D. He has an older sister, Colleene. Jason, with his high school sweetheart Tracy, had two children. Later in life, he met his wife, Shanna. They were married in July 2018. They had many adventures together. He was self-employed as a home contractor his entire life. His motto was he could “make a turd look good.” He took pride in his work and loved the excitement of his customers when a project was completed. He loved camping, boating and especially riding his Harley with his wife. He always said there is never enough summer. He loved decorating for every holiday, with Christmas probably being his

Lyle Gene Lambert (Bean) , 73, of Williston, N.D., died Oct. 9, 2024. He was born on May 23, 1951, to Alfred “Smokey” and Doris (Hansen) Lambert in Williston, N.D. He was raised in Bainville and graduated from Bainville High School in 1969. He then attended college at Montana State University - Billings. He married Mary Lou (Nice) Lambert on April 19, 1980, at the First Lutheran Church in Bainville. He worked at Public Works and for BNSF Railroad where he retired. He received a BNSF Safety Award in July of 2006. He received the Waste Water Operator of the Year Award in 2024. He was a member of the Sidney Country Club, Bainville Booster Club and Teamsters Representative of the Railroad. He was the Bainville Rural Fire District #64 Fire Chief, the town of Bainville Fire Chief and was also the Bain-ville Volunteer Firemen Chief. He was active on the 911 Board, Bainville School Board and the Montana Rural Water Systems committee. He was a proud supporter of the Bainville Bulldog sporting events. You could always find him at the scorers’

“Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3 — is this thing on?” Joseph “Joe” Nathan Sande, 88, of Wolf Point, Mont., signed off for the last time on Oct. 4, 2024, in Billings, surrounded by the people he loved most — his family. Cremation has already taken place, and, in keeping with Joe’s wishes, there will be no public service. Instead, his family will gather privately later this year to celebrate a life filled with laughter, love, and a deep devotion to those closest to him. Born on July 19, 1936, to Francis M. Sande and Mary (Gillette) Sande, Joe’s life journey took him from Havre to Great Falls and eventually to Wolf Point, where his legacy would take root. In his younger years, Joe was up early, cleaning his father’s bar before school — a bit of work that may have shaped both his work ethic and his sharp sense of humor. After being drafted into the U.S. Navy in 1955, Joe spent two years on a submarine, which may explain his lifelong ability to navigate any situation with calmness and a well-placed quip. Returning to Montana, Joe earned a teaching degree from Northern Montana College and embarked on a career that spanned decades and touched countless lives. He met the love of his life, Gloria Nelson, in 1961 and, in true Joe fashion, they eloped in 1963 — choosing love and simplicity over fanfare. In 1964, Joe accepted what he thought would be a one-year teaching position at Wolf Point High School. That “one year” stretched into 33, during which he shaped young minds in ninth-grade English, media and writing classes, all while never missing a chance to make his students laugh. Joe’s teaching career was only one aspect of his dedication to his family and community. His voice — legendary in Wolf Point — became synonymous with school spirit as “the Voice of the Wolves,” announcing games, matches and tournaments for over four decades. While students eagerly awaited hearing their names over the loudspeaker, Joe’s heart was always anchored in his love for his family. He raised two daughters, Lori Jo and Natalie, alongside Gloria, and together they created a home full of warmth, laughter and encouragement. Family was the heart of everything Joe did. Whether coaching a softball game, umpiring or cheering on his daughters, Joe’s focus was always on providing the same unwavering support he had for them to the next generation. And when his grandchildren arrived, Joe found a whole new role to relish — being their biggest fan. Whether it was football, wrestling, swimming or tennis, if one of his grandchildren was on the field or in the pool, you could count on Joe being in the stands, a proud grandpa, ready to cheer them on. His love for his family was evident in every conversation, every joke and every moment he spent with them. Even when he was busy volunteering with the Wolf Point Optimist Club, announcing the Radiothon to raise funds for Christmas gifts or judging essays for the Optimist contests, Joe’s heart was always with his family. His marriage to Gloria, which spanned 61 years, was the foundation of his

Verona Lea Boger Bubak, 84, died Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. She was born to Albert and Hazel Boger on Oct. 12, 1939, in Plentywood. She grew up in Froid and attended Froid High School before meeting Leonard Bubak. The two were married on June 15, 1958, in Froid at Grandview Church of the Brethren. Their loving marriage of 58 years until Leonard's death in 2016 was the foundation behind their numerous relationships with family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, fellow volunteers and church members. They raised two sons in Billings and cherished their many visits with their three grandchildren and daughters- in-law. Together, they volunteered at St. Vincent's Hospital and served at First Christian Church in Billings for decades. She taught Sunday school for many years and contributed to various church committees. After graduating from Froid High School, she attended business school in Minot, N.D. She and Leonard lived in several states in

Florence M. Fourstar, “Lightning in the Clouds Woman,” 74, of Wolf Point died Oct. 5, 2024, at Benefits Medical Center in Great Falls. She was born Dec. 25, 1949, at the IHS hospital in Poplar to Leslie Sr. and Freda (Redstone) Fourstar. She was a member of a large family which included nine other brothers and sisters. In her earlier years, she was raised in a two-room log house on her father’s original allotment in the Wiota community. She often referred to the somewhat destitute lifestyle in which they resided. Despite these struggles, she had a compassionate spirit and was a caring central figure, helping to raise her siblings when her parents were

Frederick Silk, 51, of Miles City, formerly of Hays, died Oct. 13, 2024. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home.

David James Renner, 78, died Monday evening, Sept. 30, 2024, at home. He was born April 28, 1946, to Irene Reinbold and Lloyd Renner in Glasgow, the oldest of three siblings. He attended school for three years in Nashua, then went to Grain School north of Nashua for three years before returning to Nashua Public Schools where he graduated in 1964. He worked for Phil Tadij for one summer and then numerous ranches before attending Montana State University for a year. He enlisted in the Navy on July 25, 1966. While serving in the Navy in Vietnam, he worked on patrol boats as a diesel engine mechanic, where he earned four commendations: National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and the Navy Unit Commendation medal with Combat “V.” He was discharged from the Navy on July 24, 1970. After returning to the states, he worked in Great Falls for Hallperry. Good friend Mick Ridenour and he moved to Malta where they opened R & R Machine Shop. He met Susan Wiederrick Lamson at a bar in Malta where he asked her to dance and the rest became history. They married Jan. 20, 1973, and he acquired a stepson. Over the next few years, they added four more children to the family. They lived in Malta for a couple of years before moving to the farm north of Nashua in 1975.

Jerome “Jerry” Osterhout, 86, of Culbertson died Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, at the Roosevelt Medical Center in Culbertson. He was born to Ernest and Violet (Waldahl) Osterhout in Beach, N.D. He and his sister, Joan, were raised by his aunt and uncle, Bill and Muriel Waldahl, in Sentinel Butte, N.D. He graduated from Sentinel Butte High School with the Class of 1956. His passion for the rodeo began early in his life by riding cows and started competing in amateur rodeos in 1954. He qualified for the 1956 National High School Rodeo in Reno, Nev., competing in bareback riding and bull riding. He won the second goround in the bareback riding event. One of his proudest moments was winning the state high school bull riding championship on a spinning bull. Today, his grandson wears that buckle. While continuing to compete in amateur rodeos, he took over his father’s ranch. He rode Jim Barnhart’s Whiz Bang in Medora, N.D., and recalled it was pretty tough but, nonetheless, he won first place in 1959. Along with a high school buckle from the state rodeo, he won bull riding buckles at Killdeer’s RA rodeo and at an amateur rodeo in Richey. In 1961, he won bull ridings at New Salem, N.D., Sidney and Helena. He retired from rodeo competition that year.