Henry Buck Elk Jr., 77, of Fort Kipp died Dec. 4, 2021, in Fort Kipp. He was raised in Fort Kipp and attended Brockton Schools, where he set a record in track. After schooling, he married Violet Martell. From this union, they raised eight children. In the early years, he moved to Denver, Colo., where he graduated from mechanic school. He graduated well before the rest of his class. He was always a very skilled carpenter. He owned his own contracting company and worked with his son, Wendell, and his sons-in-law. Through all his life, he made lifelong friends. He farmed with his father, Henry Sr., and loved hunting, fishing and camping. His greatest joy was his family. His grandchildren were his life, along with many great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Nancy Buck Elk; brothers, Darryl K. Buck Elk Jr., Wilson Shields, Ronald Small, Edgar “Homer” Buck Elk and Everette “Sharon” Buck Elk; children, Rudolph “Rudy” Martell and Thalia Buck Elk; three grandchildren; and adopted children, Georgie Dupius, Karla Cantrell, Dani Red Bull, Jennifer “Missy” Bearcub, Debbie Hopkins, Lorraine (Buck Elk) Bear, Debbie Old Person and Wynn Hall. He is survived by his wife, Violet Buck Elk; children, Wendell “Chico” Martell, Mary Follette, Teresa Jaymes, Darryl Buck Elk, Yvette Olsen and Janel Little Light; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and siblings, Myrtle Olsen of Lebanon, Ore., Esther Hapa, Phyllis Prairie Chief of Oklahoma, Louis Buck Elk of Fort Kipp. His funeral service was held Saturday, Dec. 11, at the James Black Dog Center in Fort Kipp. Interment followed at the Fort Kipp Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point was entrusted with the arrangements.

November 11, 1928, to November 26, 2021 On Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, at 9 a.m., the daily mass at St. Matthews Catholic Church in Sidney, Mont., will be said in Thomas O’Connor’s honor, Father Jim O’Neil presiding. Thomas Daniel O’Connor, “Tom,” passed away on Nov. 26, 2021, in Albuquerque, N.M., at the age of 93. Tom was born in Sidney, Mont., on Nov. 11, 1928, to Charles and

Clarence DeTienne left this world on Dec. 6, 2021. He and his wife are together again, dancing among the stars. Clarence was born to Joseph and Bertha DeTienne on their family farm north of Bainville, Mont., on Aug. 11, 1931. He was the youngest of six children. He attended Johnson Country School for six years before moving to town to attend Bainville Public Schools until his graduation in

Nancy Lee VandenBos, 68, of Valier died Nov. 29, 2021. She was born on Nov. 15, 1953, to Gustav Fjeseth and Nita Lee Fjeseth in Williston, N.D. She lived hers to the fullest. She was raised in Froid, where she graduated from high school and made lasting friendships with “the School Girlz.” She later moved to Helena to work for the State of Montana and attend Carroll College, earning a

Robert “Shon” Bates, 45, of Medicine Lake died Wednesday, Dec. 1, 2021, at the Sheridan Memorial Hospital in Plentywood. He was born Oct. 19, 1976, in La Mirada, Calif. He spent his early years in California, but eventually planted roots in Medicine Lake and would call it home. He enjoyed life and was kind to everyone he met and knew. He married Robin, and they had three children together.

Thomas “Tom” George Andring, 77, died Nov. 30, 2021, in Bismarck, N.D. He was born Sept. 21, 1944, to Bob and Ella Andring of Homestead. He was nine years younger than his brother, Bob. He grew up on the family farm and attended school in Medicine Lake where he was involved with basketball, band and FFA. He and his high school sweetheart, Jeri, graduated in 1963. They were married in Spokane,

Patricia Ann Heller Sundheim, 77, died Nov. 10, 2021, in Billings. She was born April 29, 1944, in Lewistown to Lester and Dorthea Heller. Even though she celebrated her birthday on April 28 because she was born so close to midnight, her parents disagreed on her birthday. She graduated from Fergus High School in Lewistown in 1962. After graduation, she lived in California for a year. She enjoyed her adventure, but decided the big city wasn’t for her and she moved back to Montana. She attended college at Eastern in Billings (now known as MSU-Billings). This is where she met her future husband, Stanley Sundheim. They were married on July 5, 1969. They lived in Columbus for a while and then moved to the farm in 1973 where she resided until her death. They had two children, Tina Sundheim Walin and Tamra Sundheim Perkins. She loved doing all types of handwork. Many people through the years have received these wonderful pieces of cross-stitch, Bargelio, Hardanger and even tied blankets. She loved to keep her yard and flowers in good shape. It became very tough for her the last few years to do her hand work and yard work which was disappointing to her. She was a supporter and fan of anything her daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren did. She was also a very big supporter of the Froid Cardinals and then of the Froid-Medicine Lake Redhawks when they combined for sports. She went to or watched online as many sporting events as she could and keeping her daughters up to date on scores. She was involved in the Lutheran Church helping with bazaars, potlucks and taking tickets for the Lutefisk dinner for several years. She was also very involved in Girl Scouts as a youth and then eventually was a leader for many years. She subbed at the Froid School off and on through the years. She enjoyed being around people and always had a smile for everyone .She also loved country music and dancing. She was a big fan of George Strait. She enjoyed getting to see him in concert in Las Vegas, Nev. She enjoyed women’s bowling league, pinochle parties and being a member of the Froid Ladies Group. She is survived by her husband of 52 years ,Stanley Sundheim; daughters Tina Walin and Tamra Perkins; five grandchildren; and siblings, Blanche Plovanic, Doris Pelton, David Heller, Dan Heller, Skip Heller, Bill Heller, Jimmy Heller, Nona Odom and Mary Heller. Per her request, she has been cremated and no services or burial of any type will be held. Her ashes will be spread by her family at the farm in Froid and in Lewistown at a future date.

Diane Elizabeth Peterson, 73, of Culbertson died Nov. 10, 2021. She was born March 27, 1948, the youngest of three children to Thelma (Wynne) Williams and Edward Perry Williams in Portsmouth, Va. When her father retired from the Navy, the family settled down in Ocala, Fla., where she graduated from Forest High School. She met Richard Green at the naval base in Jacksonville, Fla. The couple eventually married and moved to his hometown of Wolf Point. She stayed home to raise their three children and was a talented musician who enjoyed singing and playing guitar. She moved back to Florida when she and Richard divorced and remained there until 2004, when she decided to return to Montana to be near her children and their families. She met Richard Peterson in 2007. They married in 2014. The couple resided in Culbertson until the time of her death. She had a great fondness for all creatures with a soft nose and a warm heart. While she had dogs and cats of her own, she never hesitated to care for other animals that ended up on the porch. She loved the warmer weather when she and Richard could be outside beautifying the yard and planting. She loved antiquing on the weekends, spending time with her grandchildren and cooking southern-style meals at family gatherings. She is survived by her husband, Richard Peterson of Culbertson, children, Staci Green of Wolf Point, Troy Green of Culbertson and RJ Green of Missoula; brothers, Bobby Williams and Ronnie Williams of Jacksonville, Fla.; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held Friday, Nov. 19, at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.

Judy Belgarde-Johnson Judy Ann Belgarde-Johnson, 72, of Brockton died Nov. 16, 2021, in Williston, N.D. She was born April 6, 1949, in Poplar on to Ernest and Rita (Red Eagle) Belgarde and joined brothers, Kermit and Duane. Later came her sister, Rae. In her younger years, she spent her time living in various parts of the United States with her family. She loved to share her stories of living in San Francisco, Calif.; Gary, Ind.; Chicago, Ill.; Williston, N.D.; Helena; Missoula; Plentywood; Kintar; Glasgow; and Fort Kipp. They traveled to many of these through the relocation program and the others were simply to be close to family. Some of her fondest memories included her uncle, Art Belgarde, who became a father figure to her. She lived with him and her aunt Jessie in Plentywood and Williston during her teen years. It was during her time in Williston that she started her working career as a teenager waiting tables. This was her first job and she loved to share stories of how hard she had to work at such a young age. In 1967, she took part in an educational program which took her to Missoula where she attained her G.E.D. at the University of Montana and began her schooling to become a nurse. She was unable to finish due to family commitments that returned her to Brockton, where she made her home for the rest of her years. She continued to work in various jobs which included working at the Brockton School, Roosevelt Medical Center, for the Fort Peck Tribes and was also self-employed. In 1977, she began working with the Fort Peck Tribes Election Committee where she started as an election judge under her mother, Rita, who was an election commissioner. Through the years, she worked her way up from election judge to supervisor of the tribal election, a position she held until her death. She also worked many years helping coordinate and distribute the annual Christmas per cap. She was a master quilter who made thousands of starquilts throughout her lifetime. She was honored to be part of the opening display of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. In 1975, she met Ben Johnson. They were together for 44 years, uniting in marriage in 2001. They spent the rest of their years raising children and grandchildren in Brockton until Ben’s death in February 2020. Together, they were able to watch their family grow to include eight children, 22 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and her first great-great-grandchild. She relished in the joy that she had such a huge family and one of her favorite things to do was to get together for holidays, birthdays and other events with everyone to celebrate and visit. She was the family historian and loved to share stories and family history. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ben; brothers, Duane and Eugene Belgarde; and grandson, Jarid Fast Horse Sr. She is also survived by her sister, Rae Jean Belgarde of Brockton; brother, Kermit Belgarde of Walla Walla, Wash.; and children, Noreen Lone Bear, Melissa Rattling Thunder, Eugene Belgarde, Olivia Johnson, Terrence, BJ, Brady and Jalen Johnson, all of Brockton. Funeral services were held Monday, Nov. 22, at Brockton School with Father Akama Ukanide officiating. Burial was at Riverview Cemetery in Brockton.