Norman Edward Olson, 86, of Culbertson died Jan. 4, 2024. As a young man, he dedicated his life to serving his country as a paratrooper in the Airborne forces. He grew up in Culbertson and worked at the safflower plant for 35 years. He and Peggy Birch shared a part of their lives together and had two daughters, Terri and Lana. He also helped raise Peggy’s two sons, Tom and Michael Birch. They loved to go camping in western Montana. After 18 years of raising cattle on the farm, they decided to move into Culbertson, making the “last house on the left” their family home. They were raised to be a reflection of his strong values and guidance. Later, he married Juanita. In her, he found his best friend. They shared laughter and their endless faith in Jesus. They took the brave journey to Broken Arrow, Okla., to graduate Rhema Bible Training College together. Though their paths went different ways, their friendship lived on. He was a part of the lives of Juanita's children, Bruce, Misty, Zenas, Lynnette, Shannon, Roseina, Russell, Lloyd, Tracy, Randy, Melvin and Daisy. His guidance and warmth created an environment where love and laughter thrived. His grandchildren

Brenda Fay Harvey was born April 16, 1959, in Culbertson, Mont., to Almont and Helen (Skillingberg) Harvey. She was the fourth of five kids. She graduated from Froid High School and Montana State University. She began her teaching career in Savage, Mont. She would also teach at Frontier Elementary, Flaxville, Plevna, Bainville and finally Culbertson. Brenda truly loved teaching children of all learning styles. Brenda also worked for a short time at the Culbertson hospital. Never one to stay too long, Brenda and her trusty set of heavy encyclopedias managed to squeeze into the old horse trailer for many moves to a new town and new school. Many memories of helping haul boxes of precious breakables and books are shared by the family. Some of those loved items were a giant Coca-Cola bottle that held coins for counting, a castle with pewter fairy tale characters that were always ready for an adventure, and a marble maze that entertained for hours. Brenda also loved animals, particularly cats. She was always ready to adopt another feline friend. She loved books and games. There wasn’t a more competitive player for pinochle, whist, Clue, Trivial Pursuit and the ever popular, but practically outlawed, RISK. Brenda was the person to go to for random trivia facts and, if she didn’t know it, she’d look it up. Brenda also loved sleeping in and enjoying her summers off. Her nieces and nephews can remember Grandpa calling, asking one of them to ring the house phone again and let it ring ‘til Brenda answered downstairs. She was usually reading, which was one of her favorite pastimes. She also loved baking for her family. Christmas cookies were always abundant and available in the freezer if you looked. Brenda was so very loving to her nieces and nephews and grandnieces and -nephew. When they turned 11, she and Joyce would take their nieces and nephews on trips to nearby states. Disney tapes playing in the background and sunglasses on, they would venture to discover fun places like the Omaha Zoo, the Field of Dreams, the Pacific Ocean or Hannibal, Mo. She even let Joyce drive once in a while. Through the many trips, Thanksgiving Eve sleepovers, playing along with a game calling for Superman Kirk to save her and many instances of family time together, she made it clear she loved them very much. Brenda was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Clifford; her brotherin- law, David Harris; and her grandparents. Brenda is survived by her brother, Jim (Sheri) Harvey; sisters, Claudia Harris and Joyce Harvey, all of Froid; nephews and nieces, Kodi (Alan) Hoffmann of Mount Vernon, Wash., Emily (Erik) Gjovik of Carrington, N.D., Sarah (Will) Joshu of Great Falls, Tyler Harris of Froid and Kirk (Brook) Harris of Havre. She is also survived by grandnieces, Zoey and Abigail Hoffmann, Margot Joshu, and Isla and Cecily Gjovik; and grandnephew, Soren Gjovik. She is also survived by many cousins. A memorial service will be planned for the summer. (Paid Obituary)

Lois Angvick, 94, of Plentywood died Dec. 14, 2023, at Sheridan Memorial Hospital in Plentywood. Lois Bain Angvick, the only child of Joseph Cecil Bain and Lillian “Bove” Allen, was born in Plentywood on Sept. 28, 1929. Her mother died when she was six years old and her father raised her on a ranch west of Reserve homesteaded by his aunt Irene Murphy. Except for two years in Butte and Drummond, where Cecil worked in the copper mines, she attended the Rock Springs Grade School west of Reserve. It was a threemile horseback ride from the ranch to the school. One of her favorite memories was racing her horse at noon against her best friend Rose (Anderson) Lossing. She later attended Plentywood High School, graduating in 1947. Following high school, she attended the University of Montana in Missoula for a brief time. She married Edward Angvick of Reserve on Jan. 17, 1949. They made their home on the Angvick family farm just south and east of Reserve. They had seven children: Lynn, Colleen, John, Debbie, David, Terry and Amber. Besides raising her seven children, which in itself was a full-time job, she was a woman of many interests and talents. She was an avid gardener and was especially proud of her flower gardens. They were meticulously laid out and neatly arranged around the farm yard, with every bed organized and labeled with specific flowers. She also enjoyed vegetable gardening and had large gardens for many years. She was able to receive her Master Gardener certificate, of which she was very proud. She enjoyed woodworking, oil painting, crafts, sewing, quilting, needlework, baking, you name it. She bowled with the “girls” for many years and was an active member of the Wakea Homemaker Club in Reserve. She spent countless hours researching the genealogy of both sides of the family. During her children’s school years, she was a Sunday school teacher, Medicine Lake Music mother, band chaperone and honorary Letterman’s Club member. Summers were busy with Big Muddy baseball games and the Sheridan County Harvest Festival/ Sheridan County Fair. For many years, she attended Women’s Week on the Montana State University campus. This MSU Extension Service-sponsored event led her to be chosen as a delegate from Montana to travel to Kamamota, Japan, as part of a women’s delegation to Montana’s counterpart in Japan. Fellow Wakea Club member and friend, Delores Lund, also took part in this once-in-alifetime experience. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Colleen. She is survived by her husband, Eddie; children, Lynn Angvick of Billings, John Angvick of Medicine Lake, Debbie Pond of Belgrade, David of Medicine Lake, Terry of Plentywood, and Amber of Cartwright, N.D.; eight grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. A service will be held at Fulkerson Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, Dec. 29, at 11 a.m. Interment at Eden Valley Cemetery will take place at a later date.

Kathryn’s celebration of life service will be Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, at 11 a.m. at the Medicine Lake Fire Hall. If you would like to send flowers to Kathryn’s family, they suggest: Blooms & Britches Boutique of Plentywood or the Bloomin Cactus of Medicine Lake. Kathryn Lynn Nelson was born Sept. 11, 1960, in Plentywood, Mont., to Robert and Esther Fossum. She joined a brother Leslie (Bernie) Fossum. Kathy grew up in Medicine Lake, Mont., where she attended school and graduated in 1979. During her high school years, she was a cheerleader and member of the pep club all four years. As a soprano in swing choir, she attended the Montana State Music Festival for three years and was a member of the speech and drama team for three years. Kathy went to the State Class C track meet in javelin. She was homecoming queen her senior year of Medicine Lake High School. After graduating from high school, Kathy attended Missoula for a short time and went on to graduate from beauty school. She enjoyed her years of doing hair in many cities. She also enjoyed tending bar at the Radisson in Bismarck, N.D., the Four-Winds in Plentywood, Mont., and The Club in Medicine Lake, Mont. Regardless of where she worked, Kathy enjoyed being with people. Everyone that met Kathy loved her. Her smile was bright, and her laugh was infectious. Kathy enjoyed fishing, gardening, road trips and anything that involved her friends, her family and a cold beer. She also enjoyed going to the Sturgis Bike Rally with Al. She and Bernie shared a special bond that created many memories. Kathy passed away peacefully at Sidney Health Center in Sidney, Mont., Dec. 13, 2023, after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Kathy is survived by her brother, Leslie “Bernie” Fossum of Medicine Lake, Mont.; sister-in-law, Anna Snellman of Medicine Lake, Mont.; nephews, Levi (Stephanie) Fossum of Homestead, Mont., and Page Fossum of Bozeman, Mont.; great-nephews, Teegan Fossum and Kline Fossum of Homestead, Mont.; boyfriend, Al Stanford of Culbertson, Mont.; and many, many dear friends that she loved like family. Kathy is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Esther Fossum. “She was one of the kindest people I have ever known, and everyone loved her.” (Paid Obituary)

Susan Finnicum, 67, of Culbertson died Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, in her home in Culbertson. Burial was held Saturday, Dec. 23, at Hillside Cemetery in Culbertson.

Phyllis L. Sethre was born on Aug. 10, 1945, in Williston, N.D., to Oscar and Lucille Olson. She passed away peacefully on Dec. 13, 2023, in Billings, Mont. Phyllis was raised on a farm north of Culbertson, Mont., and attended the Mc-Cabe Country School until the sixth grade. Her family then moved to Sidney, Mont., and she graduated from Sidney High School in 1963. After a brief time as a social worker, she graduated from Montana State University in 1969 with a degree in agriculture business management. She began her career as an agricultural loan officer in Great Falls, Mont. In the winter of 1977, she met Gary Sethre in Great Falls and they were married six months later. They returned to his family farm north of Wolf Point and together they built and enjoyed a successful farming operation for the next 45 years. During this time, she also acquired her real estate appraisal license and opened Sethre Appraisal Services. Appraising took her all across northeastern Montana and she thoroughly enjoyed the work and meeting people. Phyllis believed in volunteering in her community. She invested her time in many organizations including 4-H, the Roosevelt Country Fair board, the Montana Republican Party, First Lutheran Church, American Legion Auxiliary and the Theodore Roosevelt Foundation. She was honored to be named Grand Marshal of the Wild Horse Stampede in 2019 along with her husband. She loved to be on the road for work and pleasure. Gary and Phyllis enjoyed many trips to Medora, N.D., Hostfest in Minot, N.D., and spending time in Oregon to see her grandson’s school and sports activities. Phyllis was survived by her husband, Gary Sethre of Wolf Point, Mont.; daughter, Heather (Jacob) Stefanik and grandson Luke of Beaverton, Ore.; brother, Peter (Donna) Olson of Culbertson, Mont.; brother, Steve (Monica) Olson of Kannapolis, N.C.; brother, Mitch Olson of Sidney, Mont.; and many dear friends and family including Lora Davis who she considered a sister. She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters-inlaw, Carol (Sethre) Pomeroy and Joan Olson. A memorial service will be held later this summer in Wolf Point, Mont., on a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to the Montana 4-H Foundation. (Paid Obituary)

Mabel Hackley Renz, 94, passed peacefully Dec. 4, 2023, with family present. Mabel was born on the family farm in the Cherry Creek community south of Culbertson on July 23, 1929, fourth of eight children to H.T. and Leoma Hackley. She attended Cherry Creek School and graduated from Culbertson High School. She worked in the bank in Culbertson and then moved to Wolf Point and worked at Western Bank and in the evenings at the theater — she told us she never attended the free movie after her shift. She met Robert Renz in Culbertson and they were married in Miles City in 1955. They resided on the Renz family homestead along the Missouri River south of Poplar where they farmed and ranched for many years. She moved thousands of small bales with her Oliver tractor and bale wagon! Although they never had children of their own, they were very involved with generations of nieces and nephews- following their school and sports events and taking them on the Culbertson Trail Ride. Mabel was a long-time active member of the First Presbyterian Church in Poplar. She also belonged to the Mona Homemakers for many years. One of her favorite pastimes was hiking in the badlands with her friends from church, enjoying nature and visiting. Many people probably have received a quilt or other hand sewn items over the years. During many winters, you could find her living room filled with stacks of fabric and the massive quilt frame that took up almost the entire room. When Robert passed in 1999, Mabel stayed on the farm until she had to go to the Faith Lutheran Home — where her first question when visitors was, “How are the cows and Sparky doing?” Mabel was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Renz; parents, H.T. and Leoma Hackley; sister, Alice Walker; and brothers, Charles and Henry Hackley. She is survived by her siblings, Robert (Margaret) Hackley and family, Amy (Jerry) Pittman and family, Tom (Sandi) Hackley and family and Ray (Peggy) Hackley and family; and by her beloved dog, Sparky. Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 27, at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 28, at the First Presbyterian Church in Poplar. Interment will follow at Poplar City Cemetery. (Paid Obituary)

Kathryn Lynn Nelson, 63, died at Sidney Health Center in Sidney Dec. 13, 2023. She was born Sept. 11, 1960, in Plentywood to Robert and Esther Fossum. She joined a brother, Leslie “Bernie” Fossum. She grew up in Medicine Lake, where she attended school and graduated in 1979. During her high school years, she was a cheerleader and member of the pep club all four years. As a soprano in swing choir, she attended the Montana State Music Festival for three years and was a member of the speech and drama team for three years. She went to the state Class C track meet in javelin. She was homecoming queen her senior year of Medicine Lake High School. After graduating from high school, she attended Missoula for a short time and went on to graduate from beauty school. She enjoyed her years of doing hair in many cities. She also enjoyed tending bar at the Radisson in Bismarck, N.D., the FourWinds in Plentywood and The Club in Medicine Lake. Regardless of where she worked, she enjoyed being with people. Her smile was bright, and her laugh was infectious. She enjoyed fishing, gardening, road trips and anything that involved her friends, her family and a cold beer. She also enjoyed going to the Sturgis Bike Rally with Al. She and Bernie shared a special bond that created many memories. She is survived by her brother, Leslie “Bernie” Fossum of Medicine Lake; and boyfriend, Al Stanford of Culbertson. A celebration of life service will be held Sunday, Jan. 7, at 11 a.m. at the Medicine Lake Fire Hall.