Elva May Knudsen, 85, of the Culbertson and McCabe, Mont., area, most recently of Breckenridge, Minn., passed away June 12, 2020, at the Twin Town Villa Assisted Living Center in Breckenridge. Her funeral will be celebrated Friday morning, June 19, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. (Mountain Time) at Big Sky Church (American Baptist Church of the Brethren) Froid, Mont. Rev. Neil Knudsen will officiate and interment will follow in the Ebenezer Churchyard Cemetery, McCabe, Mont. Friends may call one hour before service time at the church on Friday. We will be following the CDC Guidelines for the Common Sense Social Distancing. A second celebration of life service will be held on Wednesday afternoon, June 24, 2020, at 5 p.m. (Central Time) at the Harvest Outreach Church in Wahpeton, N.D. Rev. Dominick Warne will officiate. Elva May Knudsen was born on Nov. 24, 1934, to Frank Thompson and Frances Winona (Moyer) Taylor in Trenton, N.J. As a child and throughout her teen years, she took ballet and performed in many dance recitals. She was involved with Girl Scouts and earned her Gold Bar Scouts. She was active in youth activities through her church and served on local and state councils. Elva May graduated from Columbia High School in Maplewood, N.J., in 1952. She worked part-time while attending college. In 1960, she graduated with a bachelor in Christian education from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Chicago, Ill. After college, she worked for the American Baptist Home Mission Society at Rankin Christian Centers, Philadelphia Neighborhood Centers & Friendship House Neighborhood Ministries in Billings, Mont. While in Montana, she met Gerald Knudsen and they decided to marry on March 1, 1969, in Billings, Mont. He was a local farmer/rancher. They moved to the family farm near McCabe, Mont., which they later purchased. In 1971, their son, Mark, was born. She was a stay-at-home mom, helped on the farm and took care of all the business aspects of the farm. After many years of farming, the couple purchased a small RV and began to take some small trips and found a new enjoyment, including fishing trips to Canada and a trip to Alaska. She was a member of the McCabe Baptist Church and then the Big Sky Church of Froid, Mont. She taught Sunday school and served on many church boards locally, state and regional. In 1998, after Gerald retired from farming, they moved off the farm and into Culbertson, Mont. Elva May worked with the local food bank for several years. In 2013, she moved to Breckenridge, Minn., to be closer to her son and family. She enjoyed living in Minnesota and joined Harvest Outreach Church in Wahpeton, N.D. She was involved in many activities and her daily schedule was always full. She loved attending church and Bible studies, Red Hats, Music in the Park, sports activities, high school and college events and trips to the Chanhassen Dinner Theater. The highlight of her life was serving the Lord and seeing her family become active in their Christian growth and ministry for the Lord. Elva May is survived by her son, Mark (Melissa) Knudsen of Hazen, N.D.; two grandchildren, Dorran (Jenny) Knudsen of Seffner, Fla., Abreena Knudsen of Hazen, N.D.; two great-grandchildren, Kenrix and Reubin; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald Knudsen; her parents, Frank and Frances Taylor; her brothers, Frank and R Bruce Taylor; and niece, Virginia Taylor. Friends are welcome to visit www.eversoncoughlin. com to share memories of Elva or leave condolences for her family. The Everson Coughlin Funeral Home of Williston is caring for the family. (Paid Obituary)

Rocky Lee Norby, 65, of Sidney died May 29, 2020. He was born July 29, 1954, to Richard and Doris Norby. He was a great big brother to Rick and Jodene, and there are many stories of how he picked on them as much as possible. He grew up in the Crane area and graduated from Sidney High School in 1972. He started farming with his father in 1974 which proved to be a lifelong career. He would tell you, you have to be stupid to farm, but he loved it. He met the love of his life, Lori, on a dirt road leading to his home, where he left her with an armload to carry, not even offering her a ride. There must have been a spark because they married in 1979 and soon welcomed their children Jeremy, Melissa and Amanda. He would complain mightily over all the tasks with family and friends that took him away from the farm, but he truly enjoyed being there. He was the foreman for lefse making, the chief for the cleaning crew, the chaperone at all the concerts, the chauffeur for all trips, because the “Boss” (Lori) made him. Highlights of trips taken after the children were grown included fishing trips to Alaska, concerts with their children, cruises with their friends, sports with his boys and a large family vacation to Disney World. He loved his hunting trips with his friends and the men in his family. He attended every event he was able to and could always be heard in the stands. He coached many youth and numerous basketball teams. He was a proud Papa shark at the swim meets and cheered proudly for every race. He loved taking his grandchildren with him on the farm and teaching them everything he could. He started every day with a phone call to Mandy, followed by breakfast at Sunny's. There will be many silent phones now, since he never put his down. He touched lives all over the world through the various people that have been a part of Norby Inc. He always had room in his heart for every person he met. He saw the best in everyone and made many friends that way. He loved to go to Las Vegas and knew all of dealers and players at the table. He is survived by his wife, Lori; children, Jeremy Norby, Melissa Sanders and Mandy Malkuch; eight grandchildren; Matt and Teresa Stedman and their children Bryndi, Briar, Baylor; brother, Rick Norby; and sister, Jodene Bryngelson. Services were held Wednesday, June 3, at 3 p.m. at the grandstand of the Richland County Fairgrounds in Sidney with Pastor David Huskamp of the Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church officiating.

Aurelia Lilly Half Red Bets His Medicine, 80, of Brockton, died May 16, 2020, in Billings. She was born on the Spirit Lake Reservation in North Dakota on Nov. 10, 1939. She was raised by her mother and maternal grandfather and told many stories of her traditional upbringing. She only spoke the Dakota language until she was forced to learn English during her stints in two boarding schools. Although her boarding school experience was tough, it taught her how to be resilient and she resolved to keep her language alive. She got her teaching certificate and later became a Dakota language instructor at the Fort Peck Community College (NAES) and Brockton High School. She and her mother moved to Montana in 1949 to find a home. They moved around to various places until settling in Fort Kipp where she was later “mutually introduced” to her future husband, Ray, by well-meaning grandparents when they were in their teens. They married in 1960 and made their home on the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Reservation in northeast Montana, where Ray was an enrolled member. They bought their two- bedroom house in 1968 and had it placed on seven acres in the country so their children could raise animals and have room to run without the hassle of “city living.” They had five children and raised them together, along with various “foster” children, until his death in 1995. They never considered these children to be “fosters,” they welcomed them into their home and eventually had to turn the two-bedroom home into a five-bedroom home to accommodate their own children and the extra children entrusted to their care. After her husband’s death, she continued to open her home to anyone who needed shelter, whether that was a friend running from a dangerous situation with their children in tow or any child needing a safe place to sleep. When her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were born, she took great pleasure in helping to raise them. Stories were told by community members about how she was never alone when she went anywhere. Her van was always filled with children. She was a woman of extreme faith. She is survived by three daughters, Raylene Bets His Medicine, Theresa Bets His Medicine and Anissa Gabrielson; two sons: Travis Bets His Medicine and Dave Bets His Medicine; an adopted son, Carlin Iron Moccasin; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and sister, Sybil Summers. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray; her mother, Agnes; father, Loyal Half Red; sister, Eliza Lambert; and grandson, Rocket Speed. A funeral service was held Thursday, May 21, at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Interment was at Fort Kipp Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.

Orvis Nelson, 87, of rural Homestead, Mont., passed away at the Roosevelt Memorial Nursing Home on Monday, May 18, 2020, in Culbertson, Mont. Fulkerson Stevenson of Williston, N.D., is assisting the family. Friends may sign the on-line register and give their condolences at www.fulkersons.com. His graveside service was held at 10 a.m. (MST) Saturday, May 23, 2020, at the Big Lake Cemetery, rural Homestead, Mont. Pastor Johnette Grefe officiated. Military rites followed. For those not attending, there will be a celebration of life tentatively set for June 28, 2020, at the family farm. The service was broadcast on the Fulkerson Stevenson Facebook page, please follow the link on Orvis’s service information on our website www.fulkersons.com. Orvis Nelson was born south of Watford City, N.D., to Eddie and Irene Nelson on Feb. 25, 1933. Just a few months after he was born, the family moved to rural Homestead, Mont., where brother Rudale was born. He attended most of his grade school at Central Consolidated (located near the farm and uphill both ways), graduated high school from Medicine Lake and then attended Concordia College for two years before entering the U.S. Army. He spent two years of active duty during the Korean Conflict and received an honorary discharge in 1953. After the military, Orvis farmed part-time with his father and worked full-time in Williston driving Gamble Robinson’s grocery delivery truck delivering to stores in northeast Montana. While working in Williston, Orvis met Lois on a blind date which was the start of a lifelong love affair. They were married in June of 1958 and, shortly thereafter, moved home to farm full-time. Lois passed in August of 2019 and Orvis missed her dearly. As he sat beside her during her final hours, he told her he would not be far behind. He was very proud of his service to this country and once home on the farm for good, he became very active in Legion Post 49 in Homestead. As Post Commander, he organized many trips to the 49th Parallel Days with Canadian Service Men and Women. Orvis was the “Master Card Party Organizer.” Therefore, there were many card parties and games of cards played, while teaching his children and grandchildren, at various locations. Being involved in community was very important to him. He served as the chair of the Medicine Lake School board during the time the school was being rebuilt after a fire. He served on the NEMONT Telephone board for 27 years. Other organizations included the Froid Credit Union, Farmers Elevator in Homestead, Northeast Montana Threshers Association and church and parish councils. Orvis’s desire to give back was evident with the involvement in civic organizations but that wasn’t the only evidence. He would purchase bags of groceries and deliver them to families in need. He organized bus trips to the Medora Musical for the elderly. He was one of the first to offer his land into the Block Management Program which allowed people to hunt for free. He never missed a benefit in the area where he always made some kind of donation, and he would go to the nursing home and give haircuts. Orvis took pride and satisfaction in using his hands to build many beautiful woodworking projects which he donated to various places. Being a Norwegian is not a privilege everyone gets. He was proud of his heritage and seldom missed the opportunity to attend the Norsk Hostfest in Minot, N.D. He loved Norwegian food and would travel to the ends of the Earth for a lutefisk dinner. If you had to name what Orvis’s hobby was it would have to be people. The most enjoyable times in his life were sitting across the kitchen table visiting with people. He set up areas on the farm where hunters could camp just so he had someone to visit with. He would chase down hunters in the field just to say hello and welcome them to the area. Many friendships from all over Canada and the U.S. were developed over the years. In later years, Orvis and Lois loved to travel but could not go anywhere without scheduling time on the trip to stop and visit friends and family. In fact, when they traveled, it wasn’t to see a national park or a tourist destination; it was to see old friends and relatives. Orvis loved music and encouraged his children and grandchildren to learn music. He never missed a concert or music event the kids were in. He also practiced what he preached. He sang in a group called the Homestead Legionnaires. They performed at many area events such as the Faye Crush variety show on area television. They sang at countless funerals and never turned down a request to do so. Some memorable trips for Orvis included the trips to Moville, Iowa, to sell cattle. For many years, he and Lois accompanied the cattle to the sale yard in Moville. This was an annual event where he and some of his most cherished friends had the opportunity to spend time together. Many of you will remember the trips in the old school bus. Touring around the lake, trips to Medora or his favorite trip which was fishing in Canada. Orvis organized a fishing trip to Besnard Lake, Saskatchewan, 27 years in a row. He loved to see his children and grandchildren experience camping and catching the big fish. All were welcome, so almost always the kids or grandkids had friends with them on the trip. He touched many lives with this trip. Orvis was preceded in death by his wife, Lois; parents, Eddie and Irene; and brother, Rudale and wife, Arlene. He is survived by daughter, Kimberly (Rick); sons, Dale (Jodi), Dean (Lynda); grandchildren, Kami (Jeff), Brady (Sarah), Paydon, Cordel and Nolan; and great-grandchildren, Kelson and Kaseton. (Paid Obituary)

“Well done, my good and faithful servant” were the words that Evelyn Strand Stensland Casterline heard on May 12, 2020, when she passed from life on earth to eternal life in heaven. Evelyn was born in Big Timber, Mont., on Dec. 4, 1933, to Albert and Elsie Strand, the fourth of their six children. She graduated from Big Timber High School and attended Montana State, where she was a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority and the Women’s Student Body President. After graduating in 1955, she married her college sweetheart, Gerald Stensland. They had four boys, Gary, Mark, Paul and John. Jerry was tragically taken in 1963. She married Bill Casterline in 1967 and they made their home on a farm east of Culbertson. Together, they finished raising their four boys as well as hogs, cattle, chicken and crops. Bill passed away in 2006. Evelyn loved to cook and bake. In the late 1950s, she even had her own live TV cooking show in Great Falls in the early days of TV. She loved cooking traditional Norwegian foods; however, her boys were relieved when she stopped serving Lutefisk for Christmas Eve! For several decades, she served as Foods Judge at county 4-H fairs across northeastern Montana. She could make anything grow and always had a bountiful garden, bright flowers in the yard and house plants that somehow never died. She loved to read and had a lifelong love of books. When there wasn’t a book in her hands, she was working on some craft. She made beautiful pieces of needlework and quilts and has the purple ribbons to show for it. She especially loved the challenge of Hardanger, an intricate Norwegian form of needlework. Evelyn was very active in the Culbertson community, serving on the school board and hospital board. She loved her service with Women’s Club, where she served as local president, state president and national officer. She loved the extensive traveling that came with those jobs and the wide expanse of friends she made from across the country. There was never a time when she was not active in her faith in Jesus. She was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church and Trinity Lutheran Church for the last 60 years, where she taught Sunday school, led Bible studies and gave an occasional sermon. She ministered to everyone she came into contact with. Blessed to have shared her life were her sons, Gary and his wife, Camille, Mark and his wife, Carolyn, Paul, John and his wife, Cindy; her grandchildren, Luke and his wife, Emily, Sam, Abigail, Jeremiah, ElleAnna, Rosa and Ada; great-granddaughter, Clara; her sisters, Doris McDonald and her husband, Dick, June Gunnerson and her husband, Stan; her sisters-in-law, Shirley Monson, Vivian Pearson and Janice Skrivseth; her brother-in-law, Ed Stensland; all of her special nieces and nephews; and all of her many amazing friends and cousins. There will be celebration of life at a later date. Burial will take place in Hillside Cemetery in Culbertson. Fulkerson Stevenson of Williston, N.D., is assisting the family. Friends may sign the online register and give their condolences at www. fulkersons.com. (Paid Obituary)