By Keila Szpaller Daily Montanan Gov. Greg Gianforte asked Montanans to remember the late Pope Francis as a kind and humble leader. The pope died Monday at the age of 88, according to the Associated Press. He was the first pope from Latin America and presided for more than 12 years. “Susan and I join Christians across Montana and around the world in mourning the loss of his holiness,

Geoffrey Thomas Hagadone, 53, of Poplar died April 14, 2025. He was born June 26, 1971, to Robert and Helen Hagadone in San Diego, Calif. Three years later in, 1974, his sister Susan was born. He graduated from Poplar High School in 1989. He then attended Billings Vo-Tech right after. He returned to Poplar to help his father with the family farm. He met LaVonne Black Dog in 1997 and they had three daughters, Emily, Nancy and Tracy Hagadone. The family lived their lives on the Hagadone ranch north of Chelsea where he continued to help raise black Angus cattle and farm with this father. Starting at the age of 5, he was driving trucks and continued to do so for the rest of his life. In his free time, he loved to rope, attend rodeos and especially attend his children’s school and sporting events. During this time, he gave himself the title of “Team Dad.” Later in life, he became very involved in the Native American culture and traditions. This is where he met a lot of his very close friends. There wasn’t a powwow or sweat ceremony that he didn’t attend. He also found peace and a place when he sat around a drum. In 2020, he began working for the Beery Brothers where he took pride and joy in trucking for Brett and Bryce. He is survived by mother, Beth; sister, Susan Twichel; LaVonne Black Dog and his daughters, Nancy, Tracy and Emily Hagadone; and one granddaughter. Funeral services were held Wednesday, April 23, at 11 a.m. at the Poplar Cultural Center. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Deborah (Debby) Walton Hinnaland was born on Jan. 18, 1954, the youngest of Johnnie and Gwennie Walton’s six children. Raised on the Walton family ranch in Mc-Cone County, Mont., Debby developed a deep love for animals and ranch life from an early age. She was known for her natural ability to train horses and her uncanny way of talking to animals — she loved them all. With her warm, gregarious nature and gifted horsemanship, Debby was cherished by all who knew her. She attended country schools in Ilmont and Pasture Creek before graduating from high school in Nashua. In 1972, Debby married Pat Irwin and, together, they had two beloved daughters, Leah and Shannon. During their early years, Debby juggled helping her parents on the ranch and working as a care aide at Nemont Manor — a role she enjoyed and found meaningful. Debby later married Mike Gagne and together they owned and operated the Buckhorn Bar. A true people person, Debby thrived in this setting — she was genuinely interested in every person she met and loved to visit with customers. In 1997, Debby married her best friend and true partner, Jack Hinnaland. Together, they poured their hearts into ranch life — raising bucking horses and cattle breaking horses and running wagon trains. Debby and Jack were long-time contributors to the Montana High School Rodeo Association and produced numerous other rodeos throughout the years. Their dedication to rodeo and western heritage was recognized in 2022 when they were inducted into the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame — an honor that meant the world to them. After losing Jack to illness in 2023, Debby carried on with remarkable strength and determination, continuing to run the ranch on her own. Debby also found deep joy in her growing family. She adored her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, taking pride in each of their accomplishments and personalities. She would light up whenever she spoke about them, and time spent with her girls and their families brought her tremendous happiness. On April 14, 2025, Debby’s life was tragically cut short in a ranch accident. True to form, she lived life fully and passionately on her own terms, right to the end. Her passing is an enormous loss — not only for her family but for the wider community. Debby was a knowledge keeper, a pillar of strength, and a generous soul whose wisdom, humor, and stories will be deeply missed. She is survived by her daughters, Leah Kolstad (Lance) and Shannon Stone (Jim); grandchildren, Julia Bengochea (Griffin), Emily Kolstad (Connor), Ayla Vredeveld (Jamie), Elle Stone and Eve Stone; great-grandchildren, Nora, Brennin and June; siblings, Jay Walton (Great Falls), Frederick Walton (Montgomery, Texas), and Sandra Jaycox (Victoria, B.C.); and sister-in-law, Paty Walton (Coeur d’Alene, Idaho). Debby was predeceased by her parents, Gwennie (Ethel) and John E. Walton; her brother, Vaughn Walton; and her sister, Donna Wildman. Debby will be remembered for her deep sense of community, her generosity, her quick wit and her joy in gentle teasing. She leaves behind a legacy of strength, kindness and unwavering spirit. Debby has met Jack at the gate … the last gate, forever. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, April 28, 2025, at Bell Mortuary in Glasgow with a luncheon to follow at the Cottonwood Inn. Debby will be inurned at a later date. Condolences for the family may be left online at bellmortuarymt. com. (Paid Obituary)

Connie Dillon Grayson, 90, passed away peacefully on Feb. 16, 2025, under the care of BeeHive Homes of Kalispell. Connie was born July 4, 1934, the eldest daughter of Sylvester and Clyta (Pete) Dillon. She was raised in Wolf Point and attended Sunnyside School, later graduating valedictorian of her class at Wolf Point High School in 1952. Connie loved school and often told stories of how important receiving an education was to her. After high school graduation, Connie briefly married Grant Grayson and raised two children, Scott and Holly, in Wolf Point, Helena, Great Falls and Kalispell. In addition to being a doting mother, an adventuresome cook, and a fashion follower, she was a willing and competent farmhand on her father’s wheat farm. She attended bookkeeping school in Billings and served in several secretarial and bookkeeping positions as she moved around the country. Connie was vivacious, hardworking and full of fun, making her unusually valued in any position she held. She enjoyed politics and worked in Helena for the Republican party as well as for the State of Oregon. In the 1970s in Monterey, Calif., Connie started a house cleaning business while building her artwork inventory. In her 50s, Connie returned to school at the University of California, Santa Cruz and earned a bachelor’s degree with a major in community studies, competing on the collegiate tennis team at age 56. Connie spent many years living in Monterey and Salinas, Calif., where she delighted in the warm climate, allowing her the freedom to run and play tennis as much as possible while making friends with other sports enthusiasts. After completing her college degree, Connie lived in Salem, Oregon and California and pursued her true passion, which was art. She was a photographer and a screen printer and enjoyed making unique and intricate pieces of art from homemade paper. Connie took great pleasure in loading up her van with all of the necessary items for an art show and driving around California or Oregon, participating in the art scene and successfully supporting herself as an artist for many years. In 2001, Connie inherited her mother’s home in Wolf Point and returned to her place of birth to renovate the home and reconnect with relatives. During this time, Connie delighted in laboring over the renovation of the home, gardening (and picking every last weed) and having a front row seat in the lives of her grandniece and -nephews, Jaclyn, Jakeb and Joshua. Connie always made her mark on any community she entered as she was light hearted, joyful and welcoming. She often reminisced about the years Jaclyn brought her basketball friends to her house during lunch. She kept the fridge well stocked! She also doted on Jake and Josh, reveling in their creative play after school where her “house in town” was always Open House! In 2012, Connie was able to sell the Wolf Point home and moved back to Kalispell for her remaining years. She delighted in time with her son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Patty, and their daughters, Annie and Maggie and their families. When she proudly became a grandmother at the age of 50, she declined the title of “grandma” and preferred “Grannie” instead. Annie and Maggie always knew how much they meant to her because she was consistently present in their lives. Grannie lit up any room she walked into with her beautiful smile, energetic personality and funny stories. She was supportive and loving, fiercely independent and a treasure to those who loved her. She showed a sincere interest in other people and her constant sense of humor endeared her to many people. Grannie loved art, flowers, sports, and reading. Her homes were always full of tasteful, artistic items and bouquets of collected flowers. She appreciated ordinary, beautiful things and taught her loved ones to do the same. Connie beat three different types of cancer and handled dementia with grace when she reached her late 80s. She cared for her daughter Holly with passion and selflessness until Holly’s passing in 2018. She never stopped sharing her gratitude for the care she received from her son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Patty Grayson, and for the staff at BeeHive Homes of Kalispell. Connie was preceded in death by her parents, Sylvester and Clyta (Pete) Dillon; her sister, Barbara Dillon; her daughter, Holly Grayson Owens; and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Connie is survived by her sister, Clyta (Dogie) Dillon Barry (Mark); nephew, JD Sansaver (Jenine); niece, Mikel Sansaver (Tim Kurokawa); great-niece, Jaclyn Fearis (Garrison); great-nephews, Jakeb and Josh Bushman; son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Patty Grayson; granddaughters, Annie Lillard (David) and Maggie Rowe (Ben); and five great-grandchildren, Jeff, Simon, Gregory, Cora and Grayson. We will forever celebrate Grannie! (Paid Obituary)

Brent Follet, 30, died April 16, 2025, in Wolf Point. A prayer service will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 25 at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Interment will follow at the Oswego Presbyterian Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point was entrusted with the arrangements.

Ken Norgaard died April 20, 2025, in Billings. The funeral service will be announced at a later date pending the completion of the arrangements with Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point.

Nevin Lloyd Kelly, 22, of Circle died April 18, 2025. Family will receive friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 24, at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Circle. His funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday, April 25, at Faith Assembly of God Church in Circle. Interment will be at Riverview Cemetery in Circle.

Ryan Whitehorse, 42, died April 19, 2025, in Billings. The funeral service will be announced at a later date pending the completion of the arrangements with Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point.

Ross Patrick Ruhd was born on July 30, 1976, in Wolf Point, Mont., to Kiyo and Rockie Ruhd. He passed away on Jan. 8, 2025, in Great Falls. Cremation has taken place and a celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 11 a.m. at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel, who has been entrusted with the arrangements. (Paid Obituary)