Jo Ann Russell, 72, of Poplar died Aug. 27, 2023, in Billings. She was born to Vida (Walking Eagle) Muskrat and Daniel Russell on Feb. 16, 1951, at the Poplar hospital in Poplar. She grew up in Poplar and attended schools in Poplar, later earning her G.E.D. She married Darrell Reddog Sr. in 1968. They were married for 18 years. To this union, four children were born. They later divorced but remained friends up until Darrell’s death in 1999. Her longtime companion was David Tuttle. She worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs as a realty clerk for many years. She also worked for the Fort Peck Tribes TERO Department and as a process server for the Fort Peck Tribal Courts. She loved cruising, being with family and friends joking, had a warm heart and great sense of humor. She always had a smile, making someone laugh or teasing. She will be remembered by her compassion for others and being there for family. She is survived by daughter, Farrell Simons; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and sister, Bonnie Menz. She was preceded in death by her sisters, Catherine Russell and Isabel; brothers, Ralph and Lewellyn, Davey, Desmond Sr. and John Muskrat; daughters, Tammy and Tracy Reddog; sons, Darrell Red Dog Jr. and Richard Russell; and grandchildren, Maurice Morsette, Lane Ferguson, Roxanne Morsette and Kristen Ferguson. Her funeral was held Friday, Sept. 8, at the LDS Church in Poplar. Interment was at the Poplar City Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.

Marlene Virginia Rose Youpee, Wicanhpi To Wi (Blue Star Woman), 33, died Sept. 4, 2023, in her home in Poplar. Also known as Marz by her close friends and family on the Fort Peck Reservation as well as Rocky Boy Reservation, she was born Aug. 27, 1990, to Cheryl Sutherland and Bernard Noel Youpee. She was gifted her paternal grandmother Melvene Spotted Bird’s Dakota name. She attended Poplar Elementary School for several years, then attended elementary and junior high in Brockton. She moved to Rocky Boy to live with her mother. She went to the Box Elder High School, where she placed first in the annual spelling bee. Her junior year, she went to the Chemawa Indian School in Salem, Ore., until her hot temper got her sent back to Brockton to live with her father. In Brockton, she became a cheerleader and gave away several star quilts during tournament time. She didn’t graduate high school, but did get her G.E.D. in 2008. She continued her education at the Stone Child College for several semesters. In 2008, her first son, Vincent, was born. In 2010, her second son, Joedaus, was born. In 2011, she was shot in the leg so she moved back to Poplar from Rocky Boy with her sister. After she healed, she became a fry cook at B& S laundry for about a year. She worked as a cashier at Tribal Express until moving to the casino in Tribal Express. She loved working in the casino. She moved to Brockton for a couple years and had her baby Kilijah Junior in 2018. She loved to watch cooking shows and loved to cook up for family. She also liked her haunted spooky makeup tutorials. When traveling to watch her children dance powwows or to watch her sons play football, she was always sitting in the back to snuggle and play with them. When she did go on the powwow trail with her sister, she knew what needed to be done. She went to Standing Rock to represent both her tribes — Fort Peck and Rocky Boy — during the standoff, “No DAPL.” She was baptized in Fort Kipp at the Presbyterian church. Growing up in Brockton, she would attend the Baptist church on Sundays. Living in Rocky Boy, she attended the Assembly of God church. She would attend her family’s sundance every year in Brockton “Tatanka Yamni” Three Buffalo. At the end of her short lived life, she was attending Pastor Jay Cumming’s church west of Poplar, the Assembly of God. She was preceded in death by her baby son, Andre Dean; and brother, Richard “Dicky Bob” Brown. She is survived by her mother; children, Vincent Youpee, Joedaus Small and Kilijah Good Soldier Jr.; adopted sons, Caden Bear, David Parker and Aaron Savior- Jackson; nephew who she helped raise, Logan Cloud; siblings, Terrell Sutherland, Seneca Sutherland, Cale Martell, Brandon Martell, Britney Cloud, Edmund Youpee, Zachary Brown Jewell Youpee; two grandchildren, Ravonnie Harris and Kailoe Red Thunder; grandmothers, Jewel Hanna, Doris Spotted Bird, Gloria Chopper, Delilah Wakan, Kate Youpee, Jaime Youpee Sharon (Wilson) Roberts, Doris “Ducky” Bird and Juanita (Doug) Youngman. Funeral services were held Tuesday, Sept. 12, at the Poplar Cultural Center. Interment was at the Fort Kipp Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.

Ray Alfred Ackerman, “Sweat Lodge Eagle,” 60, died Aug. 28, 2023. He was born in Wolf Point on Aug. 9, 1963, to Wilbert Sr. and Isabelle Ackerman. He had two children from a previous relationship, Jade Ackerman and Buckley Ackerman. Then, he met Carmen Welch. From his time with her, he had three more children, Curtis Bird Hat, Candice Bird Hat and Sloan Follet. He loved to play pool, basketball, watch TV, have fun and laugh with his friends. He traveled the powwow circuit with Carmen and their family for many years. He enjoyed visiting with the people that came to the food stand especially the elders. He was a very respected man at those powwows everyone enjoyed talking to him. He was always making his family and friends laugh and smile. He worked as a wildland firefighter for many years when he was younger. He started laying fiber optic cable in Wolf Point until the job was completed. Then, he worked a construction job with Twin Cloud Construction for many years until he retired. He is survived by Carmen Welch; children, Jade Heather Ackerman, Buckley Cole Ackerman and Candice Bird Hat; sister, Jewel Ackerman and Wanda Ackerman; brothers, Floyd Ackerman, Sr and Wilbert Ackerman Jr.; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by sisters, Cordelia Ackerman, Florine Ackerman and Annette Ackerman; brothers, Douglas Runs Through and Stanley Ackerman; two stepsons, Curtis Bird Hat and Sloan Follet; and granddaughter, Cailee Skye Bird Hat. Funeral services were held Thursday, Sept. 7, at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Interment was at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Frazer. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.

David Allen St. Germaine, 59, of Wolf Point died Aug. 19, 2023, in Billings. He was born in Hardin on July 13, 1964, to Andrew (Dings) and Carol (Janie) Davis St. Germaine. He graduated from Wolf Point. He joined the Air Force in August 1982. He moved to Billings for a while and returned to Wolf Point. On June 10, 2007, he married Sandra Schindler and enjoyed being foster parents to Curtis and Amiya. He worked for Will’s Office World for years and later worked at Town Pump. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sandra Schindler St. Germaine; and brother, Wade Granbois. A rosary will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5, at the Immaculate Conception Church in Wolf Point. The funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 6, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Wolf Point. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Wolf Point.

Curtis Waylon Durfey, 77, died at home on Aug. 8, 2023. He was born Oct. 1, 1945, to parents Odway and Bud Durfey and grew up in Richey. He graduated from high school in 1963. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1967 and his last service assignment was Cam Rahn Bay, Vietnam. He was passionate about his U.S. Navy service with memorabilia throughout his home. He met his wife, Karen, at the wedding of her brother and his sister. After dating for five years, they were married 48 years. His love of knowledge motivated him to earn his bachelor’s degree in history in 1991 from Eastern Montana College. He was a mystery book lover, a master of landscaping and gardening and also a talented builder of car and plane models, especially World War II. He enjoyed crossword puzzles and could build or repair anything. Pets always ran the Durfey household. There was always a kitty napping with him. He was preceded in death by his sister, Ellen Battin. Survivors include his wife, Karen; daughter, Kathy Terry; and two granddaughters. A graveside service with full military honors will be held at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Billings Sept. 28 at 2 p.m.