Our beloved mother, sister, grandmother, and friend Mary “Kat” Kathleen Kirn died peacefully in her home on Sept. 18, 2023, in Springdale, Wash., where she resided. She was 81 years old. Kathleen was born on Aug. 3, 1942, in Poplar, Mont., to the late Greggory and Mary (LaRocque) Brien. She was raised in Wolf Point, Mont., and attended Indian mission boarding schools. Kathleen was an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians. Kathleen was a hard worker and would walk to work every day and never missed a day. In 1984, she moved to Spokane, Wash., where she resided. Then, in 2020, she moved to Springdale, Wash., to live with her eldest daughter, Barbara. Kathleen, who went by Kat to many, encompassed all aspects of life, and each was special to her. From her phone chats to joint family outings, to sharing informal and formal meals, to playing bingo at Mid-City with Kathy, Linda, Dot and Judy and other good friends along with her longtime friend Norma Dionne. Kat adventured out near and far. Kathleen was up for it all. If she were not out playing bingo, she would be at home sitting in her comfortable chair laughing away at her favorite soap operas or her favorite cartoons. Or be laughing away on the phone with whoever she was speaking to that day. She was a beautiful lady with a contagious laugh and a friendly smile. As adults, her grandchildren always had fun joking with her and having fun. Whoever her grandchildren were friends with, Kathleen became a second grandma to their friends. Kathleen was always friendly with whoever she met. Kathleen loved to laugh, gave generously of her time, every trip she took was the best she had ever taken. Kathleen truly lived life to the fullest through simple pleasures and was loved by so many. She really enjoyed her time with all her nieces and nephews when she got to visit them. She is survived by her five beautiful daughters, Barbara (Dean) Buche, Shirley (Glenn) Omengebar, Jody (Richard) Archdale, the late Stacey Lebrun, and biological daughter Roseanne Grant; grandchildren,- Felicia Brien, Joe Berger Jr., Shaina (Tracey) Lebret, the late Shylo Brien, Thersina Hope, Lacey Laurenzana, Sarah Laurenzana, Marissa (Manuel) Godinez, Ezeriah Laurenzana, Joel Archdale, Ashley Archdale, Richard (Samantha) Archdale Jr, Joshua Archdale, Jacob Archdale, Nicholas Archdale, Isabel Archdale, Noah Archdale, Joshua Lebrun, Jeremiah Lebrun, Lawrence Mitchell, Logan Mitchell; great-grandchildren, Tyra (Tyler) Parton, Zacheriah Ingram, Isaac Azure, Kendra (Phineas) Olafssen, Isaiah Azure, Trinity Brien, Jeffrey Moyer 3rd, Andrew Moyer, Adam Moyer, Taylor Lebret, Moriah Lebret, Shoni, Lebret, Lindsey Brien, Shylo Brien Jr, Mason Brien, Jayden Hope, Ayrianna Gray, Paulo Laurenzana, Sarai Godinez, Elias Godinez, Auntonio Archdale, and Jayden Archdale; and great-grandchildren, Amaziah and Jameah Parton. She is survived by her brothers and sisters, Andy (Phyllis) Brien, Willard Brien, JoAnn (Brien) Szymanski, Ruth (Brien) Evans, Patrick (Renita) Brien, Mary Jane (Kenneth) Friskey; sisters-inlaw, Daisy Brien, Edna Brien and Lisa Garza; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Greg; mother, Mary; daughter, Stacey Lebrun; brothers, Joseph, Leonard, George and Roy Brien; brothers-in-law, Mack Szymanski and Johnny Evans; sister-in-law, Laverne Brien; along with her beloved grandson, Shylo Brien; and her dear friend, Violet Dejarlais. Her ash burial will be held at the Greenwood Cemetery in Wolf Point Oct. 6, 2023, at 2:30 p.m. On July 6, 2024, there will be a celebration of life in Wolf Point, Mont. (Paid Obituary)

Stonehail Thomas Moccasin (Iya wasu), 18, disappeared in the Missouri River Aug. 26, 2023, and was found deceased Sept. 6, 2023. He was born on April 20, 2005, at Trinity Hospital in Wolf Point to John Moccasin and Dessie Bruce. At birth, his grandfather Ronn gave him his Indian name, Iya wasu (Stonehail) named after his great-great-great-grandfather’s Bluehail and Stonewall Jackson. He was bestowed another Indian name, Wȋchōka Wãsté Wíchā (The man who does good deeds) by Mike Turcotte. He is a member of the Red Bottom Hudesana Assiniboine Clan and Turtle Mountain Chippewa on his maternal side. Also, a descendant and child of Towering House and Bitterwater Clans of the Navajo Tribe on his paternal side. He started his schooling in Frazer from Head Start to elementary until his family moved to Wolf Point in 2011 where he continued his education. In May 2023, he graduated from Wolf Point High School. He started his employment with Albertson’s in Wolf Point as a cashier and service clerk while still going to school. His aspiration was to join the Army National Guard after graduation or become a Homeland Security to be a rescuer and help people. He was an easy-going person, although very quiet. He

Virginia Luise Katharina Moore, 74, died Aug. 31, 2023, in Culbertson. She was born on Nov. 6, 1948, in Gilching, Germany, to Mariano and Luise Botelho. She attended Catholic school all through grade and high school. She married Gary and joined his family of three children on Nov. 14, 1970, and moved to Glasgow Air Force Base where he worked as civil servant. Later, they transferred to Tooele, Utah, where they both worked at Tooele Army Depot. During that time, they helped raise Carrie, their granddaughter. In 1992, they moved back to Culbertson where they made their home. For years while in Utah and after moving back to Montana, she loved selling, and buying, Avon products. She was, in recent years, known for her crocheted afghans. She would spend most of her time making afghans

Roger Dean Big Leggins, 66, died Sept. 3 or 4, 2023, in Poplar. He was born March 16, 1957, in Poplar to Sonya Lee Buckles and Garrett J. Big Leggins Sr., the second son of that marriage. He was raised in Poplar and Denver, Colo. He graduated from high school in 1976 from Stephan Indian School in South Dakota where he began to develop an interest in all phases of building and home construction. As time went on, he developed his carpentry skills and also became a very good handyman and excelled at building lawn ornaments and Indian-design wall shelving, which he gave away as gifts to friends and relatives or sold to help support himself. Later, he joined the Blaze Construction crew, who specialized in home construction projects on Indian reservations. He traveled with Blaze Construction to reservations in states including Montana, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, California, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico. He spent many years working on the Warm Springs reservation in Oregon for that tribe’s Home Improvement Program. When he returned to his home reservation, he was a skilled carpenter and many people called on him for things needed fixing in their homes. He was a happy person and ready to laugh about everything. He was an “Uncle Buck” kind of person who could be counted on when babysitting the house when you were away traveling or fixing a vehicle was needed. He enjoyed visiting his family and going to dinners or barbecues. He liked to watch football with his brother Garrett on Sundays. He is survived by his daughter, Reannon Taylor Black Dog Bear; one grandson; brothers, Garrett I. Big Leggins, Jay Goldhammer, “Little Gary” Big Leggins and Robert Big Leggins; and sisters, Sara Keiser, Tanya Big Leggins, Lori Big Leggins and Vickie Big Leggins. Funeral services were held Friday, Sept. 15, at the Poplar Cultural Center. Interment was at Poplar City Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.

Barbara Jean (Wilkinson) Hentges, 89, died July 28, 2023, at her home in Frazer. She was born Jan. 1, 1934, at her Aunt Flossie’s house on the north side of Wolf Point to William and Ione (Sugden) Wilkinson. She primarily grew up on her grandparent’s homestead on Wolf Creek, north of Wolf Point, where she rode horses and helped her grandparents with their sheep. She graduated from Wolf Point High School in 1952. After high school, she worked for Shell Oil Company as a dispatcher. After work, she and a group of friends would go dancing when local bands would play in the Wolf Point area. At some point later, she was introduced by a friend and future sister-in-law to Edward Hentges. The were married in 1953. Together, they had nine children and she took on the roles of wife, mother, ranch hand and farm hand. After Ed’s death in 1980, she continued farming with help at different times from her boys. She loved being a farmer and knew a lot about it. She loved animals, especially her dogs that she had over the years. She also enjoyed bird watching and reading. Preceding her in death are her husband, Edward; sister, Joyce Steele; and brother, Billy Wilkinson. She is survived by her children, Kip Hentges of Fort Peck, Karen Hentges of North Nashua, Kae Hentges of Queen Valley, Ariz., Ken Hentges of Wolf Point, Kevin Hentges of Frazer, Kyle Hentges of Wolf Point, Klint Hentges of Pahrump, Nev., Kristi Barnett of Glasgow and Kory Hentges of Glasgow; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. There were many people that called her “Mom” or “Gramma.” Everyone came to visit her often and she enjoyed their company and they hers. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Sept. 23, at 1 p.m. at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Interment will follow at Greenwood Cemetery in Wolf Point. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel is in charge of arrangements.