Verona Lea Boger Bubak, 84, died Thursday, Oct. 3, 2024. She was born to Albert and Hazel Boger on Oct. 12, 1939, in Plentywood. She grew up in Froid and attended Froid High School before meeting Leonard Bubak. The two were married on June 15, 1958, in Froid at Grandview Church of the Brethren. Their loving marriage of 58 years until Leonard's death in 2016 was the foundation behind their numerous relationships with family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, fellow volunteers and church members. They raised two sons in Billings and cherished their many visits with their three grandchildren and daughters- in-law. Together, they volunteered at St. Vincent's Hospital and served at First Christian Church in Billings for decades. She taught Sunday school for many years and contributed to various church committees. After graduating from Froid High School, she attended business school in Minot, N.D. She and Leonard lived in several states in the northwest before settling down in Billings in 1967. She was known as a loving neighbor who helped others any way she could, whether by offering an encouraging word, spending time with an ailing friend or sharing sweet treats that she had baked. She was well known by children and parents in the Billings Heights community from her decades working as the Bitterroot Elementary School secretary from 1972 to 1999. This past May, she moved to Birmingham, Ala., to live near her younger son. A memorial gathering with family and friends will be held at a later date in Billings and Froid.

Jerome “Jerry” Osterhout, 86, of Culbertson, Mont., passed away on Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, at the Roosevelt Medical Center in Culbertson, Mont. Graveside services for Jerry were held Monday, Oct. 14, 2024, at 11 a.m. (MDT) at the Sentinel Butte Cemetery, east of Sentinel Butte, N.D. Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home in Williston, N.D., is assisting the family. Friends may sign the on-line register and give their condolences at www.fulkersons. com. Jerome “Jerry” was born to Ernest and Violet (Waldahl) Osterhout in Beach, N.D. Jerry and his sister, Joan, were raised by his aunt and uncle, Bill and Muriel Waldahl, in Sentinel Butte, N.D. He graduated from Sentinel Butte High School with the Class of 1956. Jerry’s passion for the rodeo began early in his life by riding cows and he would start competing in amateur rodeos in 1954. Jerry qualified for the 1956 National High School Rodeo in Reno, Nev., competing in bareback riding and bull riding. Jerry won the second go-round in the bareback riding event. One of Jerry’s proudest moments was winning the state high school bull riding championship on a spinning bull. Today, his grandson wears that buckle. He also competed in bareback riding at Harrison, Neb. Jerry would say his bull ride at Harrison, was “just short.” Amid Jerry’s rodeo memorabilia is a $6.34 check dated July 25, 1955, from the Sioux National Bank in Harrison. At that time, one-fourth of the gross gate receipts were set aside and paid to contestants as mileage for travel expenses. While continuing to compete in amateur rodeos, Jerry would take over his father’s ranch. He rode Jim Barnhart’s Whiz Bang in Medora, N.D., and recalled it was pretty tough but, nonetheless, Jerry won first place in 1959. Along with a high school buckle from the state rodeo, Jerry won bull riding buckles at Killdeer’s RA rodeo and at an amateur rodeo in Richey, Mont. In 1961, he won bull ridings at New Salem, N.D., Sidney and Helena, Mont. He then decided to retire from rodeo competition that year. Jerry would marry Judy Myers and have four children, Jesse, Jack, Jerald and Jodi. He went on to work at various ranches in western North Dakota and eastern Montana. Jerry’s love for horses and Hereford cattle would forever be his calling. Since retirement, he lived on his ranch west of Medora, N.D. Jerry later moved to Culbertson, Mont., to be closer to his family and form strong bonds with his grandchildren. Jerry lived a full and adventurous life, but his family and friends will also remember him for how gentle and kind he was. Jerry’s family will forever be grateful to the staff at Roosevelt Medical Center in Culbertson, Mont., for their exceptional and loving care! He was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Violet Osterhout; aunt and uncle, Bill and Muriel Waldahl; sons, Jesse and Jerald Osterhout; sister, Joan Barkland; and nieces, Sandra and Linda Barkland. Jerry is survived by his son, Jack Osterhout; daughter, Jodi (Dale) Nelson; grandchildren, Paydon, Cordel and Nolan Nelson; great-grandchildren, Miles and Briggs; and nephews and nieces. In lieu of flowers, Jerry’s family would suggest donations be made in Jerry’s name to the Roosevelt Memorial Heathcare Foundation at 818 2nd Ave E, Culbertson, MT 59218. (Paid Obituary)