14 December 2023

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Barbara Stephens

Barbara Stephens


Barbara “Barb” Stephens, 74, died at the Sheridan Memorial Nursing Home in Plentywood on Nov. 27, 2023. Barbara Jean Benner Stephens, the second of four children of Elaine Jensen and Harold Benner, was born in Havre on March 24, 1949. Her grandparents, Bettie and Palmer Jensen of Medicine Lake were early pioneers. She grew up in Cavalier and Fargo, N.D. She graduated from Fargo High School in 1967. After high school, she worked at the 1st National Bank in Fargo. She and Robert Ekerberg were married in Fargo, N.D., and two sons, Robert and Randall Ekerberg, joined their family. While her family was growing, she worked at Hombacher’s Grocery in Fargo. She moved to Wolf Point, where she married James “Nim” Stephens Nov. 21, 1987. She worked for a time at the Tastee Freeze and later worked as a special ed aide for Northside School in Wolf Point. She and Nim retired to the Medicine Lake area in 1999. She spent many hours of her day with her craft projects and began selling her crafts at many of the local craft fairs. She was well known for her “scrubbies” and she sold them throughout Montana. She was known to many as the “Scrubbie Lady.” She worked in Medicine Lake Schools as an aide and substitute teacher for several years. She was always good for a song, a joke, a giggle and a dance. She was a cancer survivor. Her active life was cut short by a head injury in an accident which later resulted in a battle with Alzheimer’s. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim “Nim” Stephens; and son, Robert Ekerberg. She is survived by her son, Randall Ekerberg; siblings, Nancy Wey; Bonnie Heslin and Todd Benner; stepson, James Stephens; three grandchildren; a step-granddaughter; and a great-granddaughter. Graveside committal services will be conducted at the Medicine Lake Cemetery in the summer of 2024.

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07 December 2023

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Christmas Bazaar Held

Christmas Bazaar Held


Emily Gabriel (left to right) and Karen Larsen Synan peruse wares offered by vendor Barbara Smith at the annual Christmas Bazaar in Culbertson’s old armory building Dec. 2. (Photo by James Walling)

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Oelkers Selected MACo’s Officer

Oelkers Selected MACo’s Officer


Roosevelt County Commissioner Gordon Oelkers recently was voted the second vice president for the Montana Association of Counties. Oelkers is now in line to serve as the organization’s president in two years. Boards that Oelkers has served on include Montana Association of Oil, Gas and Coal Counties, Eastern Montana Community Mental Health Center, Roosevelt County Health Board along with

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Senior Profile

Senior Profile


Froid High School senior Karli Parks’ face may look familiar to many area residents. Maybe they have even experienced a friendly visit with her as she brings them a meal. Parks keeps busy during after- school hours working as a waitress at The Honker Pit in Medicine Lake. “I feel my work ethic is really good,” Parks said of the job. “I want to be a cosmetologist so it’s important