Margaret Abbott, 80, of Poplar died Nov. 14, 2023. She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on July 4, 1943, to Clarence Joseph Schneider and Concetta Alba Bellantoni. Her early childhood was spent in a loving home with Grandmother Rose while her father served in the United States Navy and her mother worked. After World War II, the family moved to Riverton, Wyo., where her younger sister, Diane, was born. The family grew with brothers Richard and Hudson and sisters Marilyn, Peggy and Valarie. The family later moved to Billings, where she spent her educational years. She graduated from Billings Central High School in 1961. Shortly after her graduation, she met and married Joe Abbott and they settled in Poplar. They raised three children: Larry, Rose and Bonnie. She went back tot school, attending Eastern Montana College in Billings where she received her teaching degree (bachelor of science in English and history) in 1973. She began teaching at the Poplar Schools in 1973 and taught there for 30 years. In 1995, she took a sabbatical and went back to school at the University of Montana in Missoula where she earned her masters degree in English education. After Joe’s death in 2005, she started a new teaching career in the English Department at Fort Peck Community College where she continued to teach until May 2023. She was greatly liked and respected by faculty, administration and, most importantly, her students. She was a generous instructor who developed great relationships with everyone. She was elected Faculty Senate secretary/ treasurer and was awarded Faculty of the Year status. She loved teaching, gardening, books and crossword puzzles, rock concerts (Rolling Stones), helping others with her community services and volunteering when someone or some group needed an extra hand. She was also a religious woman who attended church regularly and participated in services. She also loved to cook and bake, providing “goodies” whenever the opportunity arose. She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe; and her daughter, Rose. She is survived by her son, Larry; daughter, Bonnie; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Her funeral mass was held Tuesday, Nov. 21, at the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Poplar. Cremation will follow. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.

Georgia Kay Lee (Brien) Johnson, 65, of Poplar died Nov. 7, 2023. She was born to Roberta Renz and George Brien on Oct. 18, 1958, in Poplar. Her childhood was spent mostly in Poplar where she resided for the majority of her life. She spent a couple of years on the LDS Placement Program in Washington state, but Poplar was always her home. She will be remembered for making her home beautiful inside and out. She was very conscientious about her yard work, patio, garden and her “she shed”. She would make sure her home and yard were beautifully decorated to celebrate the holidays and seasons of the year. She loved being a good hostess, eager to prepare holiday dinners for her family and friends. She is survived by her husband, Gerald “Jerry” Johnson; children, Lesley Brien, Dorrance Jr. and Coye Steele; eight grandchildren; two great-granddaughters; sisters, Paula FireMoon, Anita Brien and Barbara Johnson; and brothers, Robert and Richard Brien. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Harold and Roger, and father of her children, Dorrance Steele Sr. Her funeral service was held Thursday, Nov. 16, at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Poplar. Cremation followed. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was in charge of the arrangements.

Elisha TalksDifferent-Beston Elisha Ann “Tiny” Talks-Different-Beston, “Giya Ota Wiya-Comes Flying Woman”, 46, died Nov. 13, 2023, at Trinity Hospital in Wolf Point. She was born Oct. 2, 1977, in Fort Belknap to Michael G. TalksDifferent and Marlene A. Steele. She grew up on the Fort Peck and Fort Belknap reservations. In 1996, she moved to Wolf Point where she remained until her death. She was a CNA at the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home. She loved to bake and was always making frybread, cinnamon rolls, bread and cookies. She loved to visit her family and friends, always teasing and having a good time. She loved to take care of people and was always looking out for others. She wanted to make sure people were fed and warm. She met and married Royce Follet and they were together for 10 years. She had four children, Lori Ann TalksDifferent, Seth Laverdure, Joseph and Baily Beston; and two grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Royce Follet; children, Seth, Joseph and Baily; father, Michael TalksDifferent; and sisters, Joanne, Valerie, Kelly, Mariel, Dori, Tisha, Ada, Shelley and Carrie. She was preceded in death by her step-mother, Mari; sisters, Gerarda and Anna; brother, Richard; and daughter, Lori Ann. Her funeral service was held Friday, Nov. 17, at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Interment followed at the King Memorial Cemetery in Wolf Point. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point was entrusted with the arrangements.

Gary Dale Brien Sr., 79, died Nov. 13, 2023, at Sanford Hospital in Bismarck, N.D. He was born April 28, 1944, on the farm at Medicine Lake to Julius and Joy (Rather) Brien and spent the majority of his life in Medicine Lake. He was a rifle marksman in the Army National Guard from 1964-1970 and served his country proudly. He enjoyed doing many things, but it was hunting and fishing, especially with his family and friends, that he loved most. Often, he could be seen cruising around town, most likely taking care of those gophers. He was quite the shot, even at 79. He also enjoyed his daily trips to the Medicine Lake gas station where he would sit and have coffee with his friends and visit. He also enjoyed going to the Honker Pit to visit the ladies and have lunch. He loved the visits he would have with his children and those that would often pop in and find him napping in his chair at home. He is survived by his children, Ronnette McCabe of Ekalaka, Brenda Christensen of Ekalaka, Pam Strandlund of Topeka, Kansas, Sheila Devor of Towanda, Kansas; Gary Brien Jr. of Fairview and Shawn Brien of Munich, N.D.; sister, Sheila Krug of Topeka, Kansas; and numerous grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son Tracy, Brien; sisters, Iva, Ramona and Shirley; and brothers, Larry and baby Bernard. No public service is planned at this time. He will be cremated and the family will have a private service at a later date.

Sarah Rabbe, 80, of Bainville died at the Roosevelt Medical Center in Culbertson on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 18, 2023. In keeping with her wishes, cremation has taken place. Father Paul Eberle will celebrate her Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 1, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Williston, N.D. Interment in Riverview Cemetery will follow the funeral mass. Friends may view pictures and sign a register book on Thursday, Nov. 30, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and for the hour preceding the service at the church on Friday.