Colleen Shumway, 64, died April 29, 2020, of complications from COPD at her home in Billings. She was born in Wolf Point on Jan. 12, 1956. She was the second child of four born to Jack and Barb Shumway. She was raised on the family farm northwest of Wolf Point. She and her siblings helped with the farm work but enjoyed playing and riding horseback over the hills and prairies. Their only rule was to be in the yard by dark. A few months after graduating from Wolf Point High School, she moved to Billings. After trying different jobs, she moved back to Wolf Point. She worked for Roosevelt County in the land department and then for Roger Wimmer at Roosevelt County Abstract. From there, she had the opportunity to become a petroleum landman. Monte Sandvick and Dave Mork were her mentors and became lifelong friends. She searched hundreds of titles in eastern Montana and western North Dakota. After Colleen's daughter, Callan, was born they both made those trips to various court houses all over the area. Everyone in those areas was well acquainted with Callan and her favorite doll, Betsy. The life on the road led her to meet Bruce Chappell. At every opportunity, she went home to the farm to ride horseback. She loved riding and helping her dad gather cattle. She never missed Christmas, branding or Stampede. After Callan was born, she brought her to all of these occasions so that she would get to experience them. In 1986, she moved to Billings and remained there until her death. She maintained many lifelong friendships around Wolf Point, but also with the many people she met along the way. She never met a stranger. She was kind, giving and truly loved people. She is survived by daughter, Callan Nagy; one grandson; mother, Barb Shumway; brother, Mark Shumway; and sisters, Cheryl Pearson and Dawn Shumway. She was preceded in death by her father, Jack Shumway, and her love, Bruce Chappell.

Helen Marie Lizotte, 82, died at Riverstone Hospice in Billings on May 16, 2020. She was born Dec. 11, 1937, to Stephen and Bertha Lizotte in Belcourt, N.D. Her family moved to Poplar when her father found work at the Ault Ranch. That is where she met and married Raymond Hagadone. They had two children, Douglas Wayne and Julie Ann. After their divorce, she moved with her small children to Billings to begin a new life for them. She went to work for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, starting in an entry level position. Because of her integrity and incredible work ethic, she moved up the ranks and, in 1987, retired as the administrative officer for the Fort Peck Tribes and first female acting superintendent of a reservation in the state of Montana. After retirement, she moved to Hardin to be near her mother. It was while living in Hardin that she met David Conroy. She and David had only 14 years together, but those years were filled with love, happiness and adventure. She gained a whole new family through David and many happy memories were made at brandings, large annual camping events in the Snowies, gatherings at the Lodge Compound in the Pryor Mountains and wintering in Quartzsite, Ariz. After David’s death Jan. 1, 2014, she finally gave in to repeated requests and agreed to move to Billings to be closer to family. She made it clear, however, that she would not be giving up her independent ways. Everyone who knew her was keenly aware of her incredible strength and fierce independence; she remained so until the last five months of her life when cancer refused to loosen its ugly grip. Survivors include daughter, Julie Bare; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and bonus children, Marlo Conroy, Kirk Conroy and Tara Hope. She was preceded in death by her son, Doug; life partner, David Conroy and brothers Raymond, Larry and Patrick. A private family burial is planned.

Aurelia Lilly Half Red Bets His Medicine, 80, of Brockton, died May 16, 2020, in Billings. She was born on the Spirit Lake Reservation in North Dakota on Nov. 10, 1939. She was raised by her mother and maternal grandfather and told many stories of her traditional upbringing. She only spoke the Dakota language until she was forced to learn English during her stints in two boarding schools. Although her boarding school experience was tough, it taught her how to be resilient and she resolved to keep her language alive. She got her teaching certificate and later became a Dakota language instructor at the Fort Peck Community College (NAES) and Brockton High School. She and her mother moved to Montana in 1949 to find a home. They moved around to various places until settling in Fort Kipp where she was later “mutually introduced” to her future husband, Ray, by well-meaning grandparents when they were in their teens. They married in 1960 and made their home on the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Reservation in northeast Montana, where Ray was an enrolled member. They bought their twobedroom house in 1968 and had it placed on seven acres in the country so their children could raise animals and have room to run without the hassle of “city living.” They had five children and raised them together, along with various “foster” children, until his death in 1995. They never considered these children to be “fosters,” they welcomed them into their home and eventually had to turn the two-bedroom home into a five-bedroom home to accommodate their own children and the extra children entrusted to their care. After her husband’s death, she continued to open her home to anyone who needed shelter, whether that was a friend running from a dangerous situation with their children in tow or any child needing a safe place to sleep. When her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were born, she took great pleasure in helping to raise them. Stories were told by community members about how she was never alone when she went anywhere. Her van was always filled with children. She was a woman of extreme faith. She is survived by three daughters, Raylene Bets His Medicine, Theresa Bets His Medicine and Anissa Gabrielson; two sons: Travis Bets His Medicine and Dave Bets His Medicine; an adopted son, Carlin Iron Moccasin; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and sister, Sybil Summers. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray; her mother, Agnes; father, Loyal Half Red; sister, Eliza Lambert; and grandson, Rocket Speed. A funeral service was held Thursday, May 21, at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Interment was at Fort Kipp Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.

Arienne Jessan Low Dog, Was’te Ina Wiya, “Good Mother Woman,” Road the Thunderbird, 30, of Wolf Point, died May 21, 2020, in Wolf Point. She was born July 15, 1989, in Wolf Point to Anita Nylene Iron Cloud and Jeffrey Low Dog Sr. She attended school in Wolf Point, Wahpeton, N.D., Frazer and a year at Fort Peck Community College. She had many jobs through her lifetime, mostly in the customer service area and as a home health aide. She loved to spend time with family and friends. She enjoyed outdoors, camping, swimming, barbecuing, traveling, cruising, listening to music and playing board games with family and friends. She enjoyed laughing, joking and visiting. She was an awesome artist, always drawing pictures and name designs for friends and family. She was always willing to help when needed and always up for an adventure. She wanted so much to have more time and was still setting goals like finishing college and getting her driver’s license. She had so many plans for herself and her children. She had a big heart, a smile that lit up the room and love for everyone. She is preceded in death by grandparents Myrna Joy Boyd, Thomas Ira Iron Cloud, Donna “Bonnie” Nelson, Joseph Low Dog Sr., Yvonne Low Dog-Shields; stepmother, Rebecca Low Dog; brother, Aaron Leonard Perry, Jeremy Red Dog and Brandon Little Bird. She is survived by her children, Jayceon Clark, Amya Low Dog, Dayton Low Dog, and Arious Beauchamp; father, Jeffrey Low Dog Sr.; sister, Althea Iron Cloud; and brothers, Alwin Dubois, Albert Schindler, Alaric Low Dog Sr., Jeffrey Low Dog Jr. A funeral was held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Interment was at King Memorial Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements. Due to COVID-19 regulations in place, we ask that only immediate family and friends attend the services. A live stream video of the funeral service will be available on the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel’s Facebook page. The video will be available on this page following the services.