Leonard Johann Hustad, 89, of Bainville, Mont., passed away on March 28, 2023, at Roosevelt Nursing Home in Culbertson, Mont., after a full and long life. Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home of Williston is assisting the family. Friends may sign the on-line register and give their condolences at www.fulkersons.com. Born May 12, 1933 in Lustre, Mont., Dad grew up during the Great Depression and World War II. He was the third child of Norwegian immigrant Anton and Alma (Kjensrud) Hustad. He joined older brother Myron and sister Doris, not long after, Russell and Marlon were born. The five siblings filled their simple tar paper shack. Dad’s simple up bringing played a large part of who he would be. He left school after the eighth grade, finding work on the Hustad farm, as a laborer on the Glasgow Air Force base, as well as a delivery driver for a local gas company. On Oct. 20, 1957, Dad married Betty Eschenbacher and together they raised two sons, Don and David, whom Mom brought into their marriage. I was born in 1958 and the family was complete. In 1965, we moved back to Mom’s family farm, north of Bainville, where they raised their family and continued to work the farm together. They truly were a great pair, working side by side, as they milked cows which they delivered to local customers. Dad was a hard worker, a man of many trades and incredibly stubborn. This was a testament to his strong Norwegian heritage. When they moved to Bainville, he found his true passion for farming and ranching. He was known as a “frugal” guy often going to auctions to buy machinery and other things that he might need one day. Growing up during the depression, he used what he had, fixed what was broken and saved “everything.” If you didn’t have the money to pay for it, you simply did without. He never found a used tire he didn’t like. To our recollection, he never once bought a new tire. He taught me to be self-sufficient and even made me fix my own bike tires.

Michelle Carlene RedBoy, 25, of Poplar died Monday, March 20, 2023, at the Billings Clinic in Billings. She was born Sept. 22, 1997, in Wolf Point to Kathy Red Eagle and Charles RedBoy. She grew up in Poplar and attended Poplar Schools until her senior year. She received her Hi-Set degree on Jan. 24, 2019. She met Vincent Longtree in September 2015. Together, they had son Lakota Tex Red-Boy-Longtree, “Kota” as she always called him, on Sept. 5, 2016. She was a proud mom to three boys, Lakota, Michael and Gabriel. She enjoyed working for her Grandma Nancy at Nancy’s Housekeeping, but due to health problems she spent most of her time at home with Vince and their three boys. She enjoyed spending time with family. She was a very loving and kind-hearted person. She was always willing to help with anything she was able to. She was the only who would climb in the attic for her grandmother, go to the basement for her Auntie Glenna or drive for her Auntie Carole. All her aunties thought of her as their own. Whenever there was a birthday party or a family gathering, she was always there, ready to help whenever she was needed. She loved having a good time, laughing, joking and visiting with everyone. Her hobbies included going for rides with her mom or sister, playing machines, listening to music and visiting with family friends.

Mary Red Eagle, 76, of Poplar died March 22, 2023, in Billings. She was born to Richard and Rose (Crow Ghost) Ricker on Dec. 21, 1946. She attended school in Poplar and at Flandreau Indian School in South Dakota. She worked at Spotted Bull Treatment Center for a short time and various other jobs. She met Frank Red Eagle, Sr. and they later got married. She is survived by sons, Tyrone Ricker of Poplar and Ira Ricker of Wolf Point; daughter, Lori Red Eagle of Poplar; and numerous grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Red Eagle Sr.; son, Frank Red Eagle III; brothers, Gene Ricker, Orville Ricker, Virgil Ricker and Donnie Ricker; and sisters, Lois Ann Ferguson,