Pauline Francis Johnson, 36, of Poplar died May 1, 2020. She was born Aug. 28, 1983, in Poplar to Dewey and Vearlene. She attended Medicine Lake School and graduated in 2003. She attended Kicking Horse Job Corps, then returned to Poplar where she worked at the school and did other various jobs with her fiancé, Lester Menz. She was always a kind soul. She loved her family and friends. She had an infectious smile and mischievous grin, and her laughter was contagious. She loved making the people around her laugh and will always be remembered for being a caring person and making those she loved feel important. She is survived by her fiancé, Lester Menz; daughter, Anna; son, Samuel; father, Dewey (Antoinette) Johnson; mother, Vearlene (Allen) Red-Dog; sisters, Carrie Kennedy, Laura Johnson, Eva Hernandez, Mikhael Johnson, Leona Mitchell, Emerald Baxter, Sapphire Johnson, Diamond Johnson and Christine Johnson; and brothers, John Johnson, Patrick Johnson, Leon Mitchell, Andrew Mitchell and Taurean Baxter. She was preceded in death by her brother, Daniel Johnson. Services will be held in Wolf Point followed by burial at the family burial site north of Brockton. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point was entrusted with the arrangements.

Clifford John Country, 38, of Poplar died April 25, 2020. Affectionately known as “Duta” as a young boy, he was born in Poplar to Bonnie Clincher and Jeff Country of Sisseton, S.D., on May 20, 1982. His mother later married Herman Red Elk, who helped raised him from a young age. He attended Poplar Schools. He grew up with Alan Hoke across the street. They could always be seen together and, when the hoop went up, many games were played between all his childhood friends. He spent a summer in Laurel and grew close with cousins Verle Clincher and Louis Montclair. He transferred to Flandreau Indian School in Flandreau, S.D., graduating in 2001. He made lifelong friendships that continued to this day. After graduating, he attended Job Corps in Nemo, S.D., where he studied trades in masonry and culinary arts. A group of friends had started Rez Life Ent around 2003 and he joined the group around 2005. This was an important part of his life and they made many songs and videos, some that can be seen on YouTube. The group consisted of best friend and brothers Chaz Dillon, “Chaz D”, Casey Weston, Paul Atkinson (Wazetta), James Culbertson (Jimmy C), BJ Johnson (Benzo), Vern Red Elk and Milo Whitetail (Siouxicide) and Dorrance (Bodoo) Comes Last. he worked at Tribal Express, Commodity Foods, Faith Lutheran Home and lastly at Agland West with the “Swagland Crew.” In 2014, he met Kay Weston and they welcomed a daughter, Carolann Lenore Country, Feb. 5, 2016. He loved Kay’s son, Lucas Fast Horse, as his son, enjoying getting him ready for school and into the school building. There was never a kinder soul. He never got mad and was always the one who calmed everyone down. He didn’t let things that happened in life harden his heart. He loved to cruise, hang out with friends and family, jamming to good tunes. In his later days, he was always hanging with his best friend and brother, Zack Dionne. He is survived by his daughter, Carolann Country; Kay Weston and Lucus Fast-Horse of Wolf Point; brothers, Vern Red Elk of Miles City, Randy Red Elk of Wolf Point, Jesse Country of Washington and John Country of Sisseton, S.D.; sisters, Charley Red Elk-Snell of Glasgow, Carly Clincher of Wolf Point and Lynn Country of Grand Forks N.D.; and grandmother, Roberta “Bobbie Clincher of Laurel. Graveside services were held Friday, May 1, at the Riverside Presbyterian Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point was entrusted with the arrangements.

Former Congressman Ron Marlenee, 84, died Sunday, April 26, 2020, in Bozeman. He was born Aug. 8, 1935, in Scobey to Charles and Margaret (Darchuk) Marlenee. He was later joined by brothers, Bob and Lanny. The family homesteaded in a tar paper shack north of Scobey while Charles with his wife, Margaret, started and operated a farm through both a depression and a world war. The oldest of three, responsibility set in early and hard work became the mainstay of his life. He graduated from Scobey Schools and attended Montana State University and the University of Montana before being called back to work on the family farm. He attended and graduated from the Reisch School of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa, and used his skills throughout his life auctioneering livestock throughout Montana and later on the campaign trail, donating his time for good causes. He was also proud to be a Freemason and a Shriner. He married Carmen Willard and together they had five children, David, Mike, Sheila, Casey and Allison. In 1978, he married Cindy Tiemann who became his wife, political partner and best hunting and fishing buddy. In 1976, he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in what was a rare Republican win in a disastrous election for the GOP on the heels of Watergate. Democrats dominated Montana politics, particularly at the federal level. He was one of only two Republican candidates elected that year in the state. While in Congress, he served on the Agriculture and Natural Resources committees and was known as a fierce fighter for the common man against a bureaucracy. He enjoyed working with President Ronald Reagan and referred to him as “the greatest politician and leader” he had ever met. They remained friends for many years. He was elected to Congress seven more times and, in 1992, due to the census, Montana lost one of its two seats in Washington, D.C. This pitted the two Montana congressmen against each other in an epic political battle that garnered national attention. He lost to Pat Williams in an extremely close and well-fought race. After leaving Congress, he went on to represent Safari Club International, a hunting conservation group in D.C., until retiring to his home in Bridger Canyon north of Bozeman. Throughout their lives, he and Cindy traveled extensively and were blessed to have made many lifelong friends. While he was best known for his political life, he is most fondly remembered as a father and grandfather. He created many adventures and memories for his children and grandchildren in the Bridger Mountains at the family cabin. There was always a new adventure or mystery to solve in their beloved Sherwood Forest. Hidden among the castles and the forts were buried treasures to be found, frog hunting from the pirate ‘paddle' boat and rope swings from massive trees down to the slide into the icy water at the pond. He always had a luge built when the grandchildren arrived in the winter with plenty of sleds and, of course, skiing at Bridger Bowl and his famous hot cocoa. In staying with his childhood tradition, he organized family fishing trips to Canada. He was happiest working on the hill whether it was in D.C. or at Bridger Bowl where he was building a legacy of love for his grandchildren. He was especially affected by his grandson Jake's death two years ago. His heart was weakened from that moment on. He is survived by his wife, Cindy of Bozeman; children, Sheila Wolff of Billings, Casey of Bozeman and Boise, Idaho and Allison Helland of Glasgow; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by brothers, Bob and Lanny; sons, David and Mike; and grandson, Jacob. Due to the pandemic, memorial services are planned for Aug. 8 at the Springhill Presbyterian Church in Bozeman.