Virginia (Arduser) Hilkemann was born on Jan. 25, 1925, to George and Fern Arduser in Belden, Neb. She grew up on a farm near Coleridge with siblings Don, Doris and Mary Lou. She loved to play piano and sing with her sister Mary Lou. In 1939, their father was killed when a tree fell on him. After Virginia graduated from Belden High School, she attended Wayne State College long enough to get a teaching degree. She taught country schools in the area until she met Henry Hilkemann after he was discharged from the Army in 1945. On Feb. 2, 1947, the snow was so deep that Virginia’s brother had to use a horse and bobsled to get her to the Methodist Church where Henry and Virginia were married. They went to California for their honeymoon with a ‘39 Chevy, wondering if it would make it there and back to their farm near Randolph, Neb. Three children were born to Henry and Virginia: Arlen, Carolyn and Marilyn. Life on the farm was busy, raising corn and cutting hay to feed to their cattle. In the ‘60s, they had over a thousand laying hens, so they sold a lot of eggs until it became unprofitable! Virginia enjoyed gardening, canning, cooking and cleaning. She played piano for the Methodist Church children’s choir and taught Sunday School there, as well as at the Community Bible Church in Norfolk after they began attending there. Often, she and the girls would gather around the piano to sing while she played the piano. She loved the Lord and led all of her children to trust in Jesus as their Savior. After attending college, Arlen married Marilyn Heidner and they moved to Montana as missionaries with American Sunday School Union (Later known as American Missionary Fellowship & InFaith). Carolyn married Dan Chamberlain, who worked for General Motors until he died. She married Allen Giddings and live in Oxford, Mich. Marilyn married John Brighton, and they lived many places as an Air Force family, but now reside at Spotsylvania, Va. Henry and Virginia were blessed with 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. In 1986, they sold the farm equipment, leased out the farm and moved to Wausa, Neb., where they attended the Evangelical Covenant Church. Henry passed away in 2000, and Virginia later moved to Montana, living in an apartment at Faith Home before moving to the fullcare section of Faith Home. She often played hymns on the piano there and enjoyed the activities. She was very thankful for the excellent care given to her. Virginia passed away June 22, 2022, at Faith Home. She was preceded in death by her parents; siblings; her son, Arlen; and granddaughter, Joy Brighton. On July 1, a viewing will be held at Brockhaus Funeral Home in Wausa, Neb., at 2 p.m. A graveside service will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery, followed by a light lunch at the Evangelical Covenant Church. (Paid Obituary)

Jason Dale Walking Eagle “Tatanka Wacin” Dancing Buffalo, 32, of Poplar died June 15, 2022, at Poplar Community Hospital. He was born to Lorna Drum and Alfred Walking Eagle Sr. on Sept. 15, 1989, in Williston, N.D. Although he was raised by his mother, he had uncles that helped raise him and looked up to, John Spotted Bird, Bear Roberts, Turbo Boyd, the late Chuck Spotted Bord, Bernard Youpee, Rocky Youpee Sr. and Paul White Bear. In his teenage years, he would jump on Amtrak and head to Fort Belknap where his cousin Faith Birdtail would pick him up and powwow the weekend with his nephews and cousins Assiniboine Cree. He graduated from Brockton High School in 2008. After graduating, he moved to Rapid City, S.D., to live with and take care of his grandmother Delores Hayes. While there, he worked at Taco Bell. He then moved to Spirit Lake where he traveled and sang all over the United States at sundances making friends wherever he went. While living with Richard and Lonna Street in Spirit Lake, he learned the art of porcupine quillwork. He made some beautiful hatbands, earrings and bracelets. While growing up, he hung around with his many cousins, his brother Ian and the Badlands Crew. In 2002, the boys started their own drum group named Tatanka Wacin “Dancing Buffalo.” After two years, the boys were given the name Badland Singers by Leland Spotted Bird and Chuck Spotted Bird. The young Badland boys traveled to many powwows and won many singing contests. In 2011, they won the singing contest at United Tribes. They also placed at other powwows. The young Badland Singers recorded two CDs — one was sundance songs and the other intertribal powwow songs. He was given a flute from Walter RunsAbove. He is survived by his mother, Lorna; father, Alfred Walking Eagle Sr.; sister, Sami Lyn; brother, Ian; and grandmother, Doris Spotted Bird. Funeral services were held Friday, June 24, at the Brockton Cultural Center. Burial was at Riverview Cemetery in Brockton. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with arrangements.

Keven C. Johnstone, 59, of Froid died at his home Jan. 17, 2022. He was born Oct. 25, 1962, in Missoula to John and Norma Jean (Mogan) Johnstone. He and his younger sister got to experience living in various towns in Montana as well as Washington while his family moved around for their mother's job as a teacher. He graduated high school in Medicine Lake in 1981. He then attended college in Williston, N.D., and Bozeman. He made a career working as a motor hand in the oil field and most recently was employed by Nabors, Inc. It was hard work, but he was dedicated to his trade as it gave him the benefit of work and income while he pursued his true passion of farming. He met Dawn Loegering in September 2004. They married the following year on Oct. 15, 2005. Although their relationship began by way of technology, the couple enjoyed spending time together driving the back roads through the country. Navigation wasn’t always a strong suit. Through this marriage, he accepted a daughter by choice and they exchanged jokes and gag gifts and enjoyed many adventures. He had many titles, but one of his most cherished was “Papa.” His four grandchildren were his pride and joy. They all looked forward to his visits whether in person or video chats. He is survived by his wife, Dawn (Loegering) Johnstone of Froid; daughter, Tiffany Roebuck of Mobridge, S.D.; four grandchildren; mother, Norma Jean Johnstone of Froid.; and sister, Michelle Gay of Moose Lake, Minn. A graveside committal service was conducted Saturday, June 25, at the South Froid Cemetery.

Janette E. White Hawk, 49, of Cheyenne, Wyo., died Dec. 12, 2021, at Wyoming Medical Center in Casper, Wyo. She was born on March 17, 1972, in Wolf Point to Patricia Valkenburg and Walter J. Belcher. She had a very special relationship with her grandmother Cleo, who died in December 2013. She moved to Cheyenne in 1998 where she could be close to her children and grandchildren. She furthered her education by getting a degree in psychology, but really wanted to study law so she could help women and young girls in trouble. She spent the last few years working for a couple of law firms. She loved to spend time with family and enjoyed her pets. She also had a special love for elephants. She could pretty much do anything she set her mind to until her disability prevented her from completing the task at hand. She loved drawing, crocheting, beading and writing, especially poetry. She loved people and never turned away a soul in need. She enjoyed witnessing to the women in jail and sharing the Gospel. She is survived by two daughters, Krystal Nichols of Cheyenne and Sheray Nichols of Sheridan, Wyo.; one son, Timothy J. Duckworth of Cheyenne; adopted son, Randy Birthmark of Wolf Point; mother, Patricia Whitright of Wolf Point; father, Norman (Melissa) Harada of Cheyenne; brothers, Travis Harada of Cheyenne, Jeremiah Whitright of Wolf Point, Joseph Whitright of Denver, Colo., Shaun Hoffman, Johnny Belcher and Jesse Belcher, all of Wolf Point; and five grandchildren. A memorial service was celebrated on Saturday, June 25, at the Lakeview Chapel at Schrader, Aragon and Jacoby Funeral Home in Cheyenne.