Harold James Culbertson passed away at the age of 83 on Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, after a long battle with cancer. Harold was born in 1937 in Poplar on the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Reservation to Harry Alexander Culbertson and Matilda Marie Culbertson (Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate). The family lived on the reservation until 1943, then moved to Milton, Wash. They moved again to Vanport, Ore., in 1944, and escaped the 1948 Vanport flood with nothing but the clothes on their backs. They eventually settled in northwest Portland, Ore. At the age of 15, Harold headed back to the reservation. He spent his sophomore and junior high school years in Poplar before heading back to Portland for his senior high school year. On his fourth day of college at Portland State University, Harold wandered into the military recruiting office. The Army and Navy recruiters were occupied so Harold enlisted in the Air Force. He spent four years in the service, including an 18-month period in Okinawa. Back in Portland, Harold re-enrolled in classes at Portland State and this time stuck with it, graduating in 1964 with a bachelor’s degree in business. Harold met and married elementary school teacher Brenda Brown in Eugene, Ore., in 1967, six months after meeting her. They moved from Eugene to Lexington, Mass., where Harold earned his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1970. After two months in Albuquerque, the couple moved to the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation where Harold worked as the executive director of Standing Rock Industries, and they had their first daughter, Kaydee. The Standing Rock Tribe gave Harold his name, Aŋpetu Teča Wičaša (New Day Man) because he created new business opportunities in the community. In 1972, Harold, Brenda and Kaydee moved to Portland, Ore., where Amy was born, then to Seattle, Wash., where Harold earned his Ph.D. in business (organization management) from the University of Washington in 1977, at which time the family moved to Edmonds, Wash. Armed with his Ph.D. and a CPA certification, Harold started his own accounting firm and worked with tribes in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Montana and Oklahoma. In 1990, Harold accepted a position as a professor of accounting at Bemidji State University in Bemidji, Minn. He traveled to the Cass Lake and Red Lake reservations to teach accounting courses at their community college and worked with Fort Peck as a comptroller for several years. He and Brenda retired from Minnesota in 2006, to move closer to their first grandchild (and her parents) in Albuquerque. To his delight, his three grandsons (and their parents) moved to Albuquerque in 2014. Harold was known for his sense of humor, generosity and gentleness. He was a devout Catholic, guitar player and devoted family man who enjoyed spending his time with relatives playing dice or card games, laughing and joking. A storyteller, who loved to say “stop me if you’ve heard this before,” and kept talking over all protests and objections. Harold is survived by Brenda, his wife of 54 years, his daughter Kaydee Culbertson, her partner, Phil Begay and their daughter, Elana; his daughter, Amy Armistad, her husband, Chris, and their sons, Will, Devon and Sam. He is also survived by his sisters, Jo Zollinger, Karen Harvey and Gloria Culbertson, and many other cousins, nieces, nephews and other relatives. He is predeceased by his sister, Joyce Nelson, and his brothers, David, Olly, Joe and Pierre. There was a public viewing on Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2021, from 5-7 p.m. at French-Westside. (Paid Obituary)

Pearl Marie Beauchman Lapke, 92, died April 11, 2022. “Marie” Pearl was born at home on Oct. 24, 1929, in Harlem. Her Grandma “Kookum” delivered her. She was the first daughter of 10 children to Thomas and Victoria Beauchman of Wolf Point and Glasgow. She recently told stories of her favorite childhood memories, such as playing baseball with the neighborhood kids and making “band instruments” out of coffee cans and milk jugs. In her early adult years, she loved bowling and dancing with her girlfriends. She first married Lance Hack, through which they had two children, Thomas and Victoria. They later separated. While working at a grocery store in Glasgow, she went on a blind date through mutual friends with Howard J. Lapke. Their love blossomed into marriage in September 1961. They had a blended family of seven children: Don, Karla, Patsy, Glen, Thomas, Victoria and together had Gordon. The beginning of their marriage was spent raising children while owning and operating a grocery store in Poplar. They then went on to run the Diamond Bar X in Augusta. After, they packed everything up to move to Simms to own and operate The Fireside Inn, where they spent the duration of their lives. The Fireside was a place for everyone. She loved dancing to Saturday night bands, celebrating holidays, and conversing with their patrons. She loved spending time at pow-wows, as well and lived for “a good piece of fry bread.” She also loved her nickname as “Wahpu” to her family in the Glasgow area. After Howard died in 1997, she spent her days filling her best role as Grandma or “Gma”. There was no tree house too big for her to help build, no rummy game she couldn’t win or story she couldn’t tell by memory. When she wasn't wrangling grandchildren, she spent her time living for her life's passions. For 50 years, she was a devoted member of St. Ann's Catholic Church in Fort Shaw. She spent much time volunteering, cleaning, and growing closer with the parish family and priests. Another highlight was when she was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Montana Cowgirl's Association. She spent 15 years volunteering to read to children at Fort Shaw Elementary through the Montana Foster Grandparents Program. She is survived by her children, Vicki, Gordon, Glen and Karla; brother, Jim of Georgia; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Thomas, Albert, Franklin and Robert; sisters, Ramona, Ruby, Dean and Patricia; and children, Thomas, Patsy and Don. Her service was held Monday, April 18, at St. Ann’s Church in Fort Shaw. An urn placement followed at the Sun River Cemetery and a celebration of life was held at the Lions Hall in Simms.