Ruth Elaine Lund Stedtfeld was born in Lundville, Mont., on April 28, 1930. She closed the door on this side and entered the House of the Lord on March 17, 2021. Her name, Ruth, makes up a large portion of the word truth; she had a way of discerning truth in life’s matters. Including an engagement year, Ruth and her husband Dick were married for 70 years. They had four daughters, Laura, Aprille, Wendy and Alison. Laura notes that anything good that ever happened to her in her life involved her mom. Aprille remembers that when she would come to her Mom with problems, her mom would ask, “What does God have to say to you?” And then she would direct her to her relationship with God through the Word. Wendy says that her mom nurtured her faith in God and love for the church. She taught her how to enjoy avocados, make delicious meals and, by example, live a physically active life. Alison said that they watched I Dream of Jeannie together and that Mom was her best friend and always will be. She also recalled that Mom relied on a combination of her favorite Bible verses when things weren’t going well: “We lift up our hearts unto our hands unto thee O Lord, from whence cometh our help.” After high school, Ruth worked as a dental assistant in Wolf Point and later was accepted at the School of Dental Hygiene at the University of Minnesota, but marriage replaced career goals on June 1, 1952. Her personal touch made a home out of a house. She sewed many of her daughter’s dresses, made nutritious meals and decorated with style. Ruth earned a “Ph.T” (Pushing hubby Through) conferred at a special banquet at Pacific Lutheran University, where Dick graduated in 1960. Later, in 1984, she achieved a bachelor’s degree in art and literature from Wartburg College in Iowa where Dick was a professor. After retirement, they purchased a cabin in the Bear Paw Mountains near the Bible Camp where they had met in 1944. They put 21 years into restoration efforts of the cabin and then moved to Great Falls in 2008. Ruth’s eyes were a lovely blue; she liked the love song I Only Have Eyes For You and the old hymn Open Mine Eyes. Dick recalls, “A long time ago, Ruthie Lund and I became sweethearts and so it shall remain forevermore.” Memorials in Ruth’s name may be made to First Lutheran Church in Glasgow or Wolf Point. Condolences for the family may be shared online at www.OConnorFuneralHome. com. (Paid Obituary)

Kyle Welty, 50, died Aug. 18, 2020, in Loveland, Colo. He was the youngest child born to Dr. Alan Welty, DDS and Joy Welty and grew up in Corunna, Mich., on the Welty farm. He showed his first chicken in the Shiawassee County Fair at age 10 when he plucked the resident rooster from the hen house, entered him and won Grand Champion Cock. He went on to show sheep, chicken and even baked goods at the fair as both a member of 4-H and FFA. He also followed his siblings into the water, competing in swimming and holding records at Corunna High School (Class of 1988). He graduated from University of Montana with a bachelor of science in education and minor in geology. There he followed another family tradition of playing rugby with both the University of Montana Jester and the Missoula Maggots. He earned a master’s degree in geology from the Montana State University in Bozeman. He taught high school science in Wolf Point, Harrison and Rifle, Colo., before pivoting to geologist working as a mud logger for natural gas exploration. He created his own consulting company, Hollowtop Geological Services, with the motto of “If it can’t be grown, it must be mined.” His loves were his dogs and his 1959 Edsel. He hunted, skied (until his knees gave out) and bicycled. He was an avid card player of Cribbage and Euchre. He enjoyed craft beers and had a standing Wednesday night Euchre game at his favorite brewhouse, Grimm Brothers, in Loveland, Colo. He is survived by his mother, Joy; brothers, Kurt and Kris; and sister, Beth Dreyfuss.

Thomas Edward Firemoon, 58, died April 5, 2021, in Billings. He was born on July 18, 1962, in Poplar to Lyle Firemoon and Leta Fourstar Firemoon, the youngest boy of all the siblings. Throughout his childhood, his family lived in many places, but eventually settled on the Fort Peck Reservation. During his school years, he enjoyed playing basketball and had many great stories to tell about when he played. He graduated from Lustre Christian High School in 1980 and always rooted for the Lustre Lions. He worked at the A& S Industries, amongst other places, before going into the military. In 1986, he entered the United States Navy and was stationed in San Diego, Calif., serving on the USS Constellation CV 64 (“The Connie”). While aboard the aircraft carrier, he ran the ship’s store, did some cooking and would run twice a day to train for the Olympics. He did not talk much about his service because he took the military oath to heart and now has taken it to his grave. He did tell of a fire on the aircraft carrier in August 1988 that he fought alongside his shipmates. He spent three years in active duty before being honorably discharged and moved to Navy Reserve. Being a Navy veteran was one of his proudest accomplishments. In 1992, he married Marva Chapman. With this union, Buddy and Sunee were put in his life and he raised them as his own. They went on to have Sirr, Justiss and Presley. Throughout the years, he moved the family to many different cities for his jobs. This included Billings; Missoula; San Diego, Calif.; and Williston, N.D. He and Marva later divorced. He graduated with a fouryear business administration degree from University of Montana and was in the master’s program at UofM for business administration at the time of his death. He was proud of his college experience and wished to eventually get his doctorate. He worked in management and higher-level jobs at many places throughout his life, such as Trader’s State Bank in Poplar, Flying J in Billings, a temp agency in San Diego, bookkeeping for school district offices in San Diego, Williston and Poplar, assistant manager at Walmart in Williston and Miles City, counselor at Spotted Bull and other programs of the Fort Peck Tribes. Some of his enjoyments included drinking tea and coffee; playing cards, especially Rummy, or board games. He loved reading, spending time with his family, tuning into online church services every chance he got and watching the Lakers games. He enjoyed coaching basketball as well. He coached teams from ages elementary to college during his life, with the Buffalo Chasers being the last team he coached. He is survived by his children, Buddy Smith, Sunee Erickson, Sirr Firemoon, Justiss Toavs and Presley Sears; four grandchildren; sisters, Velda Stewart, Ingrid Firemoon, Lyla Law and Joy Reddig. He was preceded in death by brothers, Jr, Vincent and Dawson; and sister, Melda. Funeral services were held Monday, April 12, at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Interment followed at Greenwood Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point was entrusted with the arrangements.