Eugene Ray Hanson, 81, of Wolf Point died June 2, 2026. He was born in Malta on July 10, 1944, to Lillian and Henry Hanson. He was one of their 12 children. He graduated from Malta High School and, soon after married his sweetheart, Linda Jane McPhee. During his time in Malta, he also served in the Montana National Guard. Even before his teen years, he began working for the Henderson Dairy and later at the Coast-to-Coast store, both in Malta. Next, he began working for the Montana Department of Transportation. A few years later, he and Linda moved from Malta to Wolf Point, where he worked on the construction of highways in Montana from 1966 to 1993. After retiring from MDT, he worked for Prince Inc., until 2012. He was an expert hunter and skilled fisherman, but his pride and joy was his garden. People would detour just to drive through his back alley to marvel at how healthy every plant looked. To the astonishment of his neighbors, he always watered his large garden by hand. But to all of his family and good friends, his neatest skill was a result of his sense of humor. “He was so funny,” remarked one recently. With his quick wit, he often answered with subtle quips that would take recipient a few minutes to catch on before bursting out with laughter. He and his daughter, Jennifer, competed in challenging the other to come up with a response better than the one just given. He is survived by his wife, Linda; daughter, Jennifer Rae Sears; two grandchildren; and sisters, Rosie and Greta. Preceding him in death were his siblings, Betty Lou, Jerry, Barbara, Joanne, Phyllis, Patsy, David, Connie and Billy.

William “Bill” Joseph Bemer, Wanagi Ob Omani Wicasta, 50, of Poplar died May 28, 2026, in Billings. There are many words to describe him — son, brother, Uncle, Coach, student, friend, world traveler, sharp dresser but, first and foremost, he was a child of God. He was born Dec. 12, 1975, to Howard and Carol Bemer, their third and last child. He grew up in Poplar until his family moved to the farm after the death of his Grandma Freda. He was raised on the family allotment where his family had farmed and ranched for generations. He attended school primarily in Culbertson and graduated from Culbertson High School in 1994. He attended college at Haskell University, Montana State University - Northern and the University of Mary, graduating in 2014 with a bachelor of science in business. He worked for the Fort Peck Tribes in various departments before beginning his federal service with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and later the Indian Health Service. He was always known for making friends, cracking jokes and always being ready to lend a helping hand. Making friends and connecting with people was both a gift and a skill for him. He never met a stranger. His life was shaped by the friendships he forged in school, college, clubbing, travel, work, coaching and simply spending time with others. These relationships have led to countless memorable and sometimes crazy stories. He had a deep appreciation for music, enjoying all genres throughout his life. As a young child, he was often found immersed in the sounds of the stereo, wearing oversized headphones while listening to artists like Donna Summer and Blondie. He shared his love of music with his family, introducing them to a variety of styles and artists they might not have discovered otherwise. He also loved dancing, watching movies and could really tell some good stories and mimic people. Volleyball was another of his great passions. He enjoyed playing, watching and coaching the sport. He participated in leagues around the area and coached high school teams in Poplar and Culbertson. His enthusiasm for volleyball took him to watch the Final Four in Louisville for collegiate volleyball and even to Brazil for the Summer Olympics to watch his favorite teams and athletes compete. He is survived by his mother, Carol Bemer; brother, Paul Bemer; and sister, Leslie Gourneau. A memorial service was held Wednesday, June 10, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Poplar.