Raymond Skinsa Whitetailfeather, 95, died Aug. 19, 2025. He was born in what the Tribes called “Little Chicago” in 1930. This was down the hill along the Poplar River when the only major road was BIA Route 1 south of the railroad tracks. He attended 11 years at the Poplar High School and his senior year at Stewart Indian School in Carson City, Nev. He had clerical training at the Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. In 1949, he joined the U.S. Army and served for three years in Korea. He returned to the reservation after his honorable discharge from service and met Ruby Jean (Wilson) Whitetailfeather. They were married in 1953. Soon after, they participated in the U.S. Government’s Indian Relocation Program and moved to San Jose, Calif. He attended the San Jose City College and studied English, psychology and history. During his time in California, he helped organize two Indian Organizations — the United American Indians of Santa Clara Valley and the Bay Area Indian Activities Inc. — and served as chairman of the board of both organizations. He was also a commissioner on the Economic Opportunity Commission, (California State). During that time, he wrote this for his interview with the board of directors of the United American Indians: “I have no selfish aims of personal glory or monetary gain, but I do have a sincere desire to see a constructive program developed for the Indian people here in Santa Clara Valley (present day San Jose). A program that will influence the American Indian to become self-sufficient as an individual and as a people. I believe it is high time that we as Indian people began to assert ourselves, that we begin to organize ourselves so that the younger generation to follow will be inspired and carry on what we establish. I know I can do this without rioting and protesting. We can do this by organizing and developing our own program, by cooperating with

Ronald Carroll Christensen, 84, of Dagmar died Wednesday, July 2, 2025, at the Sheridan Memorial Nursing Home in Plentywood. He was born June 16, 1941, to Ray and Millie Christensen (Rasmussen) in Williston, N.D. They brought him home to the farm in Dagmar, where he was later joined by brother, Richard, and sister, Lila. He attended a country school for elementary education then went to Grenora, N.D., for high school. There, he was a member of a car club he helped organize called The Aces. He and his friends loved working on cars and singing to popular music of the day, by singers like Jim Reeves and Tex Ritter. He was a proud veteran, having been drafted into the Army in the early ‘60s. As part of his service, he deployed to South Carolina for riot control during the Martin Luther King Jr. marches. He also served in special forces, working with heavy equipment and the chemical, Agent Orange. While home on leave from the Army, he went on a blind date with Patricia Ann Rockstad. After returning to his station, the two wrote letters back and forth. In one letter, he told Pat he bought her a ring. In the next letter, he told her he sold the ring and bought a car. Despite the first ring having been sold, the two married in September 1965. Soon after, they welcomed a son, Robert. Two and a half years later, Roger was born, followed by another son, Rodney, and then another, Russell. They moved their boys

Edison Comes Last, 35, of Poplar died Aug. 20, 2025. A wake will be held Thursday, Aug. 28, at 7 p.m. at the Poplar Cultural Center. Funeral services will be held Friday, Aug. 29, at 1 p.m. at the Poplar Cultural Center. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with arrangements.

Dun Alan O'Connor, 72, of Poplar died Aug. 15, 2025. He was born on Oct. 26, 1952, to James and Pauline O'Connor. He attended school in Poplar and went on to work alongside his father farming and ranching. He was currently working alongside his own son, Lander. He was a true cattleman raising top quality red Angus cattle with beautiful dispostions, and he would travel far and wide for a fancy horse, making sure that everyone was always well mounted. He enjoyed everyday life, working with his family, or anyone who was available to lend a hand. He was not fond of wasting time or an opportunity. He could frequently be heard saying, “you’re burning daylight,” and, during the summer months, he often mentioned “we have three months to do a year’s work.” He was a strong believer in putting in an honest day’s work and he thrived doing so. He passed on knowledge willingly, lent a hand if it was needed and was a good friend and neighbor to many. He was a strong willed and opinionated man who always had his family's welfare at hand. He was a great neighbor that you could count on in times of need, a man of his word and still believed that deals and commitments were made through a strong handshake. He had a solid work ethic which was second to none. He enjoyed cruising around the state of Montana and admiring the beauty it has to offer. If you were to ever stop