Judy (Gandrud) Hofman, 78, of Walla Walla, Wash., formerly of Culbertson and Ritzville, Wash., died at Providence Medical Center on Aug. 21, 2024. She was born on March 31, 1946, in Wilmar, Calif., now known as Rosemead, Calif., to Joseph and Marie Gandrud. She was raised in Culbertson where she attended school and graduated from high school in 1945. Following high school, she married John Hofman and raised four boys, John Jr., James, Chris and Kevin. She was a die-hard sports fan and cheered for the Seattle Seahawks, Mariners and Supersonics for most of her life. She loved country music, especially George Strait. She was involved with multiple church activities including many years as secretary for Emmanuel Lutheran in Walla Walla, quilting and potluck dinners. She never missed a football, basketball or baseball game or event her children were involved in. After her children graduated high school, she and John loved to travel and visit them and their families. She is survived by her husband, John; sons, John Jr. of Norwalk, Iowa, James of Norwalk, Iowa, Chris of Far West, Utah, and Kevin of Walla Walla, Wash.; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and sister Nancy Sundvold of Billings. She was preceded in death by her brother, Joey Gandrud Jr., and sister, Debbie Gandrud. A graveside service was held Tuesday, Aug. 27, at Hillside Cemetery in Culbertson with Jo Nelson officiating.

Eli Jones, 35, of Brockton died May 15, 2024, at Billings Clinic. A wake will be on Thursday, June 6, at 7 p.m. at the Poplar Cultural Center. Funeral services will be on Friday, June 7, at 1 p.m. at the Poplar Cultural center. Interment will follow at Riverview Cemetery.

Gary F. Martin, 87, died May 15, 2024, at his home in Glasgow. He was born June 4, 1936, to parents Francis L. Martin and Velva Mae (Major) Martin in Williston, N.D. He was the oldest of six brothers: Robert, Thomas, Dennis, Lyle, Douglas and William. He attended Williston, N.D., schools and graduated in 1954. He was a member of the 1953 state football winning team, the 1954 state runner- up basketball team and played and excelled in American Legion Baseball. He attended Minot State College before entering the U.S. Army in 1955. He trained in Fort Chaffee, Ark., and Fort Sill, Okla., before shipping to Germany. He served in Germany until 1957 when he was called home to Williston, N.D., when his mother died at the age of 42. Six weeks later, his father died, also at age 42. At 20 years old, he was left with six younger brothers ages 18 to 18 months. He was honorably discharged at Fort Riley, Kan., in August 1957. While home for his father’s funeral, he met Judi Scarr who was a student at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn. In 1958, she began teaching in Grenora, N.D. They married in 1959. The fall of 1959, she obtained a teaching position in the Dickinson, N.D., school system. He entered Dickinson State College in 1959. He graduated from Dickinson State in 1961. He and Judi began teaching in Golva, N.D., in 1961. He was a teacher, high school principal and varsity coach. He coached the Golva Tigers to their first-ever regional basketball tournament where they were defeated by the Mandaree Warriors, the eventual state champion. In 1962, they moved to Culbertson where he taught and coached winning championships in football and basketball. In 1966, he received his master’s degree in school administration at Montana State University - Bozeman. He was named superintendent of the Culbertson School System that same year and served as their superintendent until 1972. Their daughter, Lisa Lynn (1964), and son, Robert Gary (1968), were born in Culbertson. In 1972, he became the superintendent of schools in Glasgow. He served as superintendent there for 27 years until the summer of 1999. During this time, North Star School was opened at the Glasgow Air Force Base serving the Air Force, Mountain Plains programs and later the Family Training Center families. Enrollment in the Glasgow School System exceeded 2,000 students. He was proud of his accomplishments. He was a member of the American School Administrators, Montana School Administrators of which he served as president and Phi Delta Kappa educational organization. He was on the original team from Montana that enabled the Montana Schools to participate in Close Up for students to visit Washington, D.C., and an original organizer of the Valley County Crisis Line. He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Glasgow and the Kiwanis Club for many years. He loved to travel with his wife and family, especially to Mexico where they were involved in a mission and summers at Flathead Lake. He and Judi spent many winters in Arizona where he played on a softball team for men over 55. He loved spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He was preceded in death by twin babies; and all of his younger brothers, Robert, Thomas, Dennis, Lyle, Douglas and William. He is survived by his wife, Judi; children, Lisa Martin Hines and Robert Gary Martin; four grandchildren. His celebration of life will be held at First Lutheran Church in Glasgow on June 4, his birthday, at 1 p.m. with Pastor Scott Kiehn officiating.

James Allen Bighorn, 66, died at Saint Vincent Hospital in Billings on Sunday, May 12, 2024. He was born in Poplar on July 5, 1957, to Florence Mae Weinberger (Bighorn) and Ernest Clark Bighorn Sr. He was the baby of the family and he joined siblings Ernie, Jackie, Crystal, Sybil and Alda. He attended school in Brockton and graduated in 1976. He enlisted in the Navy in 1977 and was honorably discharged in 1982. During this time, he married Feryl Greufe and they had one son, Luke Bighorn. They eventually divorced, but remained good friends. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, he moved back to Poplar for a while and then moved to Minneapolis, Minn., where he worked for the Billy Graham organization. He worked for Billy Graham for seven years and, upon the death of his mother, Florence, he moved home to Poplar for a couple of years. He then worked as an over-the-road truck driver for Allied Van Lines and lived in Daytona, Fla., for a while. He then started his 25-year career in law enforcement. He worked for the Fort Peck Tribes as a police officer, prosecutor and DARE officer. He also worked at Rocky Boy and New Town, N.D., as a criminal investigator. At the time of his death, he was employed at the Thundering Buffalo Wellness Center as a security guard. He loved the Denver Broncos and cheered them on through the good and bad times. Throughout the years, he made his home with various family members: Maebelle Archambeau, Keith and Sunee Erickson, Iva and Ron Harris, Ernie Bighorn, Alda Bighorn, Sybil Bighorn, Jackie and Clinton Small. Preceding him in death were his brother, George Bighorn; and four brothers not named. He is survived by his only child, Luke Bighorn; one grandson; siblings, Ernie Bighorn, Jackie Small, Crystal Bighorn, Sybil Erickson and Alda Bighorn. Most importantly he wanted his message of celebrating his life and the Lord to be carried on. He was adamant that grieving should be short and wanted everyone to know that he is in a better place and at home with his Lord and Savior. His funeral service was held Saturday, May 18, at the Assembly of God Church in Poplar. Interment was at the Riverside Presbyterian Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel assisted the family with the arrangements.

Joaquin Walks Two Andrews, 49, of Brockton died April 26, 2024. He was born May 19, 1974, in Phoenix, Ariz., to Doris Rae Bighorn Andrews and Murray Andrews. About a year later, he was on this first airplane trip for the move to Brockton. He graduated from Poplar High School and, after a couple of years of employment at the Fort Peck Tribal Express, he attended the United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck, N.D. He graduated with a degree in graphic/ commercial design. Later, he would be employed at UTTC in the same department. A few years and a couple of jobs later, he moved back to Brockton. He was employed with the Fort Peck Tribes Transportation Department up until his death. At an early age, he was curious about symbols, letters and pictures. He started drawing pictures of stories he made up, usually of space ships or anything to do with