Rocky Lee Norby, 65, of Sidney died May 29, 2020. He was born July 29, 1954, to Richard and Doris Norby. He was a great big brother to Rick and Jodene, and there are many stories of how he picked on them as much as possible. He grew up in the Crane area and graduated from Sidney High School in 1972. He started farming with his father in 1974 which proved to be a lifelong career. He would tell you, you have to be stupid to farm, but he loved it. He met the love of his life, Lori, on a dirt road leading to his home, where he left her with an armload to carry, not even offering her a ride. There must have been a spark because they married in 1979 and soon welcomed their children Jeremy, Melissa and Amanda. He would complain mightily over all the tasks with family and friends that took him away from the farm, but he truly enjoyed being there. He was the foreman for lefse making, the chief for the cleaning crew, the chaperone at all the concerts, the chauffeur for all trips, because the “Boss” (Lori) made him. Highlights of trips taken after the children were grown included fishing trips to Alaska, concerts with their children, cruises with their friends, sports with his boys and a large family vacation to Disney World. He loved his hunting trips with his friends and the men in his family. He attended every event he was able to and could always be heard in the stands. He coached many youth and numerous basketball teams. He was a proud Papa shark at the swim meets and cheered proudly for every race. He loved taking his grandchildren with him on the farm and teaching them everything he could. He started every day with a phone call to Mandy, followed by breakfast at Sunny's. There will be many silent phones now, since he never put his down. He touched lives all over the world through the various people that have been a part of Norby Inc. He always had room in his heart for every person he met. He saw the best in everyone and made many friends that way. He loved to go to Las Vegas and knew all of dealers and players at the table. He is survived by his wife, Lori; children, Jeremy Norby, Melissa Sanders and Mandy Malkuch; eight grandchildren; Matt and Teresa Stedman and their children Bryndi, Briar, Baylor; brother, Rick Norby; and sister, Jodene Bryngelson. Services were held Wednesday, June 3, at 3 p.m. at the grandstand of the Richland County Fairgrounds in Sidney with Pastor David Huskamp of the Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church officiating.

Aurelia Lilly Half Red Bets His Medicine, 80, of Brockton, died May 16, 2020, in Billings. She was born on the Spirit Lake Reservation in North Dakota on Nov. 10, 1939. She was raised by her mother and maternal grandfather and told many stories of her traditional upbringing. She only spoke the Dakota language until she was forced to learn English during her stints in two boarding schools. Although her boarding school experience was tough, it taught her how to be resilient and she resolved to keep her language alive. She got her teaching certificate and later became a Dakota language instructor at the Fort Peck Community College (NAES) and Brockton High School. She and her mother moved to Montana in 1949 to find a home. They moved around to various places until settling in Fort Kipp where she was later “mutually introduced” to her future husband, Ray, by well-meaning grandparents when they were in their teens. They married in 1960 and made their home on the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Reservation in northeast Montana, where Ray was an enrolled member. They bought their two- bedroom house in 1968 and had it placed on seven acres in the country so their children could raise animals and have room to run without the hassle of “city living.” They had five children and raised them together, along with various “foster” children, until his death in 1995. They never considered these children to be “fosters,” they welcomed them into their home and eventually had to turn the two-bedroom home into a five-bedroom home to accommodate their own children and the extra children entrusted to their care. After her husband’s death, she continued to open her home to anyone who needed shelter, whether that was a friend running from a dangerous situation with their children in tow or any child needing a safe place to sleep. When her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were born, she took great pleasure in helping to raise them. Stories were told by community members about how she was never alone when she went anywhere. Her van was always filled with children. She was a woman of extreme faith. She is survived by three daughters, Raylene Bets His Medicine, Theresa Bets His Medicine and Anissa Gabrielson; two sons: Travis Bets His Medicine and Dave Bets His Medicine; an adopted son, Carlin Iron Moccasin; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and sister, Sybil Summers. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray; her mother, Agnes; father, Loyal Half Red; sister, Eliza Lambert; and grandson, Rocket Speed. A funeral service was held Thursday, May 21, at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. Interment was at Fort Kipp Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.

Orvis Nelson, 87, of rural Homestead, Mont., passed away at the Roosevelt Memorial Nursing Home on Monday, May 18, 2020, in Culbertson, Mont. Fulkerson Stevenson of Williston, N.D., is assisting the family. Friends may sign the on-line register and give their condolences at www.fulkersons.com. His graveside service was held at 10 a.m. (MST) Saturday, May 23, 2020, at the Big Lake Cemetery, rural Homestead, Mont. Pastor Johnette Grefe officiated. Military rites followed. For those not attending, there will be a celebration of life tentatively set for June 28, 2020, at the family farm. The service was broadcast on the Fulkerson Stevenson Facebook page, please follow the link on Orvis’s service information on our website www.fulkersons.com. Orvis Nelson was born south of Watford City, N.D., to Eddie and Irene Nelson on Feb. 25, 1933. Just a few months after he was born, the family moved to rural Homestead, Mont., where brother Rudale was born. He attended most of his grade school at Central Consolidated (located near the farm and uphill both ways), graduated high school from Medicine Lake and then attended Concordia College for two years before entering the U.S. Army. He spent two years of active duty during the Korean Conflict and received an honorary discharge in 1953. After the military, Orvis farmed part-time with his father and worked full-time in Williston driving Gamble Robinson’s grocery delivery truck delivering to stores in northeast Montana. While working in Williston, Orvis met Lois on a blind date which was the start of a lifelong love affair. They were married in June of 1958 and, shortly thereafter, moved home to farm full-time. Lois passed in August of 2019 and Orvis missed her dearly. As he sat beside her during her final hours, he told her he would not be far behind. He was very proud of his service to this country and once home on the farm for good, he became very active in Legion Post 49 in Homestead. As Post Commander, he organized many trips to the 49th Parallel Days with Canadian Service Men and Women. Orvis was the “Master Card Party Organizer.” Therefore, there were many card parties and games of cards played, while teaching his children and grandchildren, at various locations. Being involved in community was very important to him. He served as the chair of the Medicine Lake School board during the time the school was being rebuilt after a fire. He served on the NEMONT Telephone board for 27 years. Other organizations included the Froid Credit Union, Farmers Elevator in Homestead, Northeast Montana Threshers Association and church and parish councils. Orvis’s desire to give back was evident with the involvement in civic organizations but that wasn’t the only evidence. He would purchase bags of groceries and deliver them to families in need. He organized bus trips to the Medora Musical for the elderly. He was one of the first to offer his land into the Block Management Program which allowed people to hunt for free. He never missed a benefit in the area where he always made some kind of donation, and he would go to the nursing home and give haircuts. Orvis took pride and satisfaction in using his hands to build many beautiful woodworking projects which he donated to various places. Being a Norwegian is not a privilege everyone gets. He was proud of his heritage and seldom missed the opportunity to attend the Norsk Hostfest in Minot, N.D. He loved Norwegian food and would travel to the ends of the Earth for a lutefisk dinner. If you had to name what Orvis’s hobby was it would have to be people. The most enjoyable times in his life were sitting across the kitchen table visiting with people. He set up areas on the farm where hunters could camp just so he had someone to visit with. He would chase down hunters in the field just to say hello and welcome them to the area. Many friendships from all over Canada and the U.S. were developed over the years. In later years, Orvis and Lois loved to travel but could not go anywhere without scheduling time on the trip to stop and visit friends and family. In fact, when they traveled, it wasn’t to see a national park or a tourist destination; it was to see old friends and relatives. Orvis loved music and encouraged his children and grandchildren to learn music. He never missed a concert or music event the kids were in. He also practiced what he preached. He sang in a group called the Homestead Legionnaires. They performed at many area events such as the Faye Crush variety show on area television. They sang at countless funerals and never turned down a request to do so. Some memorable trips for Orvis included the trips to Moville, Iowa, to sell cattle. For many years, he and Lois accompanied the cattle to the sale yard in Moville. This was an annual event where he and some of his most cherished friends had the opportunity to spend time together. Many of you will remember the trips in the old school bus. Touring around the lake, trips to Medora or his favorite trip which was fishing in Canada. Orvis organized a fishing trip to Besnard Lake, Saskatchewan, 27 years in a row. He loved to see his children and grandchildren experience camping and catching the big fish. All were welcome, so almost always the kids or grandkids had friends with them on the trip. He touched many lives with this trip. Orvis was preceded in death by his wife, Lois; parents, Eddie and Irene; and brother, Rudale and wife, Arlene. He is survived by daughter, Kimberly (Rick); sons, Dale (Jodi), Dean (Lynda); grandchildren, Kami (Jeff), Brady (Sarah), Paydon, Cordel and Nolan; and great-grandchildren, Kelson and Kaseton. (Paid Obituary)

“Well done, my good and faithful servant” were the words that Evelyn Strand Stensland Casterline heard on May 12, 2020, when she passed from life on earth to eternal life in heaven. Evelyn was born in Big Timber, Mont., on Dec. 4, 1933, to Albert and Elsie Strand, the fourth of their six children. She graduated from Big Timber High School and attended Montana State, where she was a member of the Kappa Delta Sorority and the Women’s Student Body President. After graduating in 1955, she married her college sweetheart, Gerald Stensland. They had four boys, Gary, Mark, Paul and John. Jerry was tragically taken in 1963. She married Bill Casterline in 1967 and they made their home on a farm east of Culbertson. Together, they finished raising their four boys as well as hogs, cattle, chicken and crops. Bill passed away in 2006. Evelyn loved to cook and bake. In the late 1950s, she even had her own live TV cooking show in Great Falls in the early days of TV. She loved cooking traditional Norwegian foods; however, her boys were relieved when she stopped serving Lutefisk for Christmas Eve! For several decades, she served as Foods Judge at county 4-H fairs across northeastern Montana. She could make anything grow and always had a bountiful garden, bright flowers in the yard and house plants that somehow never died. She loved to read and had a lifelong love of books. When there wasn’t a book in her hands, she was working on some craft. She made beautiful pieces of needlework and quilts and has the purple ribbons to show for it. She especially loved the challenge of Hardanger, an intricate Norwegian form of needlework. Evelyn was very active in the Culbertson community, serving on the school board and hospital board. She loved her service with Women’s Club, where she served as local president, state president and national officer. She loved the extensive traveling that came with those jobs and the wide expanse of friends she made from across the country. There was never a time when she was not active in her faith in Jesus. She was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church and Trinity Lutheran Church for the last 60 years, where she taught Sunday school, led Bible studies and gave an occasional sermon. She ministered to everyone she came into contact with. Blessed to have shared her life were her sons, Gary and his wife, Camille, Mark and his wife, Carolyn, Paul, John and his wife, Cindy; her grandchildren, Luke and his wife, Emily, Sam, Abigail, Jeremiah, ElleAnna, Rosa and Ada; great-granddaughter, Clara; her sisters, Doris McDonald and her husband, Dick, June Gunnerson and her husband, Stan; her sisters-in-law, Shirley Monson, Vivian Pearson and Janice Skrivseth; her brother-in-law, Ed Stensland; all of her special nieces and nephews; and all of her many amazing friends and cousins. There will be celebration of life at a later date. Burial will take place in Hillside Cemetery in Culbertson. Fulkerson Stevenson of Williston, N.D., is assisting the family. Friends may sign the online register and give their condolences at www. fulkersons.com. (Paid Obituary)

Rodney Henry Kilsdonk, 77, of rural Sidney, Mont., died in his sleep at home on May 2, 2020, after a short battle with lung cancer. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive, Mont., has been entrusted with the arrangements. Rodney, born June 21, 1942, in Jamestown, N.D., and raised in Culbertson, Mont., was the second of 10 children born to Henry “Hank” Kilsdonk and Mildred “Millie” Rasmussen Kilsdonk. Rodney begrudgingly completed eighth-grade before launching into a series of jobs including: sheepherding, custom combining, seismographing and working at the Peavey Elevator in Wolf Point. Rodney spent a short time in the United States Navy and was honorably discharged in 1961. In 1962, Rod married Norma (Merrill) and together they had three children: Laurie, Rodney Jr. and Duane. They divorced in 1970 and Rodney raised his children as a single father. On Oct. 14, 1978, Rod married the love of his life, Diane (Oberlander Morast). The family now included Rodney’s three children and Diane’s two children, Darrin and Dannell. Rod and Diane enjoyed 35 years together before Diane passed on Sept. 22, 2013. They spent a short time together in Savage, Mont., before buying a house and 40 acres a few miles west of Sidney, Mont. In Sidney, Rodney worked at Holly Sugar, then on drilling rigs and ultimately landed a position with the Richland County Road Department, where he worked for 30 years as a supervisor and a crane operator. He was proud that he ran the same crane for 25 years and that crane retired along with him. During his time with the county, he built several bridges which are still used today. In 2007, Rodney retired from the county and spent his days in retirement building his collection of tractors. He especially liked to buy them “stuck” and then tinker with them until they ran again. He liked to collect convertible cars, especially Pontiac Firebirds and Chevy Corvettes and drove them with the top down and his Shih Tzu, Maisy, riding alongside him. Rodney loved to spend summer days fishing with friends and sharing stories. He enjoyed many adventures traveling, sightseeing and eating out with his special friend, Mary Vaira, during his final years. They especially enjoyed seeing shows in Medora and riding around in his convertibles. Rodney is survived by sons, Rodney (Lisa) Kilsdonk, Duane (Darcee) Kilsdonk and Darrin (Raquel) Morast; daughters, Laurie (Wayne) Owens and Dannell Morast; grandchildren, Tony (Linsey) Owens, Colton Owens, Brandi Owens, Kassidee Rose, Scott (Michelle) Kilsdonk, Elisabeth (Joe) Epley, Tessa (Taylor) Howell, Matreena (Travis) Revoir, Matthew Kilsdonk, Makaela Kilsdonk, Jade Morast, Zoey Morast and Riley Simard; 26 great-grandchildren; brothers, Ralph (Ruth), Tim (Mary), Stan (Kathy) and Odean (Chris); and sisters, Kathy and Mildred Rae (Steve) Owings. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hank and Millie Kilsdonk; brothers, Eldon and Martin (Mary) Kilsdonk; and sister, Veralyn (Jim) Smith. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at www.silhafuneralhomes. com. (Paid Obituary)

Rodrick Speed, 16, died Monday, April 27, 2020, in Wolf Point. He was born Feb. 11, 2004, in Poplar. From day one, he had such a precious smile and anyone who knew him would be greeted with that huge smile. He grew up loving the outdoors. He could be seen riding his bike or running. He loved when the pool would open in the summer and would be there every day. He loved to run and enjoyed cross country and track to the fullest and always ended his run with that infectious smile. He loved to read, but not on a tablet. He needed to hold a book in his hands. His favorite reading material was something about aliens or some other type of science fiction. He would take a book on long drives with the family or to a restaurant and read while he waited. The Last Dragon Chronicles was the series he was currently reading. He loved doing things with his friends and family. He had a lot of family, but his friends were very important to him. He was in choir at school and loved to sing. He just really loved music. He would sing anywhere, all the time. He loved his job at the Sherman Inn and enjoyed his coworkers. He was proud of himself for working his way up from dishwashing to making pizzas. He was never too good to go back and wash dishes when needed. He was saving his money to buy a car and was studying the driver’s manual so he could take his test. He helped his mother often with the Wolf Point Pound Puppies rescue. His love for animals was amazing and he was always a fixture at the spay/neuter clinics. He could be seen laying on the recovery bed with the dogs and cats, helping them wake up or sometimes just sleeping. Just recently, he flew two orphaned newborn puppies to Billings by himself to get them into the safe hands of the rescue folks at Tiny Tails. He was always willing to help in any way he was needed. He was preceded in death by his brother, Daniel Lee Renz Speed. He is survived by his parents, Tina (Speed) and Dave Bets His Medicine; siblings, Casey Mae Olson, Adison James Renz Speed and Ryan Thomas Renz Speed; and grandmother, Aurelia Bets His Medicine of Fort Kipp. Other family members surviving him are Harold “Sinbad” Renz Jr., Colleen Ferguson Renz, Shelby Renz, Ralph Renz, Brennan, Ashley Ferguson and Barb Perry. A graveside service was held Thursday, April 30, at the Poplar City Cemetery. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point was entrusted with the arrangements.

Pauline Francis Johnson, 36, of Poplar died May 1, 2020. She was born Aug. 28, 1983, in Poplar to Dewey and Vearlene. She attended Medicine Lake School and graduated in 2003. She attended Kicking Horse Job Corps, then returned to Poplar where she worked at the school and did other various jobs with her fiancé, Lester Menz. She was always a kind soul. She loved her family and friends. She had an infectious smile and mischievous grin, and her laughter was contagious. She loved making the people around her laugh and will always be remembered for being a caring person and making those she loved feel important. She is survived by her fiancé, Lester Menz; daughter, Anna; son, Samuel; father, Dewey (Antoinette) Johnson; mother, Vearlene (Allen) Red-Dog; sisters, Carrie Kennedy, Laura Johnson, Eva Hernandez, Mikhael Johnson, Leona Mitchell, Emerald Baxter, Sapphire Johnson, Diamond Johnson and Christine Johnson; and brothers, John Johnson, Patrick Johnson, Leon Mitchell, Andrew Mitchell and Taurean Baxter. She was preceded in death by her brother, Daniel Johnson. Services will be held in Wolf Point followed by burial at the family burial site north of Brockton. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point was entrusted with the arrangements.

Mabel Anne (Thompson) Sherman, 80, of Medicine Lake died April 19, 2020. She was born Feb. 17, 1940, on the farm at rural Reserve one of 11 children to Nels and Mathilda (Flakne) Thompson. She attended Plentywood School, graduating in 1958. She married Clarence Sherman on Oct. 17, 1959, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Plentywood. They lived in many places following Clarence’s work in the oil fields. They raised four children — Tracy, Nancy, Kevin and Tim. She enjoyed being a homemaker and selling Avon. Her hobbies included embroidery and crossword and jigsaw puzzles. She enjoyed time spent with family and visiting with friends. After Clarence’s retirement, they settled in Medicine Lake. After Clarence’s death in 2014, she remained in Medicine Lake until moving to Williston, N.D., in September 2019 to be closer to family. She was also preceded in death by brothers, Eugene, Melvin, Eddie and Nels Thompson; and sisters, Viola Grimes, Gladys Lindell and Dorothy Clark. She is survived by daughters, Tracy Tormaschy and Nancy Balikian; sons, Kevin and Tim Sherman; five grandchildren; brothers, John Thompson and Rick Thompson; and sister, Irene Nordstrom. A memorial service will be conducted this summer.