Walt D. McLean, 69, of Glasgow died at home Oct. 26, 2024. He was born Dec. 23, 1954, in Riverside, Calif., to John McLean and Virginia Hanson, the middle child in a family of nine. His father was in the Air Force so the family moved a lot. His mother was diagnosed with MS and became unable to walk, so when his older sister got married, he opted to quit school and take care of his mother. He joined the Army at the age of 17 and was stationed in Germany. He was married twice. He and his first wife, Pam, had daughter, Brandy. Later son, Sam, was born in Glasgow. Though he did not have a major part in their upbringing, he did love them and was very proud of both of them. He worked at many different jobs but he liked cooking the most. He became a lifetime member of the VFW in Glasgow and was very proud of the service it provided and the membership. Of the many stations in life that he

Shirley Joyes, 104, of Plentywood died Oct. 23, 2024. She was born Aug. 30, 1920, to Andrew and Charlene Vogt in Plentywood. After graduating from Comertown High School, she worked as a teacher's aide at the Comertown school, then spent a year in the Los Angeles, Calif., area while staying with her sister, where she worked as a waitress. After returning to Montana, she lived in Wolf Point where she worked at the Farm Service Agency and helped friends with a Christian radio program. In 1941, she married Harold Joyes. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, they moved to Bremerton, Wash., where he worked in the shipyards. They returned to Montana where they purchased a farm north of Comertown near the Canadian border and raised their three daughters, Myrna, Cheryl and Debra. They began raising registered Horned Herefords in partnership with his brother Arnold and his wife, Iris (Shirley's sister). They took part in showing their bulls, winning several trophies and ribbons. She was known to be an excellent cook, and food was her way of expressing love. Some of the fondest memories of family members were her fantastic meals and desserts. She also enjoyed caring for her garden and flowerbeds and continued to tend her flowerbed into her mid 90s. She had an ear for music and was often involved with

Frederick “Mister” Dean Silk Jr. (Tantanka Ho’Waste, Good Speaking Buffalo), 51, of Miles City died Oct. 13, 2024. He was born in Glendive to Frederick and Gladys Silk on May 23, 1973. He was a brother to sisters Carleen, Kolleen and Patricia. He grew up on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation where he had lots of family and friends and loved his early morning hunting trips with his dad and cousins. He loved hunting, fishing, camping, powwows, concerts and going to the mountains or just sitting by the river, playing baseball and basketball but not only that he was so talented with his drawings, Native beadwork and singing Native songs. He had various jobs including working at the sawmill in Missoula, a honey factory in Lohman and the Montana Club in Great Falls, but his talent was cooking. When he moved to Miles City recently to be close to his sisters, he was the cook for the Olive Restaurant. He loved to get his name out there with the food he cooked, always receiving compliments on his skills in the kitchen. He might not have always done everything right and may even gone off on the wrong path along the way, but he was always striving to find his way, but God had bigger plans for him. He would later go on and marry Teresa Bryan and they had a daughter, Briahna, and son, Jordan. He would later marry Wallisa Doney Silk of Hays. He also had a son, Quentin. He is survived by his wife, Wallisa Silk; children, Jazzma Kinleigh, Briahna, Jordan and Quentin; and sisters: Carleen, Kolleen and Trish. Funeral services were held Thursday, Oct. 17, at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City.

Bennie Baker Finnicum, 91, died Oct. 15, 2024, at St. Vincent’s Healthcare Center in Billings. He was born on March 8, 1933, to Frances (Harkins) and Ross Finnicum in Clinton, Iowa. He moved to Andes community, Richland County at the age of three months. He attended school at Andes School until the third grade and Mona School until Christmas of seventh grade when he then stayed home to help on the farm while his brother was deployed. In 1951, he met Anne Ochs. They dated for two years before getting married in the courthouse in Sidney on Aug. 22, 1953. They made their home on the family farm seven miles west of Andes. It was the beginning of a long and happy life, raising their five children and then enjoying the many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed feeding the cows in the winter and tinkering in the shop. He was always happy to help the neighbors. His favorite time was harvest. He was a strong and quiet man and had a passion for local history. He enjoyed roller skating and ice skating in his younger years. His eyes sparkled when he was happy or mischievous. He was preceded in death by his wife, Anne; stepfather, Marinus Jorgensen; siblings, Ross Finnicum, Frances Finnicum, Betty Steffans and Elvin Finnicum; and infant granddaughter, Mandalee. He is survived by his children, Benny Finnicum, Teresa Mattison, Judy Finnicum, Doug Finnicum and Bob Finnicum; brother, Lorin Finnicum; 14 grandchildren; and numerous great- and great-great-grandchildren. Mass of the Christian Burial was held Monday, Oct. 21, at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Sidney with Father Jim O’Neil presiding and Deacon Mitch Anderson officiating. Burial will be at the Finnicum Family Cemetery near Culbertson.

Aloysius Jake Bet His Medicine, 60, died Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, at Poplar Community Hospital. He was born Feb. 5, 1964, in Poplar to Marie Bets His Medicine and Joe Bauer. Also, father in life, Jim Brunoski. He attended elementary school in Brockton, junior high school in Riverside, Calif., graduated from Brockton High School and went to college at Concordia in Morehead, Minn. He was a man of many talents and held numerous jobs throughout his life, often working two jobs at a time. He worked at A& S Industries as a netter, went on to be cook, CNA, dietary aide, housekeeper, musician and started his own detailing business, along with other miscellaneous odd jobs. Of all the jobs and career paths he chose, his passion was writing, playing, singing and recording music which took him on an exciting journey in life where he met many people and established lifelong extended family and friends. He was an amazing cook and musician. He always brought delicious home cooked food, drinks and music to all the family gatherings. His most precious gifts were his presence and sense of humor. He was preceded in death by a baby sister. He is survived by his son, Carlus Jones; daughter, Brittany Walking Eagle; and adopted sister, Teri Lee Green. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 10 a.m. at the Assembly of God Church in Poplar. Interment was at Fort Kipp Cemetery.

William Edward Tronson, 93, of Medicine Lake died Oct. 16, 2024. He was born June 14, 1931, to Melvin and Lula Tronson at their farm west of Medicine Lake. He moved with his family in 1936 to the farm east of Medicine Lake, where he grew up, attending school and working on the farm. As a boy, he spent many weekends with his grandfather, Edward Spencer, at his farm six miles to the northeast. He enlisted and served in the U.S. Army from November 1951 to November 1954. He attended basic training at Fort Ord, Calif., and Airborne School at Fort Benning, Ga. He served in the Korean War with the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. After the Korean War, he was stationed in Japan with the 187 RCT, Sergeant and Qualified Jump Master. Returning home in 1954, he began raising cattle along with custom grain harvesting. His cattle were well cared for and handled gently. His grain harvest run each year began in Texas, working his way north through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Montana and into Canada. He acquired lasting friendships on his harvest run over the 34 years. He was a fair man, respectful of others. He enjoyed driving around northeast Montana and northwest North Dakota looking at machinery, buying hay, checking pastures and stopping for coffee. His quiet nature followed him into his retirement years where he enjoyed reading history and stories of early time settlers. He always kept an eye on the weather station. He is survived by sisters, Mae Reynolds of Billings and Betty Hendrickson of Medicine Lake. He was preceded in death by his sister, Shirley Wallander; and brothers, Donald and Melvin Tronson Jr. A funeral service was held Oct. 22, at the Fulkerson Funeral Home Chapel in Plentywood. Interment in Medicine Lake Cemetery followed the service.

Garrett Gray, 53, of Wolf Point died Oct. 5, 2024. A visitation was held from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel.

Jason Allen Kust, 52, of Williston, N.D., died at his home on Wednesday morning, Oct. 9, 2024. He was born on Dec. 26, 1971, to Clarence and Rose Kust in Bismarck, N.D. He has an older sister, Colleene. Jason, with his high school sweetheart Tracy, had two children. Later in life, he met his wife, Shanna. They were married in July 2018. They had many adventures together. He was self-employed as a home contractor his entire life. His motto was he could “make a turd look good.” He took pride in his work and loved the excitement of his customers when a project was completed. He loved camping, boating and especially riding his Harley with his wife. He always said there is never enough summer. He loved decorating for every holiday, with Christmas probably being his

Lyle Gene Lambert (Bean) , 73, of Williston, N.D., died Oct. 9, 2024. He was born on May 23, 1951, to Alfred “Smokey” and Doris (Hansen) Lambert in Williston, N.D. He was raised in Bainville and graduated from Bainville High School in 1969. He then attended college at Montana State University - Billings. He married Mary Lou (Nice) Lambert on April 19, 1980, at the First Lutheran Church in Bainville. He worked at Public Works and for BNSF Railroad where he retired. He received a BNSF Safety Award in July of 2006. He received the Waste Water Operator of the Year Award in 2024. He was a member of the Sidney Country Club, Bainville Booster Club and Teamsters Representative of the Railroad. He was the Bainville Rural Fire District #64 Fire Chief, the town of Bainville Fire Chief and was also the Bain-ville Volunteer Firemen Chief. He was active on the 911 Board, Bainville School Board and the Montana Rural Water Systems committee. He was a proud supporter of the Bainville Bulldog sporting events. You could always find him at the scorers’

“Testing, testing, 1, 2, 3 — is this thing on?” Joseph “Joe” Nathan Sande, 88, of Wolf Point, Mont., signed off for the last time on Oct. 4, 2024, in Billings, surrounded by the people he loved most — his family. Cremation has already taken place, and, in keeping with Joe’s wishes, there will be no public service. Instead, his family will gather privately later this year to celebrate a life filled with laughter, love, and a deep devotion to those closest to him. Born on July 19, 1936, to Francis M. Sande and Mary (Gillette) Sande, Joe’s life journey took him from Havre to Great Falls and eventually to Wolf Point, where his legacy would take root. In his younger years, Joe was up early, cleaning his father’s bar before school — a bit of work that may have shaped both his work ethic and his sharp sense of humor. After being drafted into the U.S. Navy in 1955, Joe spent two years on a submarine, which may explain his lifelong ability to navigate any situation with calmness and a well-placed quip. Returning to Montana, Joe earned a teaching degree from Northern Montana College and embarked on a career that spanned decades and touched countless lives. He met the love of his life, Gloria Nelson, in 1961 and, in true Joe fashion, they eloped in 1963 — choosing love and simplicity over fanfare. In 1964, Joe accepted what he thought would be a one-year teaching position at Wolf Point High School. That “one year” stretched into 33, during which he shaped young minds in ninth-grade English, media and writing classes, all while never missing a chance to make his students laugh. Joe’s teaching career was only one aspect of his dedication to his family and community. His voice — legendary in Wolf Point — became synonymous with school spirit as “the Voice of the Wolves,” announcing games, matches and tournaments for over four decades. While students eagerly awaited hearing their names over the loudspeaker, Joe’s heart was always anchored in his love for his family. He raised two daughters, Lori Jo and Natalie, alongside Gloria, and together they created a home full of warmth, laughter and encouragement. Family was the heart of everything Joe did. Whether coaching a softball game, umpiring or cheering on his daughters, Joe’s focus was always on providing the same unwavering support he had for them to the next generation. And when his grandchildren arrived, Joe found a whole new role to relish — being their biggest fan. Whether it was football, wrestling, swimming or tennis, if one of his grandchildren was on the field or in the pool, you could count on Joe being in the stands, a proud grandpa, ready to cheer them on. His love for his family was evident in every conversation, every joke and every moment he spent with them. Even when he was busy volunteering with the Wolf Point Optimist Club, announcing the Radiothon to raise funds for Christmas gifts or judging essays for the Optimist contests, Joe’s heart was always with his family. His marriage to Gloria, which spanned 61 years, was the foundation of his