Perry Hekkel, 73, lifetime resident of Culbertson, Mont., passed away peacefully at the Roosevelt Memorial Nursing Home in Culbertson, Mont., on Saturday morning, June 5, 2021. Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home of Williston, N.D., is assisting the family. Friends may sign the on-line register and leave their condolences at www. fulkersons.com. His funeral service was held at 10 a.m. Thursday, June 10, 2021, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Culbertson, Mont. Pastor Gretchen Wagner officiated. A light lunch followed. Interment was at the Friedens Gemeinde Cemetery, northwest of Culbertson. Friends could call at the church one hour prior to services on Thursday. The funeral service was broadcast, you can view Perry’s service directly on his obituary page on Fulkerson’s website www.fulkersons. com. Due to COVID-19, we ask that everyone adheres to local and state requirements for social distancing. Perry Hekkel, 73, passed away at Roosevelt Medical Center in Culbertson on June 5, 2021. Perry LaVern Hekkel was born Jan. 7, 1948, in Williston, N.D., to John “Pete” and Lorena Hekkel. Perry was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and a lifetime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Culbertson. Pete and Lorena raised Perry to first have faith in God, to be polite and respectful and to love everyone. Perry attended school in Culbertson. He was very proud of his job as a worker for S & S Sanitation, serving Culbertson, Bainville and Froid. He was off to work early mornings for six years, never missing a day of work. After that, he also worked for two additional garbage truck businesses. Perry’s sister, Marcia “Marcie,” was a constant and inseparable companion. Perry always looked out for and protected his little sister. On one occasion, Marcie and Perry walked to school and the weather turned chilly during the day. When they returned home that afternoon, Marcie had on Perry’s warm jacket and Perry was squeezed into Marcie’s tiny sweater because he didn’t want his sister to be cold. Marcie helped Perry with a special hooked rug craft that when finished was turned into a pillow. She patiently took each strand of wool and handed it to Perry so he could “hook” them into the pattern. Perry kept “Fox” beside him always, his treasure. Marcie’s favorite endearment was to call Perry “Harry Pickle.” Perry’s cousins meant the world to him. Whenever he saw one of them, his face would light up a room. With large families on both sides, there are countless memories of cousin fun. On the farm, building a clubhouse, playing outside and cousin birthday parties to name a few. As an adult, Perry loved being in on all birthday celebrations and family gatherings. He thoroughly enjoyed making trips to Williston to Walmart with cousin Sharon Salvevold, having a hamburger and Pepsi after shopping. Sharon gave him much time, attention and care over the years. Perry loved riding his bike. He enjoyed morning coffee hour at the Wild West Diner with his dad and cousin Larry Hekkel, drinking his favorite, a Pepsi. Every one of Perry's 40+ cousins loved him dearly and has precious memories to keep in their hearts forever. Perry loved animals. His favorite pet as a child was a white pig named The Judge. The Judge followed Perry everywhere on the farm. Often, he would comment, “Here comes The Judge!” In later years, his dog, Barfy, was dear to his heart. Perry was full of good humor and loved to laugh. He was pure love, kindness and a very joyful soul who knew and loved Jesus as his Savior. Gracious thanks to all who brightened Perry’s days in any way, especially all the staff at Roosevelt Medical Center who gave him excellent care and made him feel at home over the past eight years. Survivors include his loving mother, Lorena Hekkel; aunts, Adeline Rasmussen, Jeanie Hekkel, Christine Jensen, Ila Mae Mattingley and Mavis Schledewitz; cousins and cousins once- and twice-removed. Perry was preceded in death by his father, Pete; his sister, Marcia; his grandparents; and many aunts and uncles. To honor Perry’s love of children, memorials may be given to Ike’s Fishing Pond and Walking Trail. (Paid Obituary)

Vivian Mae Stephanie, 84, died on June 6, 2021, at Faith Home in Wolf Point. She was born Oct. 28, 1936, in Poplar to Oscar and Elizabeth (Habben) Dahlberg. She attended school at the Anderson School north of Brockton and, when the family moved into Poplar, she attended Poplar Public School through the eighth grade. She married Matt Stephanie on Dec. 10, 1953, in Havre at the First Lutheran Church. Through this union, they had four children, Marvin, Darrell, Bonnie and Gay. They also had two more children who they lost at birth, Thomas and Mary. They were married for 35 years before Matt’s death May 8, 1989. She was a very hard and trustworthy worker her whole life. She kept busy by cleaning houses and ironing clothes for many families in Poplar and surrounding areas and worked many years on the weekends at the American Legion Club. However, Vivian’s true calling was babysitting children for over 50 years in her tidy house that each child called their second home. She began her babysitting career in the late 1960s, starting with Fred and Violet Sayers’ two boys, Glenn “Pumpkin” and Baby Boo, and Ronnie and Gemma Smith’s three boys, Craig, Doug and Danny Smith. These five boys were the start of thousands of children passing through “Grandma Viv’s” loving door. She was preceded in death by her husband, Matt; son, Thomas; daughter, Mary; and sisters, Elsie Martin and Doris Bahner. She is survived by her sons, Marvin and Darrell, both of Poplar; daughters, Bonnie Paige, of Poway, Calif., and Gay Pennington, of Billings; five grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and two brothers, Don Dahlberg and Darrell Dahlberg, both north of Brockton. A funeral was held at Monday, June 14, at the First Presbyterian Church in Poplar. Interment was at Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery, north of Brockton. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.

In the early morning hours of June 3, 2021, Ray passed peacefully in his sleep after a brave battle with cancer. Ray was being cared for by Doris, his wife of 71 years, and Clint, his oldest son while also receiving hospice care which allowed him to remain in his home in Miles City. Ray was born at the family farm at Snowden, Mont., on July 5, 1930, to Martin and Frances (Bjelland) Halvorson. He joined grandparents, Ole and Amelia (Fierstein) Bjelland, Uncle John Halvorson, and siblings, Oliver, Millie, Ella and Louise. He would soon be joined by his little sisters, Margaret and Marilyn. Early life at the farm had Ray learning the values of family, hard work and good times. He also started to cultivate a lifelong love of horses and nature. He started his formal education at Fort Union, and continuing on to Bainville when they closed the old Mondak school. He drove the school bus carrying the other kids from Mondak and Snowden to Bainville while attending high school. During his late teen years, Ray worked for various farms and ranches around the Bainville area, especially during harvest when he contracted out with a team of horses and his dad’s hayrack to bring in the wheat. He had already started breaking horses to ride, an activity he enjoyed for the rest of his life. During a foray across the Snowden Bridge to a dance at “Dreamland,” south of Fairview, Ray met Doris Mae Seliger, his future wife. The buildings are still there but it is no longer called Dreamland and they no longer promote romance but sell fresh produce! Ray and Doris were married on June 28, 1949, beginning a long journey together. Ray worked for both the Romos and Wilsons while Doris began creating a home. They went to work for Ben Nordell at Mondak, living in a small travel trailer. It was hot in the summer and cold in the winter. They soon moved up to the McNary house on the ranch and Ray was soon promoted to ranch foreman, allowing them to move into the big Weinrich house where they soon welcomed Clint into the family with Clay joining in on the fun a few years later. Ray went to work for Bill Wilson in the early ‘60s, where he was fortunate to meet Wayne and Sue Grimsrud. He working for Charlie Johnson in Lambert. Every cloud has a silver lining though as their time in Lambert brought them to meet Kenneth and Kay Thornton, becoming lifelong friends also. Then providence struck as Bruce Randall, Sue Grimsrud’s father, suggested that Ray try to get on with the state highway department and then he could eventually get transferred back close to home in Culbertson. So in 1966, the household was packed up and moved to Opheim, Mont., where Ray learned how to plow 8’ drifts of snow! In 1967, the desired move to Culbertson was realized and Ray and Doris lived there for over 40 years. Many blistering summer days were spent on the asphalt and many cold, miserable nights were spent plowing snow. Sioux Pass was one of his “favorite” places! Ray continued to advance within the ranks of the highway department, eventually retiring as foreman in 1993. Ray formed multitudes of friendships along the way with co-workers in his 27 years with the state. Ray was active in the community, serving on the city council and was active in the volunteer fire department. He was a member of the Saddle Club for most of his years, helping run Frontier Days, the Wagon Train, steer ropings and O-Mok-sees. Ray helped out in a pinch one week and soon was trim job or if you needed a dingaling straightened out. Ray fulfilled his need of being active with horses, cattle and nature by helping many in the area with brandings and working cattle. If there was a chance of getting to rope a calf, he would be there! Many great times were had at various ranches … Wayne Grimsrud, Bob Traeger, Fred Thompson, Gerald Raaum, Ray Johnson, Shorty Atwood, Louie Vournas and, of course, the Romo Bros. to name a few. He also enjoyed parades, riding with family or driving Doc Reitzel’s black horses with McCann’s stagecoach. Rodeos were also a passion, traveling near and far, to watch. Ray and Doris also with Gene Foss on the Foss Cattle Drives, helping city slickers experience the life of a real cowboy. In 1995, with the death of his brother Oliver, Ray assumed ownership of his beloved badlands. He built fences, corrals and drilled wells, working on improving the old home place. He was very proud of the small herd of Herefords that he developed. In 2008, Ray and Doris decided it was time to downsize so an auction was held and they sold their Culbertson property, moving to Miles City, Mont. They proceeded to build their first “brand-new” house as they approached their ‘80’. Ray continued to stay active with his new shop and lots of yard work to do, even bringing young cedar saplings from the hills to plant in their new yard. Ray was proceeded in death by his parents, Martin and Frances Halvorson; and siblings, Oliver, Millie, Ella, Louise, Margaret and Marilyn. Ray is survived by his wife, Doris Mae (Seliger) Halvorson; sons, Clint (Mary) Halvorson and Clay (Carol) Halvorson; granddaughters, Amy (Mike) Quigley and Kara (Scotty Brown) Halvorson; and great-grandson Nyreece Halvorson. He is also survived by the multitudes of nephews and nieces from both the Halvorson and Seliger families who he loved and cared for as though they were his own children. Ray has requested that no service be held and his ashes be spread up on the top of the badlands down home. Stevenson and Sons of Miles City is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent to stevensonandsons.com or 1717 Main St., Miles City, MT 59301. (Paid Obituary)