LaDonna Tade Sauer, 89, of Billings, formerly of Nashua, died April 4, 2022. She was born on Sept. 29, 1932, to Edward and Lillian (Stroud) Tade in Ossette. She was the third of six children. She was raised in a farm family in eastern Montana where she attended Nashua School. She met Simon Perter “Sam” Sauer and wed him on Oct. 6, 1951, at Queen of Angels Church in Nashua. With their adventurous spirits, they moved to Anchorage, Alaska, in the spring of 1952. While in Alaska, she worked at the post office for 10 years, was a house wife, earned her high school diploma at the age of 40 and received her real estate license and sold property. Her love for real estate and the stock market continued through the remainder of her life. They lived in Alaska for 25 years where they raised two children. After her husband retired in 1976, they moved to Glasgow to live their dream of farming. They farmed the Tade farm until Sam’s death in 1992. She stayed on the hill and farmed with her son, Jason, until 2007. For health reasons, she moved to Billings in 2007 where she resided until her death. She loved spending with her family and extended family. Her years of traveling to Arizona to spend time with her brothers and sisters were some of her favorite memories. She loved to play games and entertain guests. She was preceded in death by her husband, Sam Sauer; brothers, Edward Tade Jr. and Marvin Tade; and her sister, Helen Elkin. She is survived by her daughter, Cheryl Sauer; son, Jason Sauer; two grandchildren; a great-grandson; sister, Marcia Zygmond; and brother, Ron Tade. A graveside service will be held April 19 at 10:30 a.m. at Highland Cemetery.

Amedie F. “Bud” Iwen, 84, of Helena died April 4, 2022, at Touchmark in Helena. He was born March 11, 1938, in Froid to Ada and Austin Iwen, the seventh of nine children. He and his wife, Mary Helen, met at Wolf Point High School and married June 16, 1959. They had five children. He was raised in Wolf Point and graduated from Wolf Point High School in 1956. He continued his education at Jamestown College in North Dakota, transferring to Carroll College and graduating in 1960 with a B.A. degree in English. He was bureau chief at United Press International and a broadcaster on radio and TV. He was employed by Carroll College for three different positions and was a season ticket holder for both football and basketball for many years. People may remember his voice from announcing local games. He was honored to be named the Montana Sportscaster of the Year in 1964 and 1968. He finished out his career at Shodair Hospital as foundation director. He and Mary Helen are members of St. Helena Cathedral Parish and he was parish council president in 1974. Many friendships began at the cathedral and his involvement with the Helena Lions Club also led to lasting relationships they treasured. On Sundays during the summer after attending mass at the Helena Cathedral, he and Mary Helen would pack up the family and picnic food to spend the afternoon at Moose Creek Campground with the Crants family. While the adults were enjoying their quality time, the children would “accidentally” fall into the creek. Those moments at Moose Creek created long-lasting memories for friends and family. Another valued family tradition was to load the family station wagon and head north to the Hi-Line to visit relatives in Wolf Point. These yearly trips solidified family relationships between Bud and his brothers, nieces and nephews. He is survived by his wife, Mary Helen; children, Suzy Harlen, Jackie Schmoldt, Chelle Fields, Helen Yuhas and Ken Iwen; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A funeral was held Monday, April 11, at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home in Helena.

Melvin Azure Sr., 58, of Wolf Point died March 31, 2022, in Wolf Point. He was born in Baker to Ervin Bruno Azure and Donna Mae Boyd on June 21, 1963. He attended schools in Wolf Point and graduated in 1982. After graduating high school, he went to work at A& S Industries and, during the summers, he went firefighting. A few years later, he began his life of roughnecking, which he loved immensely. Through all of this, he found the time to run, which was his passion. He could outrun anyone around, even while wearing his fire fighting boots. He competed in many races, including the Human Stampede during the Wild Horse Stampede weekend and the Longest Dam Run at Fort Peck. He placed first many times and acquired his very own fan club from people who admired and looked up to him. It wasn’t until the last 12 years that he became a laborer, to where he wore many hats from mechanic, construction worker, cement layer, lumberjack and the list goes on. There was nothing that he couldn’t and wouldn’t do. In 2013, he almost died of hypothermia to where he lost eight of his fingers and all of his toes. He never let his disability keep him from hard work and never looked at himself as being disabled. He told everyone that he could still outwork anybody, even without his fingers and toes. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, who loved the outdoors. He loved to laugh, had a great sense of humor, wore the biggest smile and was full of life. He worked hard all his life and played just as hard too. It was in 1986 that he became a father and his daughter Arden Morales Anderson was born. Later on, he met Laurette Wetsit and, from this union, they had five children, Da’veau, Mariah, Melvin Jr., Jacob and Joclynn. He is survived by his children, Arden, Melvin Jr., Jacob and Joclynn; five grandchildren; brothers, Ervin Azure, Curtis Azure, Craig Azure and Michael Nelson; and sisters, Brenda Calder, Paula Azure, Cindy Welch and Julie Azure. He was preceded in death by his children, Da’veau and Mariah; and brother, Robert Azure. His funeral was held Saturday, April 9, at the new Community Hall in Wolf Point. Interment followed at St. Ann’s Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.