Pat Drescher, 91, of Culbertson died Saturday, July 30, 2022. He was born in Longmont, Colo., on Jan. 11, 1931, to Paul Lynn and Jessie Mae Drescher. Shortly after birth, he moved to Arizona where his parents farmed in Oak Creek Canyon near the town of Cottonwood. During grade school, he attended Oak Creek School, a two-room country school near the ranch. At age 16, he moved to Reno, Nev., where he graduated from Reno High School in 1949. He attended the University of Nevada Reno for two years pursuing a pre-legal degree before entering the Air Force to become a fighter pilot on Feb. 9, 1954. Upon completion of pilot training, he returned to the Nevada Air National Guard and served as a F-86 fighter pilot assigned to the Air Defense Command until his discharge on May 31, 1956. After separation from the military, he became owner/ operator of a small antique and pawn shop until 1962 when he was employed by the City of Sparks Fire Department where he served for 28 years. His primary assignment was fire prevention and investigation. He attended the Western Nevada Community College for two years and graduated with an associate of arts degree in fire science. After retiring from the fire service on April 15, 1990, at the rank of fire marshal/battalion chief, he spent approximately 10 years as a private investigator specializing in fire investigation. In 2000, he moved to Amidon, N.D., where he operated “Firehouse Antiques” for three years. In 2003, moved to Sidney where he married Mavis Schledewitz and enjoyed total retirement. He was very active in scouting throughout his lifetime. He spent many years as a scoutmaster, serving on Woodbadge training staff while in Nevada. He was also active in Kiwanis for over 30 years and served as club president in Sparks, Nev., and Lt. Governor of Division 23 of the Nevada-California-Hawaii District. After serving his term as Kiwanis Lt. Governor, he received the Distinguished Lt. Governor Award for his exceptional leadership and devoted service. He brought his passion for serving children with him to Sidney where he has served as Lt. Governor of Division 5 of Montana District Commissioner for the Badlands District of the Boy Scouts of America. In 2013, he was awarded the Montana District Scouting Award of Merit. He and Mavis moved into the Lodge in September 2018. In September 2021, they moved to Culbertson to live by family. He is survived by his wife, Mavis. His memorial service was held Thursday, Aug. 4, at the Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home Chapel in Sidney. Pastor Alton Hillesland officiated. He was buried at Hillside Cemetery in Culbertson.

Bernie W. “Butch” Finnicum, 77, of Culbertson died Aug. 3, 2022. He was born Jan. 14, 1945, to Bernie and Montana Finnicum. Throughout his years growing up in Culbertson, he kept his parents on their toes; however, he always looked out for his younger siblings. After graduating from Culbertson High School, he met Christina Vallejo. They married July 4, 1969. After a short stint in the Army, he and Chris returned to Culbertson to work in the family businesses, where he remained until he retired. They raised two daughters, Monika and KayCee. He loved cars … admiring them, driving them (preferably very fast), buying them and selling them. He also loved playing cards with the guys, playing dominos with his family and eating all the healthy foods like cheeseburgers, ice cream, popcorn and candy. However, his greatest love was his family. Everything he did was wrapped up in family, whether it be his job or his hobbies. He had a great love of the Lord. Nothing made him happier than spending time with his grandchildren. He would often initiate and partake in many a trip to the pumpkin patch, go carts, water park or wherever a fun time could be had with his grandkids. He spent lots of time watching all the sports his grandkids played. He was incredibly proud of his daughters and his grandchildren. He is survived by his wife, Chris; daughters, Monika Feldmann and KayCee Murray; six grandchildren; brothers, Paul Finnicum and Bill Finnicum; and sisters, Diane Hampton, LaVonne Scotson, Nancy Hansen, Susan Finnicum and Bonnie Hellweg. Burial was at the Hillside Cemetery in Culbertson. A celebration of life is being planned for a later date.

Wendy Lisa Chopper, 49, of Poplar died July 30, 2022, in Billings. She was born on July 2, 1973, in Devils Lake, N.D., to Abraham Chopper Sr. and Lorene (Good Soldier) Michel. She attended school in Sheyenne, N.D., until her freshman year and then went to Clearfield Job Corps in Clearfield, Utah. She was in culinary arts. After leaving Job Corps, she worked at many different places throughout her life. She worked at Dakota Tribal Industries; Spirit Lake Casino in Ft. Totten, N.D.; MIT Telemarketing; Dakota Sportwear; Noodles by Leonardo; Taco John’s and McDonald’s in Devils Lake, N.D.; Subway and Taco John’s in Jamestown, N.D.; McDonald’s in Aurora, Colo.; Bear Lodge Assisted Living and Cenex in Billings, Mont.; Bryan’s in Wolf Point; and as a CNA at the Poplar Hospital and at Tribal Express in Poplar. She was a kind soul who loved her family and friends to the fullest. She would try to help anyone out in need if she could. She is survived by her mother, Lorene Michel of Poplar; children, Colby Chopper of Sioux Falls, S.D., Benjamin Chopper and Royce LaVallie of Fargo, N.D., and Payton Knoth of Flaxville; siblings, Abraham Chopper Jr., Jolene Chopper-Jones of Poplar, Joseph Dunn of Jamestown, N.D., Louis Dunn of Fargo, N.D., Tiffany Chopper of Billings and Nicolle Bighorn of Brockton; and seven grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her stepfather, Douglas Michel; and sister, Althea Deserly. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at the Poplar Cultural Center. Interment followed at Fort Kipp Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with arrangements.

Levi Kyle Olson, 28, died July 31, 2022, in Rocky Boy. He was born Dec. 31, 1993, to Teresa Olson and Tomas Garcia at Trinity Hospital in Wolf Point. He was later adopted and raised by his grandparents, Margaret and Levi Olson. He was educated in Poplar Schools, Rocky Boy High School and Rocky Mountain College. He loved sports, playing football, basketball, cross country, track and golf as a youth. He first found love for a sport in football, but he later caught interest in running, in which he excelled. He quickly made his impact in cross country and holds record times in Glasgow and Poplar. During his senior year in Rocky Boy, he became a state champion cross dountry distance runner. After graduation, he received a scholarship from Rocky Mountain College in 2013 and went for a semester. He later met Charlee Dezerae Huntley when returning to Rocky Boy. They had two children, Levi Krosston Olson, born May 18, 2015, and Kai’leigh Lynn Olson, born Aug. 30, 2016. He easily adjusted to become the adoring father he was set out to be when he started working for the Northern Winz Casino to provide for his new family. He searched for hobbies living with Wanita Deserly and Lije Huntley, Charlee’s parents. He met Dennis St. Marks, who was like a father figure to him. Dennis showed him how to hunt, fish and even opened his eyes to the world which made him appreciative for the little things. He had a new passion to become a cop and made it his mission. He started working as a correctional officer at the Rocky Boy Police Department on Aug. 30, 2016. he did not get to be a cop, but fulfilled every second working. He is survived by his grandmother, Margaret Olson of Poplar; brothers, Skylar, Tanner, Zander Parisian and Claude Olson; children, Krosston and Kai’leigh Olson; girlfriend, Charlee Huntley; and great-grandmothers, Margaret Red Boy and Yvette White Hawk-Todd. Funeral services were held Friday, Aug. 5, at the Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Poplar. Interment followed at Poplar City Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with arrangements.