27 April 2023
Dassani Blackdog
Dassani Renae Blackdog, 15, of Poplar died April 12, 2023.
She was born to Reuben and Amber Blackdog on Dec. 6, 2007, in Wolf Point. She attended school at the Poplar School.
She loved to be around her family and friends, making memories. There was never a dull moment when she was around and she always lit up a room. She loved to go for walks, loved jamming out and visiting with her sisters.
She is survived by her mother, Amber Blackdog (Ed Lemay); grandparents, Doreen Ferguson and Georgia Atkinson; sisters, Damita, Danyell, Deah, Doreen and DoreeAnn; and brothers, Reuben Jr. and Skidmark.
Funeral services were held Friday, April 21, at the Poplar Cultural Center. Interment was at the Poplar City Cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted
Michael O’Connor
June 8, 1942 - April 14, 2023
Michael “Mike” T. O’Connor passed away peacefully, surrounded by loved ones on April 14, 2023, while wintering in Emory, Texas.
Born in Poplar, Mont., on June 8, 1942, Mike spent almost his entire life in the Wolf Point area. He was a 1960 graduate of Wolf Point High School. He grew up on the O’Connor Ranch on Tule Creek, northeast of town on Highway 13.
His engineering mind was always at work. This led him into his intense interest in fabricating and welding. He became the premier welder/ fabricator in the area and later in his career, focused on horse racing gates. An example of his work may be found at the Kentucky Derby Museum where a two-stall horse racing gate he refurbished with his son, Shane, is on display in Louisville, Ky.
In recent years, Mike had been spending his winters in Emory, Texas, with the love of his life, Sharon. His sons, Shane (Annie) and Rory (Kim) were by his side when he passed, as was Sharon.
Mike was proceeded in death by his father, Daniel O’Connor; mother, Mary Griswold O’Connor; and sister, Nina Rose.
He is survived by his partner in all things, Sharon Bravard; brother, Daniel “Pat” (Rita); sister, Donna Mann; his sons; his granddaughter, Barbara (Vine Grove, Ky.); and grandsons, Devon (Vine Grove, Ky.), Evan and Cian (Missoula, Mont.). He will be deeply missed by them all as well as the countless relatives and friends whose lives were touched by him and his helping hand.
Cremation has taken place.
Phiona Fern Granbois
Phiona Fern Granbois, 23, died April 19, 2023, at her home in Williston, N.D.
She was born March 10, 2000, in Wolf Point to Wenona Sloan and Phillip “Beasty” Granbois. She joined her brother Raven Sloan Clark and soon welcomed brothers and sister, Phillip Granbois IV, Sydney Granbois, Jake Granbois and Dillon Granbois.
She was a kind soul. She was a little mother hen, always protecting, watching over and worrying about everyone, friends, siblings and relatives. She began her education in Wolf Point Elementary school and then Poplar for middle school and high school.
While in high school, she was part of the Dakota language program that traveled to Minneapolis, Minn., to compete. In school, she had some great friends. As she got older, one of the funniest things was to hear her and her sister get together and share the funny things they and their friends did.
In May 2018, she met Hailey Fourstar of Portland, Ore. From this meeting, she didn’t only get a partner and best friend, but her family gained a daughter and sister. The lived together in Wolf Point and Poplar until moving to Williston in 2019. Even though they decided not to continue their relationship, they remained best friends and never went too long without phone calls.
In May 2019, she began working at Albertsons, where she remained employed as a frozen supervisor at the time of her death. She enjoyed her job, but what made it worth it was her coworkers. They were more like another family to her.
When not working, she enjoyed playing games online.
She is survived by her parents, Wenona (Angel) Sloan and Beasty Granbois III; sister, Sydney Granbois; brothers, Raven Sloan-Clark, Phillip H. Granbois IV and Dillon J. Granbois; grandparents, Darlene (David) Follette, Gary and Michelle Sloan of Vancouver, Wash., and Pauline Granbois; and great-grandparents, Dennis and Flora Follette of Helena.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Jake Granbois.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 25, at the new Wolf Point Community Hall. Interment was at St. Ann’s Cemetery in Poplar. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.
Pound Puppies Candy France Clinic Set For May
The Wolf Point Pound Puppies are hosting the Candy France Honorary Feline Spay/Neuter Clinic event at 420 Cascade St. in Wolf Point May 19-20.
You must sign up ahead of time to participate.
The spring clinic has been named in honor of longtime Glasgow cat rescuer and friend to WPPP Candy France, who died in December.
“We decided we wanted to do one more cat spay/neuter clinic, so we dedicated it to her,” organizer Tina Betshismedicine said. “She did a lot of work and much of it was out of her own pocket. She helped people of Glasgow and St. Marie get their cats fixed and vaccinated. She was at nearly all of our clinics on ‘Caturday.’ May 20 is her birthday. We didn’t know that. It just happened, but it’s cool. We do have a few adoptable dogs, but I think they’ll probably be moved.”
France’s daughter Angela posted the following on social media April 24: “This means so much to me. [...] I feel this honors her way more than the funeral did.”
The May clinic is a lowcost event. The fee is $60 and includes all vaccinations, dewormer and flea/tick treatment. The price is the same regardless of the need for vaccinations.
If you cannot afford the low cost fee, WPPP will look into finding a sponsor to help with the fee.
Drop off time is not surgery time. Cats may be at the clinic all day and well into the evening before they are ready to go.
To sign up, text Betshismedicine at 406-650-2177. She will reply when she’s able, so it’s important to be patient.
