North Country News for Wednesday, January 4, 2023

People have to be tough in Montana when it gets so cold. I won’t mention the number - cold is cold!

Jamie and Jacob Obie’s son Landon Scott was baptized in Whitewater on Christmas Eve at the Whitewater Lutheran Church before the Christmas Eve Service. Also, Mary Beth and Sam Funk’s son Wyatt Ole was baptized at the same service. The grandparents of both children are Pat and Scott Anderson of Whitewater, who were in attendance. The other grandmother of Landon Scott is Kathy Obie, formally of Whitewater, who was also present, along with her other son Josh. Besides sisters Jamie and Mary Beth sponsoring each other’s children, their brother Seth Anderson was also a sponsor. As a surprise, Sam Funk also was baptized at the same time as his son. Pastor Bob Nagy officiated the ceremony. He also led the Christmas Eve service, to a packed house.

Following the Christmas Eve service, Pat and Scott hosted the baptism party at their home for supper, along with Jacob’s sons Carter and Alex.

Carli and Guy Simonton hosted Guy’s family for Christmas. In attendance were Rhonda and Doug Simonton, and Ron and Diane Hanson.

Lynn and Bruce Hill were in Great Falls to visit their daughter Wendy and their sons Joel and Mike Hill.

Pat Murdock’s grandson Hector Murdock of Malta was the lone FedEx driver for Phillips County over the Christmas holidays.

Denise and Clinton Cox drove to Havre Christmas Day to visit Clinton’s mom Margie and her husband Wally Duchscher.

Tatum Moore and Trey Strong with their baby Katana, 7 months old, visited Katana’s great-great-grandmother Margie Olsen and family over Christmas.

Bob and Rena Math hosted Christmas for their children Cody, Kevin, and Tasha Keller along with their spouses and children.

Jett, Bri Anderson, and their three boys went to Havre for Christmas to be with Bri’s family.

Debbie and Brent Anderson hosted Christmas for Jenna and Troy Simonton, and Jace and Shae Anderson.

Pat Murdock spent the holidays with her son Jimmy and his wife Nancy at their town house in Malta. Kate Webb along with her husband Gordon and their children Calum and Chloe were able to come see their grandmother, as well as Alex and Kayleigh Murdock and their children Aidan, Aiden, and Kason. Her great-grandson Calum will turn 6 on New Year’s Eve weekend.

Pat Murdock also got to visit with former Whitewater resident Ree Simonson and her granddaughter Jada and husband Brandon Bantz, and their boys Brady, Liam, and Jace, and daughter Mia from Grass Range.

Janet and Davey Dunbar went to Arizona for the winter just in time before the winter blast!

Theresa Haynes ended up spending Christmas alone at the Murdock ranch after she got snowed in. Not good weather for traveling! But good that she was there to take care of things for the Murdock ranch in Jim’s Dodge pickup, which made it through snowbanks others were not able to maneuver.

Happy New Year to everyone, and I hope it is a good one!