The Azure family mourns the loss of our dear mother, Frances Gloreen “Howardine” Azure Strauser. Mom passed away on January 14, 2020 at the Faith Lutheran Home in Wolf Point, Montana.
Gloreen was born on September 2, 1936 in Poplar, Montana. She was the oldest of eight children born to the late Albert “Howard” Culbertson and Flora Culbertson (Gladue). Gloreen grew up in Poplar and attended Poplar Schools where she was active in the marching band and enjoyed playing the piano. Gloreen met Floyd “Scotty” Azure and when they were both just 18 years old, they married in Butte, Montana, where Scotty then worked as a miner. She and Scotty were able to enjoy over twenty-five years of marriage before he sadly passed away. Gloreen later married William “Bill” Strauser, Sr., who also passed after over twenty-five years together.
Gloreen worked hard for most of her life before retiring from the Indian Health Service in 2005. Prior to working for IHS, she also worked for the Fort Peck Tribes and Traders State Bank in Poplar. Once her children were grown, Gloreen loved traveling to Las Vegas, where she would visit her sister and do a little gambling. Her and Bill’s trip to Hawai’i, though, was a highlight, and a place she always wished she could visit again. When she wasn’t traveling to visit her siblings or children, Gloreen spent her retirement visiting her friends and family here at home. She would knock and walk in asking “Well, what’s the good word?” Then, just as soon as she had finished her coffee and morning roll, she’d be off to visit someone else, or “head for the hills,” for home.
Gloreen was the mother to Scott K. (Wendy), Floyd G. (Jeri), Howard D. (Debbie), Michael J., and Luanne, all of Poplar. Gloreen also leaves behind her beloved grandchildren, Scotty (Kristian), Samantha (Elijah), Melissa (Tom), Floyd (Heather), Denise (Steven), Dustyn (Jen), Autumn (Derek), Ashley (Hazeez), Hunter (Sage), Michael (Natasha), Richard, Monica, Michael, Kylie, and Daunte. Gloreen was also so proud to have been a great-grandmother to so many.
Gloreen is also survived by her sisters and brothers, Albert “Greek” Culbertson, Jr. of Littleton, Colo., Jackie (Pete) Sandoval of Poplar, Sandra (Warren) Albertson of Rapid City, South Dakota, Joseph “Doddie” (Charlene) Culbertson of Poplar, and Carol (Rodney “Dudsi”) Azure of Poplar, as well as her nieces and nephews, Albert “Buzz” Culbertson, Kay Culbertson, Janet Fredericks, Brenda Sandoval-Homeyer, Keith Albertson, Bret Albertson, Kirk Albertson, Jay Albertson, AJ Culbertson, James Culbertson, Jackie Azure, Rodney Azure, Jr., John “JD” Azure, Dodi Bernard, Dennis Christiansen, and Debra Mason.
Gloreen was preceded in death by her beloved husband Scotty, her mother and father, grandson Eric, and sisters Louanne and Zelma. It has been a great comfort for those of us she left behind to know they were there for her, to bring her home.