Dagmar, Montana, is way up there in what’s almost Canada and almost North Dakota. She was very Danish and had a rebellious youth – at one point, she was kind of a Communist. Mostly, she was the town where the farmers came to buy groceries, go to church and pull up to the bar. But over time, those institutions closed or burned down. If a newspaper ran her obit, Megan Torgerson would be among those listed as loving survivors. She goes back home to find out: Is Dagmar really and truly dead?

Reported and narrated by Megan Torgerson, UM alum and creator and host of Reframing Rural

<a href="https://montanahistoriclandscape.com/2013/12/01/the-dagmar-colony-in-sheridan-county/">Dagmar, Montana</a>, is way up there in what&rsquo;s almost Canada and almost North Dakota. She was very Danish and had a rebellious youth &ndash; at one point, she was kind of a Communist. Mostly, she was the town where the farmers came to buy groceries, go to church and pull up to the bar. But over time, those institutions closed or burned down. If a newspaper ran her obit, Megan Torgerson would be among those listed as loving survivors. She goes back home to find out: Is Dagmar really and truly dead?
Reported and narrated by Megan Torgerson, UM alum and creator and host of Reframing Rural

Stories about the lives of real Montanans after they die. Co-hosted by old friends and colleagues Jad Abumrad (founder of Radiolab and creator of Dolly Parton’s America and 2025’s Fela Kuti: Fear No Man) and University of Montana professor and journalist Jule Banville (An Absurd Result). This 12-episode production of the Montana Media Lab at the UM School of Journalism started with a class of college students learning about the long tradition of obituary writing. It culminated with them and other journalists creating a new form that explores universal truths, legacies and reckoning with the memories of those we love. Hear the stories wherever you get your podcasts and on Montana Public Radio. 

Stories about the lives of real Montanans after they die. Co-hosted by old friends and colleagues Jad Abumrad (founder of Radiolab and creator of Dolly Parton&rsquo;s America and 2025&rsquo;s Fela Kuti: Fear No Man) and University of Montana professor and journalist Jule Banville (An Absurd Result). This 12-episode production of the Montana Media Lab at the UM School of Journalism started with a class of college students learning about the long tradition of obituary writing. It culminated with them and other journalists creating a new form that explores universal truths, legacies and reckoning with the memories of those we love. Hear the stories wherever you get your podcasts and on Montana Public Radio.&nbsp;

The Obit Project

Obituary for a Small Town

When Bea Burnham walked up to her house one day, she saw her husband of 30-plus years lying dead in the lawn. That stopped her world from spinning for a while, but she pulled herself up, fixed what needed to be fixed and got on with life, eventually outliving three more husbands. She worked hard and taught her daughters about women’s rights. She took care of her friends in their grief. She was buried in her fur coat and shaved her legs one swipe at a time, so that it was always in progress. After her dearth, her daughters come to a new understanding about a mom who carved her own way.

Reported and narrated by Elinor Smith, UM Journalism alum former host and reporter at Montana Public Radio.

When <a href="https://www.gardencityfh.com/obituaries/bea-beulah-burnham">Bea Burnham</a> walked up to her house one day, she saw her husband of 30-plus years lying dead in the lawn. That stopped her world from spinning for a while, but she pulled herself up, fixed what needed to be fixed and got on with life, eventually outliving three more husbands. She worked hard and taught her daughters about women&rsquo;s rights. She took care of her friends in their grief. She was buried in her fur coat and shaved her legs one swipe at a time, so that it was always in progress. After her dearth, her daughters come to a new understanding about a mom who carved her own way.
Reported and narrated by Elinor Smith, UM Journalism alum former host and reporter at Montana Public Radio.

Climbing Out of the Dark Hole

Clifford Marion was a jokester and a lover of card games and gambling. He was a force where he worked for a decade at the Town Pump. And then he got sick. At the end, surrounded by his family, it was his wife who had to make the decision about when to let go, a moment at the heart of this story.

Reported and narrated by Sophia Marsolek, current student at UM Journalism.

<a href="https://helenafuneralhome.com/obituaries/clifford-p-marion-age-64-of-helena/">Clifford Marion</a> was a jokester and a lover of card games and gambling. He was a force where he worked for a decade at the Town Pump. And then he got sick. At the end, surrounded by his family, it was his wife who had to make the decision about when to let go, a moment at the heart of this story.
Reported and narrated by Sophia Marsolek, current student at UM Journalism.

Deciding to Say Goodbye

Wayne Boyes was the de facto mayor of the unincorporated town of Tarkio off Interstate 90, though he’d never want that title. He was too busy with his cows. Wayne was born in Tarkio, he married his neighbor, and he died on his land with a list of chores. His family picked up that list in his honor and because some chores just need to get done. It’s what Wayne would have wanted.

Reported and narrated by Kathleen Shannon, alum of UM Journalism’s graduate program

 

<a href="https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/missoulian/name/wayne-boyes-obituary?id=36093289">Wayne Boyes</a> was the de facto mayor of the unincorporated town of Tarkio off Interstate 90, though he&rsquo;d never want that title. He was too busy with his cows. Wayne was born in Tarkio, he married his neighbor, and he died on his land with a list of chores. His family picked up that list in his honor and because some chores just need to get done. It&rsquo;s what Wayne would have wanted.
Reported and narrated by Kathleen Shannon, alum of UM Journalism&rsquo;s graduate program
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Obituary for a Small Town

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