Timothy James Kurokawa

Timothy James Kurokawa, 78, passed away on September 16, 2026, in Wolf Point, MT, after a long illness, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born on May 23, 1948, in Chicago, IL, and was the oldest child of Jim and Vonie Kurokawa. Soon after, the family moved to Wolf Point, MT where he grew up with his six siblings, helping at the Wolf Point Cafe.

After graduating from Wolf Point High School in 1966, Tim enrolled at Rocky Mountain College and played football for one season. He then enlisted in the Navy and served in the Vietnam War as an aviation electrician. After Vietnam, he married Jude Stensland in Wolf Point, and they moved to Bozeman to study nursing at Montana State University. There, along with daughter Tara, the three made their home in married student housing. They later welcomed daughter Kari Yvonne and moved to Butte to complete their nursing clinicals. While in Butte, they welcomed son Andrew John.

Tim attended a master's program in biofeedback at the University of Washington, Seattle. The family returned to Wolf Point, where Tim worked as an RN at Trinity Hospital. He worked closely as a surgical assistant for his mentor, Dr. Listrude. Tim received additional training and administered kidney dialysis at Indian Health Service in Poplar. In 1992, he completed the Family Nurse Practitioner program at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine. He was proud of his 30 years as a Family Nurse Practitioner at IHS until his retirement in 2012. He loved his work taking care of people. Tim and Jude separated in 2000.

After a long friendship as co-workers at the IHS Clinic in Wolf Point, Tim and Mikel Sansaver started dating at an IHS Christmas party in 2006 and quickly became inseparable. They married in 2013.

Tim enjoyed bird hunting with family, golfing, Gunsite Academy marksmanship and gun handling, riding his Harley, attending sporting events of his children and grandchildren, and keeping up with Jeopardy and other favorite shows.

Tim is survived by his children, Tara Mastel (Mike) of Red Lodge, Kari Wilson (Mark) of Winchester, Oregon, and Andy (Shyla) of Billings. His wife, Mikel, and her children Jaclyn Sansaver-Fearis (Garrison) of Patillo, Texas; Jake Bushman (Laykin Cantrell) of Wolf Point and Josh Bushman of Wolf Point. Siblings are Karen Pedersen, Don Kurokawa, Ruth Newton (Carl), and Ken Kurokawa (Patti), all of Wolf Point, and Mike Kurokawa (Paul) of Honolulu, Hawaii. Grandchildren are Dorothy, Burke and Ellis Mastel; Zach (Brittney), Alex (Nicole), Elizabeth, Michael and Olivia Wilson; Mizuno James Kurokawa and Rhett Fearis; and four great-grandchildren Winter, Carter, Asher and Sage. Nieces and nephews are Samantha Kuhn, Tomi Pedersen, Toni Pedersen, Luke Pedersen, JJ Pedersen, Mariko Kurokawa, Blake Kurokawa, Daniel Roy Fishman-Engle, Vandie Buckingham, Becky Stensland, JD Stensland, Aria Schwartz, Michael Potter, and Jim Potter.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Roy Kurokawa.

Cremation has taken place and a service will be held at Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel on September 24 at 10 a.m. followed by Honor Guard Services at Greenwood Cemetery. Join the family for a gathering at the Wolf Point Cafe after services. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to NEMHS Charitable Foundation, PO Box 341, Poplar, MT 59255. Condolences may be sent to the family at 5034 MB 1 Dr., Wolf Point, MT 59201.

Honorary Pallbearers: Son Andy, brothers Don, Ken, Mike, cousin Barry, and Dennis Callendar - his long time friend, a fellow medical provider, and his partner in Harley rides, many hunting trips, and Gunsite firearms training.