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Aloysius Raymond Hewankorn
The last grandchild of Chief Koostahtah was laid to rest by his family and friends at Dayton Indian Cemetery on Thursday, October 26, 2006. Al died on Monday October 23rd.
Al was born at Jette on January 10, 1936 to Jerome and Mary Hewankorn. He grew up on Dayton Creek with his parents and grandparents, Koostahtah and Suzette Big Knife. Like other traditional Kootenai homes, a large extended family lived together. This often included parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Often during his years of employment Al would be the main provider for the extended family.
He worked at the Plywood Mill in Polson for a few years but his main lifetime occupation was working in the woods. He cut wood, Christmas trees, and hauled logs for different companies throughout his career. Al also has the distinction of serving the longest term on the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Housing Board, from 1966 to 1999, a span of 33 years. He also served many years on the Shoreline Protection Board. Al was Sergeant-at-arms for the CSKT Tribal Council prior to being elected as the Elmo/Dayton Council Representative for the years 1982 to 1989. He was a founding member of the Elmo Road Corporation, which served to train and employ many community members during a period of high unemployment.
Throughout his life, Al taught many skills to his nieces, nephews, and other family members from cutting wood and Christmas trees to driving a tractor or stick shift pickup. He will always be remembered as a man who dedicated his life to working hard for his people from behind the scenes. Many benefited and continue to benefit from his influence on programs/Boards, policies, and as a role model.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Patricia of the family home on Dayton Creek; daughters Geraldine of Elmo, Josephine of Big Arm, and Darlene of Elmo; sons Al, Jr. of Dayton, and Michael of Elmo; his uncle Tony Anderson of Cle Elum, Washington; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Traditional Kootenai wake services began on Tuesday, October 24 at Elmo Community Center. Rosary was recited on Wednesday the 25th and funeral services were held on Thursday, October 26th with burial at Dayton Indian Cemetery. Cross bearer was Adrian Hewankorn; pallbearers were Mike Finley, Gary Mathias, Vernon Finley, Jerry Hewankorn, Barney Finley, and Bud Mathias.
Ward Patrick Devlin
POLSON - Ward Devlin peacefully died of natural causes surrounded by his family at his home in on Monday afternoon, October 16, 2006.
On February 21, 1920, Ward was the second-born of four boys to Neil and Jenny (Oxton) Devlin in Steele County, North Dakota.
His parents, brothers Neil, Jack and Jim preceded him in passing, as did his sisters-in-law Dorothy, Beverly, El Dora and El Dora's husband (and Ward's great pal) Vernon. His beloved wife of 54 years, LaVere passed on December 28, 2000.
Ward and LaVere met when they were students at MSTC (Mayville State Teachers College), Mayville, North Dakota.
Ward graduated in the spring of '42. He was stationed with the U.S. Army at Fort Snelling in St. Paul, Minnesota. After the service, Ward taught school at Hunter, ND; then at Bagley, MN.
Ward and LaVere were married August 12, 1946 in Fargo, North Dakota. They had accepted teaching positions - along with brother Neil - in Tulelake, California. Ward and Neil taught high school and LaVere taught first grade. Following the two-year stint in California, Ward and Neil accepted the positions in Polson, Montana that would complete their respective teaching careers. They established the Commerce and Art curricula at Polson High School in 1948.
Ward is survived by cousin Molly Sampson of Rialto, California; sisters-in-law Dolly Devlin, Michigan, North Dakota; Gina Devlin, Polson and children Greg, Charles, Thomas, JeNeil (Greg Grace), Patrick, Kathy (Pat Collicott), Karen, and Jeff (Grace). Additionally, 16 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews will remember "Papa" Ward.
Dad was a popular individual. His commanding personal presence, spirituality, intellectual curiosity and insight, substantive wisdom, and playful humor combined to make him an enormously well respected educator. He was a paragon as a dad -- raising kids - like his students -- with gentle sincerity and with firm 'logic' (oh, yes... sometimes a reminder of his Golden Gloves title!) when necessary. A life-long competitor and outdoorsman, he was equally comfortable matching wits, trading stories, wrangling over faith and philosophy or arm wrestling... he was not one to back down from a challenge!
He generously shared his many traits among us, his eight children. The leader of our band has given us the opportunity to manifest his unique goodness and to make it reverberate. We love you and thank you for sharing your life expression, Dad.
A prayer vigil was held Sunday, October 22 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Polson.
Mass for the Celebration of
Ward's Life was offered on Monday, October 23, 2006.
Arrangements were under the care of Grogan Funeral Home of Polson. The Family requests that memorials be directed to the Boys and Girls Club of the Flathead Reservation, 107 US Hwy 93, Ronan, Montana, 59864.
Nancy Myers
SPOKANE - Nancy Myers, 81, of Spokane, died Monday, Sept 25, 2006 in Post Falls. She was born Dec. 10, 1924, in Helena, MT, to Gus and Maggie Beauchemin.
Nancy moved to Spokane in 1985 from Wallace where she had been a long time resident. She was a menber of the American Legion Post in St. Ignatius, Mt. Nancy enjoyed spending time with family, walking and bingo.
She is survived by ons Celic Maybers of Coeur d'Alene, Robert & Lola Myers of Smelterville and John Myers of San Diego, daughters Judy and Michael Shelly of Osburn and Waunita Myers & fiance Jim Rambo of Spokane; sister Mary Mills of St. Ignatius, MT; three grandchildren, Sean Shelley, Jarir Mallah and Sabrina Mallah. She is preceded in death by her husband Edward in 1971; seven brothers and seven sisters.
Services were held at St. Ignatius Cemetary on Sunday, October 8 with dinner following at Michelle Ranch in St. Ignatius.
Carol Marie (Paul) Buck
RONAN - Carol Marie (Paul) Buck, 60, was lovingly received into the arms of our Creator on Sunday, Oct. 22 at her home near Ronan.
Born on Dec. 23, 1945 to Agnes (PokerJim) and John Peter Paul in St. Ignatius she was raised in a traditional Salish / Pend Oreille family on the Flathead Reservation. Her education started at Ronan and later MSU in Bozeman before she received her BA in Healthcare Admin. from Idaho State Univ. in 1983.
Carol & her husband Dusty just celebrated their 41st Anniversary. She married Leslie "Dusty" Buck on Oct. 17, 1965 in Harlem, Montana and they made their home in many places over the next few years while she and her husband finished their education. They started in Texas (Welding School) and went to Oakland, CA (shipyards), returned to St. Ignatius briefly before going to Spokane (barber school) and living in Idaho from 1974 to 1983. They returned home to the Ronan area in 1983, where Carol was hired by the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes. Carol held various positions in the Tribe for 22 years. The most recent position was with Tribal Credit until her health forced an early retirement.
Carol's favorite things were to play Keno and Bingo, and go shopping and yardsaling. Many of her most memorable times were spent attending cultural gatherings with the Elders where she would participate in the annual journey to the Medicine Tree, digging bitterroot, gathering berries and attending pow-wows. Huckleberry season was also special for her as she always enjoyed a good meal with frybread and huckleberry cheesecake.
Carol was preceded in death by her son Donald who passed away this summer, her parents John & Agnes Paul, sisters and brother Katie, Susie, Cecile and Antoine and a niece Sarah.
Survivors include her husband Dusty; her children Leslie (Dorinda) of Spokane, WA, Michael of Ronan, Richard of Ronan and Al Bert Buck of Ronan; 8 grandchildren; Brothers Phillip (Debbie) Paul of Post Creek and John Paul, Jr. of Washington; sisters Adele Meshell of Worley, ID, Josephine Quequesah of St. Ignatius and Nancy (Leon)Grant of Post Creek as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A traditional wake began Monday evening in the Longhouse in St. Ignatius with Rosary being recited at 8 pm Tuesday in the Longhouse. Wake closing will begin at 10 am Wednesday in the Longhouse with Mass following at 11 am in the St. Ignatius Catholic Church.
Burial will be in the Paul Family Cemetery at Post Creek.
Karen Ann Sorrell
ST. IGNATIUS - On May 15, 1952 Karen Ann Sorrell started her journey of life in St. Ignatius, MT as the daughter of Ernest and Annie Sorrell. Her journey on Earth ended on October 11, 2006 when her Mother took her hand and led her on her next journey to the Creator.
The Sorrell family was a close knowing and loving family that were raised in a one-bedroom home. While her brothers went hunting and chopping wood with their father, the sisters stayed at home with their Mother when Karen's everlasting bond to her Mother was forged. This bond remained strong even after Annie died on October 11, 1992.
During the summers of her childhood the family would pack up their belongings and head for the Arlee Pow-Wow to celebrate in a traditional way for 10 days. This is where Karen's life long love of handgame was born. Following the Pow-Wow, the family would move camp to the mountains where picking huckleberries was the first order of business, but playing and laughing was just as important. Karen's sense of humor and laugh is something everyone will always remember.
Karen's skill and love of bingo was legendary. She could play 48 cards at one time while keeping track of the numbers on the cards of the person sitting next to her and telling stories, smoking and enjoying a cup of coffee.
Karen was a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. She worked in many different positions throughout her career including jobs at Tribal Fish and Game, Tribal Administration and Tribal Health and Human Services. Her work also took her to Coeur d'Alene Tribe in Idaho where she was the Tribal Council assistant secretary. She served as secretary of the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians.
Most important to Karen were her children and grandchildren. She would gather her grandchildren and them about the ways things were when she was growing up. Yaya Karen would encourage the grandchildren, sometimes through teasing, to continue in school and stay involved in sports. She loved to watch them play any sport but especially baseball. Her grandchildren will always remember Yaya's cooking brown macaroni, potato salad and watching CSI and the SciFi channel on TV. The family will miss her extremely large bowls of fruit salad at holiday dinners.
Karen is preceded in death by her parents Ernest and Annie (Finley) Sorrell, two sisters Genevieve and Judy Ann and one brother Wesley Sorrell; three nephews Jay Ryan, Antoine "Stoney" Curley and James "Jimbo" Sorrell as well as several aunts and uncles.
She is survived by her son, Arnold and his wife Dawnelle and their children Davin, Alyssa and Caitlyn; her daughter Tina Decker and her children Kathyrn, Tamera, Robert and Kenneshia and her son Wesley Adams and his partner Celia Bravo and their son Tobias. Karen's siblings Alice and Bob (deceased) Ryan, Ida and Dominic "Sonny" Curley, Ernest and Mary Lou Sorrell, Jr., Joe and Carroll (deceased) Sorrell, Gene and Anna Sorrell, James "Bo" and Chris Sorrell, Eva and Reed Anderson, Dan and Dorsey Sorrell, Judy Harlow and Gigi and Curtis Yazzie. Karen's godchildren Wayne Anderson and Julian Sorrell and her beloved companion Tiny Man and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A traditional wake began on Thursday in the Longhouse in St. Ignatius with rosary being recited at 8 pm Saturday in the Longhouse. Funeral services will be held at 11 am Sunday. Pallbearers Reed Anderson, Sr., Curtis Yazzie, Jon Wrede, Harold McClure, Fred Gariepy and Charlie Gariepy. Honorary pallbearers are Lorie and Danielle Lefthand, Iris Caye, Shirley Glover, Kathy Felsman, Sonya Chippewa, and the many people with whom Karen played handgame.
