JOHN ROASTING STICK obituary

ROCKY BOY - John Roasting Stick Sr., 67, died Sunday, June 22, 2003, at a Havre hospital due to congestive heart failure.

A wake service began at 4 p.m. Monday with the funeral at 10 a.m. today, all at the Rocky Boy Lutheran Church. Burial will be at the Rocky Boy Cemetery.

John was born on July 4, 1935, to Simon and Mary (Walking Child) Roasting Stick.

He married Georgiana Gopher on April 7, 1959, at the Rocky Boy Lutheran Church. John worked for the Rocky Boy Forestry and was a construction laborer and a seasonal firefighter in his earlier years.

John was a longtime member of the Native American Church. He also enjoyed stick games, round dances, traveling and visiting with friends and relatives. John was one of the few ceremonial pipe carvers of his tribe. He was committed to preserving the Cree language and culture. He recently achieved his class 7 certification as a Montana State Certified Cree language teacher. He worked as a consultant for Rocky Boy Elementary School and Stone Child College.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Dorothy (Roasting Stick) Clark; and an infant granddaughter.

Survivors include his wife, Georgiana Peggy Roasting Stick; sons, John Jr., Thomas and Sam Roasting Stick, all of Rocky Boy, Dean Roasting Stick of Fort Belknap, and Richard Roasting Stick of Arapaho, Wyo .; daughters, Debbie Simon of Greeley, Colo .; Rachel and JonAnn Roasting Stick of Mescalero, N.M., and Holly Watson of Rocky Boy; sister, Ruby Gopher of Rocky Boy; adoptive brothers, Ben Oldman of Arapaho, Wyo., and Everett "Jumbo" Light Foot of Canada; aunt, Rose Eagleman of Rocky Boy; 21 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services and arrangements are under the direction of Holland and Bonine Funeral Home.