RONALD DONEY obituary

HARLEM - Ronald Frances "Super" Doney, Giniha (Fear), 52, died Thursday, June 19, 2003, as the result of injuries he sustained in a vehicle crash.

He was born on Aug. 27, 1950, to Charles Lindy and Irene Talks Different Doney. He attended grade school at St. Paul's Mission in Hays, then went on to Flandreau Indian School in South Dakota. He graduated in 1969. That summer he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served from 1969-72. He was stationed at Chu Lai, Vietnam, with the 31st-196th Light Infantry Division, and in Germany with the 3rd Infantry Division.

He married Peggy Healy on July 7, 1971. They had one son and later divorced.

In 1991, he met Mel Lorraine Adams and they were married on Dec. 13, 1997.

Super was a 100 percent disabled veteran and was proud to be a veteran. Over the years, he worked for the Indian Health Service, Ft. Belknap Housing Authority in maintenance, was a mutual-help coordinator, worked with the tribal fish and game department, was employed with water plant management and roads departments, drove the old clinic bus, was a Montana Indian firefighter and a Ft. Belknap Law Enforcement officer, and was a ranch hand.

Super was a musician who played guitar, bass, harmonica and wanted to learn to play the fiddle. He sang Indian, country and gospel music and loved to dance. He recorded a gospel tape, country and tape for his mother. He planned to record a second gospel tape and tape representing his time in Vietnam.

Super, who got the name Superman, which he shortened to Super, from his aunts, enjoyed sports in high school. He played basketball and was a track standout, enjoyed horseshoes and rode horses. He also followed the powwow trail, dancing early in his life and singing with a drum group he and his brothers formed, The Black Lodge Singers. They later reformed as the Fort Belknap Singers.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Orville; nephews, Sean (Godson) and Brian; and his grandparents.

Survivors include his wife, Mel Lorraine; sons, Rick "Ricky D." Doney, Ron (Crystal) Doney Jr., Lawrence "Hofie" (Morning Flower), and Steve Bell; adopted son, Dominick Godson Travis First Raised; daughters, Jeri Lynne (Jason), Nikita Bell, Marlayna Snow; goddaughter Melinda Healy; parents, Lindy and Irene; brothers, Mike (Mari), Sherman (Kathryn), Edwin (Julia), Alvin (Tammy), Curtis (Georgiann), Dean (Pat), Clint (Cathy), David (Brenda), Robert (Peggy) Fox, Doug Snell, Neil (Juanita), Gail (Bobbi), Francis "Cutt"; sisters, Charlene (Willy), Lila (Skip), Kathleen (Leroy), Reva (Andrew), Mary (Frank), Nancy (George); adopted sisters, Hope (Ben) Speakthunder, Susan Brown (Gordon) Messerly; seven grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.