KAREN JO MEYERS obituary

Karen Jo Meyers, 53, whose real name, Ka Say Way Skum Ka Po, loosely translated means Jingle Sitter, died Saturday, Aug. 13, 2005, at her home in Box Elder due to diabetic complications.

A wake began at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church at Rocky Boy on Sunday and ends today. The funeral services will be held at the

Lutheran

Church in Rocky Boy 10 a.m. Wednesday, conducted by Kenny Writing Bird of Rocky Boy along with the Rev. Pete Guthnick and the Rev. Barden. Interment will follow at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. Following interment, the family will host a traditional feast at the Lutheran Church.

Karen was born to Nancy and John Gilbert Meyers on Feb. 1, 1952, at the Fort Belknap Indian Hospital. Karen was given her name at an early age by her grandfather John GoodRunner. Karen was a supporter and a true believer in the old traditional and spiritual ways of the Chippewa and Cree religious ceremonies. Karen had no children of her own, but she loved her family, her many nieces and nephews and grandchildren as her own. Karen loved all of her families in Rocky Boy and in the Starblanket Reservation located in Saskatchewan, Canada, where she also has many, many relatives.

Karen was chosen as the first Rocky Boy Celebration Princess in 1967. Throughout her life, Karen has made many, many friends. She enjoyed listening to music and she loved to watch movies. She was an avid reader. She loved taking photographs and visiting with friends and family. Karen enjoyed collecting knickknacks, just as her mother did. Karen attended schools at the Parker Day School in Rocky Boy, Sangrey School in Rocky Boy, and Chilaco Boarding School in Oklahoma.

Karen was kind, generous, always willing to help anyone in need, even if it meant giving her last dollar, or her jacket if it was cold. She always placed others' needs above her own. She fussed over her visitors to make sure they were comfortable and made sure she had a meal for them. Karen loved life and she lived it to the fullest. When she was younger she was always doing things to make people laugh. She really liked to do things for people secretly. She loved dancing at powwows. Karen had a laugh that was infectious. When she laughed people couldn't help but laugh with her. Karen traveled all over United States and Canada, but always considered Rocky Boy her one and only home, and considered all of the Rocky Boy residents as her family. Karen used to say that the only time she felt complete was when she was in Rocky Boy, with her friends and family.

Karen was preceded in death by her mother, Nancy Knife, at Christmas 2003.

Survivors include her father, John Gilbert Meyers; brothers, John Edwin (Ivy) Meyers, Donald Dale (Pam) Meyers, Duane Merle (Lisa) Meyers; sisters, Diana (Dave) Upchurch, Betty (Mark) Collins, Edna (Lamont) Garcia Meyers, Bonnie Meyers, Carol Meyers, Marie (Scott) Sponsler and Nancy Marie Meyers; and numerous nephews, nieces, grandchildren and friends.

Arrangements are being made with the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home in Havre.