JON MORSETTE obituary

ROCKY BOY - Jon Ralph “Cubby” Morsette, 52, of Rocky Boy, whose name Nah-nah-tea wak-yak-win means Heat Wave Goes Out, died Monday, Feb. 20, 2006, at his home of cancer.

A wake began Monday at Rocky Boy Catholic Church with rosary at 7 p.m. The funeral was scheduled for 11 a.m. today at Rocky Boy Catholic Church with burial at Rocky Boy Cemetery.

Cubby was born June 12, 1953, to Nadine and John Morsette in Fort Belknap. He lived in Rocky Boy his entire life. Cubby graduated from Box Elder High School in 1971. He received a one-year masonry degree in 1972 from Haskell Indian College.

On Sept. 21, 1974, Jon married his lifelong sweetheart, Theodora “Annie” Billy. He worked in the construction business and later became self-employed. Cubby and the late Duane Belcourt founded Belcourt-Morsette Construction Company. In 1998, Jon was awarded the Small Business of the Year from the Small Business Association.

After Belcourt-Morsette Construction split, Jon joined forces with Ken Blatt and formed Arrow Construction. Jon later formed his own company with his sons, which is still a viable company known as Morsette Construction. Jon's work is evident throughout Rocky Boy's Reservation and in Havre. Jon's biggest construction job was the beautiful Stone Child College.

Jon's joy of life was his family. He loved taking care of his grandchildren and taking them on vacations. Jon traveled throughout the Western states with his grandchildren, often taking them to the Pacific Ocean. Jon also loved basketball and rodeos.

Jon was preceded in death by his father, John Morsette; and uncle, James Iron Maker.

Survivors include his wife; sons, Michael Morsette and Clayton Morsette, both of Rocky Boy; mother, Nadine Morsette; brothers, Ricky (Theda) Morsette and James Morsette; sisters, Janet Belcourt, Patty (Leno) Henderson and Avis (Hank) Gardipee, all of Rocky Boy, and Janice Tootoosis of Saskatchewan, Canada; adopted brothers, Tim Henry of Rocky Boy and James Parker Shields of Great Falls; grandchildren, Austin, Skyla, Clayton, Terrance, Reese and Jon, all of Rocky Boy.