MERRILYN RICKER obituary

FORT BELKNAP Merrilyn (Black Tongue) Ricker, 36, died Friday, Jan. 26, 2007, at her residence in Havre from a drug overdose.

Her funeral Mass will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the Red Whip Center with burial following at the Crazy Boy Family Cemetery south of Snake Butte. There will be a feed at the Red Whip Center following the burial. Wake service will begin at 5 p.m. today at the Red Whip Center with rosary recited at 7 p.m. Merrilyn was born to Caroline (Mountain) Crazy Boy and Ervin Black Tongue on Nov. 17, 1970, in Havre, where she spent most of her life. As Merrilyn “Puey” grew up with her brothers and sisters, their mother Caroline taught them to always love each other and be good to everyone. Her family was full of love, laughter and the struggles of life as it is. As a young woman, Merrilyn was blessed with five precious gifts, three daughters and two sons. She loved and cared for her children the best she could. She always tried to find employment in order to provide for them. She worked many jobs including firefighting, waitressing and bartending. Merrilyn tried it all. She was willing to give anything a try in order to provide the basic necessities to survive. Merrilyn was a good hearted Indian woman who enjoyed being with her children and family. She always welcomed anyone who came to her home and made sure they had something to eat. Merrilyn was preceded in death by grandparents, Moses and Molly Mountain; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. George Black Tongue; grandmother, Theresa “Beeshgo” Brisbo; and stepmother, Marie Black Tongue. Merrilyn is survived by her mother, Caroline (Fregon) Crazy Boy of Fort Belknap; father, Ervin Black Tongue of Seattle, Wash.; daughters, Brooke Black Tongue of Phoenix, Ariz., Heather Rich of Great Falls and Robin Begay of Fort Belknap; sons, Mitch Rich of Havre and Aaron Ricker of Wolf Point; brothers, George (Mary) and Amor (Kara) Black Tongue, all of Seattle, Wash.; sisters, Jolene (Frank) Cochran of Seattle, Wash., Valeri Moreni of Billings and Gloria (Cody) Crazy Boy and Leslie (Will) Crazy Boy of Fort Belknap; and numerous nieces and nephews. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.