GEORGE LEE GARDIPEE obituary

George Lee Gardipee, 79, died March 21, 2010, at his home at Rocky Boy. He was born March 28, 1930, in Parker School, Mont., to Louis and Cecile (Little Bear) Gardipee. He lived in California until he went into the Army in 1946 where he attained the rank of paratropper with the First Army Rangers. He was honorably discharged in 1947. He moved back to Montana to Rocky Boy, where he worked as a self-taught auto mechanic and also was an oiler for the Rocky Boy Road Department for more than 20 years. He married Jolene Archambault on Oct. 5, 1976, at Rocky Boy. George was a member of the Chippewa-Cree Native American Tribe. His hobbies included handgame, boxing, pow wows, rounddancing and gourddancing. He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Cecile Gardipee; his brothers, Jim, Tom and Joe Gardipee; his son, Everett Gardipee; his daughter, Cecila (Upson) Gardipee; and his sister, Irene Gardipee. George is survived by his loving wife of more than 33 years, Jolene Gardipee; his daughters, Toni Gardipee of Billings, Lorraine Gardipee of Helena, Helen (Burt) Butter Fly of Heart Butte, Mont., Karen (Mike) Carpenter of St. Claire Shores, Mich., and Deb (Ron) Newbreast of Billings; his sons, Louis (Kitty) Gardipee of Rocky Boy, Michael (Melissa) Gardipee of Helena and Leon (Sarah) Gardipee of Billings; along with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. A traditional Native American wake is under way at the Lutheran Church in Rocky Boy. The funeral is 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Lutheran Church with burial to follow at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. Memorials may be given in his name to Disabled American Veterans' Auxilliary, 1034 McKinley Ave., Havre, MT 59501 Arrangements are in the care of Holland & Bonine Funeral Home of Havre.