Bernice Mae Perry Clark

Bernice Mae Perry Clark

Bernice Mae Perry Clark, "Feather Woman," "Wa-Tsin-i-Tha," 79, went home to be the Lord on Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2012, at Northern Montana Care Center in Havre, Mont., due to natural causes.

Bernice was born on Jan. 23, 1932, at the Fort Belknap Indian Health Service Hospital to Vernie Mary Assiniboine Perry and biological father, Paul Shortman, but was adopted, raised and loved by the father she knew, Albert Perry.

She attended schools in Lodge Pole, Mont., Pierre, S.D., and Flandreau, S.D. She loved to sing and play guitar and was always known for her talent as a musician. She played country and gospel songs whenever she was asked or had the inclination.

Her favorite pastime was spending time with her family, and she loved all her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She also loved to travel and eloped to Cour d'Alene, Idaho, when she last got married. She liked to play bingo when the opportunity presented itself.

In her younger days, she liked to work at various ranches in the Bear's Paw Mountains and worked as a waitress. She received her certified nurses assistant training and worked at Sweet Memorial Nursing Home for many years. She liked Chinook, and worked as a janitor for Chinook Public Schools for a while. She held various positions with the Fort Belknap tribe, such as CDC counselor and domestic violence advocate. She was given special recognition as a foster grandmother, which she did for many years. She loved being a foster grandmother and loved working with and being around people.

She is survived by daughters, Marlene Perry, Carol Cochran, Jewel Perry, Vernie Healy and Mayme Healy, all of Fort Belknap; three sons, Thomas Harmon of Georgia, James E. Healy Jr. of Fort Belknap and Kirk M. Healy of Missoula, Mont. ; 27 grandchildren; 65 great-grandchildren; and eight great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Albert and Vernie Perry; biological father, Paul Shortman; brother, William "Puddin" Perry; husband, Paul E. Clark; sons, Mike Cliff, Larry Cliff and William Perry; daughter, Debra Cliff; grandsons, Mike Cliff III and Eric Jones; one one great-granddaughter, Tiona M. Cliff, "Holy Sky Woman That Shines Bright."