Obituary: Sylvia Dawn Russette

Sylvia Dawn Russette, "Sweet Grass Hills Woman," 45, passed away of natural causes Monday evening at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls, Montana.

Her traditional Native American service began with a wake at 4 p.m. Tuesday with her service 10 a.m. this morning, all at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church. Her burial followed at the Rocky Boy Cemetery.

Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.

Sylvia was born Oct. 26, 1970, in Havre, Montana, to Kathleen Stump and Lester Russette. She was raised and educated in Box Elder.

Sylvia obtained her GED and later moved to Billings, Montana, where she worked as a CNA at St. Vincent's. She and her sister moved to Reno, Nevada, where Sylvia worked as a phlebotomist at a blood bank. She later moved back to Rocky Boy in 1994 where she first worked for Chippewa Cree Housing and then was self-employed.

Sylvia had three daughters whom she loved very much. She was thought of as the "Best MOM EVER" from her girls. She was a fun and happy person who had a caring and compassionate heart. She loved her family and friends but nothing could compare to the love of her granddaughter. Sylvia enjoyed fixing up her house, collecting miniature things and going on road trips. She especially liked going to the Flathead and the lake. She recently began beading and enjoyed her coloring books, collecting pens and visiting her friends throughout the day.

She was preceded in death by her father, Lester Russette, and sister, Sonya Lea Sunchild; her maternal grandparents, Patrick and Julia (Wolf Walker) Stump, and paternal grandparents, Mike and Helen (Champagne) Russette.

Syliva is survived by her daughters, Loreal (Bernard) Stanley, Sonya Cree Wolf Walker and Jennelle Marie Wolf Walker, all of Rocky Boy; her precious granddaughter; her mother, Kathleen Marie Stump (Goggles) of Rocky Boy; sisters, Janet (Paul) Chase of Rocky Boy, Montana, Julie (Danny) Three Irons and Vilene Not Afraid, all of Billings; and one brother, Wilford "Huck" Sunchild of Rocky Boy.