Obituary: William James Morsette Jr.

William James Morsette Jr., 67, passed away Sunday, Jan. 22 at his home of natural causes. His wake service began Monday, Jan, 23, 2017, at 4 p.m. with a 7 p.m. rosary. His funeral mass was this morning, Jan. 24, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Rocky Boy, Montana, with Father Pete Guthneck officiating. Burial followed at the Rocky Boy Cemetery.

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

Please visit William's online memorial at http://www.hollandbonine.com to leave a message of condolence for the family.

William was born June 10, 1949, to William and Delia Morsette at Fort Belknap, Montana. He attended school at Busby Boarding School and graduated from Box Elder High School in 1969. He married Dawn Werk May 21, 1984. They had four children Russell, Rochelle, Cassie and Jonaye, and he had two children from a previous relationship, Robert and Shannon.

William was employed with the Chippewa Cree Health Board as a housekeeper at the time of his death. He was previously employed with the Bureau of Indian Affairs as a police officer. He worked with the Lame Deer Police Department, Browning Police and Fort Belknap Police while employed with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, he retired in 1999. William also worked as a Tribal Police officer at Rocky Boy and Fort Belknap. In his younger years he was employed with various construction contractors. And for a short time he worked as a teacher's aide at Rocky Boy School.

He enjoyed boxing, basketball, jogging and driving through the mountains.

He was preceded in death by his father, William Morsette; brothers, John, and Richard Morsette; sisters, Rose Bernard, Josephine St. Marks, Alice Gardipee, Geneva Houle and Cecelia Morsette.

William is survived by his wife, Dawn Morsette, and his mother, Delia Morsette; his children, Russell Morsette, Rochelle Morsette, Cassie (Beau Mitchell) Morsette, Jonaye Doney, Robert (Nema) Morsette and Shannon Morsette; adopted daughter Jayce Crowley; his seven sisters, Violet Oats, Rheta Chandler, Vivian Striker, Linda Morsette, Hannah Morsette, Marla Morsette and Delia Rose Morsette; brothers, Larry Morsette, Melvin Morsette, Harvey Morsette, Kermit Morsette and Ron Stump Jr .; four grandchildren, Skyler Morsette, Isabelle Morsette, Dion William Clyde Lodge Pole and Coulee Mitchell; and two adopted brothers, Ron Spang and Alonzo Walker.