Obituary - Jewel Lee Arkinson Dechamps Gopher, (Pi-ye-so Kah-mi-ah-wah-tah-K) Thunderbird that Celebrates

Jewel Lee Arkinson Dechamps Gopher, (Pi-ye-so Kah-mi-ah-wah-tah-K) Thunderbird that Celebrates, 51, passed away at the University of Utah Medical Center in Salt Lake City, UT, on Friday, July 20, 2018.

Wake services were Monday, July 23, 2018, with funeral services to be held at 9:00 a.m. today Tuesday, July 24, 2018, all at the Arkinson residence on Parker School. Burial followed in the Rocky Boy Veterans Cemetery.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Please visit Jewel’s online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Jewel was born in Havre MT, on March 28,1967 to Darlene (Arkinson) Belgarde and Stanley “Butch” Deschamps. She attended and graduated from Rocky Boy High School in 1985, where she served as Class Valedictorian and was the Loudest Cheerleader for Rocky Boy High School. She was active in sports and was a highly competitive girl. Jewel received her associate degree from Stone Child College in the late ’90s and then went on to earn dual bachelor degrees from Montana State University in Bozeman in 2003 in Family Consumer Sciences/Human Resource. Jewell was a true Bobcat fan as she proudly donned the Blue and Gold attire. She was raised by her grandparents Tom and Maggie (Coffee) Arkinson. They gave her the nickmame Kawawiehtiykweht (Round Face). In 1986 she resided with her Canadian family for 1 and ½ years. Jewel met up with Tom Gopher when she was a freshman in high school and he was a senior. They dated for several years before they married in Las Vegas Nevada on May 28, 1994. To this union a son, Stan Gopher, and daughter, Babe Gopher, were born. Her first granddaughter, Preslee Jewel Gopher, was born on her Great-Gramma Darlene Belgarde’s birthday. Jewel’s facial expression would lighten up when she would see photos of her new granddaughter. She had the opportunity to facetime the new addition to her family.

Jewel is survived by husband, Thomas Gopher; son, Stan (Ashley Gilham) Gopher; daughter, Babe Rae (Joey) Gopher; granddaughter, Preslee Jewel Gopher; uncle Earl “Archie” Arkinson who adopted her and raised her as his own; mother-in-law Jensen Gopher, who loved her as one of her own; brothers, Virgil (Verlyn) Dechamps, Joey (Debbie) Arkinson, Alex (Jayme) Belgarde, and Tyler Flormann; sisters, Pamela Threefingers (Sheldon), June Deschamps, Yvette Deschamps (Calvin), Hayley Deschamps (Noah), Joline Wood (Wayne), Andrea Dion, Gilberta Belgarde, Lana Saddler (Waylon), Luwanna Belgarde-Herron, Veronica Skidmore (Willie Joe), Latrisha Arkinson Cellis, and Heidi Arkinson; lifelong sisters/friends, Laurie Gopher, Betty Jo Denny, Christine Denny, and special friend and adopted sister who was there till the very end, Neda Spotted Wolf; and many nieces and nephews in all the four directions of the United States and Canada. If we left anyone out, it was not intentional, and we apologize.

Jewel is preceded by her parents Darlene Arkinson Belgarde and Butch Deschamps; paternal grandparents, Joseph Deschamps and Elizabeth (Roasting) Deschamps; maternal grandparents, Tom Arkinson and Maggie (Coffee) Arkinson; brothers George and Johnny Deschamps; and sisters, Yvette Belgarde and Baby Girl Deschamps.

Jewel, we love and miss you so much! You will always live in our hearts.