Obituary: Delia Mary Morsette

Delia Mary Morsette, 91, passed away due to natural causes at Northern Montana Hospital Sunday, January 19, 2020.

Wake services began at 1:00 p.m. Monday, January 20, 2020, at Delia’s residence. She was moved to St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Box Elder this morning, and wake services resumed at 11:00 a.m. A Rosary will be said at 7:00 tonight, January 21, 2020, and funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, January 22, 2020, with burial to follow next to her husband, William J. Morsette Sr., in the Rocky Boy Cemetery.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

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

Delia was born October 1, 1928, in Rocky Boy to Melvin and Cecelia (Houle) Cross White. She was raised in Rocky Boy, attending school in Box Elder.

May 6, 1947, Delia married William James Morsette, and the couple had 10 children, whom they raised in Rocky Boy. She remained at home to care for the children, and later the grandchildren, while William worked. She and William also adopted a granddaughter and raised four other grandchildren, Delia Rose, Ronald, Lorenzo, Maudicella, and Regina. She and William had just celebrated their 50th Anniversary when he fell ill and passed away just a few weeks later.

Delia was a kind, loving woman who was dedicated to her family. She always spoke kindly to everyone, but she sure had a great sense of humor, as well, and loved to laugh and tell stories. She enjoyed chatting on the phone, visiting with friends, and shopping; but Delia was a true homebody, who loved to spend time with her family, especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her heart was always full when her family came for visits or for their huge family dinners. For many years, Delia did all the cooking, but in more recent years, she allowed others to feed her, and she loved her daughter Hannah’s cooking. She kept her TV channel on classic country music and her radio tuned to local basketball, and she was an avid Rocky Boy Stars fan.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William J. Morsette, Sr .; daughters Cecelia Morsette, Rose Bernard, Geneva Houle, Alice Gardipee, and Josephine St. Marks; sons William “Sonny Boy” Morsette Jr., Richard Morsette Sr. and John Morsette; grandchildren Alfred, Shannon, and Jesse James Morsette; parents, Melvin and Cecelia Cross White; and sisters Louise Welch, Grace King and Mary Jane Boushie.

Delia is survived by her children Hannah (Eddie Collins) Morsette, Marla Boe, Vivian (John) Striker, Linda Morsette, Harvey “Joe Boy” (Debra) Morsette, Melvin (Sheila Bull) Morsette, Kermit (Wilma) Morsette, Delia “Shawna” (Mike Geboe) Morsette, Ronnie Stump, Maudicella and Javi Rodriguez, Larry (Karen) Morsette, Sr., Violet Oats, Retha Chandler, and Jean Descharme, all of Rocky Boy; adopted son Teddy Russette III of Rocky Boy; sister Sharon Morsette of Havre, and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, and other extended family and friends.