2017

Rollon O. Wilson
Born November 11, 1944 died October 4, 2017
Rolley was born in Buhl, Idaho, November 11, 1944 to Woodrow and Sarah E. (O’Neal) Wilson. The family moved around until permanently establishing a home in the Kooskia area around 1960. He joined the Navy in 1962 then returned to the Kooskia area where he worked as a cowboy, a logger, a mechanic and truck driver. He crisscrossed the U.S. as a long-haul trucker and had stories to go with nearly every state. He was also part of the first class to graduate in the Diesel Mechanics program at LCSC.
He was married a short time to Diane and had a son. He later married Patricia for twenty two years and five children. Then married Mary Ellen in which they later divorced.
Rolley was outgoing and outspoken, and well liked wherever he went. Family was always important to him. He used to hunt and camp and always looked forward to the adventures with his kids and grandkids.
Rolley is will be greatly missed by his kids Tom Finnell (Cathy), Scott Wilson (Leslie), Patrick Wilson (Laura), Rolley Eugene Wilson, and Kathren Wilson (Pete), 15 grandkids, several great grandkids, his sister Doris Oswold, brother Ronnie Wilson (Geraldine), and his many friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Acey, George, and Pat; sisters Christine and Virginia; daughter Doris (Wilson) Crocker Cochran.
There will be a graveside service Monday, October 9 at 10:00AM at Pine Grove Cemetery in Kooskia, Idaho and a dinner following at the Kooskia Community Center.

Montie Dale Haight decided to quietly slip from this world Friday night, September 29, 2017 knowing his son was holding his hand and his “family” were happily sharing memories of his escapades around his hospital bed.

I haven’t met many people who have crammed so much living into 69 years of life, but Montie managed to live life authentically and to the fullest. He was born to Chet and Doris Haight December 29, 1947 and spent a wonderful childhood growing up in the wilds of the Harris Ridge country with the Clearwater Mountains out his back door. By the age of 6 he was helping his dad with farming by cutting hay with the tractor. He talked of how his dad sent him down the Harris Ridge grade and on into Kamiah with the tractor in low range, first gear when he was very young as well. In the late 50s, early 60s he rode his pinto, Queenie, helping drive cattle between the home place and their Eldorado Creek allotment.

Family vacations were often spent along the Lochsa with his parents and grandparents camping, fishing and hunting. Montie knew the North Fork of the Clearwater prior to the construction of Dworshak and hunted mountain goat in the Skull Creek area in his teens. Old family photos show many pack trips into back country with family members and friends. He would often bring his Grandma Mattoon on sight seeing trips and even took her into Buck Meadows on a motorcycle when she was quite elderly.

Even in his childhood pictures he dressed neatly in a western shirt, cowboy boots and hat. Unless he was hunting or cutting wood, this is how you would see him dressed. Montie could be a gentleman, schooled in the old ways you hardly see anymore.

I guess you could say Montie died of a well-used heart. I never knew him to turn from someone in need, whether it was someone short of money or food. He loved his grandparents, his parents, his wives and his children. He loved the mountains, his dogs,Snickers bars, country western music, Pall Mall, yard sales, guns, cutting wood and drinking with his friends, not necessarily in that order. I’d like to say he sometimes had his priorities wrong.

Saying Montie had a wild side is an understatement. His tales were peppered with pranks and practical jokes in Pat McManus style. Fishing with Dupont spinners, maneuvering huge dozers up mountain sides, pushing snow over the hood of his truck coming out of hunting camp, wrecks he survived, trees he felled, elk he poached. I should tell you one of his requests was that his obituary be true. So I guess we could add here as well that he could be a stubborn, ornery SOB too. But we loved him just the same. His feelings of self worth and belonging were not negotiated with other people. He walked his own path in life knowing that attempting to fit in was to betray his heart.

Montie taught me many things; how to run a saw and fall timber, how to shoot and put up meat, the history and stories of the country he loved. The greatest thing he taught me was to forgive. I think this is true for many people in his life.

Montie is survived by his children Clint Haight of Nezperce, Patti Dale Basshaight of Clarkston, and Tamara Saarinen of Seattle; his loving companion Julie Pfefferkorn of Kooskia; his brother Gary Haight of Kamiah; as well as his “favorite ex-wife” Stacy Van Steenwyk and “honorary granddaughter” Molly Van Steenwyk, both of Harpster.

His family would also like to extend their gratitude to Dr Jones and Cathy Ward, who’s care and compassion helped Montie reach the age of almost 70.

Montie will be buried by his immediate family on Harris Ridge, close to his childhood home. An open house celebration of his life will be held Saturday, October 14 beginning at 1 pm and lasting into the evening at the Kamiah Legion Hall, 618 Main in Kamiah. Bring a snack or appetizer to share, beer and beverages will be provided. This will be a time to sit and share memories of Montie with friends and family.

Jay Bennett Wilson passed away at the home of his son Stephen Wilson and his daughter-in-law Bea, (where he has been residing for the past 2 years), in Anderson, California on Wednesday, September 20, 2017. Jay was an only child, born on November 22, 1929 to James Bennett Wilson and Ruth Alice Marshall in Colon, Panama, C.Z. U.S.A.
Jay married his sweetheart Mary Lee Shaw on February 7, 1953. They cherished 61 years together before Lee passed away on August 27, 2014. They were sealed as Eternal Companions in the Oakland California Temple on April 9, 1976. Jay and Lee enjoyed a full life of, hunting, canoeing, sailing, skin diving, riding four wheelers and just being together. Jay is survived by their 4 children – Stephen (Bea), Guy (Andra), Vaughn (Becky) and Valerie (Wilson) McGill, 33 grandchildren, 76 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren, his brothers-in-law Vernon John Shaw, Leslie Allan Shaw, Marlin Dale Shaw and his sister-in-law Vera Nadine (Shaw) Baker. Jay was preceded in death by his wife, his brother-in-law Dean Robert Shaw and his parents.
Jay served in the Armed Forces of the United States of America from April 10, 1951 until January 10, 1953 where he received a Purple Heart and 2 Bronze Stars. He was transferred to the Army reserve until August 23, 1956.
Jay worked for AT&T until he retired in 1985. He was on the Contra Costa County Sherriff’s reserve as a diver until January 1, 1978 and served for a number of years with the Idaho County Sheriff’s Posse. He taught Hunter’s Safety, swimming, skin diving, Judo and scuba diving for many years and loved being a member of the Moby Dick Skin Diving Club. He loved the Scouting Program (BSA) and spend a good part of his adult life serving in that organization.
He had an amazing mind and enjoyed making things with his hands. He loved carving, drawing, boat building and general tinkering. He made beautiful knives, and rifle stocks and created an amazing aquaponics system in his greenhouse. His family cherishes many pieces of his handiwork. He loved sharing stories of his life experiences – and his listeners loved hearing of his amazing adventures! He was truly a man of many talents and will be greatly missed. Jay was loved and cherished as a Husband, Father, Grandfather, Relative and Friend.
Services will be held at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Kamaih, Idaho on Friday, September 29, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. with a viewing at 10:00 a.m. The church is located 2.5 miles east of Kamiah on Highway 12.

Tracy Ann Schiedler 42
Taken from this world far too soon, Tracy Ann Schiedler died tragically in a car accident on Sept. 12, 2017.
Tracy was born to Ken and Sharon Schiedler on July 21, 1975, in Portland, Ore.
Tracy graduated from Centennial High School in 1993.
She is survived by her parents, Ken and Sharon, brother Troy, sister-in-law Kim, niece Kelley, nephew Kyle, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, extended Kamiah family, and life-long friends from Portland.
Tracy was preceded in death by her grandparents Clem and Agnes Schiedler, Martin and Edith Lukas, and uncle Terry Lukas.
Tracy moved to Kamiah in 2004 with her parents. She started working at The Hub Bar and Grill as a cook and worked there until 2007. Tracy then began working at Cloninger’s Harvest Foods in July of 2007. She was a valued employee at Cloninger’s as a courtesy booth clerk. When the community thinks of Cloninger’s, they think of Tracy. She was always there with a smile, laugh and helping anyone in need including customers and vendors. It is evident in the amount of flowers and painted rocks accumulating in her honor.
Before moving to Kamiah, Tracy worked at La Casita, Hot N’ Now, Taco Time, and many years at Blockbuster in Portland.
Tracy was passionate about the outdoors. She loved fishing and camping. Tracy was not a hunter but loved going and spending time with her father in the woods.
She shared her beautiful voice through many hours of karaoke, something she loved to do with family and friends.
Tracy was a very generous soul always giving of herself, helping friends and family, whether it was chores, projects, homework, relationship issues, or money troubles. Even when she did not have it in her, she managed to get it done. That was just the kind of person she was.
You will forever be in our hearts and missed everyday. We love you Tracy Ann.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3.16.
Where will you spend eternity? John 3:36. This verse was close to Tracy’s heart.
A Celebration of Life will be held at The Life Center Church on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. It is located off Highway 12 between Kamiah and Kooskia. The service will be followed by a potluck.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Kamiah EMTs and Kamiah Fire Department.
Trenary Funeral Home of Kooskia is helping with arrangements.

Collene June Prickett, 82, of Kamiah, died July 12, 2017, at the Grangeville Health and Rehab Center, with her daughters at her side. Collene (Connie) was born January 21, 1935, in Redfern, South Dakota to Earl and Ceacle Allgier, and was the youngest of 10 children. Connie grew up in Hill City, South Dakota and the surrounding areas, where she eventually met her future husband, Cliff Prickett, at a family gathering.
Connie and Cliff were married at a young age and lived in the Black Hills area. For reasons unknown, Cliff called Connie the “Dutchman”, a nickname that stayed with her the rest of her life. While there, they raised four daughters and one son. In 1970, they pulled up stakes and moved to Kamiah, Idaho, where Cliff found work at a local sawmill. For the next 13 years, they lived at several locations, including Woodland, where Connie had to use her incredible skills in turning often run-down homes into decent, comfortable living quarters.
Following the raising of their children, Cliff and Connie took a job as caretakers on a ranch in Cody, Wyoming, where Cliff honed his skills as a cowboy, and Connie cooked for the many ranch hands, plus helped care for a large collection of exotic birds. Connie often said living there was a very happy time of her life. They stayed there five years, before moving back to Kamiah for good. Back in Kamiah, Connie continued her skills as a homemaker, while Cliff worked in the Older American Program of the US Forest Service. Connie also worked in the Older American Program for a brief time. For several years, she and Cliff volunteered as hosts of the Lochsa Historical Ranger Station, another experience she greatly enjoyed.Aside from being a homemaker, Connie was a skilled artist, working mostly in oils and acrylics, and completed many paintings for family and friends. As a skilled seamstress, Connie made most of her children’s school cloths, and later made her daughter’s prom dresses and formal wedding gowns. She also made the best apple pie, as reported by those lucky enough to enjoy one.
Connie was preceded in death by her parents, all of her siblings, her oldest daughter Barbara Clark, and her husband Cliff of 64 years. She is survived by her daughters Robin, Kathy, Sandy; and son John and their respective families, plus 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Although she will be greatly missed, she is likely now with countless past relatives and friends who are ready to deal her a hand of pinochle or play a rousing game of Waa-Hoo.

The Funeral Service will be 10:00am Tuesday July 18, 2017 at Trenary Funeral Home. A Potluck dinner will follow at The Life Center Church on Highway 12.  Inurnment will take place 7:00pm at Woodland Cemetery.

Laura Ardyth Major passed due to health complications Tuesday, May 16, 2017. Her birth date was Aug. 10, 1951, to Melvin Frederick Major and Lillian Oatman. Her grandparents were James and Jane Allen Oatman, and his parents from the Round Valley Indian Reservation in California. Her father was of the Pomo, Wailaki, Kon Kau and Uki tribes. She is a direct descendant of Old Chief Looking Glass, or Ah Pus Wa Heyet.

Her sisters were Marian Johnson Bohanan, Melvina “Hazel” Kills Crow, Raymond “Fred” Major and Melva A. Major. She was preceded in death by her sister Marian, nephew Melvin James McConville and her parents. There are many nieces, nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews.

She graduated from Riverside Indian School in Anadarko, Okla., in 1969 and then attended Haskell, earning a degree in cooking in 1972. She worked as a cook at the Wa A Yas Cafe, Commodity Foods, Talmaks, Pizza Cafe and was a community cook for funerals, memorials, Looking Glass Pow Wow, churches and many other gatherings, cooking where needed for tribal groups. She also was a member of the Nez Perce Tribal Resolutions Committee.

She was a strong and powerful advocate for Nez Perce people and very outspoken speaker for the people at the General Council meetings.

She was known as very friendly, outgoing, fun-loving, and she joked and laughed with all her relatives and friends. She shared her joy and happiness for life with all who knew her personally during her lifetime. All who knew her would have a great and wonderful time, as she enjoyed all who were with her.

The dressing ceremony was at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 18, 2017 at Trenary Funeral Home in Kooskia. Her remains was taken to the Wa A Yas Community Center for Christian services beginning at 7 p.m., Thuyrsday, May 18, 2017 followed by Walasat services. After morning services Friday,May 19, 2017 she was interred at Nez Perce Tribal Cemetery on No Kid Lane.

Trenary Funeral Home of Kooskia, Idaho assisted the family.

Meryle Chauncey Brown “Buck”

Meryle Chauncey Brown, “Buck” to his family and friends passed away Sunday May 7, 2017 at Tri-State Hospital in Clarkston, Wa. he was 85.

Buck was born November 17, 1931 in Wood, South Dakota to Kenneth and Oma McKee Brown. The family moved to Hermiston, Oregon and Buck spent most of his younger days there. He became a machinist and after retirement he traveled the country with his wife Marilyn. Traveling and Nascar was Buck’s favorite things besides his family and friends. After years of seeing the country they settled in Kamiah.

He is survived by his wife Marilyn of Kamiah, five children David Brown, Joan Dait, Dorothy Owens, Judy Brown, and Tammy Hill, 6 Grand-Children, 7 Great-Grandchildren, brothers Larry Brown of Kamiah, Gary Brown of Prineville, Ore., a sister Ruth Peters of Kamiah, and a large extended family from Southern California, South Dakota, Michigan, Georgia, and Indiana.

A Celebration of Buck’s life will be held 1:00pm Saturday May 20, 2017 at Community Presbyterian Church of Kamiah.

Bucks Cremains will be buried at Pinegrove Cemetery near Kooskia.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Trenary Funeral Home of Kooskia.

Cynthia A. Blackeagle, 70, retired dental assistant and Nez Perce tribal member, was born June 30, 1946, in Lewiston, at St. Joseph’s Hospital to Reuben Blackeagle and Veda Ruth Jackson. She was called home to be with the lord on April 27, 2017.

She grew up and attended school in Kamiah and Kooskia before she moved to Lawrence, Kan., to attend the Haskell Indian High School. She was the last graduating high school class of 1965 before Haskell turned into a vocational institution.

Cynthia resided in Topeka, Kan., for 11 years. Before moving home, she met Phillip L. Jackson (deceased), resulting in the birth of one daughter, Shannon L. Jackson, “The Haskell Rascal.”

She was an active ordained elder of the First Indian Presbyterian Church east of Kamiah. She enjoyed fishing, root digging, gathering berries, picking weewiim and pasq in the mountains, she enjoyed spending time with her family and cooking for big events. She faithfully attended the Talmaks gathering at Craigmont in addition to the Pima Church Camp meeting in Arizona. She also enjoyed attending the evangelistic services at each of the six Indian Presbyterian churches. She loved to go sweat at the old home place.

Cynthia was an avid Nimiipuu fisherwoman who remained active in the Nez Perce hunting and fishing treaty rights. She participated in the historic Rapid River standoff and fish trials. She attended the Sheldon Jackson Indian college fisheries program with her cousins.

Cynthia worked for the Indian Health Service and was trained to be a dental assistant for the Nez Perce people. During her tenure she later assisted in the transition of the Nez Perce Tribe’s Dental Program from Indian Health Service to now Nimiipuu Health Dental; she retired for medical reasons and was dedicated by serving almost 30 years.

Cynthia remained active with her tribe as she served on multiple committees, such as the NPT Senior Advisory Committee and NPT General Council Resolutions Committee. She served on the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Committee and was able to attend the closing ceremonies in St. Louis. She served on the St. Louis Warrior committee and attended the memorial for the four St. Louis Warriors, who were Blackeagle (descendant), Speaking Eagle (descendant), Rabbit Skin Leggings and her favorite, “No Horns on his Head.”

Cynthia reigns and still remains “queen of the rock.”

She was so dedicated to playing on the Wa’A-yas women’s softball league by participating in a tournament after Mount St. Helen’s erupted until the game was finally called.

She served as a Talmaks head cook for multiple years and participated in the combined church choirs; she enjoyed singing translated Nimiipuutimpki hymns. She was a Sunday school teacher and youth group leader. She participated in the prayer warriors circle, enjoyed attending the NPT elders’ trips throughout the Inland Northwest and participated in the NMPH women’s wellness conferences. She enjoyed visiting with friends and family from all walks of life.

Cynthia was preceded in death by her mother, Veda R. Jackson, father Reuben Blackeagle and brother Frank Blackeagle

She is survived by her sisters, Kathy Blackeagle of Lewiston, and Mildred, Norton and Janet Blackeagle of Kooskia; Joseph Blackeagle and Barbara and Ed Fisher of Kamiah; her daughter, Shannon Jackson of Seattle; and grandson Lorenzo Ellenwood of Kamiah.

A family dressing will be held today at Trenary Funeral Home in Kooskia. The wake memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. at the Nakissa Hall in East Kamiah. The funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. Monday at the First Indian Presbyterian Church, with a burial ceremony at the church cemetery. Dinner to follow. Trenary Funeral Home will be handling the arrangements.