Connie Jean F. Spotted Blanket

ST. IGNATIUS - Connie Jean Finley Spotted Blanket, 44, went to join the ancestors late Friday evening, July 2, 2004, in Polson after suffering from a failing liver.

Connie was born in Helena on April 1, 1960. Her Indian name, given to her by Rosie TwoTeeth's mother Nancy Smith, is "White Thunder Woman." Connie used to say she was a Flatheaded Cree.

Before returning to the Flathead Reservation she lived in Great Falls.

Connie was a daughter, mother, sister, aunt and friend. She liked to laugh and tell goofy jokes. Connie was a free-spirited woman who loved everyone and didn't care if they liked it or not. She did what she wanted and lived her life as she wanted. She was a very kind and loving person.

Connie learned how to make afghans, she beaded and she liked to take pictures. She loved to watch her son, her nieces and nephews dance, and she was proud of them. Connie appeared in the movie "Seven Alone."

She was preceded in death by her stepdad Lloyd Chippewa; her father Larry Spotted Blanket Sr.; her grandparents and great-grandparents, grandmother Katie Saxa, grandfather Joseph Dixon Finley, Rosie Pain Saxa and John Saxa, Madeline and John Pain, Angelic Granjo, Frank and Samuel Finley, Eneas Granjo, Annie LaMoose and grandpa David Chippewa; an infant niece, Echo Michel; uncles John, Tom Spotted Blanket, Joe Slim John, Igg, John and Proff Saxa, Tony Finley, Rosie and John TwoTeeth and aunts Alice, Mary Jane, Esther Spotted Blanket, Nancy TwoTeeth LaMere and Sandy Matt Adams, who was her favorite; great-aunt Angie Finley Matt; three yayas, Christine (Loma), Louise (Thomas) and Annie (Louie) and Sophie Adams.

She is survived by her one and only son, Lloyd Lane Spotted Blanket; mother Sonia Finley Chippewa; sisters Jennifer (Harvey) Sansavere, Maxine (Keith) Michel Sr. and Nora Chippewa; brothers Lanie (Mary Ann) Spotted Blanket and Mike Spotted Blanket; her very special yaya Margaret Finley; her granny Ruth Chippewa; uncles and aunts Chief and Brenda Finley, Butch Finley, Mike and Erica Finley, Vernon and Elaine Finley, Barney Finley, Carl and Darlene Saxa, Larry Saxa, Chuck and Sara TwoTeeth, Gerald and Alma Chippewa, Patsy Chippewa, Jr. Slim John, Marilyn and Conrad Chippewa, whom she always called Uncle "Corn;" a special great-uncle Octave and Edna Finley; aunts Felicity McDonald and Madeline Barnaby; cousins Joann and Francis Durgeloh, Shirley Trahan, Buddy McDonald, Erma and Bear Malatare; all 25 of her nieces and nephews whom she loved very much; three great-nieces, Natalliya, Maiya and Alexandria; and an expanded family of aunts, uncles and cousins whom she knew and some she never met.

Funeral services were held Tuesday at the Longhouse. Interment was in the St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery.

Foster & Durgeloh Funeral Home handled arrangements.