Geneva White

RONAN — Geneva M. "Tootsie" White, 53, died on Monday, Oct. 10, 2005, at her home near Ronan, surrounded by her family.

A member of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribe, Tootsie was born in St. Ignatius on June 6, 1952, to Alex & Doris (Stinger) White and spent her early years on the reservation.

As with many things in life things, her parents' marriage didn't work out and her mother remarried to Art Brueggeman.

Art was an iron worker and worked throughout the U.S., and Tootsie along with her brothers and sisters became well traveled children living many places.

After her graduation from high school, Tootsie met and married Ernie Beavers.

They returned to the Ronan area and started a family. Tootsie was a dedicated mother and worked as a housekeeper professionally. Eventually,

Tootsie and Ernie parted ways and she attended SKC.

Tootsie had many interests in life but watching pro football and "Days of Our Lives" had to be the most fondly remembered.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Judy Ann, who died in infancy; her father, Alex White, in 1989; her mother, Doris, in 1994; her father, Art Brueggeman, in 2005, and brothers Leo and Danny Brueggeman in 2004.

Survivors include her companion, Tim Diers; her kids, Jason Beavers of Missoula, Ernie A. Beavers of Shelby, Luanna Beavers of Hot Springs, Danny Beavers of Ronan, Tony Beavers of Shelby and Josephine Coffey of Pablo; 11 grandchildren; brothers and sisters Jule Kenmille of Pablo, Debby (Tony) Adams of Pablo, Mary (Ray) Goudette of Spokane, Margaret Arneson of Polson, Melanie (Bill) Buckless of Polson, Anna Turney of Spokane, Art Brueggeman, Jr. of Ronan, Doug (Jean) White of Texas, Leonard White of Monroe, Wash., Mike (Jackie) Brueggeman of Spokane and Paul (Sue) Brueggeman of Polson; an uncle Mickey Stinger of Washington and a large extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins and people who called her mom.

A traditional wake began Tuesday evening at the Ronan Indian Senior Citizens with the Rosary being recited Wednesday at the Center. Wake closing will begin at 10 a.m. today, Thursday, with Mass being celebrated at 11 a.m. in Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ronan. Interment will follow in the Ronan Cemetery.