Rose (Howlett) Redhorn Tanner

RONAN — Rose (Howlett) Redhorn Tanner, 69, was gently taken to be with our Lord, who she dearly loved, surrounded by her loving family at her home in Ronan.

Rose was born on Feb. 14, 1936, in Ronan, to Joseph Redhorn and Agnes Chief Eagle. She was born and raised in Ronan, primarily by her grandparents Masseline and Mary Sophie Redhorn while her father served in World War II. She attended school in her youth in Ronan, Pierre, S.D., and Chemawa. She attended Bellingham Technical College in Bellingham, Wash., having earned her CNA/pharmacy technical aide and physical therapy aide certifications. She worked in numerous hospitals and retirement homes both in Washington and Montana.

Rose was proud to be a full-blood Salish, Pend d'Oreille, Kootenai Indian and she shared her knowledge about history and traditions with her family, loving to tell stories and with her students, as she taught Salish language at the Ronan High School and Two Eagle River School before her health prevented her from teaching.

She enjoyed listening to Al Green and her Motown music collection, cooking, sewing, reading, teaching Salish, going to garage sales, collecting angels and spending time with her family and friends, and meeting new friends. She loved to travel, especially to Seattle and loved strolling through Pike Place Market.

Rose will be greatly missed by all those who loved her. She was a gentle, kind, loving mother and Yaya and her children and grandchildren loved to gather at her home for holidays and family gatherings. She had a great abundance of love that she shared with everyone she met.

She was preceded in death by her parents Joseph and Agnes; brother James Francis Redhorn; sister Vivian Redhorn; son Curtis Tanner; grandson Thai Tanner; and great-grandson Trenton Pierre.

She is survived by sisters Rita Adams (Andrew) Woodcock of St. Ignatius, Helen Benally of St. Ignatius and Eva Boyd of Ronan; children Marilyn Adams of Polson, Paula Vielle of Pablo, Calvin Tanner of Ronan, Terry Tanner of Ronan, Edi (Gloria) Tanner of Arlee, William Tanner (Arlene) of Arlee, Winona Tanner (Alonzo) of Ronan, Juliana Tanner of Ronan, Basil (Gloria) Tanner of Ronan, Tammy Tanner of Ronan, Andrea (Lawrence) Doty of Pablo, Roberta (John) Toby of Ronan; 38 grandchildren; 28 great-great-grandchildren; and numerous relatives on the Flathead Reservation and in Washington.

Following a traditional wake at the Longhouse in St. Ignatius with the rosary being recited on Wednesday evening in the Longhouse, traditional services were held July 27, led by Stan Healy and Alec Quequesah in the Longhouse. Interment was in the Calvary Cemetery in Ronan.