Carol Marie (Paul) Buck

RONAN — Carol Marie (Paul) Buck, 60, was lovingly received into the arms of our Creator on Sunday, Oct. 22 at her home near Ronan.

Born on Dec. 23, 1945 to Agnes (PokerJim) and John Peter Paul in St. Ignatius, she was raised in a traditional Salish/Pend Oreille family on the Flathead Reservation.

Her education started at Ronan and later at MSU in Bozeman before she received her BA in Healthcare Administration from Idaho State Univ. in 1983.

Carol and her husband Dusty had just celebrated their 41st Anniversary. She married Leslie "Dusty" Buck on Oct. 17, 1965 in Harlem, and they made their home in many places over the next few years while she and her husband finished their education. They started in Texas (welding school) and went to Oakland, CA (shipyards), returned to St. Ignatius briefly before going to Spokane (barber school) and living in Idaho from 1974-1983.

They returned home to the Ronan area in 1983, when Carol was hired by the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes. Carol held various positions in the Tribe for 22 years.

The most recent position was with Tribal Credit until her health forced her to an early retirement.

Carol's favorite things were to play Keno, Bingo, shopping and going to yard sales. Many of her most memoriable times were spent attending cultural gatherings with the Elders where she would participate in the annual journey to the Medicine Tree, digging bitterroot, gathering berries and attending powwows. Huckleberry season was also special for her as she always enjoyed a good meal with frybread and huckleberry cheesecake.

Carol was preceded in death by her son Donald, who passed away this summer; her parents John and Agnes Paul, sisters and brother Katie, Susie, Cecile and Antoine; and a niece Sarah.

Survivors include her husband Dusty; her children, Leslie (Dorinda) of Spokane, WA; Michael, Richard, and Al Bert Buck, all of Ronan; eight grandchildren; brothers Phillip (Debbie) Paul of Post Creek and John Paul, Jr. of Washington ; sisters Adele Meshell of Worley, ID, Josephine Quequesah of St. Ignatius and Nancy (Leon)Grant of Post Creek; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

A traditional wake began Monday evening in the Longhouse in St. Ignatius with Rosary being recited at 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Longhouse. Wake closing began at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Longhouse with Mass following at 11 a.m. in the St. Ignatius Catholic Church.

Burial will be in the Paul Family Cemetery at Post Creek.