Tasheena Christina Tish Craft

ARLEE — Adventuresome and fun-loving, Tasheena Christina Tish Craft AKA "Sheena" was born Jan. 31, 1989. She shared good times with her special Daddy, the late William "Porky" Alexander. Her life was richly rewarded and she was a friend to many.

Sheena loved traveling to powwows all over Indian country where she danced Jingle, traditional and fancy dance styles. She tried them all, and was a drummer and singer in her families' "Sunrise" drum group. She also sang with "Firestone" and the late Pat Kennedy's drum group from Browning. In Spokane, she helped the young Medicine Academy drum group and gave them a special song known as the "Mary Jane Song." Some people called her the "Jammer." Her loud voice dynamically carried the spirit of the drum onward where she would do some awesome powerful leads.

She went to school in Arlee, Two Eagle River School in Pablo, and the Many Eagle Hearts School at her family home. Then her curiosities brought her to Spokane, where she lived with Shonto and Venessa Pete and her nephew. There she learned the responsibilities of motherhood where she babysat nephew Ashkii.

She also enrolled in the Medicine Wheel Academy and found a school loaded with subjects that interested her. She befriended Savannah and many other students at school there. Back home in Arlee, she had left her friends Marlene, Cindy, Cooper, Carolyn, Joselyn, Frank, Trisha Jo and many more. She also had a good friend Tyler Vale whom Sheena had a special place in her heart. He was home on leave from Iraq.

Throughout all of this, Sheena was due to graduate from the Medicine Wheel Academy in June, but she met with an untimely death on May 29 in Arlee. Her classmates from the Medicine Wheel Academy attended her wake services in Arlee and brought with them an honorary diploma awarded to her by the Spokane School District. So her passing did not prevent achieving her goal which was to get a high school diploma. Her favorite history teacher, Dave Brown Eagle, gave the keynote address as her diploma was passed from student to student and to family members, and then back to her.

Brown Eagle said Sheena had knowledge of her ways and she practiced them. She found her power and acknowledged it. He also said he will honor her by how he walks and Sheena is going to be a part of our lives forever so we should conduct ourselves with respect.

We will miss her tremendously. Words cannot express how deeply Sheena was loved by her friends and family…

Sheena is next to the Creator. Her artistic abilities were expressed when she would draw tattoo art all over her bedroom walls and on her school notebooks. She could also write poetry and sing. She could make you smile even on a cloudy day.

In the words of a good Christian pastor, Bob Larsson, "The race is over when God says it is over like when He stopped the Indianapolis 500 by a huge rain storm." And "A life doesn't have to be a long one to be a complete one." In a nutshell a wise Salish elder Johnny Arlee would say, "Shay Hoy!"

Sheena came from a long line of chiefs. On her maternal side she comes from Mary Keltomy (Sack Woman), Adele Adams, Adeline Fyant (Louie), Yaya PeeWee Vanderburg Christopher and a Minnesota Cowboy grandpa Don Christopher. Great-grandparents Carl and Inga Olsen came straight from Norway and spoke their Norwegian Language. On her Vanderburg side she descends from "Bear Tracks" who was at the original signing of the Hellgate treaty. He was famous for his abilities to locate people who were lost. He said that breaking up land is like breaking up a thumbnail. It would have been better to leave it whole. Also there were grandfathers Mose, Louie, and John Vanderburg.

On her father's side, she was descended from a long line of hereditary chiefs traced back to the 1700s to Big Hawk who preceded Chief Three Eagles who met with Lewis and Clark in 1805. Following Chief Three Eagles was Chief Victor who was the voice for the tribes during the negotiations with the Hellgate Treaty of 1855. Next was Chief Victor's son Chief Charlo, and his son Martin Charlo. Martin's son Chief Antoine Charlo was Sheena's great-grandfather. Antoine Charlo's daughter, Elizabeth Charlo Craft was her grandmother (Qene?) and James "Pat" Craft, Sr. was her grandfather. He was of German heritage.

She will be forever remembered tenderly by her Great-Auntie, Mary Jane Charlo for her beauty, sweet spirit, and her proud singing at the drum. Other aunties and uncles include Jan Charlo, Janis Craft, Nicole, LeeAnn, and Babe Sheridan, Shelly, Jay and Pierre and great-aunties Denise, Virginia, Marie, Yaya Frances.

She is survived by her mother, Diana Christopher-Pete-Craft-Cote (AKA "WeeZee" u Scnpaqci); father James A. Craft, Jr.; a tribe with brothers Tachini (Malina), Natani (Geraldine), Shandin (Salisha), and Shonto (Vanessa) from the Navajo, Bitterroot Salish, and Norwegian and Crow nations; Erik and James Craft III from the Sioux, Salish, and German nations in Poplar; Eli Adams (Dana) from the Salish and Kootenai, Anthony Alexander (Charnell Calf Looking) from the Salish and Kootenai tribe; her sisters and their spouses include her older sister, Crystal Craft, (JoVaugn) White Hawk from the Bitterroot Salish/German, and Sioux nations, and younger sister, Shayla Cote-Butterfly. (Irish, Dutch, German …Chance) from the Bitterroot/Salish and Kootenai and Norwegian tribes; older sister, Wilhelmina (James) After Buffalo and adopted sister, Jessica Lynn McClure.

Her aunties and uncles are Linda Weaselhead (Keon) from Canada, Sandra Christopher from Harlem, the late Randy Christopher, Vernon "Hungry" Christopher (Sharon), Dawn and Rasena Christopher, (Grandma Pearl), Guy Widner. She had numerous nieces and nephews with the immediate ones being Sitting Bull's descendant, Jayden Whitehawk, Maii, Silye, and Susseli Pete, April, Naomi, and Shiyazh Pete, Tachini Jr, Kayenta, Stsha, and Staan Pete and the famous Ashkii Pete, powwow highway man.

Charles E. Hawkins

POLSON — Charles E. Hawkins, 66, died Saturday, June 2, 2007, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula.

Mass will be held Thursday (today) at 11 a.m. in the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission. Interment will be in the St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery. where military honors will be presented.

Robert Frank Setters

ARLEE — Robert Frank Setters lost his life in a regrettable mishap on a backroad of Arlee off Highway 93, at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 30, 2007. Mr. Setters, a motorcycle enthusiast, died, while riding his Harley-Davidson 1996 Ultra-glide, as a truck hauling a large tandem, suddenly entered from a side road, stalling his path. He could not stop in time to avoid the accident.

Mr. Setters, 59, born July 7, 1947, in Cincinnati, Ohio, was a decorated Vietnam veteran, having served in the United States Marine Corps. He lived by a code of honor true to their motto: Semper Fi.

An honored Marine, he was given a three-gun salute Monday, June 4, with full military honors by the Mission Valley United Veterans Honor Guard. Moving tributes were delivered in sympathy, by Pastor Lee Wraith of Ravalli Community Church, along with family and guest speakers.

Robert Setters was also known as "Big Daddy," and in later years, "Half Ton" to family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his father Delbert Weston Reed Jr.; his mother, Laura Leona Manning; sister, Kimber Lee Ann Marie Setters; and his brother, Timothy Burt Reed.

Robert is survived by his wife, Deborah Cheryl Scott-Setters; their five daughters, Amanda Sophia Setters, KimBerly Janine Anderson, Laura Leona, Victoria Frances and Cynthia Dawn Setters; his brothers, Carey Patrick and Lloyd Weston Reed; his sisters, Cindy Dell Eiseman, Linda Fern Kline and Lorene Lee McNees; four grandchildren, Malachai Robert and Jaman Allen Anderson, Sophia Avalon and Lilly Annmarie Wyatt; one daughter with child; also his brother and sister-in-law, Dan Scott and Brenda Leaverton, respectively.

Setters' family acknowledges that their beloved father and husband was an excellent provider, but also mention how much he loved the open road, where residents along Mission Valley highways and byways always knew he was in the neighborhood by the sound of his pipes.

Half Ton died doing what he wanted to do, as a free and easy Harley rider, astride his magnificent hog.

Robert Setters is remembered as one from a group of founding members of the Valley Cruisers Car Club, organized in the late 1990s. He worked with his wife Deborah on the foundation and development of this outstanding community organization.

Robust and enthusiastic, assertive, and at moments a drill sergeant, Half Ton was bigger than life. He was a warrior altered by Vietnam. As a dedicated father and husband, he was the best. From all accounts, you could count on him to be available, on the spot, to help a friend.

Like many battle-scarred vets, Half Ton learned how to handle pain, but at moments past memories gave him pause to think. By any standard he was a warrior through and through. Setters loved his wife and family. To some his conduct may have seemed harsh, but he preached and lived what he knew. In many ways, if Half Ton unloaded on you, strangely it was more a sign of respect. He had strength, but equally he respected those with strength. He made many who shared his company stronger by the association.

The family wishes you to know how much he will be missed and how deeply he is loved and respected. He served well, with distinction, though some may not choose to understand the rules he was destined to follow.

After the service Half Ton was given a rousing send-off by his friends and relations. Power to the People, power to Robert Setters. May he rest in peace.

Rev. Loren Stanley Foot

POLSON — Rev. Loren Stanley Foot, 87, of Polson died of natural causes on Saturday, June 2, 2007, at Evergreen Health & Rehab Center. Cremation has taken place, Grogan Funeral Home will announce date and time of services. An obituary will run at a later date.

Jennie L. Rust

POLSON — Jennie L. Rust, 96, of Polson died of natural causes on Friday June 1, 2007, at St. Luke Extended Care in Ronan.

Jennie was born Aug. 20, 1912, at Los Angeles, to Stephen and Alice Lindtner. She graduated from grammar school in Los Angeles in 1926.

In 1941, Jennie married George E. Rust in Las, Vegas, Nevada. George preceded Jennie in death in 1991. Jennie worked 25 years at the Goldman Tie Factory. She and George loved traveling and gardening. Jennie's nephew, the Rev. Joe Keys, also preceded her in death.

Surviving Jennie are her niece, Sally (Keys) McConnell of Bozeman, and her sister-in-law, Lillian Keys of Polson.

Cremation has taken place and no services are planned at this time. Grogan Funeral Home & Crematoryassisted the family.

Condolences may be sent to www.groganfuneralhome.com