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June Stafne

1936 - 2013

June Stafne obituary, 1936-2013, Wolf Point, MT

BORN

1936

DIED

2013

June Stafne Obituary

June C. Stafne

Wolf Point —On July 12, 2013 our beloved wife, mother, sister, aunt, and grandmother, June Cecelia Shields Stafne, age 77, of Wolf Point, MT, went back to where the other angels came from.

She was born on June 8, 1936 to Fred Shields, Sr., and Francis Smith. She attended boarding schools in Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Kansas; graduating from Flandreau in 1954 and Haskell College in 1956.

In 1956, she was the Oil Celebration Princess and represented the Fort Peck Reservation at the Miss Indian America contest in Sheridan, WY. It was here that she caught the eye of her future husband, Rusty Stafne. Mom went to work at Browning, MT and Rusty went to Haskell for school. They corresponded through letters and after 3 attempts they were married on October 10, 1959. Due to the Indian Relocation Act, they moved to San Jose, CA where they made their home from January 1960 until 1968. This is where their 3 children were born. They then moved back to Wolf Point where they have resided since. Mom was a secretary, politician, and community health worker. Above all, she was an activist at heart; she was always working for the people. She also helped her husband establish their farming and ranch business, working side by side. Although times were tough at first, she never gave up. She always supported her husband in everything. June was always smiling and was a grandmother to many by blood or by choice.

June was a devout Catholic, but also a woman of many faiths. She believed in Christian ways as well as her Native American traditions coming from the Bad Temper Bear clan. Her grandfather Andrew Red Boy Shields was the last chief of the Fort Kipp community.

June is survived by her husband of 54 years, Rusty Stafne of Wolf Point; 3 children, Twilia (Vincent) Bear Cub, Tom Stafne, and Grant (Mary) Stafne all of Wolf Point; 15 grandchildren; and 9 great-grandchildren.

A prayer service will be held 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 16 at the Blue Sky Ministries in Wolf Point. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 17 at the Blue Sky Ministries in Wolf Point. Interment will follow at the Stafne Family Cemetery, west of Wolf Point.

Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Published by Great Falls Tribune on Jul. 16, 2013.
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Memories and Condolences
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Thanks everyone...
Rusty, Twilia, Tom and Grant

July 18, 2013

My sympathies to June's family. I will always remember her positive attitude and that smile- it lit up the room. She truly loved to serve and help those around her. I am blessed to have known and worked with her.

Valerie Pratt

July 18, 2013

June was a beautiful person inside and out. She will be greatly missed. Blessings to the family. From The Orval Grainger Family.

Mary Nesbit

July 18, 2013

Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Rusty and family. Take care.

Rev. Simon and LaVonne Looking Elk

July 17, 2013

My heart and love goes out to your family. June was a wonderful person.
Love Marlys Creasman(

July 16, 2013

My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. I so enjoyed the time we had together,when you stopped by Moms,at the lodge. Wish we could of done it more often. Guess I an thankful for what we had. Wish I could come to the prayer service and funeral. Love and prayers
Myrna Stafne Reinhart

July 16, 2013

Our beautiful former first lady-you will be so missed. Thank you for your service to our Tribes and for all you have done for all of us. Rusty, Tom, Grant and Twila, our hearts go out to you and your families. Hugs and Love.

July 16, 2013

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. All our love and prayers go to you, Rusty, and your whole family.

Yvette Zimdars (Beach, ND)

July 16, 2013

Grant, Mary & family - our condolences to you all and may The Creator bless you with strength and comfort.

George & Nancy Boushie

July 16, 2013

We send condolences to Grant and his family. You're in our thoughts and prayers. Jack and Dolores Plumage

July 16, 2013

Our condolences to June's family. I have fond memories of working with June concerning educational issues in Wolf Point many years ago. Robert and Myrtle Kinna

July 16, 2013

Twila, Our condolences go out to you and your family. I only talked to your mother a couple of times but was treated with courtesy and dignity both times. She had a lovely smile. Stand by your Dad. I lost a wife early in my life and a person feels lost for quite a while. He will need the love and support of all his family at this time.

Gary & Donna Farnsworth

July 16, 2013

I am so sorry to hear of my cousin June's passing. It is so hard to lose a member of your family. I remember her always with a smile. My prayers are with all of you. Live with the memories of all that she gave to your lives. She was such a wonderful woman. Love, Bonnie and Gary Lipnickey

Bonnie Lipnickey

July 16, 2013

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