Lucille Tucker

MISSOULA - Lucille Candace (Tipton) Tucker, 72, of Missoula, was welcomed into Heaven at 10:22 a.m., Wednesday, June 24, 2009. Lucille left this world surrounded by a large loving family after a short battle with cancer.





Lucille was born October. 29, 1936, in Wautoma, Wis., the daughter of Candace (Good Bear) and Orville Tipton. She was the first of six children.





Lucille was born into the HoChunk Nation, her mother a full-blood member. She spent her early years in the Black River Falls area of Wisconsin. At age 12, she lost her mother to pneumonia. She spent the remainder of her adolescent years in the loving care of her cousin, Doreen (Reg) Keller.





Lucille married William (Bill) Tucker in Minneapolis, Minn., on December. 30, 1955, while attending nursing school at a Minnesota Bible College. Two of her six children, Kimberly Ann and Ronald Dale, were born in Minneapolis. Lucille and Bill later moved to Lodgepole, on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, where Sandra Jean, Karen Lee, Tina Marie, and William Jr. (Tooter) were born. The family spent the next several years in the Fort Belknap area before moving to Missoula, where Lucille and Bill intended to pursue a degree at the University of Montana.





Lucille accomplished many things during her life. In her later years, she was well-known for her advocacy work for the Montana People’s Action (MPA) and Montana Indian People’s Action (MIPA) groups, specifically in the areas of health and mental health care. Lucille served as state chairperson for MPA from 2005 until the time of her passing. She was the first Native American to be elected to that position. Lucille was also instrumental in the organization and initial success of the Native American Domestic Violence Support Group with the Missoula YWCA. Lucille was the beading instructor and “Grandma” for the group.





Lucille loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She somehow found time to make individual memories with everyone of them. She loved the scriptures and singing gospel music. Beading was also a great love and she always took time to teach anyone who was interested in learning the craft. One of her many passions was traveling and she did this whenever possible.





Lucille is survived by her six children, Ron (Sharon) Tucker of Browning, Kim Baker of Sandy, Utah, Sandy (Derek) Hirning of Lolo, Karen (Ed) Neumiller of Missoula, Tina (Kenneth) Snell of Missoula and Bill (Deb) Tucker of Alexandria, Va. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Anson Baker, Hunter Arcaya, Derek Gorman, Candace Westwolf, SSG Ron Tucker Jr., Brian Tucker, Will Tucker, Vanessa Bailey, Steven Hirning, C.J. Hirning, Jacob Hirning, Alan Neumiller, Cheye Anne Andrade, Nick Tucker, Michael Tucker, John (J.T.) Castillo, Josh Castillo, Matthew Castillo, Christine Schilling, Kyra Tucker, Shelby Tucker, and many great-grandchildren.





Lucille was preceded in death by her husband William H. Tucker Sr.; her parents, Orville and Candace Tipton; her mother- and father-in-law Joseph and Juanita Tucker; her foster parents Reginald and Doreen Keller; her brothers Raymond Tipton and Ginger Keller, and her grandson Anthony Neumiller.





Arrangements are under the care of Garden City Funeral Homes.





A traditional wake will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, June 29, at Orchard Homes Country Life Club, 2537 S. Third St. W., Missoula. Memorial service will be held at The First Presbyterian Church, 201 S. Fifth St. W., Missoula. A traditional Native American feed and giveaway will take place following the memorial service at the same location.





The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations be given to the Native American Domestic Violence Support Group at the Missoula YWCA, 1130 W. Broadway, Missoula, MT 59802-3918, contact (406) 543-6691.