WEASEL HEAD Frances

FRANCES ANN WEASEL HEAD (nee Good Striker)-

Ai yaa kii sappopist taa tsaakii (Separated Holy Spear Woman);

Beloved wife of Godfrey, passed away peacefully amongst her loving family and friends on Monday April 11, 2016, at the age of 55 years. Frances was born at the Blood Indian Hospital on May 30, 1960, into a blended step family but the eldest daughter of Rufus and Celina Good Striker’s six children. She was raised along with her younger siblings, her buddy older brother Rufus Jr. and so many others, riding horses in the west Levern area and during the summers at the Cross Bell Youth Camp in the Blood Timber Limits. This passion led her to try her skill in the rodeo, barrel racing in southwestern Alberta’s Rodeo curcuit. In 1976, she was crowned Rodeo Queen at the Cowley /Lundbreck Rodeo. Frances attended the St. Marys Catholic Schools beginning grade one in the basement of the Immaculate Conception Church (where she startled many children with her freckles), up until her graduation in 1977. Frances, like her Dad, was very athletic and played many sports during her highschool years but excelled most at basketball where she and her fellow Warriorettes Rena Devine, Joanne Red Crow, Ann Fox, Monica Big Swallow, the late Judy Day Chief and Wendy White Quills earned many trophies and medals in several tournaments throughout Alberta, Montana, Idaho and Washinton. It was then, in her senior year, she had received an unexpected visit from a very smitten young man riding a dark horse which would change the course of her life…Godfrey (from Bullhorn)…thus began their courtship and eventual marriage which has lasted 39 years.

In the fall of 1978 she enrolled in the Lethbridge Comunity College and 2 yrs later attained her Business Administration Certificate. In 1980, Frances began working for St. Pauls Treatment Centre as the Accountant and remained their for the next 25 years. During her employment there, she trained at Nechi Institute and received her Social Work Program and Addiction Program Certificates. As well she and Godfrey chaparoned many Al-ympic competitors to track and field events in Los Angeles, California. Frances and Godfrey raised 4 sons; Eugene/Blue (Wendy); Justin (Jade); Godfrey Jr. (Tanya) and Kolton; 6 grandsons Payton, Gene, Easton, Hayden, Kenyon, Stryker and 1 grandaughter Chelsea. Their life together has always been in support of their multi-athletically talented boys in their sports of basketball, hockey, and football. When not travelling or hard at work, Frances spent hours beautifying their loving home and yard, growing potted arrangements, tomatoes, and fruit trees. In the 1980’s when her father Rufus first became ill with diabetes, Frances and Godfrey stepped into the Quarter Horse Racing Curcuit, took control of the reins and became Trainers then Owners of several fast horses which took home wins in almost every State in the Northwest. In the off seasons, they often travelled to various Indian Reservations to play their preferred passion, Handgames. In the most recent past years, before officially declaring full retirement, Frances worked in the initial prescription pill client abuse awareness program under Dr. Lloyd Clarke for a year. Frances inherited her fathers School Bus business venture, and at her passing she and Godfrey co-owned/ operated as members of the Blood Bus Co-op. Frances was a very jolly soul, she enjoyed mixing business with her pleasures of a good laugh, heartfelt friendships, compassionate empathy, and an occasional dirty joke! She will Be missed!

The beloved family receiving Frances in her spiritual Journey home to Creator are: her father Rufus; brother Charlie; sisters Lorraine, Christine, Joyce; nieces Cassandra, Angelica and nephews Shaun and Carlyle; grandparents Ben and Annie Brewer and Frank and Marion Good Striker; maternal Aunt Rachel; maternal Uncles Wilbert and Hugh; paternal Aunts Queenie, Dorthy, Marion, Marjorie, Mary; paternal Uncles Frank, James, George; In-laws Charlie and Irene Weasel Head, Pat (Mookakin) and Paula (Poona) WeaselHead.

Frances is lovingly survived by: her best friend/mother Celina; oldest brother Rufus Jr. (Louise), Kathleen; Goddaughter Kassia, Rochelle (Corey), Leon (Yvette); all her nieces and nephews; her adopted siblings: Louise and Tina WF, Georgie (Toni) G.S., Noel (Simone) Eagle Child, Stanley (Joanne) Scout and Max Gibb, step- daughter Kelly MGH and family; maternal Uncles Phillip Brewer, Pat Brewer and Ray (Veronica) Brewer; maternal Aunts Nora Healy and Debbie Brewer, paternal Aunts Irene Tail Feathers and Doreen (George), Little Shields; numerous cousins from the Good Striker and Brewer families and within their ancestry; all her dear In-laws from the Weasel Head families and extended relations; endeared co-workers and friends; lastly her beloved horses and german shepard mix dogs.

A Wake service will be held at the Senator Gladstone Hall, Blood Reserve on Friday, April 15th from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Blood Reserve on Saturday, April 16th at 11:00 a.m. Interment in the Weasel Head Family Cemetery.

Email condolences to: legacycardston@gmail.com