Katherine Vallee, 1950-2021
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Oct 26, 2021 | 9:36 AM / 908 views
Funeral for Kathy Vallee age 71 of Fort Yates, North Dakota will be at 11:00 AM, on Saturday, October 30, 2021, at the AJ Agard Building in Fort Yates, North Dakota. Pastor Marlin Hunt and James Red Tomahawk will be officiating. Burial will be in the Word of God Cemetery in Fort Yates, North Dakota under the direction of Oster Funeral Home of Mobridge, South Dakota. Family and friends will gather at 8:30 AM on Saturday at Oster Funeral Home to follow in procession to Fort Yates, North Dakota. Kathy Vallee passed away on October 24, 2021, in Bismarck, North Dakota.
Katherine Marie (Faith) Vallee was born on February 27, 1950 to Mike Sr. and Clara (Walker) Faith in Fort Yates, ND, the third born of four children.
Kathy attended elementary school in the old white school house in Fort Yates, Pierre Indian Learning School, and Flandreau Indian School eventually obtaining her GED from Standing Rock Community College. After obtaining her GED, Kathy started her travels. She traveled to Maryland to spend some time with her “sister” Roselyn Buffalo Boy, and also to California to spend some time with “’sister” Mary Lou Azure. She lived and worked in Illinois with her older sister Carol. She traveled to Montana and started her employment career with working in a care center on the Flathead Indian Reservation before joining her brother for a trip back home to Standing Rock. Upon her return to Standing Rock she worked assisting elders in care centers and worked at IHS.
In the 70’s Kathy began working for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in various programs. She began working with the TWEP program as a secretary, she than became the Program Director. There, during her employment with TWEP, she found her true calling. She loved all the participants and thought of them as family. Kathy was passionate about our people. She was always giving words of encouragement where and when needed. If you were fortunate enough to run into her, it was always uplifting and heartfelt. You walked away feeling loved and confident.
In 1969 she was blessed with a daughter Dawnette Clair, and then in 1970 she was blessed with a son Charles Todd “BoJohn” by far these were Kathy’s proudest accomplishments. Kathy had a devotion to family, our native tradition and the Lord. In her life she took a lot of people in as her own calling them “sons” Paul Archambault, Miles McAllister, Fred Bennet and Frank Jamerson. “Daughters” Debbie Broken Leg, Terri Tree Top, Gail Uses Arrow, Merry “Bear” Brown Otter, and Johnelle Leingang. Just to name a few. Kathy was also proud of her “sister” relationships with Roselyn Buffalo Boy, Mary Lou Azure and Karen McBride. She also had a strong bond with Inez Morris, Edie Rhoades, Sharon Sandavol and Anita Dunn who was her caretaker and Anita affectionately called and considered Kathy her grandmother. Kathy was also chosen to become a godmother to Jamie (Azure) Keener.
In 2019 through our native hunka ceremony she took Suzette Meland as her daughter. That bond was strong, and together they had many mother/daughter moments and memories. An adventuress at heart, she enjoyed many road trips with her older sister Carol. With little hesitation, just pack a bag, get in the car and go. That is how they got their titles Thelma and Louise. They also enjoyed coffee at the casino.
Kathy also loved attending rodeos and horse races put on by her brother. She loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and her fur babies. She was a proud fur baby momma to Dozer, Chloe, and Numpa. She was very saddened by the passing of her beloved Chloe and when she fell too ill she gifted her beloved Numpa to her grandson.
Kathy is survived by her children Dawnette(Lawrence)Montclair, Fort Yates, Charles Todd “BoJohn” (Summer) Brave Bull, Bear Lake Michigan and Suzette Meland, Bismarck, her sisters Carol( Fudgie Sanders, Joyce (Mousie) Claymore, brother Mike (Melissa) Faith all of Fort Yates, 7 grandchildren Michael(Ashley)Azure, Wolf Point, MT, Amber and Aspen Brave Bull of Bear Lake MN ,Michaya Montclair Ft. Yates, Robin Shaw, Jenn and Jameson
Berg, Bismarck, ND, 3 great grandchildren Kenzley, Karver, and Kazzley and numerous nieces and nephews.
Kathy is preceded in death by her parents, Mike and Clara Faith, her brother Larry Luger, her sister Rita Hunte, her adopted son Richie Claymore, a great grandbaby Kyzler Azure, and a fur baby Chloe.