Violet (Stillday) Patterson

Violet (Stillday) Patterson

Born: Wed., Jan. 2, 1935

Died: Mon., Feb. 22, 2016

Visitation

6:00 PM Thu., Feb. 25, 2016

Location: Ponemah Boys and Girls Club

Traditional Native Service

10:00 AM Fri., Feb. 26, 2016

Location: Ponemah Boys and Girls Club

Violet (Stillday) Patterson, 81, Noozhekwens, (Suckling Female Bear Cub), of the Bear Clan, passed away Feb. 22, 2016. Traditional services will be held at the Boys & Girls Club in Ponemah, led by Spiritual Leader Steve Jackson. A wake will begin on Thursday, Feb 25, 2016 at 6 PM with the Traditional funeral service on Friday, Feb 26, 2016 at noon. Interment will be at the Stillday Family Burial Grounds in Ponemah.

Violet was born on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 1935 to Clarence and Sybil Stillday at their home in Ponemah. She moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma to be with her cousins Evelyn (Sayers) Gentry, Mary Jane Sayers, Maxine Sayers and Audrey (Sayers) Hicks. She also lived with her aunt and uncle Eliza (Dudley) and George M. Oliver family in Kansas City, Kansas as a live-in babysitter and housekeeper. She later moved to Minneapolis where she lived and worked for many years before returning to Ponemah. She was employed by the Red Lake Elderly Nutrition Program preparing meals for the elders. Violet also worked at the Ponemah Elementary School as a foster grandparent. She also drove elders to many functions, including the Wisdom Steps conferences, rides to bingo and shopping trips. Violet also worked for the Red Lake Comp Health Transportation Program driving tribal members to various medical appointments at locations across the region. Violet's favorite hobby was driving and she continued to travel to powwows and casinos anytime, anywhere, and any weather conditions. She was a mentor to the children in the Cultural Program teaching the Ojibwe language. Violet also enjoyed her Facebook page, face timing with her family, especially her great-granddaughter Callie and making star quilt blankets. Most of all, she loved the time spent with all of her grandchildren.

Violet is preceded in death by her parents; Clarence and Sybil, brothers; George and Clarence Jr., sisters; Josephine and Carmella Jean (Raincloud), her life partner Isaac Whitefeather; daughters; Sheryl Ann, Carol Louise, and Marilyn Jane, grandson; Clarence Jesse James, and nephew Lowell Kingbird.

Violet is survived by brother; Eugene Stillday Sr. (Alfreda), son; Ronald Patterson, step-daughter; Sharon Columbus, grandsons she raised; Kevin Patterson (Janelle) and Bruce Taylor (Jill), granddaughter who cared for her; Collette, nine nephews; Leon and Jerry Kingbird, Harlan (Lisa), Michael (Barbara) and Eugene Stillday Jr., Harold, Darryl, Arlen and Robert Raincloud; five nieces; Tharen (Jim), Arlys (Roy), and Denise Stillday, Roberta and Dawn Raincloud, 21 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be her grandsons and nephews. Honorary pallbearers will be her co-workers at Transportation, Ponemah Elderly Nutrition, Wisdom Steps, and special driving friend Eliza Johnson.

Violet's care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker. Online condolences for the family may be left at http://www.northernpeace.com.