Cheryl Kay Melbourne-Cloud, age 53, was born December 19, 1955 to Lydia Cynthia Johnson and Manuel Paul Melbourne Sr. in Poplar, MT. She then left this world to enter into the spirit world on December 6, 2009 in Billings, MT. Cheryl was given the Indian name of Itunká otá wi “Woman Who Donates A Lot.”
Cheryl had a couple of nicknames in her life, some knew her as Chucky, others MacGyver, Grandma to her pride and joys, and she always joked around with her husband and children by calling each other Sagadah.
Cheryl enjoyed crocheting, puzzles, word finds, listening to music, playing cards, bingo and in her younger years softball. She was a traditional dancer and liked going to powwows and just spending time visiting with family and friends. But one of her greatest passions of all was watching her granddaughters dance at powwows. She had always said watching them dance always made her proud.
On December 16, 1978 she married Amos Allen Cloud Sr. and five children were born to this union: Sandra, Stephanie, Amos Jr., Joseph and Jeri.
Cheryl worked for 15 years at A&S Tribal Industries and at Tribal Express for a short time before falling ill.
Mom was a good natured person all around and was always willing to lend a helping hand, a shoulder to lean on, or if you just needed someone to sit and visit with. She was a wife, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother niece and cousin, but most of all she was our best friend in more ways than one. We’ll love and miss you always, Grandma.
Cheryl is survived by her husband Amos Allen Cloud Sr. of Poplar; sons Amos Allen Cloud Jr., Joseph Cloud and adopted son Dana Mireau, all of Poplar; daughters Stephanie (Tony) Demarrias of Riverside, MT and Sandra (Patrick) Ownspipe-Ricker of Wolf Point; sisters Vermae Taylor of Wolf Point and Gayle Johnson of Poplar; brothers Manuel (Leta Ann) Melbourne and Shep Ferguson of Poplar, and Clifford Melbourne of WA; her aunts Donna Chase of Chelsea and Lydia Johnson of WA; her pride and joys Kayleigh, Codi and Isabella Jones, Cheryl and Hayleigh “Boo” Eagle, Preston, Connor and Kokipasni O’Waci “Sonny” Ownspipe.
Cheryl was preceded in death by her parents Lydia and Manuel, daughter Jeri Lavonne, sisters Arlene Ferguson, Beulah Grandboise, Renee Dupree, Paula Melbourne, and brother Lionel Johnson.
A Prayer Service is 7:00 p.m. Friday, December 11, 2009 at Lindsay Presbyterian Church in Poplar. Funeral will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, December 12, 2009 at Poplar Cultural Center. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.stevensonandsons.com. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.
Pallbearers Honorary Pallbearers
Richard WhiteOwl Poplar Hospital Nursing Staff
Tony Demarrias
Bruce Bauer
Grant Ferguson
Allen Martell
Phillip “Beasty” Grandboise III