Donna Geneva “Marie” Martell, age 55, of Poplar, MT passed away Friday, August 3, 2012 at the Poplar Hospital in Poplar.
Donna, the daughter of Angeline (Big Shield) and Martin Martell Sr., was born on August 2, 1957 in Poplar, MT. She attended schools in Brockton and Poplar before graduating from high school at the Flandreau Indian School. Donna attended a vocational-technical school in Great Falls, MT and graduated. She was employed with West Electronics for many years. She also worked other various jobs throughout her life including cooking at the Poplar Hospital and a telemarketer while in Great Falls. In her spare time, Donna enjoyed activities such as doing crossword puzzles, putting puzzles together, playing dice, and watching movies. Her passion was the outdoors; she enjoyed fishing, setting up camp at powwows, attending powwows, going chokecherry picking, turnip and root digging. She liked to visit with family and friends if she bumped into them while she was out playing machines or cruising around. Donna also loved to cook, she made the best soup and she wouldn’t let anyone leave her house hungry. She was a really friendly person and she was always willing and ready to lend a hand. Donna loved to make people laugh, and she always had a good joke to share. Donna loved music, and everyone that knows her knows that she loved to dance.
Donna is preceded in death by her parents, Martin Martell Sr. and Angeline Big Shield –Martell; brothers, Ivan Big Shield, Gerald Lambert, Monty Martell, and a baby brother; a baby sister; paternal grandparents, Charles Martell Sr. and Sophie Lambert-Martell; maternal grandparents, Pius Big Shield and Isabel No Two Horn-Big Shield; and nephew, Phillip Cory Russell.
She is survived by her special friend, Edwina Stump of Poplar and children, Eleanor, Guy, Chad, Memphis, and Hayley; her girl, Angel (Dorrance) Scott; sisters, Marilyn Martell and Joyce (Kevin) Martell both of Poplar, Sonia (Dave) Hawk of Wolf Point, and Kathy Evenson of Great Falls, MT; brothers, Martin (Kenda) Martell Jr. and Lewis Martell Sr. both of Poplar, and Vernon (Maureen) Martell of Billings, MT; nieces, Kayleen (Kurt), Larina (Bryan), Janet (Isaac), Lorie (Dewayne), Stephanie (Johnny), Cassandra, Marteen, Marsha, Shivonne, Candy, Anita, Tasheena, Kahlea, Gabrielle, Moriah, and Hannah; nephews, Conrad, Melvin Scott III, Clarence III (Brandy), Clinton Sr. (Malisa), Lewis Jr., Joseph, Titus, Brenden, David Jr., John Henry, Melvin Martell and Leslie; grandchildren, Kristen, Kevor, Miki, Selena, Joseph, Abriana, Thane, Colton, Quadence, Madarius, Makenna, Malone, Makail, Little Skye, Tatiana, Lydia, Chasidie, Angela, Lisette, Tiffany, Marissa, Reinita, Isaac Jr., Isaih, Casey, Cailee, Kylee, Carlee, Skyla, Chandler, Savannah, Josalyn, Jacob, Cristian, Clinton, Angela, Janiya, Kenrick, Christopher, Aaliyah, Sabella, Leela, Delilah, Paris, Jamilla, Miracle, Jaquay, Jayla, Francis and Anthony; and great grandchildren, Amya, Ashton, and Chance.
A wake will be held 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 7 at the Cultural Center in Poplar. Donna’s funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 8 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Poplar. Interment will follow at the Fort Kipp Cemetery in Fort Kipp, MT.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.claytonstevensonchapel.com.
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.