Our loving mother, wife, sister, auntie, grandmother, and great-grandmother Joyce Ann Bushman McGeshick “Washte Wea” (Good Woman) passed away in Billings and went to be with her Lord and Creator on Monday, Nov. 12, 2012. Joyce was born on June 23, 1933, to Ernest (Bushman) Beauchman and Lucille Day Beauchman in Wiota near Wolf Point. She was an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Sioux and Assiniboine Nation. Joyce was a devout Catholic and active member of Immaculate Conception Parish. She went to rosary and mass and had deep faith in God, which she learned from her mother and grandmother. She attended schools in Wolf Point and in 1947 she attended Indian boarding school in Flandreau, S.D., where she met the love of her life, Fred McGeshick Sr. They were married Sept. 24, 1951, in Clark, S.D., and soon moved to Wolf Point. Her family, especially her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were the light of her life. She loved holidays, especially Christmases when family could be together and she could cook and love her grandchildren. Joyce was a wonderful cook and we loved her homemade bread and cinnamon rolls. She made everything with love.
Joyce worked for many years as a waitress at the Triangle Café and other restaurants. In the early 1970s, she became an inspector for the U.S. Defense Department where she inspected products at A&S Industries in Poplar. She inspected camouflage netting, jet fuel, medical chests, rifles and other products for the Defense Department. She received many awards of recognition and commendation working as a civilian in the federal government and retired from government service after nearly 24 years. She served for decades as a judge in tribal, state, and federal elections and was proud of her civic duty. She also served for years as an officer on the Board of Directors of the Wolf Point Community Organization. Joyce worked hard all her life and had high standards for work. She taught us how to make square corners on the crisp sheets of a bed and how to sweep (not just push dirt around).
Joyce was preceded in death by her loving parents Ernest and Lucille; her sisters Florence Magnan, Darlene Olcott and Gertrude Clark; her brothers Edwin (Luke) Bushman and Raymond Dean Beauchman; her grandson Edwin McGeshick; and one unborn child.
Surviving family members include her husband of 61 years Fred McGeshick Sr.; daughters Florence “Flower” Garcia, Patricia “Brat,” Marilyn of Coram, Susan (Johnson) of Watersmeet, Mich., Lucy; sons Fred Jr. (Rena) of Yakima, Wash., Richard of Mole Lake, Wis., Joe, and James. She also has her sisters Roberta Archdale and Mary Fullerton and her brother Patrick. Her adopted children include Rose (John) Morsette, Colleen Clark, Lanette Clark, Dana (Bill) Runsabove, Gloria Collins, John Bullshows, Colleen (Wayne) Stein, and Pauline (Bob) Danforth and Melanie Peterson Hickey of Minnesota. She has a very special son-in-law, Butch Bell. Also, she has all her “favorite” grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Elisabeth, Caleb, Diego, Kalee, Steve, Nikita, Ashton, Ji’ana, Beatrice (Dennis), Jaden, Herschel, Jace, Isaiah, Treighton, Bobi Jo (James), Bradley, Jacob, Robert(Jessica), Rob, Cody, Alex, Melissa, Marissa, Mona, Creighton, Aaron, Jonathan, Cameron, Angie, Keila, Josh, Tom, Maria, Eddie, Elizabeth, Roy, McKenzie and Brent, Connor, Dawson, Cole, Clay, and Leanda Birthmark. Her beloved nieces and nephews include: Angie, Tyler, Breanna, Amelia, Charlie, Michael, Jace, Mona, Jennifer, Brian, Jackie, Ryan, Jordan, Dina, Austin, Lee’Al, Ron (Ruth), Bootsie (Shirley), Mitchell, as well as Auntie Vina LaFloe, and cousins Stuart (Lisa) Day, and Sam (Jody) McCracken. Many people considered her “Mom,” and the more she loved, the more she gave of herself.
Joyce had an extraordinary sense of humor around her dear friends, including Mary Anderson of Billings, Margie Chandler of Hays, Catherine and Carol Spotted Bird, Susie Moran, her friends from A & S, Ken (Sylvia) Ryan, Iris Anderson, and Stoney Anketell. She was especially fond of Richard “Dude” and Bernie Jackson and her former colleague Jerry Gwin who she worked with at A & S for many years. To all her friends, thank you for the love and prayers.
We have a large family, so please understand if we have neglected to mention you.
Joyce, I love you with all my heart, Fred. We love you, Mom; we are glad you are at peace, and you will always be in our hearts. Mom, you are an angel. Gramma, it’s better up there. Mom, We’ll have some watermelon and ice cream for you; you’ve been a blessing.
A traditional Four Day Feast will be held Thursday afternoon at the Wolf Point Community Hall. Rosary will be recited on Thursday at 7 p.m. at Clayton Stevenson Chapel. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church. Clayton Stevenson is in charge of arrangements.
The family would like to extend a special thanks to the kind and caring medical staff at St. Vincent’s Hospital, especially Dr. Yen and the nurses in ICU. Mom would also want us to mention Father Steve Zabrocki who guided her spiritually for many years.