On January 21st, Mary Ruth Beauchman-Fullerton (Pezuda Wiya) passed away peacefully surrounded by family at Trinity Hospital in Wolf Point, MT. Mary was born to Lucille Day Beachman and Ernest Beachman on February 1st, 1944. Born and raised in Wolf Point, MT, Mary graduated high school in 1961. In 1962 she married her first husband, John Binder, and in this union, her first daughter, Jackie, was born. Shortly after, Mary moved with Jackie to Los Angeles, where she went to nursing school to become an LPN. After working in California for some time, she moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where her sister Darlene and brother Luke lived. There she met and married her second husband, Charles Fullerton. Within that union, she gave birth to her second daughter, Dina.
In 1979 Mary and her daughters returned to Wolf Point, Montana, and Mary started working at Wolf Point Trinity Hospital. Around 1990, she went back to school alongside her younger brother, Dean, in Havre and Great Falls. Mary received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from MSU-Northern. After graduation, she returned to Wolf Point and worked for IHS as a Public Health Nurse. Mary also spent her nursing career working at the Fort Peck Tribal Diabetes program. She specifically enjoyed spending time with patients during diabetic breakfasts. Mary received multiple awards and acknowledgments, including Public Health Nurse of the year. Mary was a dedicated and compassionate nurse. She devoted her life to helping others, even when that meant making home visits to patients on a holiday evening. Her duties in caring for others did not stop at 5 PM or simply because it was the weekend. For Mary, the job was never finished. She gave her heart time and time again to anyone who needed it. She would help others financially, medically, or even with just a pack of chons. She expressed her love through gift-giving and cooking for others. Her Sunday dinners became a tradition for the family following a game of cards.
As it seemed Mary knew everyone across the reservation, everyone also knew her. In addition to her career as a nurse, she was well known for her fashion, sense of humor, and her long visits full of advice. Mary was humble, a great friend, and treated everyone with respect and compassion. She offered her opinion, knowledge, and a listening ear when needed. A few of Mary’s hobbies included reading, playing machines/bingo at Silverwolf Casino, attending garage sales, auctions, and shopping. Her family could not pass by garage sales signs without her noticing. Once Mary learned how to use her debit card to shop online, she loved ordering from Macy’s and QVC.
Mary’s most favorite pass-time of them all was spending time with her family, including her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was very proud and supportive of them in all their accomplishments. One of her joys in life was watching her granddaughter, Maria, graduate nursing school with the honors of pinning her.
Mary is joined in Heaven by her parents Lucille and Ernest, Sisters; Darlene, Joyce, Roberta, and Gertrude; Brothers Edwin (Luke), Raymond (Dean), and Patrick; grandson, Austin; nephew, Mitchell Clark, and numerous other relatives.
Mary is survived by daughters Dina, Jackie (Tony), Tanya Wasser (Steve), Kelly Driftwood (Asa); Sister Vivian Herschel (JoJo) of Fort Belknap; Grandchildren Maria (Eli), Ryan, Jordan (Sam), Lee’Al, Ty’Ray, Jesse, and Ky’Lee; her card partner Richard Buckles; great grandson, Grayson, of Wolf Point; and Olivia of Bozeman. Also survived by the McGeshick, Bushman, and Day families, Angie (Raul Figueroa), PK and Steve Bushman, Agnes Moran, Edna Brien, Ronnie Adams, Patrice Iron bear, Karen Dubois; hairdressers Laura Dennis and Deb Loendorf; coworkers at Fort Peck Tribes, Indian Health Service, Silverwolf family; and numerous nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. Thank you to everyone who has reached out to the family with condolences, food, and prayers. She thought so much about so many people; please forgive us if we left anyone out as it was not intentional. We would like to thank the staff at Trinity Hospital, provider Scott Pocha, EMS, nurse Mecaila Paulson, officer Eugene stump, and Michelle Aguilar.
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with arrangements. Condolences for the family may be left using the form below.