Michael Gerarda TalksDifferent “I’atoka Wiya” (Talks Different Woman), age 35, of Poplar, MT passed away July 3, 2011 at her residence in Poplar.
Gerarda, was born February 14, 1976 to Michael Gerard and Marlene Agnes (Steele) TalksDifferent in Wolf Point, MT.
During her high school career, she played basketball and volleyball. While in school she met her high school sweetheart, Lou Don Iron Bear. They were married and to this union they had Troy, Louie, and Merle Iron Bear. They later divorced. She met Josh Burshia and a daughter, Kenicea Renae Burshia was born.
She loved being with her children, playing in the pool league, going to powwows, and watching her sons play basketball. Gerarda spent most of her life on the Fort Peck Reservation. She graduated from Poplar High School class of 1994. She worked years as substitute teacher for the Poplar schools. After she left the school, she was employed at Tribal Express in Poplar.
Gerarda is survived by her companion, Emery “Squiral” Red Eagle, Jr.; father, Mike (Mari) TalksDifferent of Harlem, MT; sons, Troy, Louie and Merle Iron Bear all of Poplar; daughter, Kenicea Burshia of Poplar; brother, Richard Steele of Seattle, WA; sisters, Dori, Tish (Loren), Shelly, and Carrie TalksDifferent all of Frazer, Joanne (Billy Ferguson) Steele of Poplar, Ada TalksDifferent and Elisha “Tiny” Beston both of Wolf Point, and Valerie (Bill) TalksDifferent of Fort Belknap, Kelly TalksDifferent of Chinook, MT and Mariel TalksDifferent of Harlem; aunts, Theresa (Kenneth) Smoker of Poplar, and Thelma Blount of Frazer; and grandparents, Charles and Irene Doney of Hayes, MT. Extended family include TalkDifferent, Doney, Steele, Scott, and Foote.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Marlene Steele; children, Louie TalksDifferent, Anthony TalkDifferent, Baby Girl TalksDifferent, twins, Gage and Marlena TalksDifferent, and Baby Girl Burshia; and sister, Luanna TalksDifferent Adams.
A wake will be held 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 6 at the Poplar Cultural Center in Poplar. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, July 7 also at the Poplar Cultural Center in Poplar. Interment will follow at the Poplar City Cemetery.
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.