Heaven shone brighter on April 11, 2015. Patricia Lynn McGeshick “Zitkanan Sha Wiya” Red Bird Woman joined her mother and grandmothers to be with the Creator. Patty was born August 11, 1953 in Wolf Point, MT to Fred and Joyce (Beauchman) McGeshick. Patty was an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes and was also Ojibwe. She lived her life as she was taught by her elders and spoke the Assiniboine language. She was baptized a Catholic and fulfilled her spiritual life when she embraced her Native traditional ways in the Assiniboine Medicine Lodge Society and Women’s Kinship Circle. “Our people believe we come from the 4 th star in the Big Dipper. That’s where my family is at.”
Patty was preceded in death by her mother Joyce, her aunts Florence and Darlene and uncles, Patrick, Luke and Dean Beauchman.
Patty is survived by her father, Fred McGeshick, Sr., husband of 25 years Butch Bell, her children Steven and Nikita and adored grandchildren Ashton and Ji’ana. Her sisters: Florence Garcia of Billings, Marilyn Walls, Susan of Watersmeet MI, Lucy and Angie Kennedy. Brothers: Fred (Rena) of Granger WA, Rick, Joe and James of Wolf Point. Adopted sisters: Rose(John) Morsette, Coleen Clark, Danna (Bill) Runsabove, Lanette Clark, Rosella Archdale and Rhonda Mason. Aunts: Roberta Archdale and Mary Fullerton. Adopted daughters: Leanda Birthmark, Winona Runsabove and Elisabeth Garcia. Also numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and special friends Mary Gourneau and Elise and Jimmy Johnson of Ontario, Canada.
Patty was the Director of the Family Violence Resource Center for the Fort Peck Reservation for nearly 30 years. She was a passionate champion of victims’ rights and believed it was her responsibility to help women and especially children. She was the Tribal Prosecutor for the Fort Peck Tribes in 1982, was the Administrative Assistant in the Office of the Tribal Chairman in 1985, served as a Criminal Prosecutor for Adams County, Colorado in 1980 and the Clerk of Tribal Court in 1973.
Patty completed a Bachelor of Arts in Community Studies from NAES College in 1994 and the Colorado Law Enforcement Academy in 1981. She presented at more than 240 conferences and received many awards for her hard work including Montana Attorney General’s Office: Victims Rights Award (twice); US Dept. of Justice Certificate of Appreciation, Indian Child Welfare Advocate Award, Rocky Mountain Region; Attorney General’s Victims’ Rights Award, US Dept. of Justice, Washington DC, Indian Tribal Health Award, Montana Wyoming Tribal Leaders. She served on the Board of Montana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Federal Work Group Consultant for the Office of Victims of Crime, Chairwoman of Montana Native Advisory Council, President of Montana Native Women Coalition and Montana Board of Crime Control.
God Bless You, Dearest Sister. Your star lights the way for us. I will always love you, Flower. Patty will be missed by all but would want us to continue to do and support the work she dedicated her life to.