Mary Whiteman

Geneva Mary Whiteman “Isshiia Shipitkaatbiaitche” (Pretty Woman With Black Hair) “Isdiannee Waaxpaash” (Walks the Holy Road) August 20, 1936 to December 12, 2020 On a summer day, while a thunder storm rolled in, a precious baby was born upon this earth to Edward Posey Sr. and Josephine (Decrane) Whiteman. At that time, the family was camped in the foothills of the Pryor Mountains, in the Hay Creek area. The birth was overseen by the local traditional midwife, Matilda Round Face, in the time that families still traveled by buckboards, also known as wagons. Shortly after her birth, her maternal great grandmother, ‘Kills With The Horses”, gifted her with her first Indian name, “Isshiia Shipitkaatbiaitche” (Pretty Woman With Black Hair). Her paternal grandfather, Matton Old Horse gave her the Christian name, Geneva Mary Whiteman and also gave Geneva her second Indian name “Isdiannee Waaxpaash” (Walks the Holy Road), she was highly favored by Matton. Geneva was the first grandchild of her maternal grandparents Sage Woman and Rides A Pretty Horse and she was dearly loved by them. She spent most of her early years with Sage Woman as a kaalishbaapite “grandmother's grandchild” and slept with her until Sage's Woman's passing. As the first born, she was doted upon and was lavished material goods by not only her parents and grandparents, but also by her aunts. Her aunt, Mary Decrane Dawes bestowed her with a buckskin dress with matching beadwork, that was treasured by Geneva. There was nothing that her parents would not do for her and she grew up bathed in their unfaltering support and unconditional love, growing into a precocious, well adjusted woman with a warm personality and an infectious laugh. As the eldest, her parents also had high expectations of her and cultivated in her the importance of education. Geneva was an intellect and naturally gravitated toward academia and as a student she was quite successful. In her early years she attended and completed her elementary education at St. Charles Mission School and subsequently graduated from Edgar high school as valedictorian. In 1955 she was first runner up at the Miss Indian America pageant held during the All American Indian Days, in Sheridan, Wyoming. Following high school Geneva attended two years of college at Marian College in Indianapolis, Indiana and she was one of the first recipients (6 total) of the Crow Tribal Scholarship Program. Geneva's mother wanted her closer to home and her dad wished for her to graduate from a Montana college, so Geneva transferred to the University of Montana in Missoula. While at U of M, Geneva was one of the founding members of the Indian Club. At that time there were only 12 Native American students and she was one of two Crow Tribal Students. In 2018 she was honored by the Kyi-Yo Student Indian Club for her contribution as one of the founding members. After two years, Geneva graduated in 1959, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature with a minor in History, with a 4.0 GPA. Geneva subsequently obtained a Master of Arts Degree in Special Education from Eastern Montana College and a Master of Arts Degree in Theology from Loyola University of Chicago. Geneva was a life long educator; she was the first Native American teacher at Edgar High School, an elementary teacher at Browning, Montana, a principle at Pryor Public Elementary School, an elementary teacher at St Labre, a Native American Studies Instructor at Eastern Montana College, the Director of the Basic Skills Program through the Crow Central Education Commission (she was instrumental in getting the Little Big Horn college chartered through the Crow Tribe in 1980). Ultimately her career culminated at St. Charles Mission School as an elementary teacher where she retired after 20 years of service. In addition to teaching, Geneva also worked as the advisor/personal assistant to Forrest Horn, Crow Tribal Chairman, from 1977 to 1979. Geneva was a member of the Whistling Water clan and a child of the Ties the Bundle Clan. Geneva was baptized into the Catholic church on August 29th,1936 and her Godmother was her grandmother, Sarah Goes Ahead. She was adopted into the tobacco society by the late Margaret Bulltail. Geneva married DeWitt A. Dillon, Jr on Nov. 13, 1961, in Cardston, Canada, and from this marriage they had five children; April (Ron) Storey, Genie, Chris (Tammy) Dillon, and adopted sons Print Spotted Bear Jr, and James Keith Bell Rock Jr. Although Geneva and DeWitt subsequently separated, they remained friends until DeWitt's passing. Geneva was a compassionate and loving person and wherever she went children naturally gravitated towards her and hugged her. She was a gracious hostess and everyone who visited her home was fed or offered a beverage. She was a caring woman and had a benevolent soul, her house was open to anyone in need and it was not uncommon for a guest to stay months at a time. Geneva was a gentle soul and was naturally loving to everyone who met her. Her greetings and hugs were unparalleled, she made you feel so special and loved. She never harbored resentment or spoke ill of anyone, she was always gracious and lived the true Crow way of life. Her great sense of humor was used at times to deflect awkward situations or to tease her brother-in-laws. She was fun loving and charismatic, an attribute she inherited from her dad. She had a natural affection for animals caring for them like family. Her grandchildren, nieces and nephews were her pride and joy, she was always happy to see them and was especially proud of their accomplishments, be it education or sports. She enjoyed giving gifts for birthdays and for new babies that came into the family. She was an avid reader, with an eclectic taste in books as well as keeping up on weekly tabloids. As the daughter of a former tribal chairman she also had a flair for politics and she loved being involved in the political arena, especially in her younger years. She held the Kennedy family in high regard and one of her greatest memories was meeting Ted Kennedy, the youngest brother to President John F. Kennedy. She never tired of reading anything about the Kennedy's and also enjoyed reading about the British Monarchy. During her travels and through friendships she made, she learned how to cook different cultural dishes, especially Asian Cuisine, notably Korean and Filipino. She often invited Father Randolph or others who also enjoyed her taste in foreign foods for a meal. Her signature dish for all family gatherings was her “high-quality” rice, cooked to perfection. A family dinner was not a family dinner without Geneva's rice and soy sauce, which more often than not, was fashionably late. Geneva was highly respected and was revered as a role model and was thus entrusted to give people Indian Names and was always invited to pray for her clan children, she also was the namesake of Geneva Othermedicine and Geneva Walksoverice. Geneva respected the Crow way of life, she participated in the sweat lodge, Native American Church, and was a devout and life long member of the St. Charles Parish. Geneva was preceded in death by her father Edward Posey Sr. and mother Josephine Whiteman, her brother Norman Whiteman, her brother Edward Posey Whiteman, Jr., her sister Velma “Cookie” Bell Rock, her uncle Harry “Bozo” Whiteman Jr., nephew Dione Bell Rock, grandaughter Nikki Dillon, grandson Jason Storey, adopted brother Joseph Bulltail, adopted brother Carl Venne, adopted brother Sylvester Cartie Goes Ahead, adopted son Roy Stops, and adopted son Woody White. Geneva is survived by her children and adopted children; Theda Medicine Horse, Connie Decrane, Ivan Morning, Harry Lee Rock Above, Artie Smells, Rayola Eder, Ronald Round Face, Melton Round Face, and Doug Smith. Her grandchildren, Ronald (Karli) Storey III, Kriston Dillon, Charles Storey, Keelan Dillon, and Charmaign Tsosie, Rhiannon Storey. Great Grandchildren Ethan Dillon, Kacey Dillon, Thunder Ware, Reegan Paz, Crimson Dillon, Tenlee Storey, Roen Storey, and Maximous Louise LaTray. She is survived by her siblings Jolene Kills Pretty Enemy, Valeen Plain Feather, Channis Whiteman, and Carol Good Luck. Adopted Siblings Nellie Sings in the Mountain, Carla Whiteman, Carolyn Whiteman, Alma Rose Wall, Bernadette Smith, Bernadette Charette, Eugene Red Star, Patricia Laverdure, Calvin Herrera, Burton Pretty On Top, and Adam Singer. Aunts Agnes (Larry) Pretty Weasel and Regina Goes Ahead. She tremendously loved all her nieces, nephews, and grandchildren and held them all dear to her heart. Her extended family includes: Decrane, The Family of Rose Turns Plenty, Goes Ahead, Reese Family, Thomas, Record, Bear Cloud, Crooked Arm, Williamson, The Family of Franklin House, The Family of Maude Morrison Yarlott, Wall, Morrison, Hugs, Round Face, Singer, Black Hawk, Bear Ground, The Family of Reno (Venne) Takes the Horse , Wilson, Plain Feather, Venne, Old Horn, Frank “Pollick” Plain Bull Family, Bullchief, The Family of Gloria Cummins, the Bighair Family, and the Family of Margaret and Guy Bull Tail, her Tobacco Society Family. The matriarch of our family - our mother, grandmother, auntie, sister, friend was prematurely taken from us and crossed to the other side camp, on the evening of December 12, 2020 due to complications of COVID-19. Geneva was priceless, we lost the knowledge, history, and wisdom that she carried and the pain that we feel as her family is massive. Although our hearts are broken and our tears flow, Geneva lived a full and accomplished life and would not want us to be sad for her, but would want us to celebrate her life and to remember all the good memories of her, memories that we as her family and friends, will now cary in our hearts. We love you so much Geneva, until we meet again, rest in peace.