SANDRA JEAN ANN McDONALD

“I Have Fought A Good Fight, I Have Finished My Course, I Have Kept The Faith” Sandra Ann McDonald, “Tawacin Wasakawin” (Strong Minded Woman) our precious and loved mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, relative and friend, peacefully began her spirit journey to our Lord at the Good Samaritan Home, Devils Lake, ND on the evening of February 8 2014. Her daughters and family were by her side when she left for her true Home. She was with us for 65 years. Sandra was born September 8, 1948 in Fort Totten, ND, to Michael and Evaline (White Thunder) McDonald. She was the 8th of 11 children and when her mother passed away in 1953, her grandmother Mary Brownshield helped care for Sandra and the other McDonald children. Sandra attended schools in St. Michael and Ft. Yates and earned her GED. She completed a certificate program at United Tribes Technical College in Bismarck and earned both an Associate of Arts and an AAS in Bilingual Education from Cankdeska Cikana Community College in 1988. She was a believer in lifelong learning and went onto earn a BS in Elementary Education at Mayville State in 1991 and a Masters Degree in Education from NDSU in 1997. Sandra was an inspiration for family members to further their education, and she was a motivating influence to others. Sandra became a mother to Evie and Nola; raising them as a single parent. She did her best and taught them to be independent and self-sufficient. She made sure that strong family bonds were maintained but most important, she encouraged her daughters to have faith and believe in God. Sandra thought the world of her grandchildren and her 3 great grandchildren and made sure they had plenty of kunsi’s love and affection. Sandra served as a Dakota culture instructor at Four Winds School; she was happy when working with the children. She took a position as a counselor for Educational Talent Search at Cankdeska Cikana Community College then moved to Spirit Lake Casino to serve as its’ employee counselor. She was the director of Spirit Lake Tribal Social Services. She retired in 2005 due to ill health. She was honored in 2004 by the North Dakota Native American Foster Parent Association as the Social Service Worker of the Year for the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe. Sandra was an enrolled member of Spirit Lake Nation. She was fluent in her Dakota language and practiced her beliefs. She willingly shared her knowledge with others, especially the younger generation. It was a highlight of 2012 when she had a naming ceremony for her great grandchildren. She was well known for her beading skills and delicious potato salad. Sandra also enjoyed reading, attending rodeos and pow-wows, and listening to her favorite country western and gospel songs. She was quite the singer and won a family karaoke competition in 2013. Most of all she enjoyed family gatherings and was content to be home with her loved ones. She was a lifelong member of Seven Dolors Catholic Church and lived her faith and spiritual beliefs every day. She will be missed by her loving family: daughters Evie McDonald and Nola (Carlos) Lopez, sister Dinah Mae (Roy) Aceveda, brothers Tony (Vina) McDonald and Michael Demus McDonald; grandchildren Damian Blackbird, Cassie McDonald, Angela and Heather Belgarde, Nelvette and Carlos Lopez III.; great-grandchildren Daylen George, Genevive Asondra, Benjamin Taylor, and one on the way; adopted granddaughters Cynthia “Cinny” Feather and Katie “Tootie” Feather and nieces and nephews Antonette (Terrance) Halsey, Russell (Francine) McDonald, Ardell (Clayton) Blueshield, Mary (Ron) Lohnes, Mervel (Karen) McDonald, Molly (Marshall) Demarce, Myra McDonald, Fran (Juan) Uribe, Wayne (Paola) Trottier, David Trottier, Darren (Wanda) Trottier, Denice (Barry) Gage, Sherry Mouton, Mark & Joan Oldridge, Bill Storbokken, Cecilia Cavanaugh, Aggie (Cornell) Cavanaugh, Claudette (Tim) Cottonwood, Adeline (Momodou) Barry, Elrae (Steven) Potts, Joanne, Justine & Jana McDonald, Michael McDonald, Jackie and Anita and Yolanda McDonald, Justin McDonald, Casimero Aceveda III, Michael Aceveda, Effie and Geralda Finley. Sandra joins our relatives in their heavenly home: parents, grandparents Mary (Blackshield) Brownshield, John Blackshield & Hehakawin, Florence (Sherman) & Leo White Thunder; sisters Adeline Trottier, Priscilla Oldridge, Joann Finley, Kathleen Cavanaugh; brothers George, Raphael, and Russell McDonald; nephews Michael Ralph & Duane McDonald and William Aceveda, nieces Debbie Finley and Deanna Trottier, grandchildren Lindsey Littlewind and Nelvette Lynn McDonald. Active pallbearers: Wayne Trottier Jr, Russell McDonald, Damian Blackbird, Carlos Lopez III, Conrad Cavanaugh, Bob Charboneau, Carlos Lopez Jr., Dana Lohnes, Dan Cavanaugh Jr., and Terrance Halsey. Honorary pallbearers: Eunice Whiteman, Bev Graywater, Jeannie Kay Charboneau, Helen Yvonne White, Doreen Gibbons, Florestine & Kenny Dunn, Georgeline Cissy McKay, Doris Packineau, Barbara Robertson, Estella Garcia, Helena Littleghost, Bill and Charette Monette, Swadeau Halsey, Ardell Blueshield, Mary Lohnes, Molly McDonald, Myra McDonald, Fran Uribe, Cecilia Cavanaugh, Claudette Cottonwood, Agnes Cavanaugh, Adeline Barry, Denice Gage, Jackie McDonald, Yolanda McDonald, Anita McDonald, Elrae Potts, Jana McDonald, Joanne McDonald, and Justine McDonald. If we forgot to mention someone, please forgive us in this very difficult time. Thank you. In celebration of her life services will be held at 5 pm Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at Cankdeska Cikana Community College. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10 am on Thursday, February 13, 2014 at Seven Dolors Catholic Church with Father Charles Leute OP and Deacon Tony McDonald officiating. Burial will be at St. Jerome’s Cemetery in the spring. Music will be provided by Rhythm Riders, Tony & Vina McDonald, Ardell Blueshield, Neal Hale & Terry Halsey. Any individuals or drum groups wanting to share song or scripture are welcome. Thank you to Good Samaritan and Mercy Hospital Dialysis Staffs for the kindness and loving care provided for Sandra. The support shown to our family was needed during this difficult time and we are grateful for all your efforts. Sincere thanks to Roberta Sweeney for your friendship and prayers, Our love and appreciation to our uncles and aunts and all family and friends for their devotion to Mom; prayers and spiritual support were so important during her illness. We thank everyone who came to visit Mom and to pray with her. It meant so much to her and to us. Psalm 48:14 For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. May our dear mother Sandra Ann McDonald rest in eternal peace. FOR MOM The Angels gathered near your bed so very close to you. For they knew the pain and suffering that you were going through. I thought about so many things, as I held tightly to your hand. Oh, how I wished that you were strong and happy once again. But your eyes were looking homeward to that place beyond the sky. Where Jesus held His outstretched arms, it was time to say goodbye. I struggled with my selfish thoughts, for I wanted you to stay. So we could walk and talk again, like we did - just yesterday. But Jesus knew the answer, and I knew He loved you so. So I gave to you life’s greatest gift, the gift of letting go. Love you always Mom, Evie & Nola