Kathryn Sage Montana March 17, 1986 – April 2, 2017
Kathryn Sage Montana was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was known as Sage to most of her family and friends. The second child of Gary J. Montana and Linda M. Nichols-Montana, she was the apple of her father’s eye. Always riding with him somewhere even as a baby. Sage loved taking rides in the city late at night when she could not sleep. She loved people and loved to help others. She had an infectious smile and laugh and she loved to tease and be teased.
She graduated from high school with the Class of 2004. Sage attended the University of Minnesota and graduated with a BS in Social Services. She also attended the Aveda Institute of Cosmetology in Minneapolis, where she graduated and gave the commencement speech for the Class 2010. Sage moved to the Lower Brule Tribe of South Dakota where she worked at a woman’s shelter. In her leisure time Sage loved to play basketball, bead with her mother, ride horses, sing country songs, and dance jingle at powwows. And above all, she loved to spend time with her son, Mahto. Recently Sage had just accepted a position as a woman’s domestic abuse facilitator at the Ho-Chunk Nation and was very excited about the challenges that lay before her. Her passion was helping others and especially Native American women and children.
Kathryn is survived by her mother Linda Nichols-Montana of Minneapolis, MN; her father Gary J. Montana and youngest sister, Marisol Montana of Osseo, WI; her step mother Rachel Walsh of Black River Falls, WI, step brother Xavier Puzon of Madison, WI; her siblings Ian Montana, Molly Montana, niece Sophie Montana-Wadena, nephew Colt Montana-Stout of Minneapolis, MN; her sister Sierra Montana of Duluth, MN; her aunt Lynda Kingery-West of Eagle Butte, SD; uncle Ron Volesky of Huron, SD, cousins Taylor, Tucker, Turner and Tyler; and most importantly, her son Milton Mahto-Luta Spears of Bloomington, MN. She also leaves behind her special daughters from the Lower Brule Sioux Reservation in SD.
Sage is preceded in death by a baby that was born in 2013 and passed shortly after conception; paternal grandparents, Kate and Vern Pigney of Blunt, SD; grandmother Sophie Penny-Brown; grandfather Elmer Nichols of White Horse, SD; great-grandmother, Mary Bagola of Eagle Butte, SD and Dennis Pigney her uncle from Davenport, IA.
Native American services for Kathryn Sage Montana were held April 8 at the Grand Occasions Event Center, in Osseo, Wisconsin.
Joseph Croud May 2, 1947 – April 14, 2017
Joseph Croud “Ogema Binais”, was born in Park Rapids, MN, on May 2, 1947, to John and Maggie (Sailor) Croud. He walked peacefully from this life at Lake City, MN, on April 14, 2017, in the arms of his children and his ancestors.
Joseph was a man of many talents. He was an artist, a traditional flute and headroach maker, and a collector of history about his family and his community. He worked as a lumberman; on a city maintenance crew; as a social service worker for Mary Hall and the Dorothy Day Center in St. Paul, for the Thunderbird/Wren House in Duluth, and at a drop-in center in Cloquet; as an historical interpreter for the Minnesota Historical Society at the North West Fur Post in Pine City; and, when called upon, as a teacher of Anishinaabe arts and culture, especially for many years at the Science Museum of Minnesota and at the education day for the Mahkato Wacipi in Mankato.
Joseph loved his family, his friends, his community, and inspired love in return. He shared his wisdom when it would be appreciated. He loved to hunt for agates or just sit quietly with one of his children and drink coffee. He loved to be in nature. He was a man of quiet dignity. He did not like restrictions or being told what to do and he would not tolerate being treated with disrespect. Joseph had a short bucket list left unfinished. He had wanted to go fishing and he wanted to dance at a few more powwows. He will be remembered for his wit and humor, his love for his children, his ingenuity, his creativity and art, his skills as a listener, and for his wisdom.
He is survived by his children Sarah, Maggie, Solomon and Josette; treasured grandchildren Noelani and Konapiliahi Croud, and Damian Tsinnijinnie; sister Sara Clark, wife Jeanne; Lili Eustis and Margaret Waller, many nieces and nephews, and a very large circle of loving family and friends. Joseph was preceded in death by his parents John and Maggie Sailor Croud, and sisters, Catherine Adams, Bernice Croud, and Sylvia Croud. He joins in the spirit world beloved nieces and nephews: Jackie Adams, Sean Adams, John Bradley Croud, David Croud, Tim Annette and Jeanenne Harper.
The wake was held April 17 at the old Pine Point school. A funeral ceremony was held April 18 also at the school.
