Obituary: Ahenakew, Della Louise (Gopher)
Age 73
She was born February 16, 1942 in Hill 57, MT to George and Babe Mechance Gopher.
She attended school in Great Falls, MT, and lived at Hill 57, Ulm, Havre and Great Falls, MT, until moving to Spokane in October 1979.
Della enjoyed traveling; especially to Montana to visit family and friends, attending family gatherings, Traditional Round Dances, and Pow-wows.
She is a Saulteaux Indian of the Ah-On-Te-Ways Band, a non-treaty tribe of Montana.
Della enjoyed attending church at Spokane Seventh Day Adventist and going to the casino.
She also loved her children and grandchildren very much and was a strong believer in Jesus Christ.
Della is survived by her daughters Karen Ahenakew, Charlene Ahenakew, Leona Ahenakew Rowles, Jennifer Ahenakew, LaVonne Ahenakew, Elaine Ahenakew, and Stephanie Ahenakew; and her son Anthony Ahenakew, all of Spokane, along with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by her sisters Georgiana “Peggy” Gopher Roasting Stick and Phyllis Gopher Parker of South Havre, MT; and brothers James Gopher and Paul Gopher of Helena, MT.
She is preceded in death by her husband Melvin Ahenakew, sons George “Steven” Ahenakew and Ivan “Kelly” Ahenakew, daughter Lisa Ahenakew, parents George and Babe Mechance Gopher, sister Emma Gopher, brother Thomas “Tommy” Gopher, maternal grandmother: Po-Ni-Kwah-Ne-Pihk also known as: Elizabeth Mechance, paternal grandmother: Mary Chippewa Gopher and Mary Chippewa Jackson, and paternal grandfather: Jim Loud Thunder Gopher.
There will be a wake held on Tuesday, May 19 starting at 5:00 pm at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 828 W. Spofford.
A Funeral Service will be held, Wednesday, May 20, 2015 at 11:00 am also at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, with a Graveside Service following at Riverside Memorial Park at 1:00 pm.