June Janelle Robertson-Crawford-Bracey-Azure
courtesy photo
June Azure
ST. IGNATIUS — Our kind and loving mother began her journey with the Creator on May 14, 2015. June Janelle Azure was born June 5, 1937, to Lester and Edith (Robertson) Crawford in Sisseton, South Dakota. She was a member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, Buffalo Lake District.
As the second of eight children, her earliest years were spent growing up in the log house and family farm at Buffalo Lake. Fishing and swimming were a couple of her favorite things to do as a child.
June’s mother passed away in late winter of 1951 and her dad couldn't deal with the pain so he left the family a few months later. Extended family took the children in. The people she respected most throughout her life, her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Frances Crawford, raised June. As a little girl she attended Buffalo Lake Country School, Wahpeton Indian School and graduated from Flandreau Indian Boarding School.
June received a scholarship to study home economics at Dickinson State College. She completed her education at UCLA, where she learned the skills for what would be her life long career, dental assisting.
She lived in many places, including Los Angeles, California; Baytown, Texas; Brigham City, Utah; and Fort Belknap, St. Ignatius, and Arlee in Montana. She was extremely proud of her 40 plus year career; most of which was with Indian Health Services.
During retirement in Arlee, her time was spent gardening, patching clothes for her grandchildren, and hanging with her sewing club buddies and senior center friends. She loved you all very much. In addition to gardening, sewing and crafting, she loved a scenic drive in the car. Family gatherings with food were very important and she would be the first to start menu planning. She had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh.
June is survived by her sisters Rose Marie (Robin) McGuire and Lillian (Spencer) Wanna; her brother Lester (Louise) Crawford; her children Scott (Judy), Lester (Ted), Janelle (Peter), Dee (Lee); her grandchildren Shane, Shyane, Destany, Brittany, Dakota, Raymond, Beedo, Troy, Cora, Monte and her great-grandchildren Cellestia and Chaske' and many nieces and nephews.
Her parents Edith Robertson Crawford and Lester Percy Crawford; her aunt Marie Crawford and uncle Francis Crawford; her brothers Earl, Donald and Gary and sister Cora Mae; and husbands Brownie Bracey and Monte Azure, all precede her in death.
Mom will always be remembered as a sweet, kind and generous woman. We love you. Rest in peace, Junebug.
Arrangements were under the loving care of Foster Funeral Home in St.Ignatius, www.fosterfhandcrematory.com. A wake began Sunday May 17 at 7 p.m. and funeral services were on Monday, May 18, at 10 a.m. Burial took place at Pleasant View Cemetery in St. Ignatius. A lovely luncheon was served after. All services were held at the Longhouse in St. Ignatius.
