Evelyn Vernice Thompson Gopher

UPPER SANTAN - Evelyn Vernice Thompson Gopher, 70, an enrolled member of the Gila River Indian Community, died on Nov. 8, 2017, in Mesa from complications of diabetes.
Mrs. Gopher was born on Sept. 7, 1947, in Sacaton to Lawrence and Leona Thompson. She attended elementary schools in the area and completed high school at Stewart Indian School near Carson City, Nevada, in 1966. Upon graduation, she enrolled in the Indian Relocation Program in Oakland, California, where she met Mike Gopher from Rocky Boy, Montana. They settled and married in Rocky Boy in 1967, where she spent 32 years as a hairstylist, teacher's aide, classroom teacher, school counselor and chemical dependency counselor.
She was a classroom aide at Rocky Boy Elementary from 1972 to 1978. She earned an associate degree in cosmetology from Northern Montana College. Upon graduating with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education in June 1983, she served as a classroom teacher until 1999, teaching fourth grade and high school levels, K-6 Chapter I and a special needs class for grades 7-8. She went on to earn a reading and curriculum endorsement from Montana State University-Northern. In May 2003, she earned a Master of Education degree with a counseling endorsement from MSU-Northern. She served as a counselor for the Boy Health Board Chemical Dependency Program for one year and moved to Havre, Montana.
She loved roses, macrame and making fans and flower arrangements and other assorted crafts, doing word searches and often did perms for her friends, including members of the Rocky Boy Northern Stars basketball team. She loved her Chihuahua, Baby.
She was preceded in death by her husband; a son, Mister; four sisters, Yvonne Thompson, Doreen Allen, Luanne Thompson and Berlene Whitman; and four brothers, Lamuel Thompson, Kerwin Cooper, Alvin Cooper and Delvin Vavages. Survivors include a daughter, Loranda LaFromboise of Rocky Boy; a son, John Gopher of Pedro Sites; three sisters, Aileen Vavages of Bapchule, Michelle Osife of Sacaton Flats and Michela Cooper of Sacaton; a brother, Derwin Cooper of Goodyear Village; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Wake beginning at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 17, at Upper Santan Presbyterian Church. Graveside service at 7 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 18, in Jones Cemetery beside her son Mike Jr. "Mister."
J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel in charge of arrangements.