Ethel M. Bear, 68, passed away due to natural causes at Peace Hospice in Great Falls on Monday, March 18, 2019. Wake services will begin at 5:00 p.m., and a rosary service will be held at 7:00 p.m., all on Thursday, March 21, 2019, at the Red Whip Center. Funeral services will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, also at the Red Whip, with burial to follow in the Pink Church Cemetery. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit Ethel's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at www.hollandbonine.com .

Ethel was born on December 5, 1950, in Fort Belknap to Wallace and V. Marie (Nicholson) Bear, Sr. She was raised in Fort Belknap, and while she was in high school, the family moved to Billings. There, she graduated from Billings Senior High School. In 1974, Ethel married Kenny Blatt St. Marks in Havre, and they had two children before divorcing several years later. Ethel continued her education at Kinman Business College in Spokane, obtaining her business degree in 1973, and Carroll College in Helena, majoring in healthcare studies. After graduation, Ethel and her family moved several times for her work, eventually returning home for her to work at Fort Belknap IHS. Ethel served on the Fort Belknap Tribal Council for four years, taking a temporary leave of absence from IHS. She retired in 2016, and spent the next several years caring for her family. Over the years, Ethel raised her children and Adrian Fox, Jeri Ann Belcourt, and Mariaisabelle Orellana-Yellowtail. In her downtime, Ethel enjoyed reading and sewing.

She was preceded in death by her daughter Brandi Lee Blatt St. Marks; parents Wallace and Marie Bear; siblings, Rosella Birdtail, Claudia Bear, Elwood Bear, Amy Jo Bear-Fox, John, Robert Sr., Wallace, Jr., Alberta, and Joe Bear, Leon "Duke" King, and Georgina Weasel; and grandson Allen John "AJ" Longsoldier, Jr.

Ethel is survived by her son Kenneth "Zane" Blatt St. Marks, Jr. of Columbia Falls; grandchildren, Myles "Cowboy", Dekayla Rose, Mykenna Rain, India Marie, Brandin Lee, Kenneth Blatt St. Marks, III; siblings, Mamee J. Bear of Billings and Wallene M. Bear of Great Falls; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and other extended family and friends.