Marlene Arkinson, 62, passed away due to natural causes at the Northern Montana Care Center on Friday, January 11, 2019. Wake services will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 12, and will continue until her funeral service which will be at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 14, 2019, all at Marlene's residence on Arrow Wood Drive. Burial will follow in the Rocky Boy Cemetery. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Please visit Marlene's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at www.hollandbonine.com .

Marlene was born on October 26, 1956, in Fort Belknap to Thomas and Maggie (Coffee) Arkinson. She was raised in Rocky Boy attending school there. Marlene graduated from the Job Corps in Astoria, OR, and returned to Box Elder following graduation. She began spending time with Larry Piapot with whom she had a son and daughter, but they later separated and she spent time with Marvin Spottedbird, with whom she had another son. They later split up, and Marlene and Larry got back together. She and Larry remained together, even though he entered a nursing home about a year ago.

Marlene enjoyed cooking and was well-known for her frybread, beading, playing the machines, and spending time with her nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Nancy Smith, Jim Arkinson, Tom Coffee, and Going In Backwards; parents Tom and Maggie Arkinson; sisters, Pauline Arkinson Old Bull, Darlene Arkinson Belgarde, and Mercilene Arkinson; brothers, Gary Arkinson and Edward Arkinson; nieces, Jewel Arkinson Gopher, Tiffany Booker, Lacey K. Arkinson, Yvette Belgarde, and Lavida Belgarde; and nephews, Dean Roy Small and Earl Chief Standing Rock.

Marlene is survived by her daughters Latrisha (Cesar) Arkinson Celis and Larette (Victor) Cuara, all of Salt Lake City, UT; sons Terrance Piapot of Rocky Boy and Marvin Spottedbird, Jr. of Havre; nine grandchildren, Latoya Arkinson, Skydawn Thompson, Lateaya Murie, Freeman Thompson, Martina Cuara, Victor Cuara, Jr., Aryanna Cuara, and Luis Celis; seven great-grandchildren; sister Arlene (Dan) Booker of Great Falls; and brother Earl (Elaine) Arkinson of Rocky Boy; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other extended family and friends.