Shirley Ann Descharm, 74, passed away due to natural causes at her residence on Monday, August 28, 2023.  Wake services will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Monday, August 28, 2023, a Rosary will be said at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, and funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 30, 2023, all at St. Mary's Catholic Church.  Burial will follow in the Descharm Family Cemetery.  Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Shirley was born on December 11, 1948, in Fort Belknap to Leo and Mary Elizabeth (St. Pierre) Duran, Sr.  She was raised in Rocky Boy, attending Sangrey School until high school, when she attended Rocky Boy for high school.  In 1964, Shirley married Samuel Descharm, and the couple moved to California for a short time before returning to Rocky Boy, where they had five children and raised their children and others they fostered and adopted.  Early on, Shirley began cooking for the tribal café, and then moved to the Chippewa Cree Senior Center for many years.  Over the years, she worked for TERO in construction, and also as a firefighting camp crew member.  She went back to the Senior Center part time for a few years, retiring in 2015 due to medical conditions.

Shirley loved to play Handgame, Bingo, Keno, and berry picking.  Traveling was a favorite pastime, and she and Rosemary had many adventures.  She loved to garden and keep her yard looking good.  Westerns were her favorite shows to watch, and Shirley was an avid rummage sale and thrift store shopper.  Her family was the most important thing to her, and she fostered and adopted many children over the years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Descharm; grandchildren, Sharon Descharm, Zalton and Dion Mittens, and Rylin Burns; great-granddaughter, Leanna Descharm; siblings, Clifford Duran, Caroline Molyneaux, Robert Duran, Henry Duran, Mary Isabell Duran, and Rosemary Duran; and numerous other relatives.

Shirley is survived by her children, Mary (Hunter) Burns, Tracey (Kenny) Watson, Ty (Billie) Miller of Helena, Diane (Thomas) Roasting Stick, Penny Jo (John) Parker, Samuel Descharm, Rosemary (Marlon Oats) Burns, Mellody (Darrel Watson) Descharm, and Samantha Descharm, all of Rocky Boy; godchild, Amber (Chauncy) Terry of Big Sandy; seventeen grandchildren; 64 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; siblings, Agnes Morsette, Elaine (Earl) Nault, Manuel (Linda) Duran, Rose Lee Lindseth, all of Rocky Boy, Leo (Sherry) Duran of Great Falls, Joseph (Marlene) Duran, of Fort Hall, ID, and Richard Duran of Seattle, WA; sister-in-law, Jean Descharm; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and other extended family and friends.