Anne Hancock

Evening Service: Will be held on Tuesday January 6, 2004 beginning at 7:00pm

Funeral Service: Funeral services will begin at 10:00am Wednesday January 7, 2004 at Blue Sky Ministries

Graveside Service: Burial will be at King Cemetery

Anne HancockWiya Najin Standing Woman

Anne Hancock passed away January 2, 2004, in Billings MT.

Anne was born on December 17, 1914 two miles east of Wolf Point, Montana in her grandparents log house. Anne was raised by her father (Appears in the day) Tom Hancock, as her mother passed away when she was four months old. Her grandmother Medicine Cloud assisted in her upbringing through the Indian way. She didn't start to speak her second language, English, until she was three years old.She graduated form Wolf Point High School in 1932 with honors and received two scholarships: she chose the Colonial Dames of America scholarship and attended College in Philadelphia, PA at William Penn School of nursing.The college in Pennsylvania sent Anne on an internship to Sacramento, CA, then to Winslow, AZ and finally to Pawnee, OK to gain experience. She returned to Philadelphia and received her diploma for nursing, thus Anne was the first full blood Assiniboine from the Fort Peck Indian Reservation to become a registered nurse.

Anne worked at the Pennsylvania hospital as a visiting home nurse in the Philadelphia area for ten years, working in all aspects of the field and with all types of races. She also worked with other hospitals in northern and southern Pennsylvania. She finished her tenure as charge nurse of the fifteen-story Pennsylvania hospital, which is the second oldest hospital in America, working the evening shift. After working in Philadelphia for 20 years she proudly returned home to the reservation.In 1966 she was recruited to run the then called heath and home aide management program for the Tribes, which later evolved into the CHR program. After 22 years of working at home for the Fort Peck Tribes and caring for many, of her tribal members, she retired.

She was fluent in her native Assiniboine language and culture. She spent her remaining years reminiscing of time past, relaxing, doing crossword puzzles, spending time with her great grandchildren, driving around and working outdoors. She also enjoyed company, visiting and telling stories of her life ventures, the old days growing up and of course her journey off the reservation competing in the non-Indian world and being successful at it.

Anne was preceded in death by her mother, father, three sisters, one brother, niece Joanne Pipe, nephew Gary Medicine Cloud SR. Anne is survived by one son John Pipe and his family, Shelly, Johnelle, Buddy and Heaven-Lee Devonne, nieces Marie Esparza and Joy Martin, Iris Anderson and Beverly Ackerman, Nephews A.T. Rusty Stafne, Bill Whitehead, Lyle Denny, all of Wolf Point, Russell Denny of Ft. Kipp. A cousin, Lavina Loves Him of San Jose, CA.

Pastor Ken Azure will officiate the services with Blue Sky ministries providing the music. Evening service will be held on Tuesday January 6, 2004 beginning at 7:00pm with funeral services beginning at 10:00am Wednesday January 7, 2004 at Blue Sky Ministries. Burial will be at King Cemetery.