Loretta Meridith, 87, White Shield, died on Monday, March 19,2018 at her home. Funeral services will be held on Thursday at 10:00 am at the Ralph Wells Jr. Memorial Complex in White Shield. Wake services will be held on Wednesday beginning at 5:00 pm at the complex.

Loretta Meridith "Moon Woman", 87, departed this life March 19, 2018 in her apartment in White Shield. She was born to Dora and Robert Bear, Sr. on March 3, 1931 in Nishu/Elbowoods of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. She lived in the area until the coming of the Garrison Dam at which time the family was relocated to the current community of White Shield. Loretta was raised by her maternal grandparents Ed and Edith Badger until she was 12 years old. During this time her family ranched and had large gardens.

Loretta attended school at Elbowoods until the 10th grade and graduated high school from an Indian School in Lawrence, Kansas. She attended the St. Margaret's Nursing School in Kansas City, KS. She graduated with a Diploma in Nursing in September 1956. Thus began a 46 year nursing career for her. She told stories of her early years in nursing when she had to boil syringes for reuse, do laundry and housekeeping along with nursing duties. During her career she held nursing positions in obstetrics in California & Longview Washington and as a staff nurse at the New town Nursing Home and the St. Alexius Hospital in Bismarck. She began her Indian Health Service (IHS) employment at the Ft. Yates IHS Hospital and later served as the Acting Director then Director of Nursing at the Minni-Tohe Health Center. She held this position for over 12 years. At times Loretta served as a nursing mentor to Native American nursing students. Upon her retirement from the IHS she worked for the MHA Elder's Organization. She served on the Next Steps Elder's Advisory Board as one of the Fort Berthold representatives. Most recently she was part of an American Indian Nursing documentary entitled "Essence of Healing: Journey of American Indian Nurses". She was very proud to share her journey as a Native American nurse.

Loretta was married to Holly Lewis and from this union they had four children; Jon, Kim, Robert and Darin. Later in life Loretta married her college friend, Sterling Meridith. She took Richard Nadeau as a son and Gracy and Timothy as grandchildren. She loved attending birthdays for her grandchildren and other family gatherings. She was always readily available to listen to family members and provide them with advice.

Loretta was a Lifetime Member (over 34 years) of the Joseph Young Hawk/Elmer Bear Post 253 American Legion Auxiliary. The motto of the American Legion Auxiliary is "Service not Self" and Loretta was living proof of this. There was no other member more committed to Post 253 and Auxiliary than she was. Loretta provided valuable guidance and advice to the Auxiliary in their efforts serving the Veterans and Community of White Shield. At the age of 86 she could still dance around the arbor after the morning flag-raising during last year's White Shield Powwow.

She was preceded in death by her husband - Sterling; parents - Robert Sr. & Dora; sisters – Ida Mae, Pauline & Delma; brothers – Sam, Elmer, Richard, Duane, Grayden & Winston and great-grandchildren - Misu Sammy White & Neviana Faith Youngbird.

Loretta is survived by daughter - Kim (Wade) of White Shield; sons - Jon (Donna Mae) of White Shield, Robert (Connie) of WA, Darin of Crow Agency, adopted son Richard Nadeau (Penny) of Dunseith, 17 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by brother – Robert Jr., sister - Roberta both of White Shield and many cousins, nephews, nieces, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends.

Our Mother, Sister, Aunt, Grandmother, Great-grandmother, Auxiliary Member and Community Member will be dearly missed. She was a very strong supporter of any family or community event taking place always willing to help with her time or donation (monetary or otherwise). Here is a text message the family received from a Community/Auxiliary member on the day of Loretta's passing "Loretta was a very important lady to our community and auxiliary was always good to hear her tell us what was right and what we needed to do!!" This was Loretta.