Joyce Gros Ventre Boy, Naapiaakii, passed away peacefully on August 6, 2026, surrounded by her children, family and friends. She was born September 18, 1961 to the late Cecilia Gros Ventre Boy and the late Anthony Tony Wolf Child. Joyce is survived by her husband Eddie “Man’ Spotted Bull, her children Joshua (Lenni) Curly Rider, Rebecca (Darrel), and Donna (Shawn) Gros Ventre Boy, her adopted father Jack Curly Rider, her adopted special children are as follows; Eleanor Bad Arm, Clayton, Radford, Leon, Wanda, Amanda and Tiffany Gros Ventre Boy, Phillip Shouting, Tasha and Arnold Jr. Wells, Melissa and Dallas Prairie Chicken, Brittany Bad Man, Jennifer Cutter, Sunshine (Garret) Weasel Moccasin.
Joyce loved all who came to know her, she had that motherly love and affection, she became “Mom” to all her nieces, nephews, cousins, children, friends of her children, her special buddies in Cardston and Moses Lake area, her pharmacist Moses, RNs and staff at Cardston Auxiliary, especially the health care aides.
She never denied anyone, or corrected anyone who wanted to call her mom, she most graciously took on that role. Joyce also was a proud grandma, she loved her hugs from all her grandkids. Her great nieces and nephews became her grandchildren, her greatest joys! Joyce has many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who are mourning for her. Her smile, her teachings and her kindness left great impact in all who called her Mama, Na’a, and Mom.
Her grandchildren and great grandchildren are as follows:
Karl Tallow, Brooklyn, Philomena, Riley (Aliyah) Shouting, Keegan Eagle Plume, Shaylee (Erin) Bruised Head, Autumn and Billy Jay, Silas, Branden, Angel and Emily Curly Rider, Kaitlyn, Kaylee, Kiley, Isaiah, Justin (Bre), Carson, Cassidy Bad Arm, Cecelia, Martha, Tori, Layton, & Drayton, Easton, Brandy, Coda, Kyle, Tre, Marshall, Kaleb, Ethan, Chantelle, Jaden, Dayz, Bailey, Ryan, Reyna, Rosen, Danielle, King, and Bloom, Uriel and Nina.
Joyce attended St. Paul’s Residential School, then went to Cardston School. At a young age she enjoyed riding horses with her sisters and uncle “Goonie.”
They moved and lived in different areas of the Blood Reserve. Joyce always helped care for her younger siblings but her older siblings were always present and not far. When she moved to Lethbridge, AB and started a family of her own, some of her siblings and mother followed her. She then moved to the Levern Community, a house her husband provided and made this her home. She lived here for many years. Later she resided in Cardston, AB and now the Cardston Auxiliary. One of Joyce’s values and teachings were family togetherness, stating “we always help one another, we enjoy doing stuff together”. Being a stay-at-home mom, Joyce loved being outdoors, picking berries, sweetgrass and mint with her family. Taking drives to the mountains, Frank Slide, Waterton. She enjoyed these beautiful places with her mother, her aunts, her siblings, her children and the late Ernest Healy. Joyce was always the driver, her mother Cecilia could depend on her to drive them to Rexburg, Idaho. The adventures they went on were memorable, especially for Mike GVB (who has passed on to be with loved ones as well).
Joyce took immense pride in her singing, Pow Wow singing. She sang with Yellowtail drum group alongside her husband Ernest (who was lead singer), Steve & Bertha C.H., John and wife C.M., Ed & Thelma C.M., Darrel S., Martin H.B., Tom W.M., Jack BFH, Philip H.B., Anthony C.C., She travelled to local communities and surrounding reserves to drum. She enjoyed the pow wow trail but her passion was the love of handgames. Her son Radford and daughter Rebecca recall trips to Frog Lake, AB, Yakima WA, Rocky Boy, Browning, Arlee, MT, and Creston, BC. The stories of Joyce having a “home run” were always being told. “Nobody could get away from her” was one of the terms used. She would stay up all night enjoying this game; if it was at Moses Lake gym, her family and girls would join her there. One time her mom Cecilia said, “The sun is up for awhile now, and I could still hear Joyce and Ernest singing and hollering.” “They must be winning!” They had played all night and got “kicked out” of the Moses Lake gym, and took the game to the parking lot. She was a good player, an avid player, and she enjoyed it very much. One time she had been on a winning streak, 15 games, it was exaggerated or more, her opponent wouldn’t give up until he beat her, it was a competitive match. He never beat her, her teammates had to step in and call the match, stating she’s needing rest and needing to eat. Because if they allowed it, she would keep playing!
Joyce is also survived by her siblings; Joan (late Arnold Wells), Roland (Robbie), Robert (Heather), Yvonne (Don) Gros VentreRey, Charlie, Myra, Delia and Kenny Hind Bull. Adopted siblings; Suzanne First Charger, Shirley Prairie Chicken, Steven Curly Rider Jr, her aunties and uncles, Frances (Ed) Gros VentreRey, Alice and John Wolf Child.
Joyce suffered from dementia, her battle was a hard three years, a tiresome fight she had fought. She had never completely recovered from the loss of her babies Nicole, Ashley, and Neesha girl. Nonetheless she always had a smile, always kind and loving. She would sing and entertain the staff, always giving joyful tears when she received visitors. She tried her very best, and although hard to watch, she tried. Her gentle ways will always be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her. She always had a funny story, she would have you laughing and crying at the same time.
She was a sweet, non-judgemental, most humble human being you could ever meet.
The family would like to thank all the staff at Cardston Auxiliary. We prayed to our Creator for help and he sent the best angels, the doctors that were a part of her care, Dr. Steed and Dr. Christenson. She will be deeply missed.
Joyce is predeceased by her parents, her daughters Nicole and Ashley Gros Ventre Boy, her granddaughter Taneesha Gros Ventre Boy, her adoptive sons Andy and Huskey Gros Ventre Boy, Tyron and Curtiss Healy. Adoptive daughters Tina and Ernestine Healy, her siblings Molly, Oliver, Jordan, Bernard, AnnMarie, Lucille Martha Wolf Child/Gros Ventre Boy, Homer GVB, Calvin Prairie Chicken, Norman Calf Robe, Jason Hind Bull, Norman Black Plume; nephews Michael Gros Ventre Boy, nieces, Daisy and Kristy Shouting, Mary Jean Gros Ventre Boy, Lennie Hairy Bull, Grand Sons, Keyshawn and Tyson Devine, Edward Bad Arm.
Family apologizes for any names missed.
The Wake Service will be held on Sunday, August 23 from 7:00 - 11:00 pm at Gladstone Hall, Blood Reserve. The Funeral Service will be held on Monday, August 24 at 12:00 noon at Gladstone Hall. Interment will follow at Pioneer Cemetery in Levern, AB.
Joyce loved all who came to know her, she had that motherly love and affection, she became “Mom” to all her nieces, nephews, cousins, children, friends of her children, her special buddies in Cardston and Moses Lake area, her pharmacist Moses, RNs and staff at Cardston Auxiliary, especially the health care aides.
She never denied anyone, or corrected anyone who wanted to call her mom, she most graciously took on that role. Joyce also was a proud grandma, she loved her hugs from all her grandkids. Her great nieces and nephews became her grandchildren, her greatest joys! Joyce has many children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who are mourning for her. Her smile, her teachings and her kindness left great impact in all who called her Mama, Na’a, and Mom.
Her grandchildren and great grandchildren are as follows:
Karl Tallow, Brooklyn, Philomena, Riley (Aliyah) Shouting, Keegan Eagle Plume, Shaylee (Erin) Bruised Head, Autumn and Billy Jay, Silas, Branden, Angel and Emily Curly Rider, Kaitlyn, Kaylee, Kiley, Isaiah, Justin (Bre), Carson, Cassidy Bad Arm, Cecelia, Martha, Tori, Layton, & Drayton, Easton, Brandy, Coda, Kyle, Tre, Marshall, Kaleb, Ethan, Chantelle, Jaden, Dayz, Bailey, Ryan, Reyna, Rosen, Danielle, King, and Bloom, Uriel and Nina.
Joyce attended St. Paul’s Residential School, then went to Cardston School. At a young age she enjoyed riding horses with her sisters and uncle “Goonie.”
They moved and lived in different areas of the Blood Reserve. Joyce always helped care for her younger siblings but her older siblings were always present and not far. When she moved to Lethbridge, AB and started a family of her own, some of her siblings and mother followed her. She then moved to the Levern Community, a house her husband provided and made this her home. She lived here for many years. Later she resided in Cardston, AB and now the Cardston Auxiliary. One of Joyce’s values and teachings were family togetherness, stating “we always help one another, we enjoy doing stuff together”. Being a stay-at-home mom, Joyce loved being outdoors, picking berries, sweetgrass and mint with her family. Taking drives to the mountains, Frank Slide, Waterton. She enjoyed these beautiful places with her mother, her aunts, her siblings, her children and the late Ernest Healy. Joyce was always the driver, her mother Cecilia could depend on her to drive them to Rexburg, Idaho. The adventures they went on were memorable, especially for Mike GVB (who has passed on to be with loved ones as well).
Joyce took immense pride in her singing, Pow Wow singing. She sang with Yellowtail drum group alongside her husband Ernest (who was lead singer), Steve & Bertha C.H., John and wife C.M., Ed & Thelma C.M., Darrel S., Martin H.B., Tom W.M., Jack BFH, Philip H.B., Anthony C.C., She travelled to local communities and surrounding reserves to drum. She enjoyed the pow wow trail but her passion was the love of handgames. Her son Radford and daughter Rebecca recall trips to Frog Lake, AB, Yakima WA, Rocky Boy, Browning, Arlee, MT, and Creston, BC. The stories of Joyce having a “home run” were always being told. “Nobody could get away from her” was one of the terms used. She would stay up all night enjoying this game; if it was at Moses Lake gym, her family and girls would join her there. One time her mom Cecilia said, “The sun is up for awhile now, and I could still hear Joyce and Ernest singing and hollering.” “They must be winning!” They had played all night and got “kicked out” of the Moses Lake gym, and took the game to the parking lot. She was a good player, an avid player, and she enjoyed it very much. One time she had been on a winning streak, 15 games, it was exaggerated or more, her opponent wouldn’t give up until he beat her, it was a competitive match. He never beat her, her teammates had to step in and call the match, stating she’s needing rest and needing to eat. Because if they allowed it, she would keep playing!
Joyce is also survived by her siblings; Joan (late Arnold Wells), Roland (Robbie), Robert (Heather), Yvonne (Don) Gros VentreRey, Charlie, Myra, Delia and Kenny Hind Bull. Adopted siblings; Suzanne First Charger, Shirley Prairie Chicken, Steven Curly Rider Jr, her aunties and uncles, Frances (Ed) Gros VentreRey, Alice and John Wolf Child.
Joyce suffered from dementia, her battle was a hard three years, a tiresome fight she had fought. She had never completely recovered from the loss of her babies Nicole, Ashley, and Neesha girl. Nonetheless she always had a smile, always kind and loving. She would sing and entertain the staff, always giving joyful tears when she received visitors. She tried her very best, and although hard to watch, she tried. Her gentle ways will always be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing her. She always had a funny story, she would have you laughing and crying at the same time.
She was a sweet, non-judgemental, most humble human being you could ever meet.
The family would like to thank all the staff at Cardston Auxiliary. We prayed to our Creator for help and he sent the best angels, the doctors that were a part of her care, Dr. Steed and Dr. Christenson. She will be deeply missed.
Joyce is predeceased by her parents, her daughters Nicole and Ashley Gros Ventre Boy, her granddaughter Taneesha Gros Ventre Boy, her adoptive sons Andy and Huskey Gros Ventre Boy, Tyron and Curtiss Healy. Adoptive daughters Tina and Ernestine Healy, her siblings Molly, Oliver, Jordan, Bernard, AnnMarie, Lucille Martha Wolf Child/Gros Ventre Boy, Homer GVB, Calvin Prairie Chicken, Norman Calf Robe, Jason Hind Bull, Norman Black Plume; nephews Michael Gros Ventre Boy, nieces, Daisy and Kristy Shouting, Mary Jean Gros Ventre Boy, Lennie Hairy Bull, Grand Sons, Keyshawn and Tyson Devine, Edward Bad Arm.
Family apologizes for any names missed.
The Wake Service will be held on Sunday, August 23 from 7:00 - 11:00 pm at Gladstone Hall, Blood Reserve. The Funeral Service will be held on Monday, August 24 at 12:00 noon at Gladstone Hall. Interment will follow at Pioneer Cemetery in Levern, AB.