Julia Theresa Spotted Bull, 77 yrs old, of Cardston, Alberta, passed away on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at the Cardston Hospital. Julia was born on August 20, 1947 to Joe Bear and Ethel Iron Shirt on the Blood Reserve. At the age of 5 yrs old she lost her mother Ethel which impacted her throughout her life. Her father, Joe, had her stay with various families on the Blood Reserve. She stayed with her aunt Mabel Iron Shirt. Mabel was good friends with Bella Wolf Child. Bella’s nephew was Fred Spotted Bull. Both aunties became matchmakers. This is where she met her future husband Fred Spotted Bull. She had lots of love for her husband, Fred, when he passed away in 2011 her heart broke and she took his loss very hard. She found comfort in her dreams as she spent her time with him there. She is now reunited with her love, Fred, what a happy reunion this must have been for her. In May of 1970 she married Fred Spotted Bull. Julia and Fred went on to have two children, Russell and Laurie Spotted Bull. In 1988 they became parents to the late Billy Reginald Irvin Wolf Child who was 3yrs old at the time when they took and raised him. Julia attended the St Mary’s Residential School on the Blood Reserve. She did not enjoy her time here and felt she did not get the education she wanted. She became a homemaker to her children and husband. She was such a good mother and wife to her children and husband. She truly made their house a home where her child and husband felt her love for them. Memories of getting us up for school, making our breakfast, making our lunches and sending us off to school; the smell of home made buns coming home from school. Julia and Fred picked fruit in B.C. in the 1980’s. They stayed in Penticton for a couple of years. She worked at the Mataki Farms sorting potatoes. As her Children grew older, she began working as a housekeeper in Waterton and Cardston. She was very fast at cleaning rooms. Laurie, her daughter, took great pride in beating her in finishing her rooms before her mother, however she never tried that again. Russell, her son, wrote a poem for her when he attended G.R. Davis School in Fort Macleod where he won first place. He won a corsage for her and she wore it with much pride. Billy was famous for his dandelion bouquet of flowers that he picked for her, saying “here mom, I picked these for you.” She then worked with her husband Fred at the Blood Tribe Police as janitors. They enjoyed working here as they got to work together. She loved her grandchildren, she even loved Mekethia’s two pups telling them, “hello, this grandma.” In her retirement years she enjoyed living at the Temple City Villa and at the Chinook Lodge. She knew many of the residents where she resided. She enjoyed the workers at the Chinook. She enjoyed her trips into town and having the Handi-Bus take her around in town. She enjoyed going to town and seeing people. You can always see her at Cardston Pizza, A&W, and Ming’s. She also enjoyed going to Cobblestone Restaurant on Friday & Saturday as she liked their buffets. She made many friends where they would call her Grandma or Na’aa. She had a wonderful sense of humor. She had a kind heart towards others. Julia is predeceased by her father and mother, Joe Bear Sr and Ethel Iron Shirt. Her brothers and sister, Joe Bear Jr, Emil Bear, Gilbert Bear, and a brother they called Christmas; one sister Jacinta Bear. Her son, Billy Wolf Child. Her uncle Joe Iron Shirt and aunties, Julia Iron Shirt, Mable Iron Shirt, and Margaret Iron Shirt. Her grandpa Tom Iron Shirt (Miiskimmisokasim), grandma Mamie Healy on her mother’s side. On her father’s side, grandpa Isttstsi’mi (Rough Hair) and Cree Woman, Naaipisstsaakii (Cloth Woman). Saakokotoi (James Bottle), and Rough Hair. In-laws, Edward & Mary Eva Spotted Bull, sister-laws, Catherine Cat Face and Bernice First Charger; brother-in-laws, Jerry Sr. First Charger and Harold Cat Face. She is survived by her Son and daughter, Russell (Rayanne) Spotted Bull and Laurie Spotted Bull. Grandchildren, Russell Jr (Tabea) Spotted Bull, Matthew, Gabriel, Andrew, Adam, Joshua Spotted Bull; Mekethia (Ina) Fairbanks; Billy Jay and Autumn Wolf Child. Great-grandchild, Melek Spotted Bull.
A Wake Service will be held at the Tanner Center, Cardston, AB on Thursday, September 19 from 6:00 – 11:00 pm. The Funeral Service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, South Hill Chapel, Cardston (950 Main St.) on Friday, September 20 at 1:00 pm. The interment will follow in St. Paul’s Cemetery, Blood Reserve.
A Wake Service will be held at the Tanner Center, Cardston, AB on Thursday, September 19 from 6:00 – 11:00 pm. The Funeral Service will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, South Hill Chapel, Cardston (950 Main St.) on Friday, September 20 at 1:00 pm. The interment will follow in St. Paul’s Cemetery, Blood Reserve.