Jerri Lynn Frislie

Jerri Lynn Smoker Frislie, “One who gives many painted horses” or “Her many painted horses”, died December 23, 2024 at North Eastern Montana Health Services Emergency Room, in Wolf Point, MT.

Jerri was born to Kenneth and Theresa (Steele) Smoker October 12, 1955. She was the oldest of the children. She welcomed brother Kenneth Jr., sister Karen Rose, and brother John Rocky. She was the grand-daughter to Paternal Grandparents Allen and Ella Alma (Red Boy) Smoker, and grand-daughter to Maternal Grandparents William and Agnes (Scott) Steele.

Her and her siblings grew up in Poplar, but did live in San Francisco, CA and Havre, MT for a brief time. She attended Poplar High School. She ran cross country and made it to the state level competition. She graduated in 1974. After high school, she joined the United States Coast Guard, during Vietnam. She proudly served her country for four years. She attended Mohegan and Thomas Nelson Community Colleges on the east coast.

She met and married fellow Coastie, (Coast Guardsman) Harold Bashay Jr. in 1975 to 1981. Out of this union she welcomed a son Harold Kenneth Bashay III (Mikey) and a daughter Yvonne Marie Bashay. After moving back home, she married Terry Boyd Sr., in 1982. Out of this eleven-year marriage, she welcomed two sons, Terry Lee Boyd Jr. and Brian Scott Boyd. They farmed & ranched. She attended Fort Peck Community College. Jerri worked for the Wotanin Wowapi Press, Environmental Protection Program, Fort Peck Tribal Courts, and the Fort Peck Tribal Chairmans’s Office. She also taught catechism and confirmation classes at St. Thomas in Brockton and Our Lady of Lourdes in Poplar.

She began her career with the United States Postal Service in 1984. She worked in various locations Poplar, Plentywood, Circle, Nashua, Colstrip, Lame Deer, Forsyth, and Wolf Point. Her best memories were the ones served in Poplar with friends and co-workers Wendy Azure and Faith O’Connor. She worked her way from clerk to Post Master. She worked for the Untied States Postal Service for 35 years.

She met and married Roger Frislie in 2006. They were together until his passing in 2015, thus making her a widow. After her retirement, she took up beading, sewing, and crafting Native American regalia. She would often travel to Billings to see her son Terry, for which they shared an apartment. She would occasionally travel to Las Vegas, and Dallas to see her sons Mike and Brian. She spent most of her time at the senior center and at the wellness center in Poplar visiting old friends, exercising, swimming, and beading. She was active in the Our Lady of Lourdes

Church in Poplar. She even received the Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and/or Minister of Holy Communion to the Homebound award from the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings in 2017. She was the God Parent to her grandchildren supporting their devotion to Christ through their baptisms, holy communion, and confirmations. She was also a member of the American Legion Club. She loved cruising the entire reservation. Lately, she was hitting the pow wow trail with cousins Nancy and Lonnette.

She was greatly devoted to family. Always opening her home. She fostered children, and helped adults. She was always planning family events, celebrations, reunions, parties, etc. She encouraged music, sports, and cultural appreciation. She was always the first to volunteer to raise the flags at powwows. She was extremely proud, and boastful of her childrens’ degrees: Mike with his Masters, Yvonne with her Masters, Terry with his Masters, and Brian with his Masters. She was an advocate for higher education. She was extra proud of Brian’s current 15 years of military service with the United States Air Force.

Jerri is preceded in death by her husband Roger Frislie; parents Kenneth and Theresa Smoker; siblings Karen Rose and John Rocky. Numerous family members from both the Steele and Smoker sides of the family.

Jerri is survived by her children Mike (Mai) Bashay, Yvonne (Richard) Wieser, Terry Jr., and Brian; grandchildren Bailey Bashay, McKiah Bashay, Sophie Montero, Rhysa Montero, Blake Bashay, Carlo Wieser, Aniya Smoker, Trenton McCarty, Izaiahs Smoker, Dominique Brunelle, Richard Wieser Jr. Aka “Richie Rich”, Ocean Wieser, Soul Wieser, River Wieser, Lake Wieser Aka “Tiny”, and Ripley; brother Kenny (Alice) Smoker; nieces Whitney and Christian; nephews Emery, John, Griffin, Scott, Steve, and Michael. Extended families of the Bad Temper Bear Clan, The Man, Smoker, Red Boy, Big Leggins, First, Shields, Turn Toes, Roberts, and Spotted Wolf. The Steele, Scott, Foote, Blount, Plain Feather, Wallette, Roundface, Talks Different, and Melbourne families. Jerri comes from a large family so we are sorry if we missed anyone.