Our beloved sister, mother, aunt, niece and grandmother, Timilyn Vonnette Russell, left us and joined our Heavenly Father on May 18, 2023 in Puyallup, Washington.
Timilyn was born on October 12, 1963, to Lucille “Ella” Russell and Stanley “Allen” Lester in Poplar, Montana, where she also grew up. In her younger years, she had many small odd jobs.
In her early 20’s, she met Marvin BullChief, Sr. from this union she had 5 children, Renae, Marvin, III “Jason”, Kyleen, Bradley, and Quentin BullChief. They resided in both Frazer and Wolf Point for a number of years together but later parted ways.
Then in the early 90’s, she moved to Okanogan, Washington with our aunt Jana Cloke-Moore, and later moved to Omak, Washington. She met her companion, Bill Marr. She enjoyed listening to 70’s music, riding her bike, swimming, cooking, and especially gardening-which she loved doing her entire life. She also liked to cruise in the mountains and apple orchards in Washington. She worked in the apple orchards and also worked at the casino in Omak, Washington, and as a Home Healthcare worker. She made a lot of friends in Washington. A few of her friends were Billie Jo, Mary Jane Neil, and Afton Neil.
Timilyn is survived by her children, Renae, Marvin III, and Quentin Bull Chief; her sisters, Kenda (Martin) Martell, Jr, Leah (Eldon) Runsthrough, Sr.; her brothers, Allen (Verdine) Russell, Sr., Ennis (Stacey) Russell, James Russell, and Dennis Russell; her uncle, Raymond “Sudi” (Carlene) Cloke, and her special aunt who is like our mother, Jana Cloke-Moore (Marty); aunts, JoAnne Russell, Bonnie Menz, Annie Lester, Yvette Todd, LaVerne LovesHim, Margaret Hapa, and Julia Young; her cousins, Shandera, Sarah, Shane, and Shilo Bercier, Sudi Rae, Ramon, Misha, and Jessie Jo Cloke, Sysil Harold and Leonard Grant, Janelle (Todd) White, Barbara Merculieff, Keith Lester Allen, Sr., and Irvin Olson, Vernice Chopper, Kaylyn Smith; special nieces Dalonna (Michael) Youngman, Crystal Lester-Azure, Traci Russell, Jazmyn Russell, Ember and Lamea Buckles, Marteen, Marsha, Shivonne Martell, Brittany, Jori, Demeri, Barbara Russell, Langley Runsthrough, Melissa Russell, MarciElla Russell, Michael, Derek, Marcus, Robert Russell, Sr., Eldon, Jr., Randall, Wylie Runsthrough, Erwin Russell, Robert, and Ryan Russell.
Timilyn is preceded in death by her children, Kyleen and Bradley Bullchief; her parents, Lucille Russell and Stanley Lester, Jr.; grandparents Lumyna Cloke, Joseph Russell, Helen Ironbear-Brown; aunties, Florence Russell, Zelda Grant, Audrey Scott; uncle, James Ironleggins; brothers, Allison, Joseph, Douglas Russell; cousins, Emma Buckles-Ebarb, Misty Ironleggins; nephew, Phillip Russell-Martell; grandchildren, Mikaela MatoMaza, Logan Talksdifferent.
Timilyn is related to the Longee, Lester, Russell, Cloke, Necklace, Youngman, Youpee, Redthunder, RedEagle, Crazybull, Ironbear, Young, Loveshim, Fasthorse, Shield, and Martell families. We are sorry if we didn’t mention anybody, it was not intentional. She’s related to almost the whole reservation.
A wake will be held on Tuesday, June 13th at 7:00 p.m. at the Poplar Cultural Center. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, June 14th at 1:00 p.m. at the Poplar Cultural Center. Inurnment will follow at Box Elder Cemetery.
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements and condolences for the family may be left by using the form below.