Caroline Denise Fyant

Denise Fyant was born December 24, 1939, in Missoula, MT, to Marian and Frank Tyro. She could trace her blood roots to Scotch, Irish, English, Welch, German, French, Dutch and Czechoslovakian, and her heartstrings to the Bitterroot Salish, Qlispe and Ksanka people she lived and worked with throughout her life.

She married Everett Fyant May 1956 in Coeur d’Alene, ID.  Everett served in the US Navy and they lived in Chula Vista, CA. before making their home on the ranch in Arlee. To this marriage they were blessed with Shelly, Jay, Louis, and Jennifer.

She attended grade school in Mission and Plains and high school in Ronan. She earned her GED and a degree in Human Services from Salish Kootenai College.

She co-founded the Flathead Reservation Human Rights Coalition (FRHRC) with Cathie Billie.  She was involved in the Indian Education efforts when her children attended Ronan High School. Denise was an integral part of the Arlee Democrats in registering voters, canvassing and serving as an election judge.

She was a member of the Valley Creek girls club who met frequently to celebrate birthdays. Her homemade cookies were a legend at the SKC annual fundraising auction raising hundreds of dollars. Successful bidders enjoyed a dozen cookies a month for a year. Mom gardened, canned, and baked. Food was her love language. She taught sewing at SKC where many students designed and made their regalia. She made the template for the Little Shell Tribe’s flag. Many of her beautiful quilts were donated to various fundraising events as well.

She worked at the Flathead Alcohol Program from it’s early Detox Center days to the Blue Bay program, Tribal Health Department and Salish Kootenai College making many friends along the way, until her retirement.

She spent the past several years with her partner Floyd Nicolai. They enjoyed trips to Costa Rica, Peru, and an Alaskan cruise. She traveled to Churchill, Manitoba, twice with her brother Frank and his polar bear adventures. She enjoyed a Bahamas cruise from Miami with her sister Bonnie. They also traveled with their brother Frank and his wife Lori to the Czech Republic.

She was preceded in death by her husband Everett and grandson Lance Demarais Fyant. Survivors include her partner Floyd Nicolai and his children Dean and Angela; sister Bonnie Tyro and her children Erin Fleming (Jeff) and Paddy Fleming (Rebeca); brother Frank Tyro (Lori) and their children Autumn (Jason), Sonna (Kevin), Emily (Allen) Gina, Ted (Bethany); brother Gordon Fyant (Gale); sisters-in-law Dian Jensen and Betty Fyant; several nieces and nephews; daughter Shelly (Curt) and sons AJ Fyant, Darryl Windy Boy (Windy), Skyler and Vaughn Hubbard, Thomas and Camas McClure; son Jay (Eunice) and children Anneleisa, Gina, Woody, Sarah, Armando and Amanda; son Louis (Melody) and son Louie; daughter Jennifer (Trevor) and sons Sinjun and Kain; 14 Grandchildren, 29 Great grandchildren and 2 Great Great grandchldren.

Pallbearers are AJ Fyant, Darryl WindyBoy, Thomas McClure, Camas McClure, Armando Garcia, Louie Fisher, Sinjun Snyder and Kain Snyder.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Caroline Denise Fyant, please visit our floral store.