Aleta Ann (Leta) Archdale Melbourne (Walking Star Woman) passed away on January 30, 2020 surrounded by family and friends at the Poplar Community Hospital in Poplar, Montana after a long illness.
Aleta was born on May 11, 1954 in Poplar to Violeta (Brown) and Frederick Archdale Sr. She grew up in Oswego, Montana and attended Frazer High School, graduating in May of 1972. She participated in basketball and excelled in track, running the 1200 and 3200 events. After graduation, she continued to help her parents on the family farm/ranch. She was a true cowgirl as she helped her brothers with haying, feeding the cows and horses, and calving. She even knew the basics and more when it came to mechanics. One summer she entered up to ride bareback in the Brockway Dairy Days rodeo. On top of this, she worked at the Glasgow Air bas for years up until it closed. She was a bartender at “Buck’s Bar” in Oswego for a few years and the Fort Peck Sr. Citizens feeding site in Frazer. She also worked at the Frazer Headstart as a cook.
She met Manuel (Manny) Melbourne in 1982, moving to Poplar later that year. Manny and Aleta married on February 13, 1987 and to this union Manny gained a son, Frederick “Boo” and Aleta gained a daughter, Michelle. On September 22, 1985, Monica Annette entered the world and Leta and Manny’s family was complete. Leta was a stay at home mom and her pastime was doing beadwork, her work is well known throughout Montana. She made many Championship event belt buckles for local rodeos, and complete regalia including the moccasins for many families. She beaded checkbook covers, her trademark was the porcupine quills that are in the center of these. When her eyes could not take the beading anymore, she started to babysit for many families at her home, a lot of these children, now grown, still remember her as their babysitter. Her and Manny raised one child, Gregory, until he was thirteen years old. She then went to work with Debra Bruner who started “Debbie’s Daycare” for several years. The past few years she received her “Food Handlers” certificate and she started to set up at the flea market that was held every Saturday, serving her famous “Biscuits/Gravy” and her traditional soups with frybread, a pop/ tea, with pineapple upside down cake. People would come from the west and east end of the reservations to enjoy this meal and to visit, majority of the time she would sell out of food after telling many stories of the good ol’ days. After 1:00 p.m., she would pack up and she and Manny would take the weekly ride across the reservation. This was ritual until the past few months.
Leta loved to visit everyone and share her knowledge of traditional ways. With her passing, a lot of this will be lost, for very few know of these ways. She loved to read, do crossword puzzles and cook. She enjoyed the Poplar Wild West Days rodeo and would have a cookout in her backyard for her family and friends. Aleta loved spending time and doing things with her grandchildren.
Preceding her in death are her parents Violeta and Fred Archdale Sr.; her son, Frederick “Boo” Archdale; brothers, Douglas “Dusty”, Fred Jr., Donald Wayne, and Kermit; Sisters, Darlene Johnson, and Sylvia Birdsbill.
Surviving her are her husband, Manny; daughters, her baby Monica, Yolanda, and Michelle; sister, Annette Linder; brother, Wallace “Beanzie”; nieces, Janie Rae, Christy, Sonja, Netta, Rosie, and Sonica; nephews, Anthony Archdale, Michael Birdsbill, and Frederick Archdale; numerous grandchildren; and adopted sisters, Monica Buckles, and Debra Bruner.
Extended family includes the Archdale family, the Flynn family, the Brown family, the Adams family, the Fourstar family, the Jackson family, the Wetsit family, the Grey family, and Leonard Smith and brothers. Sorry if we forgot to mention any family, it was not intentional.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, February 2, 2020 at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point, Montana. Interment will follow at Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Frazer, Montana. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements and condolences for the family can be left by using the form below.
The jet says
My prayers and thoughts are with you and your family will miss
You lots thanks got everything u shared fly high my friend. grandfather’s and grandmother’s watch over everyone in mourning give us strength courage and wisdom until we meet again
Shari Daniels says
My sincere condolences to her family.
Twilia and Vincent Bear Cub says
We shall miss Leta. Our condolences to the family. May Heavenly Father give you all strength . Prayers and much love.
Jerri Lynn Smoker Frislie says
My condolences to the family. Roger and I loved visiting with aleta. Happy trails as you cross over. Roger probably has a drink waiting for you at the campsite. And waiting to hear stories told by you. Yippee yah yay cowgirl.
Anna Pedraza-Wetsit says
Your At peace and without pain now.God bless your new journey.may God comfort all of Letas family and friends in this time of sorrow. From the Harold and Anna Wetsit family.
Maryann Wetsit says
Prayers to the family🙏..RIP Leta.. Fly high 🦅Maryann wetsit and Dolly Stark
Jerry and Jeannie Archdale says
We are so sorry for your loss, you are in our thoughts and prayers
Sharon E Granbois says
Uncle Manny, Monica and the rest of Auntie Leta’s family and friends have my condolences…Auntie tell everyone up there in your cowgirl heaven hi for me…remember the story of when you and Uncle Manny met and you wanted my mom Beulah Granbois to meet your new boyfriend Manny Melbourne…Beulah laughed then told you that Manny was her brother…you two had a good laugh…Mom would laugh and tell everyone the story of you and Uncle Manny, she thought that was so funny…well Auntie, I love you and will miss you…sorry I didn’t get to see you often. God bless you and everyone you knew and loved…happy trails…
Al Bets His Medicine says
A very wise and caring woman has left this world. There will never be another like her. As she did for many other families, she also babysat for me when I worked. Wow, a remarkable woman in that regard. I never even worried when my son was in her care. I enjoyed visiting with her every chance I got. My condolences to her family
Ayers/red eagle family says
I’m so sorry for the loss of mama lets. My family and i are sending our love and condolences to her family. You will be missed leta.
GREG BUSHMAN says
Condolences to Manny, Monica and the rest of Leta’s family. RIP Leta.
Resa LaRoque says
May God comfort your family in the this time of loss. We are sad to hear about Leta’s passing. I know my sister Gayle is going to enjoy her company on the other side. We love you and will keep you in our prayers.
rathert says
Bill and Irene Rathert
Manny so sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family
Laurie Shafer says
I am so sorry for your loss, Lita was a wonderful person and she will be greatly missed. Fly high my friend.
Donna Black Dog says
R.I.P. Leta. I missed living next door, and would smell all your great cooking,. My prayers and condolence to the family.
MichaelJ & Earlene Ackerman says
Sincere heartfelt condolences to Manny, her family & friends. She was an awesome, loving, caring, good hearted soul. She will truly be missed. MichaelJ & I will miss our visits, good laughs, good times with Auntie Leta. She was a very special lady & good cook. Heaven just received another beautiful angel. Rest in Paradise, Rest in Peace, you deserve it. We will surely miss you, your smile & your laugh. We love you.
Rita Weeks says
Condolences to Manny and family.
Gloria Giese says
I’m so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you🙏🏼💕🙏🏼💕🙏🏼 Craig and Gloria Giese
Darlyn Grainger says
So sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.