JUNE 1, 2017
S moke S ignals
21
Walking On...
Michael T. Bolton
Sept. 26, 1967 – May 15, 2017
Michael Bolton was born on Sept. 26,
1967, to Marcia Rife and Edward Bolton
Sr. in Salem, Ore. He was one of five
children. Growing up with many siblings,
Michael knew the importance of taking
care of his family. He passed these values
on to his own five children, each one of
whom he loved dearly.
Michael married the love of his life,
Faith Helene Bolton, on May 10, 2002, in
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He owned property
in Priest River, Idaho, where he had a
small ranch with several horses where
he put all of his passion into his animals.
He also earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Gonzaga
University in Spokane, Wash.
Michael, Faith and their family resided in Idaho until 2005. Michael
and Faith relocated to Grand Ronde from 2005-12 and Michael ran for
Tribal Council in 2011.
They eventually settled down in St. Helens, Ore., in 2012 in order for
Faith to follow her dreams. He supported his wife with anything she
wished to do. Michael enjoyed painting, music, spending time with his
family and cooking for the people that he loved.
Michael had an unconditional love for his family, horses and dogs. He
loved to bead and craft with his wife. He would make dreamcatchers and
chokers. He loved teaching his culture to others. Michael passed on his
passion for cooking and caring for his boxers to his grandchildren. Most
of all, Michael was known for taking care of his family and friends, and
always making others laugh. He was always reliable and a hard worker,
and would help anyone in need if he could.
Michael is preceded in death by his mother, Marcia. He is survived
by his father, Edward Sr.; his wife of 15 years, Faith Bolton; their chil-
dren, Tiffany Bolton, Anna Marie Profaunt, Michael Bolton Jr., Charles
Heward and Ashley Heward; and eight grandchildren, Denisha, Cali-
egh, Charles Jr., Tayah, Jayden, David, Britton Jr., Kane and Roman,
as well as two grandchildren on the way; and many nieces, nephews,
cousins, aunts and uncles.
A viewing and funeral service for Michael Bolton was held Sunday,
May 21, at the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde Cemetery, 9245
Grand Ronde Road, and a reception followed at the Tribal Community
Center, 9615 Grand Ronde Road.
God bless all for your help and attendance in advance. We understand
for those who cannot be present. Know He and I understand.
If you have questions, please contact Faith Bolton at 503-863-9296.
Gloria Jean (Lynch) Sundahl
July 28, 1946 – May 7, 2017
Tribal Elder Gloria Jean (Lynch)
Sundahl was born on July 28, 1946, to
Doris (Jeffers) and Daniel Lynch, the
second eldest child of their five children.
She was a lifelong resident of Spring-
field, Ore., growing up at Cedar Flats
just outside of Springfield.
Gloria was a 1964 graduate of Thur-
ston High School and also attended
Lane Community College in the 1990s.
Gloria was very proud of her heritage
as a Native American and was a Tribal
Elder of the Confederated Tribes of
Grand Ronde family in Grand Ronde,
Ore.
In 1966, Gloria married and started her family with daughter Sandra
arriving in December 1967 and daughter Danielle arriving in February
1985. After many years as a mother and homemaker, she became a
home health aide for a number of years until she retired.
In her retirement, she enjoyed gardening, traveling and, most of all,
spending time with family and friends. She also supported various
charities in Lane County.
Gloria had a wonderful sense of humor, a great laugh and was a very
loving, generous and kind person, and her home was always open to
everyone. She loved a good visit with family and friends.
She is survived by her children, daughter Sandra and husband Sam-
uel Combs of Woodburn, Ore., and their children, Andrea, Dannyelle,
Sarah, Elizabeth, Elijah and Ethan, and daughter Danielle Sundahl
and son Abel Lynch of Springfield, Ore.; sister Charlotte and her hus-
band James Gray of Philomath, Ore.; brother Dennis and wife Julie
Lynch of Grand Ronde, Ore.; sister Jenny Jones of Winston, Ore., and
sister Cindy Diaz of Nevada; and many more family and friends whom
she loved very much.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Daniel and Doris Lynch;
her life partner, “Papa” Gene Burgess; grandson, Christopher; and
her beloved Brandi Dog.
A witness burial was held on Friday, May 19, in Springfield, Ore.
A celebration of life is being planned in her honor for the end of
June. We welcome all who knew mom to come and celebrate her life
with us and share their memories of her. For more information, call
Sandra at 541-915-8177.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to one of her favorite char-
ities in memory of Gloria Sundahl to the Springfield Relief Nursery or
the neonatal intensive care unit at Riverbend Hospital in Springfield.
Beryle LaRose Contreras
July 29, 1935 – May 19, 2017
Tribal Elder Beryle LaRose Contre-
ras, 81, made her journey to the spirit
world on May 19, 2017. She was born
on July 29, 1935.
Beryle was preceded in death by
her parents, Roy Norman and De-
lia LaRose Langley; nephew, Kelly
Langley; nieces, Ellisine Langley and
Jacklyn Langley; daughter, Kateri
Contreras Atanacio; and her husband
of 20 years, Angel Contreras.
Beryle is survived by her aunt,
June LaRose of Portland, Ore.; broth-
ers, Jack (Linda) Langley of Warm
Springs, Ore., and Leonard (Rose)
Langley of Tillamook, Ore.; and her
children, Kerma Contreras of San
Francisco, Calif., Denise Lamkin of
Beaverton, Ore., Christine Contreras
of Grand Ronde, Ore., Kevin Contreras
of Sheridan, Ore., Kalene Contreras of
Somes Bar, Calif., and Kimberly (BT)
Brien of Grand Ronde; and 15 grand-
children and 18 great-grandchildren,
as well as a number of nieces, nephews
and cousins.
Beryle was born in Fort Duchesne,
Utah. When she was 5, her family
moved to Grand Ronde, Ore. After the
federal government terminated the Tribe, her family moved to Til-
lamook. In 1955, Beryle moved to San Francisco on the Relocation
Act to attend beauty school where she became a beautician. Beryle
met Angel Contreras and they married.
In San Francisco during the 1960s and ’70s at the end of the Civil
Rights era, Beryle was very active in Native American rights. In
1969, the occupation of Alcatraz Island had a huge influence on
the lives of Beryle and her family. This is where she met friends
Wilma Mankiller, Richard and Annie Oakes, John Trudell, Dennis
Banks and many others.
Beryle attended San Francisco State University where she studied
Native American Studies.
Beryle worked at the American Indian Center and ran the youth
group. She was active in the American Indian Movement and
participated in starting the AIM School in Oakland, Calif. She did
not hesitate to help other Tribes in need. She took donations to Pit
River, Nev., and Wounded Knee, S.D., during their struggles.
In 1977, Beryle moved back to Oregon where she continued her
involvement with Native communities and was very excited when
Grand Ronde was about to be restored in 1983. She was a proud
member of the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde from her fa-
ther’s side of the family and Shoshone/Bannock/Northern Ute from
her mother’s side of the family.
She worked hard all of her life, later managing a house for men-
tally ill adults. When her father, Roy, became unable to care for
himself, Beryle took care of her father.
Beryle loved to dance, cook, sew, play Yahtzee, read, write poems,
cats and dogs, and listen to music.
She has always been a strong, independent woman. She taught
her children and others to be proud of who you are and where you
came from, and to always fight for your rights.
She also always said and I quote: “If you don’t kick their ass, I’m
going to kick yours.”
Our mother always did the best she could. May she rest in peace!
Love from her family.