Funeral Mass for Mary C. "Mary Kate" Underwood of Ethete will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 22, at St. Stephen's. The Rev. Father Ron Seminara will officiate with interment to follow at the Arapaho Catholic Cemetery at St. Stephen's.
There will be a rosary at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Davis Funeral Home of Riverton with a second rosary and wake at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, at Eagle Hall at St. Stephen's.
Mrs. Underwood died on Wednesday, Dec 17, 2008, at Morning Star Manor at Fort Washakie at the age of 83.
Mary Catherine Moss-Runsbehind was born in Fort Washakie on Dec. 8, 1925, the daughter of Harry Behan Runsbehind, Sr., and Suzanna (Moss) Runsbehind. Her Indian name was Black Eagle Woman, Woo'teen Nii'eihii.
She attended St. Stephen's Boarding School and the Holy Rosary School.
She married Thomas E. Underwood in Riverton in 1984 and was a homemaker.
Mrs. Underwood was a member of St. Stephen's Catholic Church and member of St. Ann's Sadiate.
She was a teacher of the Arapaho language, spokesperson for Coca-Cola in her Native American regalia, worked on the Arapaho Pow Wow Committee when she was younger, helped organize parades, was considered by her family as a good cook, and raised a family of 12.
The family said she had a beautiful voice and liked to yodel, play the piano, harmonica, and organ. They said she liked to go fishing in the mountains when she was younger, had been a hunter, enjoyed listening to country/Western music, riding horses, rounding up cattle, danced at pow wows, helped at brandings, enjoyed beadwork, promoted the Arapaho language, culture, and traditions, liked to travel, and was a gambler, playing slots and bingo.
She had lived in Casper and on Riverview and Plunkett Roads.
She had been married to Felix Whiteman who preceded her in death; Frank Armajo, from whom she was divorced, and was married to Thomas Ed Underwood for the last 24 years.
Mrs. Underwood is survived by daughter, Marita and Ben Warren and their children, Ben Warren IV, Brook Warren, and Edena Warren; Melvina Whiteman and George Sanchez and their children Zackary Whiteman, Melinda Whiteman and Lucas Whiteman; Adele Sanchez Najera; daughter, Felicia Whiteman and companion Mike Friday and children Nadine C'Bearing, Danielle C'Bearing, Fleurette Brannen, Kelly Arthur, Adrian C'Bearing; daughter, Augusta and Robert C'Bearing and their son Robert A. C'Bearing; daughter, Catherine Whiteman Manzanares and husband Joe and their children Shaw Whiteman and Shanelle Friday; son, Justin (deceased) his children, Rochelle Whiteman, Jessica Moss, John Whiteman, Suzanna St. Clair; niece, Mary Ellen and James Pingree; step-siblings, Margaret Behan, Nancy Behan and Gerald Behan.
She was preceded in death by sons, Maurice Seymore Whiteman, John Felix Whiteman, and Justin Whiteman; daughter, Elizabeth Lucy Whiteman; grandson, Daniel C'Bearing, Jr.; grandchildren and great grandchildren; infant sisters, Arlene Behan and Marie Behan; father, Harry Behan Runsbehind; mother, Suzanna Behan Runsbehind; her first husband, Felix Whiteman; brother, Harry Behan Runsbehinds, Jr.; nephew, Ronald Behan, Sr.; niece Clarinda Behan.
On-line obituaries are available and condolences for the family may be made at: thedavisfuneralhome.com
Services are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home of Riverton.