CAROLINE DICKENSON
Caroline Dickenson passed away peacefully at her home, surrounded
by her family on July 1st. She
was just 18 days short of her 88th birthday. Caroline was the mother of six generations at
the time of her death.
Caroline Petite was born to Antoine Petite and Catherine
Charette on July 19, 1917 at Cloquet, Minnesota and was an enrolled member of the Fond du Lac Tribe. While in her teen years she moved to the Red
Lake Reservation to live with her father and made the Red Lake Reservation her
home well into her adult years. Caroline’s
love for Red Lake had her returning to the
Reservations at every opportunity.
Caroline married Dan Bellanger and
then later married John Dickenson.
Caroline was the mother of four sons and four daughters: Joan
Strong, Antoine Bellanger, (deceased), Judy Bellanger, Nancy Dickenson Greyhair
(deceased) John Dickenson (deceased – KIA Vietnam, 1968), David Bellanger,
Muriel Dickenson Thompson, and Gerald Dickenson. In addition to her beloved children and grandchildren,
she was the adopted Grandmother, in the Indian way, to Roman and Rose Stately’s
family. She took her responsibility as
an Elder seriously; therefore, she advised, supported, scolded and loved
without condition. She was cherished and
respected by all who knew her.
Caroline worked at the American Indian Center in Minneapolis for many years. She
was an avid advocate of Indian people and was very proud of her Indian heritage. Her wisdom, storytelling, quick humor, and
caring manner endured her to those she encountered on life’s journey.
Her wake was held at the American Indian Center in Minneapolis, with a funeral mass at St. Stephen’s Catholic
Church in Minneapolis. She was buried at Hillside Cemetery in
Minneapolis.
