Obituary - Paul M. Mitchell

Paul M. Mitchell of Havre, 53, passed away due to natural causes Monday, Dec. 25, 2017, in Rocky Boy.

Wake services began at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2017, and continued until his funeral service, which was at 10 a.m today, Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2017, all at Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Rocky Boy. Burial followed in the Rocky Boy Cemetery.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Please visit Paul's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Paul was born Nov. 27, 1964, in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, to John Lorin and Irene (Sunchild) Mitchell Sr. He spent his early childhood in Oklahoma and California, before his family settled in Rocky Boy in 1970. Paul attended Box Elder schools, graduating from Box Elder High School in 1982. He went on to attend Haskell Indian Nations University, where he played basketball. He graduated from Stone Child College with his associate degree in early childhood education in 1999, and immediately put his training to use, working as a teacher's aide for the Rocky Boy Schools. He was passionate about children's education and loved helping them learn. He was a great math teacher, and he coached junior high basketball and football.

In his spare time, he taught kids how to fish. Paul was a creative cook, and every day he lived life to the fullest. His family was incredibly important to him, and he adored his grandchildren.

"The reason I don't dance is because I'd break too many hearts."

He was preceded in death by his father, John Lorin Mitchell Sr., and his brother Bruce Kelly Mitchell and an infant brother.

Paul is survived by his life partner, Karen Stiffarm of Rocky Boy; his daughters, Jordan (Isaac Wal) Mitchell of Pueblo, CO, and Jessi (Kenny Parisian) Standing Rock of Rocky Boy; his son, Chontay (Connie Brown Otter) Mitchell of Bozeman; his grandchildren Korrah and Arri Wal, and Summer, Wynter and Bronc Parisian; his mother, Irene Mitchell of Rocky Boy; his brother John L. (Gail) Mitchell Jr. of Rocky Boy; his sisters, Joan (Bobby Favel) Mitchell and Jan Mitchell, all of Rocky Boy; his nephews, Beau (Cassie Morsette) Mitchell, Dennis Sangrey and John L. Mitchell III, all of Rocky Boy, and Aaron Sunchild of Aurora, CO; his nieces, Mackenzie (Taj Riotutar) Sangrey and Sean Henry, all of Rocky Boy, and Katharine (Mike) Sunchild of Everett, WA; and numerous cousins and other extended family and friends.