Stacey L. Kessler

2/5/1963 — 10/4/2023

Service Date: 10/12/2023
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“So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

“ii-ah-ii-mee-neh-háa-tewes-sa” (I Love You in Nez Perce language) — from handwritten note by Grandma Rena K. Ramsey.

Surrounded by the love of her family and covered in prayer, Stacey Lynn Kessler, 60, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane. While we grieve the passing of our mother, grandmother, sister, niece, cousin and friend, we rejoice that she is with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and with her family that went on before her.

She was born on Feb. 5, 1963, to her parents Sandra Kessler (later Pena) and Doug Mendenhall of Kamiah. Her grandparents, Clifton “Butch” and Rena Katherine Ramsey, helped raise her to be the kind, loving, and courageous person we all came to admire and cherish.

Stacey was proud to be a Nimipuu. She is a direct descendant of Red Grizzly Bear, Blackeagle, Wottolen, Wetsesa, Many Wounds and Sunset. From her Kessler and Mendenhall families, she also was Lakota.

Besides having knowledge of her tribal lineage, Stacey was taught Nez Perce values and customs, including spirituality, language, stories, weaving, dancing, huckleberry picking and camping. She was a natural artist, who continued her yarn and cornhusk weaving throughout her life. Being a cultural demonstrator for the Tribe was something she enjoyed doing.

She loved being the older sister to Renae Pena who was born in 1967. They shared many wonderful memories living in the Little Village Trailer Court in Lapwai with close family as neighbors or constant visitors. They also lived in Kamiah, Rupert, Burley, New Plymouth, Craigmont and Lewiston. One famous story of Stacey was after the first day of school, she told her family she made a “new” friend, who turned out to be her cousin Kathy.

In 1982, Stacey graduated from Lapwai High School. Her intelligence was well-known, so she excelled academically. She was active in volleyball, track and Indian Club. She pursued training for administrative support positions after graduation.

Her career path included working for the Umatilla National Forest in Pomeroy and various positions while she lived in Minneapolis. Stacey also worked at Nez Perce Senior Citizens and Casino in cooking or driver positions. She later volunteered at Nez Perce Head Start and Kamiah Elementary School.

One of her greatest joys in life was being the mother to LaFawn Renae Kessler (born in 1983) and Sophia Sharron Kessler (born in 1986). They remember her as a good person and mother. She showed them how to be generous and caring. Even though she was not rich, she would give rides and money to others. They think of her as a loyal helper. They have wonderful memories of spending days on the Selway River and eating her favorite meal of spaghetti.

She took great pride in being the grandmother to Jasmine, Raphael, Timuni, Rainbow and Alatello. Hearing stories about her grandchildren gave her joy and peace. Her children and her grandchildren are her greatest legacy, so she wanted only the best for them and that they know she loved them dearly.

Over her lifetime, Stacey was a member at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lapwai and St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Kamiah.

She is survived by her daughters, LaFawn Kessler of Kamiah and Sophia Kessler of Boise; her grandchildren, Jasmine Oatman of Pullman and Raphael Kessler, Timuni Moses, Rainbow Moses and Alatello Moses of Kamiah; her sister Renae Pena of Phoenix; her nephews, Travis Pena of Boise, Marcus Pena of San Antonio and Zachary Pena; her aunt and Godmother Rosa Yearout and uncles Jon Yearout and OG Mason of Lapwai; her cousins (brothers/sisters), Mike McFarland of Cottonwood Creek, Larry “Yogi” McFarland Jr., Dawn Leighton, Angel Sobotta, Sunae Reuben, Joyce McFarland, Cheyna Montanez, Jack Yearout and Abe Yearout of Lapwai and Kathy Lewis and Gloria Guillory of Spokane; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Sandra Pena, her father, Doug Mendenhall, her grandparents, Butch and Rena Katherine Ramsey and William and Naomi Mendenhall, her uncle James Higheagle, her aunts, Francoise “Coy” Swift and Beverly “Cookie” Higheagle and her nephew, Gabriel Warden.

There will be a rosary and memorial at 9 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 12, led by the family at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Lapwai. This will be followed by funeral Mass celebrated at 10 a.m. with Fr. Joshua Falce as the celebrant.

Our loved one Stacey was open about times she had struggles with her mental health. Her family appreciates individuals and programs who provided her culturally responsive care with compassion and understanding. One in five Native Americans reported having a mental illness in the past year, so she is not alone. Many people and families don’t know where to turn for support. Indian Health Service, National Alliance on Mental Illness or Mental Health America provide valuable resources and advocacy, along with one’s personal health care provider, spiritual advisor or traditional healer.

To help support programs that assist individuals with mental health needs and with spiritual uplifting during a health crisis or end of life, the family suggests donations to the following charitable organizations in Stacey’s memory: to the St. Vincent de Paul of North Idaho, stvincentdepaulnorthidaho.org; the Providence Inland Northwest Foundation, foundation.providence.org/wa/eastern/ways-to-give/ways-to-give#gifts-of-cash, for the Chaplaincy or to Sacred Harmonies Therapeutic Music programs at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane.

Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home of Lewiston is in charge of funeral arrangements.

Service Information

Date & Time: Thursday, October 12, 10:00 AM
Location: Sacred Heart Catholic Church
205 Birch Avenue E
Lapwai, Idaho 83540

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Additional Details: Rosary will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the church.