Obituary of Justine Archer

Justine Grace Archer, age 68, lived in Tacoma WA and passed away on May 27th 2019 after complications from kidney disease and cancer. She was born into the Ho-Chunk People, of the Bear Clan, on February 1st, 1951 in Black River Falls Wisconsin to Irene Whitegull and Peter Rave. Her siblings were Theodore, Francis and Gail Rave and Joyce Funmaker. She graduated from Black River Falls High School, and later from Northwest Indian College, where she was awarded for Public Speaking from the American Indian Higher Education Consortium. She was a military wife and lived in Ft. Riley KS, Frankfurt Germany, Huntsville TX, and Vallejo CA before moving to Tacoma WA. In Tacoma she was an advocate for many, and as an activist worked with the YWCA Women’s Shelter, Salishan Alliance for Community Service, Tacoma Human Rights Commission, and as a program Elder for the Iron House Medicine Program. She was a long standing member of the Salishan Lutheran Mission and the former Chairperson for the Tacoma Chapter of the National Organization of Women. She was recognized by the City of Tacoma as an award recipient of their prestigious Martin Luther King Jr Community Service Award, and the YWCA’s Helen B. Stafford Award. Justine, or “Gaga” as everyone called her, was loved for being a warrior. There was no more fierce fighter for those who needed it, or those crazy enough to take her on. All she had to do was look at you, and she would have your tail between your legs. We love her for that, and as her children for raising us to be survivors and how to laugh no matter how life was beating us down, to stand up and be a bear head on….and make sure you do the lip when you growl. Go Pack Go! She is survived by her Nani Francita Decorah, her children Winona Stevens, James Richard Fortner III, Osceola Fortner, Asa and Sylvia Archer; grandchildren D’Asia & Elijah Campbell, Joshua Carrington, Aurajhia & Raya Bailey, Adel Fortner, Kaleinani & Nadia Rideout, Angel, Justin and Kaiden Fortner, Nevaeh, Nyah & Kuunu Archer, Miajah, Lacius and Kastiel Gomez; Great-Grandchildren Xander Penkova, Aiyana Vargas and Jalen Rideout; siblings Theodore Rave, Joyce Funmaker and Francis Rave She is predeceased by her mother mother Irene Rave, step-father Henry Rave, father Murry Whiterabbit, son Lee Fortner, grandson Kendrick Fortner, sister Gail Rave, brother Lee Whitegull, sister Patricia Whiteman, and nephew Ramsey Funmaker. Her Home Going Celebration will be held at the Puyallup Tribe Youth Center at 5803 N Levee Rd E, Tacoma, WA 98424 on Monday June 24th, 2019 from 5pm -8pm. Devotions and Burial will be held in Decorah Cemetery in Black River Falls WI on May 21st-22nd, 2020 Please see Winona Stevens or Sylvia Archer regarding donations you wish to make to support Justine’s final burial wishes.