Denise Francis Doney - Boni

Denise Francis Doney-Boni, 39, beloved wife, daughter, sister, aunt, granddaughter, cousin, and friend, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at 1:16a.m on Saturday, May 20, 2023 due to cancer-related complications. Denise was born to Dean Sr. and Patricia Doney at Northern Montana Hospital in Havre, MT on January 15, 1984. Denise attended Harlem Elementary School and Harlem Jr. /Sr. High School. Her favorite subject was art and her favorite teacher was Laura McCann. After high-school Denise attended Fort Belknap College (Aaniiih Nakoda College) where she pursued an Allied Health college degree. She then attended American Indian College (AIC) in Phoenix Arizona, where she met her husband and best friend Nathan “Roman” Boni. Her Christian upbringing made her feel very passionate about ministry. She had a heart of gold. Her unconditional love for children and for those less fortunate is what made her stand out from others in ministry. 

Denise married Roman on September 16, 2011 in Arizona. In 2018 she and her husband moved to Fort Belknap where she worked for the Fort Belknap Head Start program. During her time working for Head Start, she realized that she could use her talent and artistic abilities to teach children and from this experience, she decided to become a teacher. Inspired by her new career path, she decided to get a degree at Aaniiih Nakoda College. She excelled in the program and graduated with honors and earned her associate's degree in early childhood education. Aside from her educational journey, she held her faith very near and dear to her heart. As someone dedicated to the Lord at an early age by her parents, Denise found herself stepping into the role of a Godly woman at a very young age. Denise began singing at churches and traveling with her family “The Dean Doney Family,” when she was as young as five years old. Denise’s favorite way to minister was through music and she recorded songs on three albums with her family. 

Denise recorded her own album titled “My Light in this World,” which was produced and co-written by her older brother Dean Doney Jr. Her album was released digitally in 2020. Denise’s album reflected her entire life and her continuous desire to spread the gospel to the entire world. Denise’s life was a reflection of her desire to live a life pleasing to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and her greatest desire in life was to introduce others to Him through her testimony. Aside from singing Denise enjoyed playing guitar and spending time with her husband whom she was proud of and cared deeply for. She would often be seen taking long drives with her husband, spending time with family, going on little adventures, and enjoying life. Denise was not only a musician, but she was an artist. She was very skilled at drawing and painting, and also beading. Denise’s artwork was special to her and it was a representation of the way she saw the world around her. She poured her heart and soul into it.

Along with painting, drawing, and beading, Denise was a candy maker. She started a small candy-making business she referred to as “Rez Kid Candy.” She created a “Pickle-Dilly,” sucker that she was extremely proud of. It was her favorite as anyone who knew Denise knew she loved her pickles. Denise shared her battle with cancer with hundreds of people on the social media platform TikTok under the username deniseboni1984. She spent her final days surrounded by her family and loved ones. Denise lived beautifully. She brought hope to so many people in her 39 years on this earth. She loved life, people, and animals. She spent her extra time sharing God’s love with people who were hurting and struggling. She maintained her faith and love for God throughout her battle with cancer. Though she is no longer here on this earth, she is free from pain and sorrow as she stands in the presence of Jesus, the Chief Cornerstone and she suffers no more.

Denise is survived by her husband Nathan Roman Boni, parents Dean and Patricia Doney, her eldest brother Dean Doney Jr. (Crystal), older sister Louise Doney, younger brother Timothy Doney, younger sister Kristi Rivera (Rick), youngest brother Evan Doney, nieces Mikaela, Gabriella, and Zoey, and nephews Daniel, Andrew, and Aamari, as well as many aunties, uncles, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her maternal grandparents Louise (Lou) Loretta and Edward “Beans” Messerly, paternal grandparents Charles “Lindy” and Irene Doney, maternal uncle Wade Messerly, paternal uncle Ron “Super” Doney, paternal uncle Orville Doney, paternal uncle Sherman Talksdifferent, paternal aunt Reva Sears, aunt Brenda Sears-Doney, cousins Casey Means, Sean Doney, AJ Laroque, Dalton Williams, and some other family and a few friends.

A Celebration of Denise’s life will be held Tuesday, May 23, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Dean and Pat Doney’s Residence. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at the Fort Belknap Christian Fellowship (Log Church). After the Funeral Service, Burial will be at the Malta Cemetery with a feed to follow at the Fort Belknap Community Center. 

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