Stella Ann DeCoteau, age 48 of Dunseith, died Monday at her home near Dunseith.  Her funeral will be held on Friday at 10:00 am at the St. Michael's Catholic Church in Dunseith.  Wake service will begin at 7:00 pm on Thursday at the Church.

Stella was born December 12, 1969, the daughter of Emil Bradford and Melinda Belgarde in Belcourt, ND.   She was raised in the Dunseith area and graduated from the Dunseith Public High School.   Stella was united in marriage to Walter 'Wally' DeCoteau Jr. on October 2, 1998 in Belcourt. They continued to make their home in the Dunseith area.  From this union, the couple had three daughters - Amy, Shanell and Tessie. Wally passed away on December 13, 2013. Stella was a homemaker that enjoyed being with family and friends.

She loved to tease and joke around with everyone. She especially loved playing with her grandson, Scott. She also like to talk on the phone with her mother every morning. She will be dearly missed by everyone that loved her.

She is survived by her three daughters, Amy (Scott) Counts, Shanell (Ethan Fossenuve)  DeCoteau and Tessie DeCoteau, all of Dunseith; grandson, Scott Walter Wayne Counts, Dunseith; her mother, Melinda Belgarde & Phillip Azure of Dunseith; siblings - Emil (Cathy) Bradford, Minot, Brian Bradford & Jennifer Hunt, Dunseith; Janelle (Lloyd) Gunville, Trenton; Wanda Laducer, Joanne DeCoteau and Wendell Bradford, all of Belcourt; aunts - Sharon Bercier, St. John and Shirley Belgarde, Dunseith; uncle - Gerald (Rosie) Belgarde, Dunseith; nieces - McKayla and Zoe Gunville, Emily Bradford, nephews - EJ Bradford, Dustin Gunville, Riley, Ryan, and Brayden Bradford, along with numerous cousins.

She was preceded in death by her dad, Emil Bradford; husband, Walter 'Wally' DeCoteau; granddaughter, Aubree Marie Counts; grandparents - Stella & Alex Belgarde; Uncles - Gary, Eli, Donny & James 'Smiley' Belgarde, Norbert Amyotte and Paul Bercier Jr.; Aunts - Paulette Vivier, Linda Amyotte, Shirley Mae Belgarde, Margaret Chase, and cousin - Paul Bercier III.

Arrangements are with Nero Funeral Home, Bottineau, ND.