Maureena Twoteeth

Maureena Teelah Twoteeth, 31, of Pablo, MT, passed away on Friday, January 14, 2022, in St. Ignatius, MT. Maureena (nickname was Mena) was born on June 16, 1990, in Ronan, MT, to Bonnie Asencio and Ronald “Bam” Twoteeth. She was a tribal member of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes and was Cree.

Maureena was an upfront, compassionate, caring, loving person who cared for everyone around her. She would empathize and would help anyone in need of food, a place to stay, or if they needed to talk. She did not hesitate to help anyone because she lived through the struggle and knew she wanted to help others through theirs. Mena by nature was mean and stubborn at times. She acquired her nickname Mena because she was so mean as a child. She was always honest and told people exactly how she felt and thought whether they wanted to hear it or not. She was strong and persevered through life with a big smile on her face.

As a child, she lived with her dad and his six kids (Kristen, Marissa, Mena, Sarah, Justin, & Veronica) before he passed away in 2001, and she, Kristen, and Sarah moved to Spokane, WA with their mother. Her mom had six kids (Kristen, Mena, Sarah, Bonnie, Ruby, & Destiny) Mena enjoyed having a bunch of siblings because she always had a playmate. At one point in her life, she lived in Arlee with her grandma Sarah and papa Chuck along with many cousins, aunties, and uncles all in one house. More than a dozen kids were getting on the bus every day and she loved it. She enjoyed growing up with a big family who always had each other backs for anything and everything. In high school, Maureena was attending Ronan school while having various jobs from McDonald's, Dairy Queen, and even painting cones for a summer youth program. She took pride in being able to buy herself clothes but also in ensuring there was always gas in the car and would assist her mom in paying bills if needed. She helped take care of her siblings and did so with willpower and grace. She knew she would have to work hard for what she wanted. She attended Sherman Indian High School in Riverside, CA her senior year and graduated class of 2009.

On September 19, 2010, Mena became a mother to Melanie Useli Green (Father Jon Green). Melanie put so much love her heart; Mel brought plentiful joy and laughter to her life. Becoming a mother gave her purpose and this devotion to her daughter gave her a great work ethic to give her everything. She worked a job while going to college at Salish Kootenai College for a couple of years in Business Management. She finished all the credits but did not walk, she was very proud of this accomplishment. Melanie gave her the courage to strive and reach her goals. She and Mel were an inseparable duo who would wear the same hairstyle and had the same attitude. Everything Mena did from the moment she had Melanie was to ensure she was well taken of; she always found a way. She loved Melanie with every ounce of her being and wanted to give her the world. Her love for her daughter is eternal and she will forever be watching over Melanie.

Maureena is survived by her daughter Melanie Useli Green. Her mother Bonnie Asencio; grandparents Chuck & Sarah Twoteeth and grandmother Francine Antoine; her sisters Kristen Twoteeth, Marissa Grant, Sarah Twoteeth, Bonnie Saluskin, Destiny Joseph, Veronica Twoteeth, Nancy Grant, and Monique Grant; and brother Justin Twoteeth; nieces Rylah, Alicia, Serendipity, Ruby and Leela; nephews Ronald, Nathaniel, Kaige, Bryan Jr, Crash, Jeremiah, Grayson, and David; and many other nieces and nephews, as well as many aunties, Berta Asencio, Rita Mathias, Gena Asencio, Carrie Antoine, Misty Whitworth, Nicole Antoine, Gloria Twoteeth Janna, Kathy Twoteeth McClure, Teri Twoteeth, and Stacey Twoteeth, uncles, Troy Twoteeth, William Antoine, Ben Asencio, Bob Asencio, and Daryl Ardis, and cousins who all loved her dearly and will miss Mena tremendously.

Maureena was preceded in death by her great-grandfather Pete Asencio; great-grandma Susan Antoine; grandfather Benjamin Asencio; father Bam Twoteeth; sister Ruby Saluskin; aunties Jessi Qualtier, Carmie Lamere, and Virg Charlo; uncle Antonio “Geno” Asencio; and cousins Dakota Lafley and Jay Asencio.