Diane Marie Buckskin-Michel

Diane Marie Buckskin-Michel was born on June 24, 1948, in St Ignatius, MT to Mathias “Matt Buckskin” Michel and Lucy Moody Michel. She passed away at her home in Dayton on January 18, 2026, with her family at her side.

Diane is the 3rd oldest and 1st daughter out of 10 children born to Matt and Lucy. She grew up in the Dayton, Elmo and Big Arm area. Even though her family moved to various places, Dayton was always home.

She worked various jobs throughout her life. She planted trees and worked potatoes on the Forman farm. Her life changed when she went to work for the Flathead Headstart Program. She was able to obtain her GED, her Child Development Credential and her CDL. She worked for the headstart program until arthritis called for early retirement.

Diane enjoyed watching her sons play sports in school and when her grandchildren came along, she could be found at their sporting events cheering them on. She also enjoyed traveling and was able to take trips with her brother, Wilbert and family to Washington. Her brother, Gilbert and family also took her to Utah to celebrate her birthday with a trip to the Zoo. She also spent time traveling the northwest to watch her granddaughters, Ana, Catherine and Elaina play softball and basketball.

She was affectionately known as “Grandma Diane” to many on the reservation. After her retirement from Head Start, she would babysit for family members along with her partner, Kenny Lefthand. From the Askan Boys to the Perez Girls their lives were filled with grandkids. One of her favorite memories was going to Hot Springs to “soak” with her granddaughters, Cee and Brittany Hewankorn. They would pack snacks, drinks and head to Rose’s plunge for the afternoon.

Later in life she was an avid Bingo player, playing in Polson on Friday nights at the Senior Citizen center, taking trips to the CDA Casino or the Lame Deer to the Charging Horse Casino. Bingo, Pepsi and Blueberries were just some of her favorite things.

Diane is preceded in death by her parents, Matt and Lucy, her brothers: Wilbert, Gilbert, Junior, Keith, Lee and brother-in-law, Ronald Seminole. Her sister, Linda “Ducky” Michel, nephews: Jacob Michel, Ryan Lefthand, John Glenmore and Leo Hammer, her nieces: Rene Strahan, Echo Michel and granddaughters, Ana Michel and AnnMarie Michel.

She is survived by her daughter, Lucinda and her children, Catherine Buckskin, Cameron Medina and Hazel Plant of the family home in Dayton, Elaina Buckskin and her partner, Fayrene Pierre of Polson, her sons, Jeremiah Michel of Niarada and Uriah Michel of Elmo and his children, Uriah Jr of Elmo, Tanner, Zannen, Luther and Riahlynn of Polson, her daughter of her heart, Naomi Robinson of Polson, brothers: Leonard and Melissa of Ronan, Victor and Linnea of Illinois, Mike Kenmille and Sandra of Big Draw, sister, Geneva Glenmore of Busby, sister-in-laws Bev Michel of Polson, Eudora Nephi of Elmo and Maxine Michel of Ronan. She also has many nieces, nephews and “grandkids”.