Victoria B. Putnam

Fort Yates, ND-Mass of Christian Burial for Victoria B. Putnam, 80, of Ft. Yates will be 11:00 am Saturday, May 22, 2021 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Ft. Yates.

Inurnment will be 1:00 pm Friday, June 4, 2021 in St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery.        

There will be a liturgical wake service Friday at 7:00 pm with visitation from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at the church.

Victoria died May 8, 2021 at Sanford Medical Center Bismarck.  

Victoria Bennetta (Claymore) Putnam was born at home, in Fort Yates, on November 18, 1940 to Peter Serafine Claymore and Mary Rose (BearKing) Claymore. She was the youngest of seven children. She attended St. Bernard Mission School for 1st through 4th grade, Standing Rock Public School for 5th and 6th grade and Standing Rock High School for 7th through graduation. Growing up, her cousins, Mary (Blackcloud) Monsees and Claudette (Taylor) Moran called her the 'little red-headed spit-fire'. Her early years were spent helping her father with his horse and cattle ranch. She enjoyed riding horseback, especially riding to the neighbors' place, after branding, to see one special young man.

On June 21, 1958, she married that special young man, Clinton Russell Putnam, at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Fort Yates, ND. To this union, five children were born. Vicky and Clint were foster parents to Mike, Wanda, and Donovan St. John. Over the years, they were second parents to many special nieces, nephews, and young people.

Vicky and Clint started their family in 1959 with the birth of their oldest daughter, Colleen Marie. Next in line, came Russell James in 1961. The middle child, Jonathan David was born in 1962. The last boy, Leslie Allen, was born in 1964. Their youngest daughter, Content 'Connie' Deann, was born in 1967.

Vicky and Clint enjoyed team roping together and traveled on the weekends, every summer, to local rodeos. She would cook the day before and pack cold chicken and other food to take along to the rodeo. Many friends and family shared in the meals she prepared. Looking back now, this is possibly where her food service career began. She was an active member of St. Peter's Parish and served on the Parish Board.

In 1967, Clint started Putnam Excavating. In 1970, Vicky expressed her thoughts that the company should be more profitable, so Clint told her to 'have at it' with managing the business. That, folks, was the first business she managed. She worked at St. Bernard Mission School as the Assistant Cook to her friend, Maxine Harrison, from 1972 to 1979. 'Kids' still remember her to this day. 1985 saw her branching out into construction. Through this company, many houses were built and remodeled on Standing Rock. Vicky was a businesswoman and she liked challenges. When the food service contract came out to provide meals to the Standing Rock Community Schools, in 1987, she put together a business plan and bid on it. Putnam Foodservice was born. Putnam Foodservice provided 600 meals each day to the high school, middle school and elementary. She also ran the Summer Food Program, so the children would have a good meal every weekday during the summer. Victoria was selected North Dakota Small Business Person of the Year in 1990. In 1993, a new challenge came up. She bid on and got the bid for the food service contract on Minot Air Force Base. Two years later, she expanded, when she also won the bid on the Malmstrom Air Force Base Foodservice in Montana. Vicky would go on to manage the restaurant at the Grand River Casino near Mobridge, SD.

In 2000, Vicky applied to be a cook at the Standing Rock Middle School. This would turn out to be a new chapter in her life. Instead of a cooking position, she was offered a position as a para-professional in the middle school special education department. Vicky enjoyed working with the children. She decided to get a degree at Sitting Bull College. She got her first degree, Associate of Science in Education, on May 9, 2007, when she was 66 years old. She attained her second degree, Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education, on May 7, 2008 at the age of 67! She was one semester away from her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at that time. In 2008, her priorities changed, and she retired from teaching to spend more time at home with Clint.

Vicky was athletic. She would have foot races (she was barefoot) on the gravel road with her children. She would join softball/baseball games with the kids and play H-O-R-S-E on the basketball court by the house. She loved to play pranks and enjoyed startling you, when least expected. She had the most loving heart and will be remembered and missed by family and friends.

Victoria is survived by her two daughters: Colleen Teske and Connie (Tipton) Marshall; three sons: Russell (Kari) Putnam, Jonathan (Pam) Putnam and Leslie Putnam and one Hunka daughter: Alsace LaFramboise; ten grandchildren: Erin (Derek) Bird, Desirae (Shane Mahlum) Putnam, Ashley (Jeff) Hahn, Samantha (Ray Ramirez) Teske, Dakota (Austin) Gruba, Jon Teske, Jade (Rosey Brown {Brayden}) Marshall, Cody (Casamera King) Marshall, Amy (Logan) Walla, Alexa Putnam: nine great grandchildren: Jonny Putnam, James Bird, Abigail Bird, August Gruba, Tessa Gruba, Bridget Ramirez, Jackson Hahn, Noah Marshall, Madelyn Walla; special daughters: Darcy Putnam and Tamara Snyder; special sons: David Harrison, Jr. and Dan Snyder; sisters-in-law: Mabel Haynie, Bernice (Bob) Wagner, Florence Larson, Glennys Ulschak; brothers-in-law: Bob Pollock and Ray Heyne.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 61 years, Clinton Russell Putnam; father: Peter Serafine Claymore; mother: Mary Rose (BearKing) Claymore; father-in-law: Leslie Ray Putnam; mother-in-law: Sadie Martha Putnam; brothers: Sidney Claymore and Donald (Leona) Claymore; sisters: Faye (Ray) Brooks, Myrna (Norman) Watters, Rita Leupke, Baby Alsace Claymore; special nieces: Tamara Jo LaFramboise & Linda DuBray; special nephew: Del Gene Claymore; brothers-in-law: Robert Putnam, Walter Putnam, Grant Putnam; sisters-in-law: Nina (Ted) Lawler, Dorothy Pollock, Norma Heyne; brothers-in-law: Marvin Haynie, Francis Ulschak, Peter Larson.

Casketbearers will be Erin Bird, Desirae Putnam, Ashley Hahn, Samantha Teske, Dakota Gruba, Jon Teske, Jade Marshall, Cody Marshall, Amy Walla, Alexa Putnam, Ron Sedillo and Sydney Sedillo.

Honorary Casketbearers will be Jonny Putnam, James Bird, Abigail Bird, August Gruba, Tessa Gruba, Bridget Ramirez, Jackson Hahn, Noah Clinton Marshall, Madelyn Grace Walla, Melody Azure & Family, Sister Ann Schoch, Angie & Jake Eagle Family, Henry & Annie Harrison & Family, Cindy Marshall & Family, Charlene Claymore & Family, Ben & Luella Harrison & Family, Yogi Monty & Family, Claudette Moran & Family, Mary Monsees & Family, Greg Sherwood, Leonard Storms & Family, Lloyd & Caroline Thompson, Ken “Bruiser” Snider, Lenny & Wanda Boyer, Dean & Betty Lawler & Family, Lynn Pollock & Family, John & Barbara D'Agostino, Theresa Pleets & Family, Loretta Wright & Family, Terry & Gayleen Yellow Fat & Family, Imogene & Darrell Bullhead Family, Brooks & Fuller Families, Kevin, Paula, Stephen & Kristi Montry & Family, Chuck & Debbie Goudreau, Roman & Donna Weiler & Families, Rachel Landis, Jackie Talley, Rhonda White, Brandy & Brent Putnam, June Szczur & Families, Gary Heyne & Family, Kim Yellow Hammer & George, Sandy Luger & Family, Rachel Landis,, Tom & Gloria Fischer, LaRita LeCompte, Henry Jr & Tamara Harrison & Family, Steve Harrison & Family, Dale Harrison & Family, Nevaeh Grazier, Chris Teske, LeRoy DuBray & Family, Fred & Michelle DuBray & Family, Charlie & Doris Soiseth & Scott, Jeanette Cluett, Haynie Families, Heyne Families, Lawler Families, Roxy & Rob Gayton, Tomi Kay Phillips, Chum Ladue, Ladue Families, Fee Moran & Families, Ted & Janice Johnston, Janet White Bull, Tom & Gloria Fischer, Darcie Blue Earth & Sanford Home Health Staff, Dr. Josh Henderson, Holly Keller and Candida Gehring, Dr. Amber Tincher & Nurses & Staff, Standing Rock Ambulance EMT's, Zach Hanson, Timber Lake Ambulance EMT's, Bismarck Sanford: Nurses, especially: Jonah, Amy, Jess & Morgan and CNA's: Dani, Keanna, 4th & 7th Floors and Doctors & Staff, West Winds Home Health: Danielle Williams, Cherri w/Independent Living Choices, Mobridge Regional Hospital: Nurses, CNA's & Staff, All Family & Friends. We apologize if we missed anyone, as that was not our intention. Special Thank You to Fr. Biju and Fr. John Paul for coming to the hospital for Mom.

Carlsen Funeral Home and Crematory of Aberdeen has been entrusted with arrangements. 

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