Rhonda passed away peacefully in Lethbridge, Alberta on Thursday, February 5, 2026. A loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, retired nurse, golfer, curler, seamstress, community volunteer, she is survived by her husband of 53 years, Charles Blood Sr., her children Pam, Cameron & Charles Jr., grandchildren, and great-granddaughters.

Rhonda was born in the Blood Indian Hospital on April 27, 1949 to Raymond and Isabella King and was raised in the One Spot Coulee area on the Blood Reserve, AB. She enjoyed her time there with her family until she was told she had to attend residential school. 

Blackfoot language was her first language and as her father tried to teach her how to say her English name she refused to accept it and repeated that her name was Miisaminiskim. She carried her strong spirit with her throughout her lifetime.

Rhonda attended St. Mary’s Residential School, Magrath School and Catholic Central High School. She then entered the Registered Nursing program at St. Micheal’s Nursing School and graduated in 1970. She started as an R.N. and tended to patients at the Blood Indian Hospital and then went onto a career path that gave our people a voice in public health care for Indigenous peoples. She learned about a new Bachelor of Nursing program at the University of Lethbridge and quickly enrolled and graduated with the first cohort in 1982.

Rhonda then became the Nurse-In-Charge with Medical Services Branch on the Blood Reserve and tied a strong link between frontline health care and advocating at tables at the federal level when she was one of the founding members of the Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada, now the Canadian Indigenous Nurses Association. During her time on the Reserve, she worked to strengthen community health for the Blood Tribe from infants to elders. She also encouraged many of our members to pursue nursing and mentored many to apply for their degrees. She was also so proud to hear from nursing graduates and know the Blood Tribe had a strong number of nurses serving our people. After her time on the Blood Reserve, she received her Master’s Degree in Teaching and Counselling from Gonzaga University in 1997, while working in Saddle Lake and Good Fish Lake, AB with MSB. She then took on Ottawa for one year to work with First Nations health facilities across Canada to receive accreditation with Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation. Rhonda also found the time to write a chapter in the first edition Community Health Nursing textbook on ‘Aboriginal clients’. She then returned to southern Alberta as a Health Promotions Specialist with Alberta Health Services upon retiring. With all her accomplishments, she returned home for her family to support and care for her husband, children, grandchildren and great-granddaughters.

She married the love of her life, Charles Blood Sr. on June 3, 1972. When Charles approached Rhonda’s father to ask for her hand in marriage, he was refused. Raymond told him to wait until she finished school and which he did and they went on to enjoy 53 years together. They started a family and raised their daughter and sons in the same area she grew up in, One Spot Coulee. She supported Charles during his ranching days and always ensured he took good care of his health and dressed nicely! You would seldom see them apart because they truly enjoyed each other’s company, worked hard to build their life together and love one another through the good times and the bad. Rhonda took her role as a mother very seriously and provided structure, rules and discipline but also with humour, teachings and her love. She loved her boys, Cameron and Jr., and did everything she could for them so they could be content and secure. She loved her daughter, Pam, and was more strict with her, but spent many hours teaching her things she knew she would need to know in life. Her grandchildren and great-granddaughters were her pride and joy, as she would attend as many basketball games, hockey, powwows, awards ceremonies, and graduations. She never left them without a hug and kiss.

Family was essential to Rhonda and constantly maintained connections with her relatives. Since her parents’ passing, she always found solace in visiting her uncle Leo McHugh, who was also her neighbour, and was an important family member throughout her life. She would also spend much of her time with her aunt Annie Davis who would guide and support her through her love and humour.

Throughout the years, she took up golfing in the 1970s and joined the Magrath Ladies League and became a champion “a couple of times” and joined many Indigenous golf tournaments with her husband Charles. They formed many friendships through their love of golf, and got their children involved too. She again joined her husband in curling and again formed friendships within the Magrath Curling Club in the 1980s. Mom was talented and would make some crazy plays that would somehow save her teams, in both curling and golf. In all, she loved to travel and go on road trips with her family. Many times, they would travel with the late Bruno and Korine Many Bears and their children Jonathan and Kendra which mom called some of the best times of her life.

Rhonda was known for her elegance, style, and her effortless lady-like manner. She was also intelligent, strong-willed and did not back down if challenged. She also had a very loving side and would be there to offer kind words to anybody who needed a shoulder to cry on. She would often help her relatives and loved ones who took on the responsibilities of our societies in any way she could. She was a good steam-stress and made dresses for her family and friends as gifts for prayers for her family. As years went on, Rhonda and Charles would show up for relatives to offer support with their strong and loving presence. Rhonda was a beautifully complex woman who lived an interesting and wonderful life. She will be fondly remembered and missed dearly by those who knew and loved her.

Rhonda is survived by her loving and devoted husband Charles Blood Sr., her daughter Pamelynn Blood, and her sons Cameron Blood and Charles Jr. (Tricia) Blood; her grandchildren, Cherilynn (Austen), Brolin, Charlee and Owen; her great-granddaughters, Loralynn and Aubrielle. Her sisters: Thelma King and Carla (Fred) Weasel Fat. Her sisters-in-law: JoAnne (Erik) Lemieux, Cynthia (Hiram) Blood, and Yolanda Eagle Tailfeathers. Her brothers-in-law: Dewey (Carolyn) Blood, Blaine and Manuel Blood.

Adopted daughters: Debra Blood, Kendra Many Bears, Michelle Cross Child, Gina Many Bears, Shawna Strangling Wolf, and Candace Shade; Adopted son, Terrence Bottle; Adopted granddaughter, Bella Cross Child; Adopted sister, Carmen Black Water.

She was pre-deceased by her beloved son Neal Terrance Charles Blood; her parents, Raymond and Isabella King; Her paternal grandparents, Nicholas King and Little Shine; her maternal grandparents, Jim and Mary Many Feathers; Her brothers Courtney, Raynard, Charlie, Micheal and Carlton; and her sister and best friend, Gavina King; Her father and mother-in-law, Alfred and Lucy Blood.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to: Blood Tribe EMS, Lethbridge EMS, Cardston Hospital Doctors, Nurses and Staff, her long-time physician, Dr. Kenneth Dahl; All our sacred society members for their continued prayers.

The Wake Service will be held at Martin Brothers Funeral Chapel on Friday, February 13, 2026 starting at 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. 

Funeral Services will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church on the Blood Reserve on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. Internment to follow at St. Catherine’s Cemetery.