Wilma Jo Roy-Mondragon

Wilma Roy-Mondragon, 62 years young from the Turtle Clan and Red Lake, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, March 28, 2025, after becoming acutely ill at home. She was born on August 31, 1962 in Red Lake, MN, to William “Bill” and Marian (Cobenais) Roy.

Wilma attended the St. Mary’s Mission School, graduating from the 6th grade in 1974. She went on to attend the Flandreau Indian School in South Dakota and graduated with the class of 1980 from the Red Lake High School. Wilma attended Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College in Bemidji, graduating with a diploma in 1999 in Secretary/Receptionist Technology.

Wilma married her high school sweetheart and the father of her girls, Donald “Happy” Sayers, in September 1987. Wilma married her soulmate, Antonio “Tony” Mondragon, on August 4, 1994. Wilma worked various jobs, including the Red Lake Head Start Program in Early Childhood Development, she worked at the Seven Clans Casino/Hotel in Thief River Falls as the hotel front desk clerk and she worked a short time with the WIC program in Red Lake. Wilma began working for the Red Lake HIS Hospital in 2002 as a medical records technician, moving on as a pharmacy technician, and was the current Administrative Support Assistant in the Radiology Department.  

Wilma loved to read books, listen to all genres of music, especially the Rolling Stones and classical music. She enjoyed watching the Vikings and Minnesota Lynx. She loved going to the casino to play keno and candy crush. She went on her daily walks, loved to cook and try new recipes. She was starting some DIY home improvement projects and loved spending time with her husband, kids and grandkids. She loved traveling with her sister following the Rolling Stones band to Minneapolis, London, Paris, Denver, and Detroit Michigan. She loved being on the phone with her best friend Shelly and shopping with her girls. She loved her family immensely and made sure everyone was good and had what they needed. She is very caring, loving, and would go an extra mile for family & friends.

Wilma is survived by husband: Tony; Two daughters: Dawn & Lilah (Anthony) Sayers; Three grandsons: James, Jayce, and Don Tez Martin; Special granddaughters: Shayeleigh & Bryleigh Sayers and Daliyah Martin; Special son: Jeremy Martin; One sister: Dr. Mary Ann (Richard) Cook; Two brothers: James (Kay) Roy and William “Bill” Roy Jr; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and one uncle: Lloyd Donnell.

Wilma joined her parents, ex-husband and friend Donald “Happy” Sayers; One brother Roland “Baby Joe” Roy; Adopted siblings: Lora, Douglas, and Roselyn Desjarlait; Grandparents: Joseph and Mary Cobenais, Frank and Sophia Donnell and Raymond Beaulieu; Nephew: Brian Roy; and Sister-in-law: Kelly Roy; along with many aunts, uncles, cousins, and co-worker & friend Scott Lukken.

Wake services for Wilma will begin at 11:00 AM on Tuesday, April 1, 2025 at the new Red Lake Center and continue until her 1:00 PM funeral service at the Red Lake Catholic Church on Thursday, April 3, 2025 with Father Tom Niehaus officiating. Active pallbearers will be James Martin, Jayce Martin, Jeremy Martin, Robin Roy, Stan Cook, Alton Beaulieu Jr, and Leonard Spears. Honorary pallbearers will be Shelly Cobenais, Cheryl Schoenborn, Jan Parkhurst, Sherri May, Collette Maxwell, Karen Cobenais, Lanae Cook, Ashley Cook, Misty Roy, Ahndraya Roy, Randi Roy, Rhianna May, Roselee Desjarlait, Touresa Desjarlait, Richard Cook, David Cobenais Sr., TJ Cobenais, John Cobenais, Jed “Cheeto” Desjarlait, Anthony Green, Darwin Bevins, Lloyd Donnell, Walter Williams, and Alfreda Sayers. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery at Red Lake.

Wilma’s care has been entrusted to Whispering Pines Funeral & Cremation Service of Walker & Hackensack. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.whisperingpinesnorth.com.

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