Obits 1

                          OBITS: and/or BIOGRAPHIES:

LaVere C. Graham (Millerfrom Wyola

Funeral services for LaVere C. Graham (Miller), 81, of Story will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Champion Ferries Funeral Home with the Rev. Lawrence Zillmer officiating. Burial will be in the Elks Section of Sheridan Municipal Cemetery. Mrs. Graham died Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2006, in Sheridan Memorial Hospital. She was born Dec. 20, 1924, in Casper to Benjamin and Aryeka (Rasmussen) Chastain. The family moved to Rock Springs, and she was a 1943 graduate of Rock Springs High School. She graduated in 1945 from Colorado Women's College in Denver. She married William S. Graham in 1948 in Sheridan. They lived on the family ranch west of Wyola, Mont., until they retired. Mrs. Graham was a bookkeeper and homemaker. Mr. Graham died in 1975. Mrs. Graham later married Len Miller; they were divorced.

She was a 60-year member of Beta Sigma Phi and was the first president of the Sheridan Chapter, a past state president of the Montana General Federation of Women's Clubs, a member of Daughters of the American Revolution, and a 4-H leader. She enjoyed knitting, sewing, reading, gardening, computers and spending time with her family. In addition to her first husband, she was preceded in death by a stepbrother.

 Survivors include a son, Eric S. Graham of Cape Coral, Fla.; a daughter, Sandra L. Canfield of Story; a brother, Benjamin Chastain of Sheridan; three grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Story Volunteer Fire Department, Sheridan Senior Citizens Center, or a charity of the donor's choice.

 

 

John E. Hammett Jr. from  ST. XAVIER -

Longtime Big Horn County rancher, John  Hammett, Jr., 81, died Dec. 21, 2007, of natural causes, at his St. Xavier  home.
He was born May 25, 1926, in Thermopolis, Wyo., to John and Blanche  Brown Hammett, Sr. His childhood years were spent in the Wyola area. He attended  schools in Wyola and Lodge Grass. John joined the Navy during World War II and  served aboard LST 694 from 1943 to 1946. He participated in a number of  invasions and landings in the South Pacific. When asked what his duties were on  the LST, he said he was "in charge of paint and rag" in addition to being a  gunner on the landing craft.
After World War II, he returned to Wyola and  ranching. He broke horses and punched cows for the Antler Ranch and the PR Krone  Ranch. He spent a number of years in cow camps around the area and in  GarvinBasin and Big Bull ridge in the BigHornMountains. John rode saddle broncos  and participated in many rodeos. He won some money, broke some bones and  traveled quite a few miles with some great friends. They frequently found  themselves in unusual predicaments and it brings smiles to our faces as we  remember the stories he told about this time in his life. In addition to being a  cowboy, John tried his hand at a few other things. He worked on an old rig in  Wyoming and in the underground mines in Butte. These adventures were short-lived  before he returned to ranching.
In 1956, he married Mary Ruth Wolf and they  made their home on Rotten Grass Creek, where they got into the sheep business.  John didn't really like sheep, so after a few years, they switched back to  cattle. For 19 years, the Hammetts trailed sheep and then cattle to their summer  range on the BigHornMountains. This was always a big event and was looked at  with anticipation and dread! In 1979, John and Mary Ruth moved to the Charlie  Wolf place on Soap Creek, where they continued their cattle operation. John was  a top hand and helped many neighbors and friends with branding and shipping. In  1999, John and Mary Ruth moved to their retirement home near St. Xavier, but  continued with the cattle operation on Soap Creek. 2004 brought big changes  after John and Mary sold their cattle and retired. Two month after the trucks  pulled out, Mary Ruth unexpectedly died on Dec. 7. In retirement, John became  quite a self-taught welder. His specialty was hat racks made from old  horseshoes.
His parents and wife of 48 years, Mary Ruth, preceded John in  death.
Survivors include his daughters, Linda (Gary) Greenwalt of Hardin,  Julie (Max) Hallfrisch of Great Falls, Wanda (Donovan) Sauter of Billings and  Barbara Chavez (Scott Turner) of Worden; nine grandchildren and three  great-grandchildren. He also leaves behind his siblings, Lee Hammett of Wyoming,  Olive Sargent of South Dakota, Roberta Williams of CookeCity, Alice Stevens of  Wyoming and Ina Belle Snyder of Arizona; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and  some great cowboy friends.
"Your hard ride is over; you taught us  well."
We would like to extend a special thank you to Emily Byrd, Lee Hammett  and Susan Easterday for all of their loving care.
Funeral services will be  held 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 26, in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Interment will  follow in the LodgeGrassCemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted  with the arrangements

Nora Ann Little Light Bird from LodgeGrass

LODGE GRASS - Nora Ann Little Light Bird, 56, went home to be with her Lord June 13, 2009, in the Billings Clinic. She was born Oct. 8, 1952, a daughter of William Williamson and Leona Little Light. She was raised and cared for by her stepfather Victor Morning Sr. at Binnaate. She graduated from Lodge Grass High School, received her bachelor's from Eastern Montana College (MSU-B) in Elementary Education and Special Ed, continued her education career at Mon-tana State University in Bozeman where she received her Masters in School Administration and Education Curriculum. She was in the process of pursuing her Doctorate in Educational Leadership.

She started her career in Education at Wyola Elementary where she completed her student teaching. She went on to teach at Lodge Grass Elementary where she taught 2nd grade. With her passion in education she developed an effective teaching method during her first year of teaching and she taught her fellow teachers this teaching methodology. She became the Principal/Superintendent at Wyola Elementary, Director of Head Start at Crow Agency, Bilingual Director at Lodge Grass, Faculty member at Rocky Mountain College, Director of Big Horn Training Teacher Project and Mon-tana State University- Billings and Assistant Director of American Research Opportunity. She served on various education programs locally and nationally including the Board of Education Montana Advisory Council, President of Montana Association of Bilingual Education and served as an Advisor for Rocky Boy and Northern Cheyenne parent policy councils. Started library in bilingual education where she develop a young author's library in the Crow language and also co-authored on early literacy. She was passionate about her career in education, but her greater passion was in participating and coordinating church activities for children and the youth at Pentecostal Church of El Shaddai, Wyola, which she enjoyed and took pride in, and also started a teaching series on fruits of the Spirit.

Nora was an artistic, talented and creative person. Her hobbies include making quilts where her work was displayed at the Yellowstone Art Museum. She decorated halls and community centers for weddings and other formal occasions, her latest talent was creating fruit cascades. As a youth, she enjoyed and participated in various sports activities and enjoyed riding horses. She was an active person participating in running events, an accomplishment in this regard was running in the Beartooth Run. She loved her animals, especially her horse Whitie and her Dobermans, Duke and Buck. She enjoyed traveling to various basketball tournaments with her daughters throughout Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho, which included high school games her girls and nephews participated in. Most of all, she enjoyed spending time playing with her grandchildren.

She was united in marriage to Adrian Bird, Sr. and later divorced, but continued a close relationship with the Bird family.

Her parents; brothers, Daniel Paul Morning and Darrell Paul Morning; sisters, Andrea Good Luck, Connie Little Light and Vicki Dust; nephews Jordan Morning and Baby Wayne Howe; uncles Trask Little Light, Clive Dust, Louis Good Luck Sr. and James Bright Wings Sr.; aunts Julia Not Afraid, Martha and Edna Dust.

Survivors include her children Camille (Richard) McCormick, Charity, Ashley and Leona Cassie Bird, Theresa Morning; stepson Adrian Bird, Jr.; a granddaughter Shiloh McCormick whom she raised; her grandchildren Virgil McCormick, Tobin and Talan Cummins, Treston Cole and Zoey Ontiveros; brothers Garfield Little Light, Curtis (Marilyn) Morning, Gordon (Norma) Morning, Thomas (Janice) Morning, John (Virjileen) Dust; sisters Kaye Tobacco, Minerva (Mike) Tucker, Victoria (Myron) Falls Down, Vianna (Dennis) Stewart, Kathleen (Clinton) Whiteclay and Paulette (Reuben) Falls Down; all her nieces and nephews were very special to her and always did special things to demonstrate her love and support; her adopted parents Raymos and Elsie Edwards; her adopted children Mikey Tucker, Chelsea Rowland, Terrance Springfield, Raven Price, Jamison and Winters Red Star; adopted brothers and sisters Wallace, Kevin, Marlon Aaron, Kaneeta, Walla and Lani Red Star, Arnold Jefferson, Gary Dean Little Light, Larry, Henry and Darrell Bright Wings, Leo and Aldean Good Luck, Jr., Murphy (Janice) Platero, Larry Emerson and Chopper and Carol Morgan, Prophetess Shelly Ware, Aneda Hill, Lavonne Spotted Horse, Joyce Good Luck, And Clinton Good Luck; a special childhood friend and cousin Louie Good Luck Jr., Red Star Price, Flavina Bromley, Maria Pease, Hen-rietta Takes Horse, Verena Costa, Rebecca Stovall, Lydia Hill Jennifer and Delinda Jefferson, Aldean, Tawnya, Claudine, Victor, Joe and Clive Dust Jr.; aunts and uncles Amy Red Star and Carol (John) Bullinsight, Frances (Bertha) Bear Claw and Fred LaBeau; as well as her extended family include the late Louis Good Luck Sr., Dust, Red Star, Bright Wings, Little Light, Morning, Hunts the Arrow and Williamson families; special friends Sarah Young, Sandy Monteau, Velda Penney, Marlene Walking Bear, Daisy Three Irons Stamper, Lynn Hindge, Florence Garcia, Rhea Goes Ahead, Carlene Old Elk, Punki Bullis, Anne Rusaw and Pinky Bird.

Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday June 17, in the Crow Agency Multi-Purpose Building. Interment will follow in the Lodge Grass Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Julia Not Afraid  from Lodge Grass

LODGE GRASS - Julia Not Afraid, 86, of Lodge Grass, one of the last traditionally dressed Crow woman, passed away April 2, 2009, at the Billings Clinic.

Baaapa'alikisshe hhisshe "Red Flower" was born Oct. 12, 1922, to Dexter and Maude Bad Boy Williamson at Lodge Grass Creek. She attended schools in Crow Agency; Bismarck, N.D.; and Flandreau, S.D.

On June 9, 1938, she was united in marriage to Cedric Not Afraid in Lodge Grass. They made their home on Owl Creek, where they ranched and raised their family. Cedric preceded her in death on Aug. 16, 1973.

Julia's main focus was her family. She enjoyed cooking traditional meals for them and became well known for her pemmican. She also enjoyed watching her family participate in rodeos and was very proud of all of them, from her husband to her great-grandchildren. She attended the Indian National Finals numerous times to watch her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren participate. She also traveled to many powwows and during her travels she made many friends. She was always concerned about her family and often visited them to check on their wellbeing. The love for her family and faith in God, sustained her through her later years.

She was a member of the Newly Made Lodge Clan, was a child of the Greasy Mouth Clan and a member of Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church.

Her parents; daughter Irene Not Afraid; sons Gary, Wayne, Dee and Donald Not Afraid; sisters Leda Falls Down and Olive Bad Bear; and brothers David Jefferson, Paul, William and Dexter Williamson Jr. preceded Julia in death.

Survivors include her grandchildren, Danelle (Rick) Hyatt, Mike (Lori) Not Afraid, Kimberly (Lansing) Not Afraid, Michelle (Alfred) Armajo, Julie (George) Cummins, Alvin Lee Not Afraid, April (Cameron) Toinetta, Marty (Marion) Not Afraid, Randy (Larae) Not Afraid and Jeremy (Roxanne) Not Afraid; her great-grandchildren, Nicole, Jayme, Jessica, Amanda, Emily, Ty, Erin, Brandon, Taryn, Braylee, Casey, Tawni, Amica, Rad, Miclo, Cara, Lacey, Wyatt, Courtney, Roddy, Michael, Vernice, Zane and Sydney; 11 great-great-grandchildren; her adopted children, Adella Spotted Horse, Lloyd and Elvenia Pickett; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Julia's family would like to thank Dr. Pflug and the nursing staff at the Billings Clinic for the excellent care given to our loved one.

Rosary will be recited 4 p.m. Sunday, April 5, in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Monday, April 6, in the Lodge Grass Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church. Rite of Committal will follow in the Lodge Grass Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.

WILLIAM BENBROOKS DIES AT HOME HERE from Lodge Grass

William Benbrooks, well know groceryman of Lodge Grass, passed away at his home here Sunday, after a lingering illness.

 He was born May 28, 1870 in Memphis, TN. And arrived in Lodge Grass 30 years ago to begin a grocery business, which he continued until he became ill. The Indians this region dealt with him for many years and he knew them well.

Four children of his first marriage survive. They are Edith, Orrin and Frank. On Aug. 30, 1930 he was married to Netti  Rinehart, whom also survives.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday at the Chivers Memorial Chapel with Dr. AW.A. Petzold in Charge. Interment will be in Sheridan, WY.

 

Ramona Falls Down Real Bird from Crow Agency


CROW AGENCY - Ramona Falls Down Real Bird, 79, of Crow Agency, went to be with her Creator on April 2, 2009. She will be reunited with her husband, son and other family members who have passed on before her.

Ishdaakaakitche "Owns Good Bird," a name given to her by her adopted parents Louis and Mary Falls Down, was born April 15, 1929, in Crow Agency, a daughter of Ray Falls Down and Elsie Other Medicine. She grew up and received her education in Crow Agency. She was a traditional Crow woman who loved to camp during the Crow Fair and participate in Sun dances, arrow tournaments, powwows, rodeos and hand games.

Ramona married George Real Bird Sr. on Nov. 8, 1949, in Hardin and the couple made their home in Crow Agency.

She was a member of the Catholic Church, Bad War Deed Clan, Tobacco Society and was a child of the Greasy Mouth Clan. She supported and watched her family participate in all of their sporting events. She loved to travel and was known as a good cook who loved to bake.

Her parents; husband; son; sisters Delores, Ida Mae; brothers Robert, Elmer and Raymond Falls Down; and her adopted parents Sampson and Annette Bird in Ground Sr. preceded Ramona in death.

Survivors include her daughter, Susan Real Bird; her adopted daughters, Barbara Bird in Ground and Dora Falls Down; her sons, Blaine, Ed (Francine), JD (Helen) and George (Raphaelle) Real Bird Jr.; sisters Phyllis (Walter) Big Medicine, Violet Other Medicine, Laura Real Bird and Agetha (Bruce) House; brothers Blaine (Danetta) Falls Down Sr., Joe (Rena) and Robert Pickett Sr.;

 her adopted children, Renetta (George) and Keith (Clorissa) Mandan, Harry Moccasin, Gilford Sees the Ground Sr., Danny three Irons Jr., Lawrence Plenty Hawk Jr. and Raymond Big Day Jr.; her Tobacco Society sister and brothers, Verna (Carl) Pease, Clifford (Ardith) and Alex (Susan) Bird in Ground Sr.;

her grandchildren, Holland, Monte, George III, Cecile, Angel, Alta, Cazzie, Frank, Corey, Shawn, John, Fawn, Wilson, Zac, Jayanna, Gethsamme, RJ, Janee, Jaycee, Leander Lewis, Cody Custer and Seth; 20 great-grandchildren; and her extended family, including the Falls Down, Bird in Ground, Pickett, Pretty Paint, Other Medicine, Morrison, Highhawk, Youngbird, Long Ear, Black Hawk and Smells families.

 Our family is large; if we have missed you, please accept our apology.

Rosary will be recited 4 p.m. Monday, April 6, in the Bullis Funeral Chapel. Funeral mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 7, at the Crow Agency St. Dennis Catholic Church. Rite of Committal will follow in the Little Big Horn Battlefield National Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin as been entrusted with the arrangements.
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[bighorn] [Residents] [Wyola] [1930 Census] [Biographies] [Lodge Grass] [1930 Census 2] [Rodeo Queen] [Hardin] [Hardin 2] [Pryor] [cowboys] [Bios] [Crow Fair] [Obits1] [Crow Agency] [Gen. Scott] [WW2] [Census 1870] [1930] [WW2 (2)] [Obits 1] [PAGE2 Census] [Deaths, Custer] [Cemeteries] [Long Hair'] [Fetterman Fight] [Custer Battlefield] [Custer data] [Custer Battle] [Custer Bios] [Internments] [Ft. Custer and Ft. Keogh] [MT Fort PARKER] [1870 Census] [Dipping Vat] [Fort Smith] [A-H obits] [First Familes] [Volume 1] [Missonaries] [Crow History] [Art,culture]

BIG HORN COUNTY TOWNS

WYOLA,

LODGEGRASS

, HARDIN,

CUSTER  BATTLEFIELD

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Jo Ann if questions
ashevillejewelry @yahoo.com

 

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