On March 23, 1939 Effie Marie Bearchum was born & on April 16, 2025 she began her journey.
Throughout her childhood she traveled w/her family to various job sites in Wyoming & Montana. Her parents Charlie Whitewolf & Susie Grasshopper settled in Busby, Mt with her siblings Leo, Anna Mae, Frieda, Alvina, Charlotte & Charlie Jr.
She married Matthew Woodenlegs on 2/28/1960 & from this union Diane Faye, Jeffery Seth, Mardell Faith & Matthew Jr. were born. She also had her firstborn son Alvin Lee on April 30, 1958. She later married Frank Bearchum he proceeded her in death.
She loved traveling & throughout her life various family took her here & there, she was always ready to jump in and go wherever the road led her. Her & her cousin Victoria who were nicknamed “Thelma & Lousie” were always on the go hitting up all the free clothes & bread places.
She was the Frybread queen in the family & also made other homemade bread. One of her favorite meals was Boiling meat & potatoes & Polish sausage, her snacks were Lays chips, Diet Dr. Pepper & maple bars. She loved reading her newspaper & always asked for one.
She enjoyed family get togethers & loved all her grandchildren.
She joins her loved ones who proceeded her, parents Charlie & Susie, brothers Leo & Charlie Jr, sisters Anna Mae, Alvina & Charlotte, daughters Diane & Mardell, son Alvin Lee, Nieces Colleen Whitewolf, Lisa, Colette & Tamara Bear Robe, Nephews Floyd Moore & Tom Bear Robe Sr. Grandsons Brian Parker, Shawn Whitewolf & Jeremy Whitewolf & cousin Victoria.
She had many grandchildren who she helped raised & loved. Tamara Spang, Lyle and Thomas Holmes, Quincy Woodenlegs, Nathan LongSouix, Emmanual Pine.
She is survived by her sister Frieda Smith of Pryor, Montana. Nieces: Jocelyn BearRobe, Lola Haugen (YoYo), Rachel Bedoni (Brian), Marsha Whitewolf, Eloise Snow (Robb),April Moore. Nephews: Robert and Marvin Whitewolf, Shawn and Warren Smith, Collins,Ronnie and Travis Moore, Joseph (Ilene) Dana BearRobe, Gerald Walksnice and Merle KillsNight.
She had many grandchildren and great grandchildren who she loved dearly.
Extended Families also included were Roundstone, Trusler, Smiths, and Smalls. TylaDawn Effie Marie was her name sake.
She had s special friend Julia Wolf who she met in the nursing home.
We want to thank the Awe Kualawaache Nursing home staff for taking good care of her in her last years with us.
Service Schedule
Traditional Wake
7:00 pm
Monday April 21, 2025
Busby Lighthouse Church
Busby, Montana 59016
Funeral Service
11:00 am
Tuesday April 22, 2025
Busby Lighthouse Church
Busby, Montana 59016
Interment
Following the Funeral Service
Tuesday April 22, 2025
Snow Family Cemetery
Kirby, Montana 59016
Service Schedule
Traditional Wake
7:00 pm
Monday April 21, 2025
Busby Lighthouse Church
Busby, Montana 59016
Funeral Service
11:00 am
Tuesday April 22, 2025
Busby Lighthouse Church
Busby, Montana 59016
Interment
Following the Funeral Service
Tuesday April 22, 2025
Snow Family Cemetery
Kirby, Montana 59016
Share
Emily says
Til we meet again grandma 🩵
April Dawn Moore says
Really gonne miss you AUNTIE EFFIE 😭 You were one awesome awesome AUNTIE please give My MoM and All the Love Ones up There a hug and tell them I love and miss more than anyone knows YOU MAY BE GONE BUT YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN AUNTIE MAY YOU REST IN PEACE MY HEART IS BROKEN 💔 BUT I KNOW YOU ARE IN A BETTER PLACE I LOVE YOU MY BEAUTIFUL AUNTIE EFFIE
R.I.P
Donna M Bearcomesout @gmail.com says
Condolences to my friend MatthewJr,please say Hello to Diane who is waiting for you in heaven 🙏
Donna Bearcomesout family
Tom Trusler says
My grandmas partner in crime. Memories of those two pulling up to moms office and visiting until we laughed so hard our sides hurt. The appreciation and love I felt when I brought her a deer or some meat. How she comforted me when my grandma passed. They are both together again and that makes my heart happy. It would be a true blessing to have a friendship like that one since childhood all the way through the golden years. Death is never goodbye, that’s something they both taught me and I’m forever great full. Until we meet again Auntie. Give my grandma a big hug for me like I know you will.
Alaina Buffalo Spirit says
My deepest condolences 🙏 ☹️ 😔 😢
Donna Lumpy Gonzales says
Condolences Matthew Blessings and peace to you and Eloise and all the family
Dennis and Bonnie says
Sincere Condolences to her family.
Addie Baker says
My condolences to my siblings Jeff and Matthew Woodenlegs. Your mom was always nice to me, she accepted me into your family. I will miss stopping by to see her in Busby. I am sorry I couldn’t be at her funeral, but you guys are in my prayers. Be strong and know that Effie is with Jesus. I love you my brothers❤️