A story about my little brother Harry Wayne One Bear

Harry Wayne One Bear was born on January 18, 1968 and passed away on April 10, 2025 at home.

Fifty-seven (57) years ago a baby boy was brought to our house in Ashland, Montana. He was so small and so frail and my grandpa and grandma both cried when they saw him. When I saw him for the first time it hurt my heart to see such a little baby, I asked them ‘who is he’ and they said ‘this is your little brother, you have to be nice to him. He has already had a hard life and his name is Harry Wayne, “Strong Bear”. We grew up together and were both raised by our grandparents Maggie and Jim One Bear, along with our cousins in one house. Sometimes the only place to sleep was on the floor but it was such a loving and comfortable environment . Our grand parents did the best they could showing us that hard work and determination would help us as we grew into adulthood. They told us that we should always watch what we said to others and to lead by example. Harry did this. He was kind, loving, and a hard worker, and a shining example of what it means to be a fifth-generation descendent of Chief Dull Knife. Anyone who knew him would say that he would give the shirt off his back if you asked him. He cultivated long lasting friendships wherever he went.

He traveled all over the country at an early age with people who took him under their wings. One of his favorite memories he shared with me was the time Dave Tompkins took him to New York City. He said he went up on the Twin Towers and that Dave and his mother were good to him. The kindness Harry was shown as a young child helped create a kind and gentle man. In high school, Harry ran Cross Country for Colstrip High School and was a State Champion in the 1986-87 school year. As he grew into a man he had many jobs and learned many trades. He could do anything he set his mind to. He got his CDL and then worked for the State Roads in Montana, and for the Lame Deer School District as a Bus Driver and the Maintenance Man. He then expanded his working experience to driving all across the country for the Jim Palmer Company until he had an accident where a pallet fell on top of him, rendering him unable to continue working in that capacity. After her retired from driving the big trucks, he then became a Bar Tender at Bucks Bar in Billings and soon started managing it. From there he entered the business of running 28 rent units in Billings. Harry was a good Manager and friend to most of his tenants. Of course we all know that there were some individuals who did not meet their rent obligations and therefore had to be removed from the vicinity and weren’t happy about it but as Harry would say to me “That’s life, you gotta take care of your responsibilities.” He knew the court system well for evictions of non payable tenants and he was well liked by the clerks and Judges who took on the cases. Harry said they liked him because he always came prepared with all the right paperwork and because they saw how much he cared and how Harry had most likely given them chance after chance. Harry’s favorite job was coming to the ranch and being in the country where there was a lot of work to do. Harry drove tractors, bobcats, rode horses, drove side by sides, hay trucks, and boats. He helped build corrals, water tanks, and could fix anything around the place. He sorted cattle, held the calves feet and tagged the ears, gave shots and loved working with the horses. He also was patient teaching the newbies how to do tasks. He said he was happiest when he was with family and doing work on the ranch. Oh and he just told me “to eat my good cooking” lol.

As I have stated above everybody loved Harry, but the ones who loved him the most were children. He had a way with kids that I have never seen before . He took it upon himself to be a step dad, foster dad, uncle and friend to these young lives. Every time he entered the room he became the most popular person there, with kids running to him saying “Uncle Harry! “ and he would pick them up and swing them in the air and smile his beautiful smile and say “Hi! Awe so good to see you, what you been up too?” Then they would all run off and show him what they had been doing or how he could “play with me” “push me on the swing” “throw me in the air” “look what I did” “look what I made” “can you buy me this” and he would have them running and laughing. Even as he lay in the hospital in Billings he would see a lot of children in the room that we could not see, so I believe God must need him in Heaven to help take care of all the little ones. While in the hospital Harry was visited by many people who he had helped in some way or another and they told us stories about how kind he was to them and what a good man he was. It made our hearts fill with pride that our little brother, Uncle and friend was to others. And that he had taken to heart what our Grandparents had taught us about how to treat people in a good way. What an amazing human being and angel that lived among us. We are thankful for the friends and family who visited Harry while in the hospital and in his final days at the ranch.

We want to give a special thank-you to the oncology unit at Billings Clinic, namely Harry’s nurse Kelsey, his CNA Summer, and his in-patient Hospice Provider Kimmi. We also want to thank the Lame Deer hospice “Team Cooper”, Kim Dahl and her Public Health nursing team, and countless others who we don’t see but are so integral in the smooth transition of care for our beloved Uncle. Additionally, a special thank you to Deacon Joe, who befriended, guided, and eventually baptized Harry.

Harry was the proud son of Wayne Mickey One Bear and the best brother ever to Terry One Bear (Lori One Bear), Carmie One Bear Williams (Scott), Roxie One Bear Wilson (Calvin), Robbie One Bear (Ida), Gladis NightWalker, Mary One Bear, John One Bear (Barbarie), Patrick, Myra Woodenthigh Fisher (Virgil ), BJ Morning Star(Amanda), Merle BigHead (Marie), Myron and Fred Bement, Garland Manley, Juanita Spotted Elk, Emanuel Big Head, Lynette Big Head, Bridget Grendahl (Traci, Delcy, Elijah, Keykem), Lyllis Grendahl, Max Hiwalker (Panzy), Larry, and Daryle Hiwalker , Kim Hiwalker, Clayton and Carl Big Head, Nomi One Bear Partida, and family,Robert One Bear Jr. and family, Patricia Brady Limpy and family, Richard (Bridgette) and family, Judy (Dean) and family and Robin and family, Kathy Beartusk (Ronnie) and family, Allan (Joleen) and family,(Francine Spang-Willis (Rusty) and Wade Gray. An incredible Uncle to Jeff Wilson, Brittani Mahoney (Jeff) their 3 kids Finley, Kanin, Archer , Megan Sinclair (Braydon) and their child Scottie, Chance Wilson (Hannah) and their 3 boys, Hendrix Wayne, Ellis Mac, Roman , Tempe One Bear (Jason), and her 5 children Canzas, Kiana, Kennedy, Keilani , Roger JR, Terrance One Bear (Tiffany) their son Tynel, Zyler Vekese , Zyree, Cheyanna, Tesla , Kyree , and Zarin Wayne One Bear. Isaiah Williams, Micaiah BirdInGround, Kalen Plainfeather, Kaila Plainfeather, John, Patrick, and Frankie One Bear, KJ Big Head and Tevan (Brittney), Chan , Ashley , Jodean Bruisedhead, BJ Morning Star (Amanda) their children Mathew Jame Big Head Burke, Reliethia, Miracle, Iris, Jusde, Benjamin II, Cheylei, James, Sarah, and Cole Morning Star, Jeremy, Max IV (Trina)Hiwalker, Trudy ( Jeremy) , Trish (aka:Coco), Terry, Special Aunt Clara Harris and her family Melinda, Lyle, Elton, Brice, Rosie, Hannah, Candi (Ceivert) and kids Peressa, Tommy, Hazekiah, Karlee, and Daniella. Adopted son Brett Moore and family.

Extended families: Bearchum, Little Wolf, Seminoles, Shoulder Blades, Rockroads, Elk Shoulders, Wolfname, Bailey, Bird In Ground, Bright Wings, Walksalong, Sioux, Glenmore, Stands In Timber, Flying, Charrettes, Waters, Eagle Feather, Spang, Wilson, BigHead, Sookis, Limpy, Mahoney, Russell, Ridge Bear, Dull Knife, Gandara, Coffee, Harris, Woodenthigh . Our family is large, please accept our apologies if we forgot to mention your name.

Service Schedule

Traditional Wake

7:00 pm

Sunday April 13, 2025

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church

Lame Deer, Montana 59043

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Funeral Service

11:00 am

Monday April 14, 2025

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church

Lame Deer, Montana 59043

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Interment

Following the Funeral Service

Monday April 14, 2025

Wilson Family Cemetery

Busby, Montana 59016

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