Marie Littlewolf, age 92, of Busby MT

Maheo took Marie Littlewolf, 92, to start her journey back across the Milky Way on Tuesday November 23, 2021. Our Matriarch passed peacefully in her home that was lovingly built for her by her late husband of 52 years, Gilbert Littlewolf.
Voaheve’e, (First Woman) a So’taahe’ woman was born on September 8, 1929 in Lame Deer, MT. She’s the daughter of James and Jennie (Risingsun) Bigback. She grew up near Red Nose Reservoir and later relocated to Busby where she met and married Gilbert Littlewolf on May 23, 1950, in Hardin, MT. They made their home in Busby with their four children.
Marie and Gilbert valued education. Marie persevered and dedicated herself to earn her GED. In 2004 she received her Honorary Associates Degree from Chief Dull Knife College. She worked for Tongue River Boarding School (Northern Cheyenne Tribal School) as a cook and her hands made thousands of meals for numerous students over the course of her career. This is where she met her “BFF”, Best Friend for Life, Bertha (Beartusk) Freeman, who preceded her in death. They didn’t miss a chance to visit, laugh, and tell stories when they would see one another. She then worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs as a custodian until her retirement. After retirement, Marie and Gilbert would spend summers in Northern Montana with Wilbur and Phillis Anderson and their children.
Marie loved watching her L.A. Lakers. She would watch the games with her late son-in-law Sheldon Sandcrane. Marie knew every player’s name, number and stats of the Lakers. The Oklahoma Thunder was her second favorite team. She was a member of the Busby Golden Girls, which included Marietha Charette, Louise Fisher, and Jeanne StrangeOwl. The group of hard core Busby Eagles fans would travel to all their games and tournaments. Marie also enjoyed bull riding, her favorite rider wasJB Mauney. She went to watch him at the Metra and her late son-in-law Sheldon got his autograph for her. Marie and Gilbert were proud of the Littlewolf Women’s Softball team and sponsored them for many years. She was widely known for her frybread!! No Fourth of July Powwow was complete without “The Place”, their family owned concession stand. People would wait for hours just for her frybread. Marie looked forward to our many family gatherings because she loved her son-in-law, Dave’s cooking.
Marie respected and carried on her traditional Cheyenne ceremonies. She completed her pledges for the Sundance. Marie took Nancy Sandcrane as her adopted mother as Nancy was the one who helped her through her Sundance pledge. She was very proud of her recovery and instilled the importance of living a drug and alcohol free way of life to the four generations after her. Marie and Gilbert were proud members of the White River Mennonite Church and she enjoyed cooking for the Family and Youth Camps every year. Marie and Gladys would also travel to various Mennonite conferences across North America along with Louise and Marietha. She was a highly regarded fluent speaker of the Cheyenne language, and her vast knowledge of ceremonial songs, traditional protocol, and history.
She enjoyed spending time with family. She had a special relationship with her granddaughter Michelle, who spent the last two years taking care of her in her home. Marie loved all of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren along with many life-long friends.
Survivors include: Jeanie StrangeOwl, last surviving of the Risingsuns of her generation. Children – Doris Littlewolf, Esther Littlewolf, Donna Littlewolf and Emanuel Littlewolf. Grandchildren- Two special granddaughters that Marie and Gilbert raised as their own daughers Michelle Littlewolf-Sandcrane (the late, Sheldon Sandcrane) and Gina (Dave) Littlewolf-Millegan. Sharon Grinsell, Roberta Sequi, Willie Sequi Jr., James (Leslie) Wolfname, Shannon Wolfname, Ciciley (Joseph) Littlewolf, Tristin Littlewolf, Corinna Littlewolf, Dakota Littlewolf, Andre Brady and Tracey Littlewolf.
Proceeded in Death: Loving husband, Gilbert Littlewolf. Father and Mother, James and Jenny Bigback. Siblings Gladys, Robert, Michael and Gordon Bigback. Her two, beloved eldest grandsons Shawn and Tony Wolfname and granddaughters Harmony and Hailey Littlecoyote. Along with Great-great grandson Kayson Mace Tushka.

Extended Family includes: Risingsun, Bigbacks, Littlewolf, King, Charette, Fisher, Killsontop, Pine, Leman, Buzenitz, Buller, Anderson, Headswift, Freeman, Littleoldman, Sandcrane, Russell, Pryor, Strangeowl and Onebear. Marie had many relatives and friends to list, the family wants to offer their apologies to anyone they forgot to mention, it isnt their intention to exclude or offend anyone.
Wake services will be held on Friday, November 26th at 7 p.m. at White River Mennonite Church, in Busby.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 27th at 11 a.m. at Busby Mennonite Church. Interment will follow in the Littlewolf Family Cemetery near Busby. Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Forsyth has been entrusted with arrangements.

Service Schedule

Traditional Wake

7:00 p.m.

Friday November 26, 2021

White River Mennonite Church

Busby, MT 59016

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Funeral Service

11:00 AM

Saturday November 27, 2021

White River Mennonite Church

Busby, Montana 59016

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Interment

Following Funeral Service

Saturday November 27, 2021

Littlewolf Family Cemetery

Busby, MT

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