Martha Wolfname

Wake: will be held on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 in Busby.

Funeral Service: will be held on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. in the Busby Gym.

Burial: will follow in the Wolfname Family Cemetery.

As the Easter wind blew in from the eastern plains on Saturday morning, family members knew it was imminent for our mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, auntie, to begin preparing for her journey to Seane. Spirits have visited our loved one for over a year now. This past week they collectively came down to escort her. In her firm stubborness she refused but relented nevertheless. As fate has it she left on her favorite holiday season, Easter. In fact, the family had scheduled a gathering to celebrate Easter with her on Sunday. Martha (PavVotana - Pretty Tail feathers Woman) Yellowrobe Wolfname, 85 years young departed peacefully at 2:30 a.m. on Saturday morning with family at her side.

Vicky Seminole, Carmen Martha Wolfname, Julia Wolfname and Sophie Janae Hamblin to carry her Cheyenne name. She was the third generation descendant of Chief Dull Knife. The Northern Cheyenne Chief who fought and won our northern homelands. She embodied this Cheyenne virtue in her daily life as the family matriarch. It is within this sacred Earth that she will be interred. Martha was also a fluent Cheyenne speaker. This was the predominant language spoken in her family home.

Martha at the young age enjoyed riding horses with Robert (Bob) One Bear and other family members. She would tell stories of her 1-2 day bareback and wagon rides to Sheridan and Miles City. During the fall season, she would pick, pound and dry berries for the coming winter months. She would often dry deer meat to sustain the family. She had her favorite sites for turnip digging. The family would often fetch, at the time, pristine water from Rosebud Creek and Bull Creek springs to accompany the natural foods. In October of 1993 she accompanied a tribal delegation that included her sisters Annie Brady, Beatrice Small and Rosie Eaglefeathers to repatriate Chief Dull knifes band from the Smithsonian Institute in Washington D.C. and Harvard University in Cambridge, MA. The Cheyenne remains were taken from the Fort Robinson Massacre in 1879 for supposedly scientific ballistic study. She traveled to the site of the Sand Creek Massacre in Colorado several times for dedication purposes. She also committed herself to the Fort Robinson spiritual events and accompanied the runners to and from Chadron, NE. Her grandchildren were proud participants in both cultural events.

She enjoyed sewing star quilts by hand and reading the daily newspaper. One communication from family members from other states was through letters and seasonal cards. Her mental exercise was through crossword puzzles. She had a good sense of humor and would make us laugh with her teasing, wit & wisdom. Her strongest value was through prayer and belief in Maheo. She was an avid spectator in Indian relay races in which her sons were often in the winners circle. Her favorite animal pets were: Mr. Country, race horse and Ike, the family dog. Over the years, she made numerous trips toNebraska to visit her sister & best friend Bernice and her family. She told her sister that her May 2010 trip to Nebraskafor their grandson, Lucas'graduation from the University of NE-Lincoln would be her last. Martha was close to all ofher siblings, and more so to her eldestsister, Ruth. She always admired the skill Ruth had in making quilts. She enjoyed camping at the 4th of July pow-wow. Her campsite was beside her aunt, Maggie Onebear.

She married Wilbur Paul Wolfname and together they raised nine children: Lloyd (Helen) Yellowrobe, Lenora Marie Wolfname, Forrest Daniel Wolfname (Deceased), Linda (Steve) Brady, Anthony Wolfname (Deceased), Wilbur Wolfname Jr. (Deceased), Henry Wolfname, Gary Wolfname, Rick (Janet) Wolfname. In the beginning of their marriage they raised Lloyd, Lenora and Daniel at Bull Creek tower area. Wilbur worked for the Forestry department perched atop the tower observing for smoke.

This era was in the horse and buggy days. Family and friends rode wagons and horses and would visit for weeks at a time in their respective log homes and canvas tents. Her sons Lloyd and Daniel were actively engaged in the South Vietnam War by Saigon of the late 1960s. She was very proud of Lloyd and Daniel as they were decorated veterans. During this difficult time for her, she would often watch the evening news with Walter Cronkite for a daily update. She supported the rest of her children with their future education and employment endeavors. In her later years she enjoyed talking on the phone with Irene Bearquiver, Josephine Tallbull and Leona Littlewolf. They would communicate reservation news and doings with each other. She would know all the news without even leaving the house. She kept up with all her children and grandchildren through many phone calls. As she advanced in age, her daughter Lenora & family took care of her daily activities in the past 15 years. As her health severely deteriorated, her son Rick & Janet assumed 24 hour care.Other relatives she raised as her own include: Cassie and Waldo Yellowrobe, Audrey Fisher, Byron Bearchum, Matthew Longjaw, Carmen Wolfname and Kimberly Big Back. She was very caring and compassionate and would often leave her home open to others. She cared for Clarence (Smoky) Seminole and mother Alice. Her adopted children include: Rodney Parr and Warren Schwartz. She enjoyed family gatherings and hosted them for many years at her house. She appreciated everyone's cooking, but she especially enjoyed her daughter-in-law, Janets cooking.

Immediate family members preceded her in death: Charles "Boss"(Davis Bailey)and Alice (Seminole)Yellowrobe, Siblings Ruth, Bob, OT, Violet, Waldo and Theodore. Sons Daniel, Wilbur, Tony, Byron, Matthew, Elwood. Daughters Ernestine, Debbie, grandchildren Audrey, Sonny, Chase, Shawn, Tony Jr., Wamblee and special friends Louise Kingfisher & Carrie Wolfchief.As Vernon Sooktis recently stated, We are the largest family on the Northern Cheyenne reservation. The family tree consists of: The Baileys, One Bears, Seminoles, Weaselbears, Evans, Eaglefeathers, Shoulderblades, Sooktiss, Walksalongs, Blackwolfs, Whitemans, Whitewolfs and others.

She was employed as a Cultural teacher at NCTS, factory assembler at St. Labre, senior citizens in Busby & Lame Deer and NCHA housekeeping services.

She has one hundred and one grand children and great-grand children. She loved to brag that her grandchildren were from All Nations. This includes: Samoan, Korean, Laotian-Vietnamese, Spanish, Guatemalan, African American and Caucasian descent.

The family appreciates the following: Northern Cheyenne/Crow Hospital staff - Dr. Wilson assumed primary care for Martha since 1990. The family believes Dr. Wilsons care and compassion extended our moms life since 1990. Dr. Mournings brief but expert care comforted the family during the past month. Brocade Stops, RN, who diligently offered a comfort zone in our difficult time on Friday night and early Saturday morning vigil. Lab technician David Badbear, Security personnel; TJ/Todd Stevensons for the prompt attention in picking up our mom, but most of all the cultural understanding of family assisting with the dressing and overall services. Hardin and Northern Cheyenne Ambulance Service; Pastor Willis/Nadine Busenitz, Deacon Joe, Fr. Paschal, Wilma/Albert LaRance, Vernon Sooktis and Johanna Redneck, Tilly Donnafield, Corliss Highbull, Elsie Weaslebear, Iola & Germaine WoodenThigh and Henrietta Bear.

The family apologizes for any inadvertent omissions in this obituary.

Memorial Mass will be held on Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 6:00 p.m. at the Lenora Wolfname house near Busby, MT. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, April 27, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. in the Northern Cheyenne Busby Gymnasium. Burialwill follow in the Wolfname Family Cemetery.Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Forsyth has been entrusted with these arrangements and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com