Nathaniel Lee Whiteman, age 45, of Billings formerly of Lame Deer

Ve’kesohvehonevestse – Bird Chief also known as Nathaniel Lee Whiteman (Brother as we knew him) entered this world on February 13, 1979 to Virginia Ridgebear & Gary Whiteman Lighting. Nate was very loved & raised by his grandmothers Margie Russell Ridgebear & Cecilia (Grama C) Kinzel Medicine Elk. At a young age his grandma Margie took him in the tipi & was blessed during a peyote meeting. Nate had an old man spirit & had a lot of love especially with the children. He loved the old ways, had a lot of stories of his adventures. Growing up Nate loved to run the hills of East side behind grandma Margie’s & west side at Grandma C’s house. Nate grew up the youngest of the West side bunch Angelia, Jonah & Shana. He also grew up with his uncle Sam in Susanville, CA. Nate loved spending time with his aunt Teddy McMakin he could spend hours just visiting. Grama C took him all over to garage sale, rodeo, powwow, fairs & many other adventures as they piled up on the station wagon
His grandmother Margie taught him peyote way, singing the songs, following the ways that he loved & respected that way of life. Nate was giving his Indian name by the late Charles Yellowfox, Sr.
Nate had a genuine talent for basketball where he earned the name Nate the Great & All State Nate playing high school basketball because of his speed & quickness also in many independent basketball tournaments. Nate was a fantastic runner. He ran in one of the first Fort Robinson runs with his uncle Dennis Never Hand.
Nate was a landscaper by heart. He loved to twiddle around & create beautiful landscaping for families’ yards. Nate did the best landscaping on his grandma’s yards. Margie and Teddy said “Only these rocks stay on this Earth forever”. He was a carpenter by trade & traveled many states to work in construction. He loved that kind of work. He would come home for a spell and off he would go again to do another construction project in other states.
Nathaniel accomplished his successes through his own beliefs first and foremost. Nate knew he was a child of God. He was a fire chief in Peyote meeting often respecting what Grandma Margie said “The family that prays togethers, stays together.” Nate was a father who searched and longed to be with his only child Twyla Whiteman. We don’t have a word for goodbye, it’s always “See you again”.
Every challenge Nate did, he encouraged people to do the same. “Don’t Give up”. So says the self proclaimed slowest fast guy in the world. “I kid you not!” as he would say lol
In his last years Nate spent his time in Billings, Mt you could usually see him flying a sign in the heights or downtown Billings. Although he had family back home he chose this life of living the streets. In his words it was never a dull moment and he felt he had to protect family that were out there. Nate had a big heart & if you were his friend he was yours for life BUT if you crossed him in a wrong way that was it especially if it involved family. He was the protector of his brothers & sisters and a teacher to his nephews and nieces. Nate had a lot of respect for his elders. His neighbors in East side said he was the best neighbor ever also visiting them or help them when needed.
Nate loved his nieces often referring to them as his daughters. Nevaeh Joy Whiteman had a special place in his heart, being the same age as his own daughter Twyla who he missed dearly. His nephews looked up to him as a father figure he stood by them & always wanted the best for them.
Nate is survived by his only daughter Twyla Ja’nice Whiteman, adopted Kimimila (Mimi) Eagle, his mother Virginia Ridgebear, his father Gary (W hiteman) Lightning, his 2nd Mom Rennie Whiteman Pena who help raise him, Auntie Mom Lujenia Ridgebear, his sisters Samantha, Aubrey, Megan, Rhonda, Tiffany Ridgebear, Brenda Timber, Kirby & Angel Ridgebear, Kalene Fox, Sissy & Robyn Iron, Mary Lou Whiteman, Sheila Hiwalker, Abigail Higgins, his brothers Jonah Redcherries, Zachary Iron, Rueben Ridgebear, Randolph, John, Eugene, Zack, Randy, Frank Ridgebear, Picard Wadda, Kevin (Short Dog) Slaughter, Willie Sequi, Emmanuel Pine his other buttcheek. Aunts Rosalie Tallbull, Rogene, Charlotte, and Ardena Whiteman, Florene Whiteman, Joyce Knowshisgun, Doris Limberhand, Diane Rapos, Dana, Francine & Valentine Whiteman, Rebecca American Horse, Uncles Dennis & Maynard Limberhand, Gerald Sam & Frank Sr Ridgebear, Frank & Phillip Whiteman, Lucas, Marvin & Eric Killsnight, Floyd American Horse, Floyd Hiwalker. Grandpa Oscar Kinzel, Grandmas Lamona & Johanna Redneck. Nate is survived by numerous nieces & nephews you know who you are because Nate had a love for you that was never ending. His name sake Nathaniel Littlebird .
Nate has joined his loved ones that have gone on to before him. His beloved son Twyleke Whiteman, his Grandmas Margie & Cecilia, Grandpa Grover Whiteman & Jerry Ridgebear, his brothers Willis, John David & Kendall James Ridgebear, Eugene, John David, Richard (Poofy), George & Mark Whiteman, his sisters Angelia Whiteman, Violet Whiteman, Shana G Redcherries, Hannah Russell.
Nathaniel Lee comes from a large family which includes the Whiteman, Limberhand, Kinzel, Harris, Redcherries, RedStar, American Horse, Rapos, McMakin, Ridgebear, Russell, Redbird, Tallwhiteman, Killsnight, Biglefthand, Redneck, Medicine Top, Clubfoot, Elkshoulder, Whitewolf, Medicine Horse, Hiwalker, Bearcomesout, Yellowhair, Woodenthigh, Gleason, Roundstone
The family would like to thank Stevensons & sons for getting our beloved Nate home to us. A special thank you to James Walksalong and Isaiah Walksalong for singing for Nate when he was coming home on the plane from California. Also to all the people who donated food, gifts & monetary donations, prayers & the love that was shown to us. This is a difficult time for us but just as Nate would tell us “Never Give Up!” The family apologizes if they have missed anyone in their time of grief. Nathaniel comes from a large family.

Service Schedule

Traditional Wake

6:00 pm

Thursday February 27, 2025

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church

Lame Deer, MT

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Family Service

12:00 pm

Friday February 28, 2025

Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church

Lame Deer, MT

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Interment

Following the Funeral Service

Friday February 28, 2025

Ridgebear Family Cemetery

Lame Deer, MT

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