Nelson was born October 25, 1923 the son of Charles Tallbull and Mary Brady at Muddy Creek. He grew up and attended school in Busby and graduated from Busby High School in 1942. Following graduation he enlisted in the Army.
He was married to Aliwitche Fischer. They had four children.
Nelson was a lifetime member of the Masions, past Grandmaster of Pryor Mount Lodge Badge 151, and direct descendent of Sand Creek Massacre.
He is preceded in death by his parents Charles and Mary (Brady) Tallbull; his life partner Beverly Roberts; his son Charles Tallbull; his brothers, Joe, Russell, Matthew, Jake, Charles, Henry, Bill and Jig; his sister Nellie; and his grandchildren, Gabrielle Wyntro, Evon Augare and Lisa Marie Burns
Nelson is survived by his children, Beaver Tallbull, Patricia Tallbull, Wayne Tallbull (Lynelle) Speelmen; his adopted sons, Lonnie Flatness, Daniel Dennis and Jim Rowland; his grandchildren, Lloyd (Kendra) Tallbull, Dymond (Scot) Bowen, Jeremy (Jennifer), Adrian Jr. and Andrew Foote, Jessie Taylor Tallbull, Sage Christen Augare, Wayne A. Tallbull Jr., Tiffany and Shalane Burns, his great grandchildren Shontee Salvis, Philip Juneau, Shaylie, Sierra Tallbull, Lorin & Lexi Spencer, Gunner Tallbull, Elyna and Jarod Bowen, Amralee Shaniece, Kaydence Robert, Dominick Riley, Makayla Covers Up, Isabelle and Daisee Foote Adrina Foote III, and Garious Foote.
Wake Service will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 at 7:00pm to midnight at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Lame Deer, MT.
Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, February 16, 2012 at 10:00am at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Lame Deer, MT. Burial will follow in the Tallbull Family Cemetery at Muddy Creek with Full Military Honors.
Service Schedule
Wake Services
19:00 to midnight
Wednesday February 15, 2012
Blessed SacrAMent Catholic Church
LAMe Deer, MT 59043
Funeral Service
10:00
Thursday February 16, 2012
Blessed SacrAMent Catholic Church
LAMe Deer, MT 59043
Interment with Full Military Honors
will follow
Thursday February 16, 2012
Tallbull Family Cemetery at Muddy Creek
,
Service Schedule
Wake Services
19:00 to midnight
Wednesday February 15, 2012
Blessed SacrAMent Catholic Church
LAMe Deer, MT 59043
Funeral Service
10:00
Thursday February 16, 2012
Blessed SacrAMent Catholic Church
LAMe Deer, MT 59043
Interment with Full Military Honors
will follow
Thursday February 16, 2012
Tallbull Family Cemetery at Muddy Creek
,
Share
Lori Melotz says
My thoughts and prayers are with you all during your time of sorrow.
George Birtic says
My heart and sympathy goes out to the family in the loss of your loved. May the many memories bring you solace in the months and years to come.
Bill & Denice Hedges says
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. He was a grand ole guy and you are so lucky to have had him in your lives for so long! always remember the good times you had with him to help you through the next days without him.
Kathy Reece says
To the Tallbull Family:
Sorry to hear of the loss of your dad, grandpa and great-grandpa, please know that all of you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely,
Kathy Reece
Serena Brady & Wayne Wetherelt Jr. says
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you in the loss of your precious one. May you find comfort from the memories you hold in your hearts. We are unable to be with you, but we share in your sorrow and send you our condolences,
Wil Small says
Have s good travel home Grandpa Grasshopper!
Patty Kay Brien says
Just now saw this… sending my condolences to the family of Nelson, Sr.
Mike & Kristi Speelman says
We will sure miss Bull Nelson
he was a great story teller. I loved to listen his stories about his life.
Da sa wom . Ha ho !
Steven Ames says
This morning, February 13, 2021, for some unexplained reason, I woke up thinking about Nelson Tallbull, Sr. I hadn’t thought of him much over the years and wondered what might have become of him. So, I did a search on the Internet, which is how I came across this announcement. It was nine years ago – on this day – that he passed away.
In his picture, Nelson looks exactly as I remember him – except perhaps for a few more wrinkles and his white hair. As I examined this familiar face, memories came flooding back from the summer many years ago when I spent a couple months in Busby, Montana – and when I came to know Nelson.
It was June, 1975. I was a graduate student in environmental studies at the University of Michigan. I had signed up to work for the Northern Cheyenne Research Project, which was housed at the old school in Busby. At the time, there were concerns about the impacts of proposed coal mining on the reservation and I was there to assist with the project’s research.
During my time with the project, I was teamed up with Nelson. Our assignment was to visit with tribal members to learn about their thoughts on coal development and how it might affect their lives. Nelson would ask them questions, often in Cheyenne, translating their answers back into English for me. I would record their responses and compile them for the project.
Every morning Nelson would show up at the school in a large sedan and, together, we would drive to remote parts of the reservation to visit people in their homes. What at first seemed like an awkward situation – a young white university student from the East and an older Native American man crisscrossing an Indian reservation for hours on end – actually became a treasured experience.
Nelson was a big man who towered over others, but with a soft-spoken manner, sharp mind and curious intellect. At first, our trips between interviews had some unspoken periods as Nelson drove and I stared out the window looking at the landscapes of southeastern Montana. But soon, our conversations became as interesting as the interviews we were conducting. The more we talked, the more he shared. I loved hearing his stories.
Nelson reflected about Cheyenne history, his time in the military, his wife and family, life on the reservation, and much more. Being in my early 20’s I didn’t have nearly as much of a life story to share with him, but he listened with respect and interest to this young environmentalist. In time, we came to know one another pretty well.
As autumn approached, my time with the Research Project came to an end, and I had to head back to Michigan to pick up my studies.
On our last day of interviewing together, we pulled up to the Busby School to say our goodbyes. Nelson quietly pulled out a package and gestured at me to open it. It was a hand-beaded medallion, the kind made by Cheyenne women, in shades of turquoise and black: something to remember my time on the Northern Cheyenne reservation, and although I’m not sure if he intended it, something to remember him by as well.
I still have that medallion today more than 45 years on – and I still remember and honor my friend, Nelson Tallbull, Sr.
Nea’ese, Nelson.
Steven Ames