Timothy Lame Woman, Age 66, of Lame Deer

Timothy Lame Woman Sr. “Night Bear”, age 66, of Lame Deer passed away Thursday, October 25, 2018 at the Norther Cheyenne Elderly Complex (Shoulderblade Center).

Tim was born in Billings, Montana on January 19, 1952 to Virgil Lame Woman and Opal Wild Hog. Tim is a descendant of Chief Little Wolf, Chief Wild Hog, Sweet Medicine Chief Grasshopper, Chief Yellow Horse and Red Armed Panther.

Tim grew up in the Kirby/Busby area. He was raised by his aunt, Mary Grasshopper. He spent his childhood roaming and playing in the hills of Kirby Creek and swimming in the creek below his grandmother’s house. His playmates were his sister, Rachel; niece, Suzanne; nephew, Steve, and his friends, Jerry Small. He also spent time with his brother, Martin Roundstone Jr., and children, Justine, Donna, Karen, David, Evelyn, and Mark. As a child he was very close through the years with his sisters and brothers. He enjoyed staying with his sister, Victoria at their ranch on Muddy Creek. Tim loved to laugh and always available to help them in times of need and always had words of encouragement.

Tim attended Busby High School and graduated from St. Labre High School. As an eighth grader, Tim competed with the high school track team and placed at State in cross country. He attended the Kicking Horse job corps, the University of Montana and Dull Knife College. He later took various courses and legal training to obtain a career as a paralegal. He then started his business, Wild Hog Legal Services and had this 46-year career up to the time of his death. His door was always open, and he always had a steady stream of visitors. Many times, he did not charge for his services if he realized the client did not have the means to pay. He was always advocating for the impoverished.

While in Missoula area he met and married Janice Craft and they had one child, Tiffany. They were later divorced. He later met and married Gail Tallwhiteman and they had three children; Gaylon, Tim Jr., and Eva. He has six grandchildren, Isaac, America, Braylon, Dante, Kyrie, Xaphan.

The American Indian Movement (AIM) was a great part of Tim’s life as the various issues of poverty, civil rights and justice of his people were very important to him. He worked most of his life trying to resolve these issues and met a great deal of people in doing this. During his years with AIM he traveled and worked with his brother, Raymond Spang and his adopted brother, Russell Means. He became well known all over the world as an advocate for his people. During the early 70’s he and his niece, Justine Roundstone participated in the longest walk from California to Washington D.C. to bring attention to native issues and rights. Many of his fellow Cheyenne brothers and sisters journeyed with him on that walk.

Tim was also instrumental in obtaining a memorial in recognition of the warriors who fought at the battle of the Little Bighorn. Long before the monument because a reality, he and Russell Means placed a plaque at the base of the 7^th Calvary monument. Needless to say, this gesture created some anxiety on the part of the park service and others attending the anniversary celebration. Their placing the plaque was to recognize the warriors who gave their lives at the battle. This started the much-needed name change and the development of the movement to build the memorial. He and others never gave up the task of obtaining park service recognition in the form of the monument. The honorable senator, Ben Nighthorse Cambell helped by introducing legislation in Washinton, D.C. thereby making the memorial a reality. Their goal was achieved and today, the monument is one of the highlights of a visit to the battlefield.

Tim was a proud member of the Elk Scraper Society, and council of 44 chiefs. He completed his Sundance vows and has assisted others in completing theirs. Tim served on many community boards during his lifetime. Most notably, the Northern Cheyenne Board of Health, as a vice chairman of TERO(Tribal Employment Rights Office), and he served as the district chairman for the Lame Deer District. He also served on the Headstart Parent Committee.

Tim is survived by his children, Tiffany, Eva (Ben), Tim Jr.(Sonia), his grandchildren: Dante Gondara, Xaphan Lame Woman, Isaac Lame Woman, Braylon Lame Woman, America Lame Woman, Kyrie Bighorn; his adopted daughter, Dimitria Bearing; his sister, Rachel Carroll-Pethers, brother, Lee Carson; adopted uncles, Crow Dog and Dave Bald Eagle of South Dakota; adopted sisters, Nellie Whiteshield, Delene Spotted Elk, Maggie Runsabove and Antoinette Red Woman; numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, uncles, aunties and relatives; extended family: Roundstones, Callsfirst-Spang Family, Spotted Wolf, Grasshopper-Whitewolf Family, Lame Woman, Chavez/Red Cherries, Wild Hog, Poseys, Runsabove, Red Woman, Little Bird, Small, Trusler, Deafy, and several adopted mothers who took Tim as their son during his lifetime.

We apologize if we have omitted anyone. It was not intentional.

Tim was preceded in death by his wife, Gail, and his son, Gaylon.

“On behalf of many Northern Cheyenne, I say Nease (Thank You!) for all the news coverage about Northern Cheyenne in the Native Sun News. I am a direct descendant of Chief Little Wolf and Wild Hog, his son in law and comrade in arms. Like them, I am a Elkhorn Scraper, Warrior Society, traditional council sill alive today, hoping to remind our leaders about traditional laws, treaties and obligations. I have also been the General District Chairman for the Northern Cheyenne Tribe for the past forty years, an elected nonpaid position in 1994, selected by regular people to be a spokesperson for their concerns.  Years ago, it was my honor to work with Russell Means and many other AIM members to advance the causes of our people. The Lakota and the Northern Cheyenne share much history, have many relatives and face similar circumstances today: great poverty, high unemployment and many social problems. Yet, we are still strong in our ceremonial cultural ways, still warrior nations trying to advance justice and bring better days to our people, standing against injustice, even sometimes required to speak against our own tribal governments, bold in the tradition of our ancestors.”

Service Schedule

Traditional Wake

7:00 PM

Monday October 29, 2018

Allen Rowland Gymnasium

Lame Deer, Montana 59043

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Funeral Service

to 11:00 AM

Tuesday October 30, 2018

Allen Rowland Gymnasium

Lame Deer , Montana 59043

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Interment

Following the Funeral Service

Tuesday October 30, 2018

Medicine Wolf Burial Grounds

Lame Deer, Montana 59043

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