Bessie Eliza (Looking) Red Dog
May 12, 1935 ~ February 20, 2008
Bessie Eliza (Looking) Red Dog, age 72, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, February 20, 2008, at the Trinity Hospital in Wolf Point, Montana of heart failure. She was surrounded by her loving family at the time of her death.
Bessie was born to Clifford Looking, Sr. and Jeanette (Carrier) Looking on May 12, 1935, In Poplar, MT.
She attended school in Wolf Point and boarding school at Flandreau, SD. Her father was a pipe carrier, and as a child Bessie would assist him in his traditional Assiniboine ceremonies, driving him to places as far away as Canada to serve the Assiniboine people.
Bessie married Ervin Red Dog of Wolf Point and the couple had twelve children. Bessie worked in housekeeping at the Sherman Hotel for several years. In the early 1970’s she went to work for the Fort Peck Headstart program where she devoted her talents until 2007 when severe arthritis forced her to retire. Bessie was a member of the Morning Star Baptist Church of Wolf Point.
She was preceded in death by her loving husband Ervin; her parents; four sons: Vernon, Randy, Larry and Allen; two daughters: Annette and Alison; three brothers: Clifford, Jr., Benjamin and Vincent; two sisters; Nellie and Merida; and several grandchildren.
Bessie is survived by two daughters: Ann (Bob) Saindon, and Bernadine (Lyle) Red Dog; and four sons: John (LeAnn) Red Dog, Leil (Bev) Red Dog, Kyle (DeeAnn) Red Dog, and Chris Red Dog all of Wolf Point; three sisters: Almeda Looking and Zola Baptiste of Wolf Point and Alameda Baptiste of Minneapolis, MN; as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A wake will be held at the Wolf Point Community Hall on Monday, February 25, 2008 starting at 4:00 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at the Wolf Point Community Hall on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Kenny Azure officiating. Interment will follow at King Cemetery in Wolf Point.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.stevensonandsons.com. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.