Curtis Chris-Lee Birdhat, Chedá Mani (Walking Hawk) took his journey home on May 30, 2018 at the young age of 40 in Wolf Point, MT.
Curtis was born on April 14, 1978 to Carmen and Clinton Birdhat in Wolf Point, MT. He grew up in Frazer along with his siblings and numerous cousins and friends. He attended elementary, Junior High and some High school in Frazer. He was very athletic and joined all the sports Frazer school had to offer. He stood out as an avid cross-country runner, excelled in basketball and was an awesome track star. He was a natural all around athlete with an amazing outgoing personality. He made friends wherever he went.
Growing up he enjoyed being outdoors, fishing, hunting with his little brother, Sloan Follet and stepdad, Simon Follet along with his uncles and cousins. He later went and joined the job corp- Kicking Horse in Ronan, MT. While there he earned his GED and continued his education and achieved a degree in master carpentry. He moved home and started working on his moms pow-wow stand called the famous Candy’s Concessions.
In 1998 he met and fell in love with Michelle Clancy and from this union they had 3 children Brandon RedBoy, Christian Lee and Cailee Skye Birdhat. They later separated but remained good friends. In 2011 he met Janica Jorgenson and together had his youngest son Cronus Curtis Birdhat. They eventually separated and he then met and fell in love with Melissa (Missy) Bodine in 2014, whom he was still with until his unexpected passing. He was a very family oriented man.
His children and his sisters meant the world to him. He always looked up to his older sister Misty and always looked out for his younger sister Candy. He was always boasting about his children and their many accomplishments. He loved his mom and would do anything for her. He adored his Grandma Sue, always made sure she was taken care of.
Whenever anyone came across him he always had a smile and a handshake or a hug. He had made many lifelong friends and even adopted a few into the family on his journey through life. Some may remember him as the Lemonade Guy. He made the BEST lemonade you could find at the pow-wow. He used to say his dimples and his smile are what sold the lemonade. You would usually see him along with Ray A raising heck with customers or telling a tale or two. Everyone always enjoyed his company.
Curtis will truly be missed by all who had the pleasure to know him. He definitely had an amazing impact on anyone, and everyone who came across him in their lifetime.
Walking Hawk is survived by his four children Brandon RedBoy, Christian Lee Birdhat, Cailee Skye Birdhat and Cronus Curtis Birdhat of Frazer and Wolf Point, MT; his companion and best friend Melissa (Missy) Bodine of Frazer, MT; his mother and her companion Carmen Welch and Ray Ackerman of Frazer, MT; his father Clinton (Cora) Birdhat of Ashland, MT; sisters Misty and Tom King of Lame Deer, MT, Candice and Josh Higgins of Wolf Point, MT; special nieces and nephews Morgan and Grace King of Lame Deer, MT, Hailee FourStar of Frazer, MT, Damon King of Lame Deer, MT, Griffin FourStar, of Frazer, MT; a very special granddaughter Miss Mae Mobely Bad Bear of Lame Deer, MT; adopted brother Little Crow Baker of Billings, MT; grandparents Susan (Henry) LaRoque of Frazer, Sharlene (Joe) Beston of Frazer, Cheryl Doney of Wiota, Rosalie Smoker of Frazer, Roxy MacDonald of Frazer; aunts and uncles Roxanne (Frank) Turntoes of Frazer, Carol (Bill) Goerss of New York, Wiki(Greg) Reichard of PA, Tracy (Jerry) Hentges south of Frazer, Kelly (Jim) Myers of NY, Will (Sarah) Goerss of Colstrip, Lori Jones of Delevan, NY, Allison Jackson and Allen Cox of Wolf Point, Adeline (Robert) White of Frazer, LaFarce Sioux Calf of SD, Alvin Birdhat of Lame Deer, Evangeline (Gilbert) of Sheridan, WY, Sixxx LaBeaux of Lame Deer; cousins Wilson (Sunni) Clark of Salamanca, NY, Cassnadra Clark of NY, Keila Holt of NY, Daylan (Shelby) Holt of Buffalo, NY, Jamie (Corey) Lilley of Frazer, Pauline Smoker of Frazer, Gine (Kurt) Flynn of Wolf Point, Julian Smoker of Frazer, LeAndre (Pat) Gustafson of Frazer, Brockie Standing of Frazer, Cody (Jon) Nickerson of Delevan, NY, Jurnee (Tucker) Jones of Delevan, NY, Emily, Lj, Ethan and Kacey Kelley all of NY, Jory, Talon, Coy, Matia BlackEagle all of Wolf Point.
Curtis is preceded in death by baby brother Sloan Follet; stepdad Simon Follet; close cousins John Smoker, Eric Follet, Susan Smoker; special/close uncles Lew Smoker and Phillip Smoker; great-grandparents Josephine and Wilson Jacskon; paternal grandparents Max and Beulla Sioux Calf; paternal aunts Colleen Spang, Theresa Ant; uncle Curtis Ant.
Curtis came from a large extended family, if we have left anyone out it wasn’t our intention and we do apologize.