My baby boy Eli Miles Jones went into eternal sleep on May 25, 2024 at Billings Clinic with his parents Gary and Jena Lone Bear and his siblings Nick and Winnifred by his side.
Eli was born on October 10, 1988 to Jena Lone Bear and Ben Running Bear, Sr. in Poplar, Montana.
Eli was known to all who knew him, as the “Big Cheese”. Eli was fun loving, a comedian, a good person to be around when you’re feeling down. My son was very respectful and did his best to help whenever he could. My son was mama’s big gentle, kind, loving teddy bear with a big golden heart. Before his accident Eli loved to dance and sing. He was the life of the party, the one who started it off. Eli had this contagious laugh and a smile that lit up a room. Eli loved to chill with favorite aunty Waverly Bear and favorite uncles Wayan and Randon Bear and would talk and laugh for hours on the phone with his other favorite uncle Isanti Nation. His other uncle Lawrence “Bucky” Youngman and cousin Cameron Charbonneau would always come and visit and spend time with Eli as well. Eli also loved to visit with auntie Phyllis GreyBear, she would always make sure he ate before he left.
Eli is survived by his parents Jena (Gary) Lone Bear; his other mother Luella Montclair; brothers Gregory III and Nicholas Haumpy, Quentin (Kayla) Running Bear, Ben Running Bear, Jr., Tanner (Chenelle) Montclair, Trint Montclair; sisters Breanna Martinez of Colorado, Winnifred Haumpy and Chelsea Montclair; uncles Ralph (Theresa) Jones III, Wayan and Randon Bear, Isanati Nation, Michael Olson, Dion Hapa of Canada, Angelo Boyd, Sheldon Noel of Minnesota, Stanley (Jolene) Jones, Fritzgerald, Maynard, and Leland Jones, Arlin Hapa, Stanley Longtree, Leonard Jr., Terry, Francis, Harlan and Matthew (Jennifer) Rattling Thunder, Terry Two Hearts, Curtis Melbourne, Eugene and Patrick Boyd, Dale, Cornell and Cordell FourBear, Manny Smith, Ben, Tote, Justin, Jason and Terry GrayHawk, Lawrence Fasthorse, Sr., Lawrence “Bucky”, Billy, Louis Youngman; aunties India Jones, Becky Bird, Doris Walking Eagle, Monella Hawk, Tammy Hapa, Charlene Eagleman, April Noel, Waverly Bear, Nannette Strange Owl, Denise FastHorse-Melbourne, Blossom Longee, Lil Pauline Lee Boxer, Lorna Drum, Sherri Demarrias, Diana Longee, Charlene Mazawasicuna and Brenda Hapa of Canada, Lillian, Tanya, Prisilla, Sonja Jones, Sarrah and Edith Bigleggins, Shalane Crazy Bull, Ann, Lucy White Eyes, Annie, Chenelle and Betty Cantrell, Lynette, Winona Ross, Jordan GreyBear, Yolanda Parshall, Anita Hale, Jenny MacDonald, Faye (Les) Ferguson-Bird, Jennifer Kaiser of North Dakota, Kelly GreyBear, Angie (Delane) Toce-Blount, Arden Necklace-Reddog, Kayleen Headdress, Sunni Hilde LoneBear, Deanna Jones, Heather, Theresa and Crystal Youngman, Phoebe Jones, Charlene Drum; cousins Schuyler, Lorilie and Oliver Garrison, Elwade Rush, Catlin (Hilary) Eagleman, Quincy (Dawnie) Eagleman, Jori Russell, Demiree (Jay) Whitehead, Shawn and Jesse Demarrias, Vincent and Jordon Longtree, Brooks, Phonex and Mashann Rattling Thunder, Dale Running Bear, Donovan Jr., and Preston Martell, Callan GreyBear, Charmane Necklace, Angeline, Laurel and Casey Cheek, Louie Conklin Jr., Madison Kaiser, Alex and Jessica Bullcalf, Robert Azure Jr., William BigTalk, Misty and Michael Thomas, Derrick FastHorse, Devin Hall, Tricia and Alfred Longee, Cameron and Alexis Charbouneau, Whitney and Willy Cantrell, Jennifer Stiles, Marissa and Mykala Love, Natalie and Mya Red Eagle, Jason Bird, Courtney and Edmond Youpee; grandmas Frances Boyd, Anita (Ron) Kaiser, Pauline Boxer, Esther Hapa, Aletha Chopper, Priscilla Carpenter, Julia Young, Margaret Hapa, Yvette Todd, Patricia White Skunk, Rena Williams, Bonnie Menz, Marietta FourBear, Donna Follette, Diane (Rodney) Tuttle, Dina Diserly, Vivian Jones-Douglas, Kitty (Craig) Cane, Doris and Beverly Bird, Joyce (Russell) Parker, Cheryl Melbourne, Naomi Young, Juanita (Doug) Youngman, Doreen (Willy) Martell, Arlene (Michael) Ackerman, Lorraine GoodSoldier, Bernadette Wind; grandpas Raymond Hapa, Leonard Rattling Thunder, Sr., David Battiest, Doyle BetsHisMedicine, Arlie Diserly, Vernon (Donna) FourBear-Chopper, Ally, Rusty and Kermit Walking Eagle, Sylvester (Patricia) Martin, John Clark; nieces Shailya and Azaleiya Buck Elk and Saylor Quinn Running Bear, Evellyn, Analeshia, Layla, Alaya, Lila and Baby Skie Martinez, Kali Kaiser, Alena Mitchell; nephews Mason and Liam Garrison, Jerry Jones Jr., Adrian kaiser, Ambrose and Braxton Running Bear.
Eli is preceded in eternal sleep by his grandparents Ralph Jr. and Vivian Hapa Jones; sister Shaquilla Martinez; cousin Lazarus Garrison; father Benjamin Running Bear Sr.; grandmas Merle, Flora, Qwen, Victoria, Flossy Hapa, Ruth Necklace, Phyllis GreyBear, Charity and Annabelle Jones, Joan FastHorse, Penny and Sharon Walking Eagle; great grandmas Gladys Lewis, Jesse Walking Eagle, Elizabeth Williams-Hapa, Audrey Ironman, Jesse Demarrias, Gladys First, Helen Dakota, Rena Comeslast, Susie Cheek, Rebecca Clark, Faye Melbourne Meade, Gloria Diserly, Irene Philbrick; grandpas Andy Laport, Frank, Herby, Herman, and Carl Hapa, Leslie Hotain, Calvin, Robin and Ike Walking Eagle; great grandpas Ralph Jones Sr., Earl Jones Sr., Joe Jones, Rudy George, Herman Hapa, George and Victor FastHorse; uncles Tito Running Bear, Darren, Dean, Calvin and Fabian Hapa, Joe ross, Cleveland Hotain; aunties Angela Hapa, Tina Ross, Leah jones, Terri, Noel, Charity and Rosie Hapa, Karen and Lori Hotain, Betty and Orla Longee.
And all his other family, the Jones’s, Hapa’s, Melbourne’s, Spotted Bird’s, GreyBear’s, GrayHawk’s, Melbourne’s/Martell’s, Olson’s, Lone Bear’s, Young’s, WalkingEagle’s. I’m sorry if I forgot anyone, my son Eli had a lot of family and friends too numerous to mention, this wasn’t intentional. I tried to remember everyone.
My baby boy, I will miss you dearly and my heart is broken. The pain will never cease but I will go on until we meet again in glory I will carry you in my heart forever.
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