Leland Emerson Spotted Bird, Thunder Horse, passed into the Spirit World on April 22, 2018 in Billings, MT. He was born on June 25, 1947 in Brockton, MT to John and Virginia Spotted Bird.
Leland attended Brockton schools, but later received his G.E.D. He also attended and graduated from the Police Academy in Bozeman, MT.
On June 20, 1969 he married Doris Good Bird and took her daughter, Kori, as his own. Together they had 4 children, Myron, Gina, Kae, and Larissa.
Leland worked for Pat O’Brien, riding and breaking horses. He worked for the Fort Peck Tribes in various departments as H.I.P. Supervisor in 1975, Police Officer in 1978, Fish & Game Warden in 1981, Tribal Prosecutor in Wolf Point and later in Poplar, and Tribal Judge from 1995 until 1997. He served on the Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board for 3 terms, 1997-2003; as Land Chairman, Education Chairman, Negotiating Team Member for Northern Border, Delegate-Docket #74, Delegate to secure funds for the court system, Tribal Leaders Large Land Base, Roosevelt County Planning Board, and Fort Peck Tribes Summit Planning Committee. He has been on the Badlands Celebration Committee from 1973 until his passing. Leland was a Powwow announcer for honorings and memorials and was an original member of the Badlands Drum Group. He also was a member of the Tantaka Oyate’ Drump Group. Leland participated in the Dakota 38+ Ride for 5 years, the Ft. Belknap ride for 2 years, and 4 years in the Fort Peck Awareness Ride; founding the Fort Peck Chapter. Leland participated in the ceremony to welcome the Buffalo back after 130 years of being gone from the Fort Peck Reservation. He also was recognized as a Spiritual Leader to sign Eagle Feather permits. Leland was a member of the Black Hills Steering Committee, Sioux Council, and was a National Park Service advisor for the Future Indian Memorial at Little Bighorn Battlefield. He also was a tribal representative at the Minnesota Historical Society.
Leland loved to hold and sing to his great-grandchildren, sing and dance at powwows, attend rodeos or watching them on tv, going for rides on his horse, and visiting family and friends. He loved helping, whatever needed to be done he was there. He loved his Sioux traditions. He was involved in Sundances, and was one of the of the founders of the 3 Buffalo Sundance; participating for 12 years. He always prayed for those who came to him to seek advice and guidance.
We will miss his laugh, his advice, his guidance, and his unconditional love for everyone. We will miss seeing him at powwows, on rides, and at Traditional doings. He will be greatly missed by all his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Doris; son, Myron Spotted Bird; daughters, Kori Good Bird, Gina, Kae (Bear) and Larissa Spotted Bird all of Brockton; 12 grandchildren, grandsons, Emerson (Talissa) Boyd, Trent and Leroy Boyd Jr all of Brockton, Anthony (Ashley) Spotted Bird of Poplar; Chance Wakinyan Roberts of Brockton, Wyatt Spotted Bird of Brockton, granddaughters, Leigh Spotted Bird, Kim Spotted Bird, Marquel, Kyla and Ziktgana Roberts, Lariah Bull Head all of Brockton; 16 great grandchildren, MyRee and Liam Talks Different, Tiar’e Garcia, Brayan and Emerson Boyd Jr., Tresten and Trenton Boyd, Suta Mani and Mali Iskitini Spotted Bird, Quade DelRay Boyd, Colton and Aaliyah Roberts, Layla and Lemiyah Roberts, Kaston and Leland Boyd; Special nephew, Tuffy First; adopted daughters, Marylou Ducharme and Claudia Scott; adopted brothers, Arrow Weinberger, Sean Brown, Clinton Birdhat, Tom Escarcega Sr., Lanny Campbell Sr., and Calvin Campbell; adopted sister, Hazel Longee; brothers-in-law, Arnie Good Bird of Poplar and Leonard Good Bird of Rapid City; sisters-in-law, Ina Mae Driver, and Darlene Finley both of New Town, ND; and many nephews, nieces, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, too numerous to mention.
Leland is preceded in death by his father and mother, John and Virginia Spotted Bird; sisters, Elaine Spotted Bird, Josephine Black Dog, Viola Spotted Bird, Carole Spotted Bird, Catherine Spotted Bird, and Melvine White Bear; and brother, Gerald Calvin Spotted Bird; and grandson, Armon “Poohz” Boyd.
A wake will be held 7 p.m. Friday, April 27 at the Brockton Cultural Center. A funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, April 28 at the Brockton Cultural Center. Interment will follow at the Spotted Bird Family Cemetery, East of Brockton. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.
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