Llewellyn Jerome Spotted Bird, whose Indian name was Spotted Bird (Zitkana Gedeska), 61, of Poplar passed onto the spirit world May 16, 2014 at the Northeast Montana Hospital in Poplar. He was born to Viola Spotted Bird and Daniel Medicine Horse on December 31, 1952 in Poplar, MT.
He attended the Brockton School and also Busby Boarding School. He enlisted in the United States Army, June 14, 1972, stationed at Fort Ord, California. He received his GED certificate at the Kicking Horse Job Corp and also at Monterey, California on December 14, 1974. He received a certificate from the Miles City College on June 4, 1983. He started working with the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the Facilities Dept. He was awarded a certificate of recognition of 10 years and another certificate of recognition of 20 years while working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and later retired from the government service work in 2005.
Lew was a kind, loving person, always generous and had acquired many friends. He was involved with his lifetime friend, Brenda Bauer for many years until they split up. He always said Brenda was his true love. He enjoyed working at the BIA Facilities, hunting, fishing, walking, visiting with his friends, cruising around, and listening to his favorite music of Humble Pie and Credence Clearwater Revival. He also enjoyed the local pow-wows, making picnic benches and selling them, the barbecues, and spending time with his family. He always thought of his nieces, nephews, and grandchildren at Christmas time. He was also proud of his basketball team of years ago, called the “Riverside Raccoons.”
Lew is survived by his brothers, Chuck Spotted Bird and Silas Drum of Brockton, MT, Perry Grey Bull of Billings, MT, Richard (Sun) Grey Bull of Enterprise, AL, Roger White Sr. of Wolf Point, MT, Joel (Marcella) Grey Bull of Poplar, MT, and Marvin Ray Medicine Horse of Fort Yates, ND; sisters, Verdis (Russell) Grey Bull, Charlene Drum of Poplar, MT, and Lorna Drum of Brockton; adopted son, Kelly Walking Eagle of Poplar; uncle, Leland (Doris) Spotted Bird; aunt, Catherine Spotted Bird of Poplar; adopted brother, Jim (Marty) Dillion; many cousins, nieces, nephews,, grandchildren, great-grandchildren too many to mention. He is also survived by the Red Eagle, Belgarde, Blount, Necklace, Good Soldier, and First families; and his adopted mother, Elizabeth Decoteau’s family. He is also survived by his many friends that he leaves behind. He was always called “Lucious” or “Sweet Lew” by his many friends.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Viola Spotted Bird; father, Daniel Medicine Horse; grandparents, John and Virgina Spotted Bird; older brother, Kenneth Spotted Bird Sr.; niece, Karlene Spotted Bird; nephews, Ken and Franklin Spotted Bird Jr.; baby brother, Kermit; baby sister, Norma Joy; aunts, Josephine Black Dog, Carole Spotted Bird, and Melvine White Bear.
His pallbearers are Richard Grey Bull, Joseph Yellow Hammer, Richard Longee, Elmer DeCoteau, Dale Decoteau, and James DeCoteau. His honorary pallbearers are Brenda Bauer, Darlyn Grainger, Maynard Hawk, Rod Todd, Alan Mail, Connie Young, Leah Strauser, Monica Strauser, Tyrone Ricker, Ernie Granbois, Eunice Granbois, Noreen Four Bear, Marcel Four Bear, and Byron Bauer, and many other friends of his that we missed.
A wake will be held 7 p.m. Thursday, May 22 at the Cultural Center in Brockton. A funeral service will be held 10 a.m. Friday, May 23 at the Cultural Center in Brockton. Interment with Military Honors will follow at the Fort Kipp Cemetery in Fort Kipp. Frank Hapa will be officiating. Condolences for the family may be left at www.claytonstevensonchapel.com. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point has been entrusted with arrangements.