Marjorie L. Crowe Christian departed from this world on January 7, 2009. She contributed to the health and well being of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in her roles as mother, grandmother, friend, social worker, and advocate for children and families. She believed in the good of people and did whatever she could to help people to achieve what she believed they were capable of.
Marge was born in Poplar, Montana on December 9, 1928 to her parents the late Richard and Luella Crowe. She attended and graduated from Poplar schools. She went on to receive higher education at the Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. Marge said many times that this time was the best time of her life and met some of the most influential people of her life there. Upon completion of her education at Haskell, she became a part of the Bureau of Indian Affairs of Poplar.
During the next part of her life, she married and had three children, Gloria Ann Collins, Richard William McDonald, and Lilda Lue Christian. She attended Dawson Community College in Glendive, Montana while still employed with the Fort Peck Tribes and earned an Associate of Arts degree. She then attended Montana State University of Billings, Montana at the same time with her children and went on to pursue and complete her Bachelors of Science degree in Rehabilitation and related services. After graduation, she returned to Poplar and began employment with the B.I.A. again but in the Social Services department and specialized in helping abused and neglected children with placement and treatment. During this time she strived to have a positive impact on the lives of the reservation’s children, and left a positive imprint on all those she came across. Marge got to see these children grow and achieve many things in their lives and they kept in contact with her throughout the years.
After many years of service in the B.I.A., Marge left her professional career for early retirement due to a debilitating heart condition. After her medical retirement, she started a personal business enterprise that she called “Stands Alone Dakota Arts and Crafts.” Her business was entirely family managed and operated and it included various arts and crafts that included Sioux style beadwork, earrings, war bonnets, star quilts, and quillwork. She loved displaying her arts and crafts at powwows, conferences and other gatherings.
Her grandchildren and her business were the late highlights of her life. She took special pride in her grandsons Dakota and Cherokee’s championship dancing and loved nothing more than being at a powwow and watching them dance and sing. The love of her community showed through when she began contact with the non-profit group, The American Indian Relief Council, that began the distribution of food, clothing and presents for Fort Peck Reservation families. She received many awards with her group, the Dakota Elders, for her philanthropy of her community. Even though she suffered from debilitating physical limitations she continued on with this partnership to nearly the end of her life.
Marge will be loved and remembered for her various achievements and awards presented by her community, her compassion for others, her ability to transcend medical limitations and maintain her unconditional love for friends, family and community.
Marge was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Louella Crowe, her beloved sister, Gloria Crowe, and her former husband’s, Daniel McDonald and Darrell Christian.
She is survived by three children, Gloria Collins of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Rich (Yvette) McDonald of Poplar, Lilda Christian of Wolf Point, her grandchildren, JaNae Collins, Dakota and Cherokee Christian, and Richie and Malia McDonald, all of Poplar area, special sister, Yvonne Buckles of Wolf Point; best friend, Frances Boyd of Poplar; and numerous adopted grandchildren of the Fort Peck Reservation.
Visitation and Prayer Service will be 7:00 p.m. Sunday, January 11, 2009 at Lindsay Memorial Presbyterian Church in Poplar. Funeral Service will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, January 12, 2009 at Lindsay Memorial Presbyterian Church. Interment will follow at Poplar City Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.stevensonandsons.com. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.