Victor Charles Fourstar, Sr., “Tatanga Xoda,” Grey Buffalo, 66, of Frazer, MT left this world and his family on Monday, May 16th, 2011 at the Billings Clinic in Billings, MT due to complications after surgery.
Victor was born on September 6th, 1944 to Leslie A. Fourstar, Sr. and Freda (Redstone) Fourstar. Victor was born at the St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tacoma, WA. Victor lived in the Wiota area of the southwest area of the Fort Peck Reservation throughout his younger years and attended school in Nashua, MT. Victor joined the United States Army before graduating from High School and later earned his GED. Victor attended Barber School and made this his trade.
While stationed in Indiana he met his first wife, Sue Franks. To this union, two girls were born, Tonya Vera Biggs and Allison Bell Luther. While back home on the Fort Peck Reservation, Victor married Sally Sergeant from Glasgow, MT for a short amount of time, through this marriage a son was born. Victor then met Minerva Chapman of Poplar, MT and had a daughter. Victor also took Marva Firemoon, Monita Holmes, and Shannon Chapman as his daughters. Victor then met Judy Red Boy of Poplar, and together they had a son, Victor Fourstar, Jr. Victor also married Lenora Stiffarm of Fort Belknap for a brief amount of time until he moved to the Puget Sound area of Washington State. Victor was a Golden Gloves Boxer in Washington State. While in Washington, Victor met and married LynDee Wells of Seattle, WA. They were married in a field at Ft. Lawton where the current Day Break Star Indian Center is. Through this union, they were blessed with a baby boy, Lance Elliot Fourstar, whose nickname as a baby was, “Sugar Bear.” Shortly thereafter, Victor moved his family back to the Fort Peck Reservation and lived together in Frazer for a year as he worked as a youth officer at the Frazer School. Victor and LynDee were also key in assisting Victor’s favorite cousin, Elliott Todd, with the formation of the first community organization on the Fort Peck Reservation, the Frazer Community Organization. The Frazer Community Organization set precedence for the formation of other community organizations across the Reservation. Victor and his family took Frazer students to Canada near the Carry the Kettle Reserve and was a fond memory. After this marriage ended, Victor married Barbara Raining Bird of the Rocky Boy Reservation where he worked in tribal justice for the Rocky Boy Tribe. Victor moved back to the Fort Peck Reservation after many years to be with his people. He was proud to say that he helped raise his nephews, Delbert and Marlon Brown, after the loss of their father.
Victor loved to write editorials on political and social commentary, “Always a Warrior,” preceded his signature in his letters to the Wotanin Wowapi and the Fort Peck Journal. Victor was Vice Chairman of the Fort Peck Assiniboine Council and served on the Assiniboine Council Executive Board in the footsteps of his father. Victor was always kind to everyone he encountered on his path, quick to strike up an interesting conversation and loved making people laugh. Victor loved to sing Indian and was active in traditional Assiniboine Hand Game ceremonies. Victor was proud to be a full blooded Assiniboine of the Red Bottom Clan. Victor loved to tell stories of his travels across the United States and the people and places he visited. In 2003, after 26 years, Victor’s son Lance moved back to get to know his father, to be reunited as father and son and to assist him.
Later In his life, Victor faced great adversity due to injuries and always fought back hard against many doctor’s opinions on life expiration and was a walking miracle. Victor never looked down upon anyone. Victor recently was attending Nakoniabi classes and enjoyed learning the plains sign language with his mother, Freda Fourstar. Victor was a member of the Fort Peck Elder’s Circle. Victor took the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior.
Victor is survived by his mother, Freda (Redstone) Fourstar, of Frazer; brothers, Vernon (Debbie) Fourstar, of Spokane, WA, Ricky and Terry Fourstar both of Frazer; sisters, Florence Fourstar, of Wolf Point, MT, Phyllis (Raymond) Johnston, Spokane, Lana (Morris) Fourstar-Jackson of Frazer, Geraldine (Warren) Buck Elk, Rapid City, SD, Josephine (Edison) Tapaha, Wolf Point, Patty (Herman) Pipe, Poplar, and Madonna Fourstar of Wolf Point; adopted brothers, Maynard Hawk and Lonnie Iron Bear, both of Poplar; daughters, Tonya Vera Biggs of Arcadia, IN and Allison Bell Luther of Westfield, IN, Marva (Thomas) Firemoon, of Wolf Point, Monita (Raymond) Holmes of Poplar, Shannon Chapman of Poplar; sons, Victor Fourstar, Jr. of Poplar, and Lance (Joetta) Four Star of Wolf Point; and numerous grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father Leslie A. Fourstar, Sr.; brothers, Anthony Fourstar, Sr., Phillip Fourstar, Sr., Leslie Fourstar, Jr.; his baby boy, Victor Fourstar, Jr.; daughter, Kelly Summers and a sister, Delores McConnell.
A visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. with a prayer service starting at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 19 at the Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel in Wolf Point. A funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Friday, May 20 at the Frazer Community Hall in Frazer. Interment will follow at the St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Frazer.
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point has been entrusted with the arrangements.