Sampson Birdinground I

Sampson Gilbert Birdinground III, 80, of Garryowen and Lodge Grass, went to other side camp to fish with Akbaatatdia on September 2, 2023.

Baaúuwatshiin Baalaxe “Meadowlark Sings” was born November 10, 1942, in Crow Agency, son of Sampson Birdinground Jr. and Thelma Shane. He was a member of the Ties the Bundle Clan and Child of the Bad War Deeds Clan. He received his education at Hardin High School, where he participated in football and basketball. He graduated with the class of 1962. He later attended Eastern Montana College (MSUB) and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in secondary education and teaching. He began a career as a teacher in Lodge Grass and Hardin High Schools. Sampson married Elvira Old Coyote on June 15, 1962, in Sheridan, WY, and the happy couple made their home at Reno Creek in the Garryowen area.

He worked for BIA as an appraiser in Crow Agency, Anadarko, OK, and Yakima, WA. In Fort Totten, ND, he served as BIA Superintendent, as well as an appraiser for BLM in Billings, MT. Sampson excelled in all his professional endeavors receiving many awards for his dedicated and competent professional career. He also served as interim pastor at Crow Community Baptist Church and was a faithful member for many years. Sampson also was baptized into the Catholic Church in Lodge Grass. Sampson was instrumental in inviting Dave Graber from Kansas to Crow Agency in 1984, which started the Crow Hymns Project and Sampson was its first coordinator, with the goal of publishing a Crow Hymn book which is now close to completion.

He loved training, breeding, and racing horses as well as competing in calf roping in his younger years. Sampson loved horses and had two quarter horses, D Mona Lisa and Autumn Pleasure, win races in Miles City, MT. He was proud to be a member of the Apsáalooke tribe and a member of the Tobacco Society. He loved bingo, hand games (he won best guesser 2 consecutive years, which was no easy task), cruising to the mountains, camping at Crow Fair, going to powwows, watching and supporting student-athletes in basketball and softball, and making sure his family had the best parade floats. Sampson and his late wife loved to gather their family and many visitors at their Crow Fair Camp. Their visitors always became family and Sampson was known for being a generous and excellent host. He loved to fish and enjoyed the friendly competition of seeing who could catch the most fish; he almost always won. He also enjoyed playing pitch and loved to announce for the Bull Tail Family arrow tournaments. Anyone who knew him knew he loved to tell a good joke. Along with his excellent and charming sense of humor, he was never shy to tease his sisters-in-law, members of his teasing clan, and anyone he loved. He enjoyed spending time with his five great-grand-kids, Lucy, Kaya, Ruby, Ezra, and Bear. He was especially delighted that his fifth great-grandson, Bear Sampson Lopez, carries his name and day of birth, born on Nov. 10th, 2022.

Sampson was always a good provider, an extremely hard worker, and taught his family the importance of valuing education, participating in cultural activities, living a sober life, working for what you have, and serving Akbaatatdia by giving generously and taking good care of loved ones. He often advised and encouraged the young people in his life. He was honored to give many individuals their Apsáalooke name.

After becoming a widower, he made his home in Lodge Grass, MT, with Eva Bull Tail. Eva and her close relatives loved and respected Sampson. He enjoyed the holidays they spent together, mostly his birthday parties when the children would sing the happy birthday song to him.

His parents; loving wife of 47 years, Elvira; daughter Carla JeNelle and son Sampson Scott Birdinground; brother Isaac Birdinground Sr.; adopted brothers, Alvin Not Afraid and Wayne Worthington; adopted sister Della Doyebi; grand-uncle Joe Pickett; and good friend Larry Pretty Weasel preceded Sampson in death.

Survivors include his daughter Karen Lois Goes Ahead and his son-in-law Dana Goes Ahead; adopted sons, Dan (Valarie) Brien Jr. and Jonathon Old Elk; adopted daughters, Lorna Old Elk, Carla Wadsworth; loving companion of 13 years, Eva Bull Tail; his grand-aunt Laura Real Bird; his granddaughters, Gabrielle Goes Ahead and Christian (Marty) Lopez; and his five great-grandchildren; grand uncle, Clifford (Ardith) Birdinground, Sr.: his brothers, Lloyd (Alvenia) Pickett, Calvin Birdinground; his sisters, Shonna (Verdell) Collins, Jennifer Flatlip, Janet Costa, Carmalita Birdinground, Marla Fritzler; his adopted brothers, Dave (Bonnie) Graber, Bernie (Marge) Schmader, Winston (Marie) Wadsworth, Melvin Stops; his adopted sister Francine Worthington; good friend Bruce Wheeter; special family members include Doris Gets Down, Carol, Wales (Laverne), Dewey Bull Tail and all of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Sampson's extended family includes, the Bull Tail, Birdinground, Goes Ahead Pretty, Big Hair, Bends, Takes Horse, Old Coyote, Old Elk, Three Irons, Pickett, LaForge, Brien, Pretty Weasel, Shane, Left Hand, Flat Lip, Other Medicine, Doyle, Yarlott, Wadsworth, Martin, Real Bird, Worthington, Doyebi, Lopez, Pease, Graber, Mark, Childers, and Tsoodle family.

Our family is large; if we missed someone, please accept our apology in our time of grief.

Visitation will be held at Dahl Funeral Chapel on Tuesday, September 5th from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Wednesday, September 6th from 4-8 p.m., vigil starting at 6 p.m.

Funeral services will be held at St. Dennis Catholic Church on Thursday, September 7th at 11 a.m., followed by the internment at the Birdinground Family Cemetery in Garryowen, Montana. Dahl Funeral Chapel is entrusted with the arrangements.