Max Spotted Bear Sr

Max Miller Spotted Bear, Sr., 88, “Shakes His Shoulders” (Hidasta name) and “Makes the Bear Dance” (Crow name) was born January 18, 1935, and went to the other side of the camp on May 14, 2023. He was born to Theodore Spotted Bear and Emma Coffey at the family cabin in Elbowoods, North Dakota. He was an enrolled member of the Mandan and Hidasta tribes of the Ft. Berthold Reservation. He was a member of the Knife Clan of the Hidasta, and he belonged to the Greasy Mouth Clan, and was a Child of the Big Lodge Clan of the Crow Tribe. Max grew up in Elbowoods, ND, and Pryor, MT.

He received his early education at the Garfield and Taft Schools in Billings, MT, and graduated 8th grade in Elbowoods, ND. He went to Edgar High School his freshman year then transferred to Flandreau Indian School in Flandreau, South Dakota where he graduated in 1955. He excelled in all the sports that he played: Wrestling, Basketball, Football, and Track. He also started his welding trade while in high school. After graduation, he enlisted in the Navy where he received his welding certification. During his enlistment, he was stationed in Okinawa Japan, the Philippines, and served in the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1958. Max Sr. was very proud to serve his country.

Dorothy and Max Sr. married on March 30th, 1959, in Cut Bank, MT. The couple returned to Billings where he worked many different jobs such as Yellowtail Dam, Empire Steel, the refinery, and he helped build the sugar beet factory cones. He was also on the committee to help establish the high school in Pryor, MT. Later he became the bus driver and custodian for the Pryor Public School District. He worked there for 25 years and retired from there.

Max never hesitated to take children into his home. He helped raise his wife's siblings: Anna, Connie, and the late Zelda, Tommy Boy, and Sarah. Other children besides his own that he helped raised included Travis and Tronnis Birdinground, Marcus Spotted Bear, Terae, and Kimberly Briggs. Many of his grandkids lived with him and Dorothy while attending Plenty Coups High School.

Some of his hobbies and interests were singing, riding horses, team roping, powwows, golfing, push dancing, and all sports. He was a great fan of any Plenty Coups Warrior team. He also supported any team his grandkids played upon. His other favorite teams included the Seattle Seahawks, the Seattle Mariners, and the Golden State Warriors. He enjoyed helping his brothers while they were horse racing and raced “Druppe” who he turned into a roping horse, and then a kid horse. He enjoyed Crow hand games, watching Arrow Throwing, and singing with the Plenty Coups Singers, Little Shell, and Fights Alone drum groups. He helped carry the drum and sing during the Crow Fair Parade Dance for 20 years, only retiring the past 4. He sang at many Sundances, and bundle openings. He was the last living member of the original Plenty Coups Drum group. He was also a member of the Plenty Coups 117 Legion post. Max also served as the Parade Marshall for many years for the Arrow District. One of his favorite hobbies was gambling, especially at Lucky Lil's on 32nd Street in Billings.

He was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Florence, Plazidus, Donna Hein, Julia Round Face, Jeanette Richardson, Bruce Sr., and Sylvester Spotted Bear, His Grandchildren: Angela and Wes Spotted Bear and Baby Girl Sinquah.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Dorothy, siblings Rosemary Round Face, Melton “Jerry” Spotted Bear Sr., Sharon and Patrice Smells. His sister-in-laws: Anna and Constance DeCrane. His children: Max Jr. (Walla), Veronica (William Big Day) and Luke Spotted Bear, Georgia (Calvin) Buckingham, Delia, and Janel (Phillip) Spotted Bear. He claimed Roseanna (Mark) Denny, JC DeCrane, and Kim (Tafuna) Tusi as his children. He even had an honorary daughter, Tara O'Brien Schwend, from Bridger.

Grandchildren: Marya (Elishah) Reevis , Laval (Arlen Armajo, Jr.) Spotted Bear, Athena (Ashley Bird) Spotted Bear, Savannah (Josh) Pretty On Top, Dennis Sinquah, Matthew (Stormy Bad Bear) Spotted Bear, Dwan, Mckinley, Colt, and Lukas Spotted Bear, Christian, Tessa, Myron and Rose Buckingham, Kenna, Jeremiah, Dana Spotted Bear, Marcus Spotted Bear, Terae, and Kim (Wyatt Weiss) Briggs.

Great-Grandchildren: EJ, Alyssa, Javan, Alonzo, Laila, Raquel, Finley, Coulee, Riley , Grayson, Rhett, Laney , Alena, Meraya, Kenyon, Zeke, Hazen, Reece, DaQuan, DaShaun, Deysha, Tayshawn, Cherayah, Montrell, Zahleah, and Quinton.

Also his many nephews, nieces, and other family members who he loved. And Godchildren: Adali Falls Down, Jr., Bruce White, Jr. and the late Dell Fritzler.

He won the gold medal in the state games in the team bowling with his brother Duke and his children. Max was a Hidasta speaker. He learned how to golf with his childhood friends and relatives: Matthew Hunts Alone, Saunders Bears Tail, Evan Burr Jr., and Brian Rogers. He also considered Jerome “Oly” Hugs Jr., Vincent Goes Ahead Jr., Heywood Big Day Sr., David Berard, Dr. Robert Wilson, and the late Oliver Costa, Brian Rogers, Lloyd Top Sky, and Charles “Chuck” Real Bird to be his very good friends. He always wanted to swim across the Missouri River, but never got the chance. He believed in working hard and earning what you got in life and passed these values down to his kids. He believed in traditional culture and in prayer. He took a yearly trip up to the Medicine Wheel in Wyoming to lay tobacco and to pray for his family, friends and clan children. He was a very friendly person, and enjoyed meeting and talking to people: he would make sure that he learned your name.

Max, Sr. comes from a large family that he was born and married into. Please forgive us in our time of grief if we have forgotten anyone.