William Gardner

William Perry Gardner, Jr . . . beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle . . . went to the Other Side Camp on September 18, 2020. Butch, as he was fondly known, was born on April 28, 1942 in Pryor, Montana to William Gardner, Sr. and Ethel Flat Mouth. He got his nickname from the nurse who took care of him in the hospital. His Crow name is Baalatchii (Timid One), given to him by his Great Grandmother Dora Yellowface, a direct descendent of Mountain Crow Chief Bell Rock. He was a Piegan and Piegan Child because he was raised by his Grandmother Amelia Gardner. He was raised by his Aunt Francis and her husband, Leonard Old Dwarf. Butch attended schools in the Pryor area. He worked for Tribal Police. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1970, Airborne training before going overseas to Germany in 1971, where he was an SP4. He spent 13 months in Vietnam, where he was wounded and received a field promotion to Staff Sergeant. He finished his military career in Ft. Carson, CO as a Drill Instructor in 1974, as a Staff Sergeant, E5. Medals he received during his military career are: National Defense Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Service Star, Vietnam Campaign Medal with 60 Device Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm Sharpshooter's Badge, One Service Stripe, One Overseas Bar. He worked as various security positions for the tribe. He worked at the new IHS Hospital as a Housekeeping Supervisor until he retired in 2000. His last job was as a Crow Tribal Fish & Game Warden until he officially retired. Throughout his life, he was an active member of the Native American Church, a Sundancer, he prayed in sweat lodge, and was a hunter, outdoorsman, and mechanic. He is preceded in death by his parents, adopted parents, maternal and paternal grandparents; Father-in-Law James Coriz of New Mexico; brothers Nathan Old Dwarf, Robert Russel, Gus Gardner, Eddie Little Light; sisters Bertha Old Bull, Ruth and Betty Gardner, Alfredine Old Crane, Kathleen Flat Mouth; sons Charlie “Man” Sees The Ground, Willian John Gardner, Dominic Joseh Gardner, Sr., Lawrence Old Bull, Jr., Romeo Old Bull; daughters Urusula and Vanessa Gardner. He is survived by his wife Christina; sons Thomas and Ben Gardner, Sr.; daughter Nicole Gardner. Additional Information He is survived by sons: William (Barbara) Gardner III, Buster (Kathy) Gardner, Sr., Rodney (Melanie) Old Bull, Ryan Silverhorn, Vincent (Jewel) Crooked Arm, Jr., James D. and Marcus S. Gardner, Sr., William Goggles, Charles Lucero, Cody Coriz, Danzel Pena; daughters: Ethel, Beatine, Reva, Nicole, Serena Gardner, Veronica (Heywood, Jr.) Big Day, Valerie (Vince) Horsechief, Sophia (Max) Dawes, Christel K. Martinez, Nellie and Magdalene Gardner, Billie (Burdick) Two Leggins, Jami, Autumn and Malena Coriz; brothers: Thomas Gardner, Thomas (Alice) Lion Shows, Lawrence (Jennifer) Flat Lip Jr., Robert, Jerry, and Kenneth Flat Lip, Ronnie (Virjama) and Leon (Lorraine) Flatmouth, Robert (Arlene) Fitch, Keith Reece, Louis Luceno; sisters: Nellie (Mac) Silverhorn, Claudia and Rebecca Flat Mouth, Birdie Mae and Lanel Lion Shows, Alberta (Marvin) Wall, Rosanna, Tianna, Denise and Elina Coriz; numerous adopted children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren; surviving sons: Wayland (Regina) Limpy, Johnny Zimiga, Ben Tabaha, Jacob Small, Lance Old Man, Thomas Goggles, William Goggles; surviving brothers: Eugene Limpy, Jim Middleton; special friends: Kara and Joel Paskall. Please forgive us if we forgot to mention your name during our time of grief. A BIG thank you to the Montana VA Health Care System, Billings Clinic ER, ICU Departments for their angels in nurse's uniforms for their care of Butch Gardner, my husband.