Christian Costa

Christian Noel Costa aka Schalayne went to be with her Lord on the 19th of June 2016 in Billings, MT. Christian had sustained a fatal injury to her neck vertebrae from a fall down a flight of stairs. Schalayne was a great, great granddaughter of Chief Plenty Coups, the last Chief of the Absalooke Nation. She was a member of the Big Lodge Clan. Her Absalooke name was Aak baawalot Baxbe iigaa iitchish, Good Bible Reader; a name given to her by Katherine Big Hail of Pryor, MT. Schalayne was born on December 25,1992 to Natasha Stanfield LaForge in Helena, MT. She was adopted at birth by her Maternal Grandparents Addlee and the late Steve Eckhart. She attended Crow Agency Elementary School, Lodge Grass Middle School, graduating 8th grade from Lodge Grass and then attended Northern Cheyenne Tribal High School. She was an accomplished writer of Prose and Poetry. She won First Place Awards at Lodge Grass High School for Creative Writing. She also won National Awards for her Poetry which placed her in the National Who”s Who Directory. Schalayne was selected twice in both semesters of 8th grade and freshman years as an ambassador for the National Who's Who in America for Poetry and Literature while in attendance at Lodge Grass Public School. In her younger years, Schalayne enjoyed riding horses, played flag football in 4th and 5th grade at Crow Agency Elementary; she was a constant companion to her grandmother in attendance to local church and camp meetings as well as Crusades for Internationally renowned ministers such as Benny Hinn and Dr. Morris Cerullo throughout the US. She was most beloved and remembered for her kind nature, in all that she did, always well-mannered and cheerful. Her beautiful contagious smile and infamous trademark dimples and her intelligent sense of humor and quick wit brightened any room she entered. Schalayne was preceded in death by Steve and Josh Eckhart, David and Lenora Turns Plenty, Eddie and Annabelle Little Light, Everett, Meta, Orrie, Alvie and Korey Plain Bull, Kammie Crazy Mule and Arnold “Lucky” Coyote Runs. She is survived by her three children: Red Elk Jakobi, Talitha Dantez and Noah Rambert Costa. She is also survived by her mother Natasha {Ron} LaForge; her father, Garret Costa Sr.; her grandmothers Addlee Red Elk Eckhart and Janet Bird in Ground, her adopted parents Amanda and Lance Ricker, Sandra Star Wilson and Lionel {Katie} Old Elk. Her siblings: O'Shon Old Elk Sr., Tristan {Deborah}, Garrett Jr., Ted Costa, Isaiah Eckhart Sr., Tres Hunts His Enemy Sr., Jonathen Costa, Credence LaForge; RonDhe and RonElle LaForge, Thelma Costa. Her extended Grandparents: Calvin {Alpha}, Sampson {Eva} Birdinground, Jennifer {Lawrence} Flat Lip, Jessica {Steve} Yapuncich, Jocelyn and Andrea Costa, LaVanna Bird, Julia Kelly. Her Uncles: David Jr., John {Nicole} Turnsplenty, Ralph Costa, Eric {Juliet} Plain Bull, Frank {Egail}Gun Shows, Elan {Paula} Buffalo Bull Tail, Eric {Kaycee} Birdinground, Victor {Becky} Costa, Ezekiel and Arnold Jr. Coyote Runs. Her Aunts: Rhonda {Floyd} American Horse, Stanna and Mika Plain Bull, Olivia {Cameron} Backer, Johnna Selage, Jolie {Warren} Gets Down, Nissi {Richard} Jarvis, Amaris {Ernesto} Rivas, Lisa Costa, Shawna {Verdell} Collins, Lauren Flat Lip, Janetlyn Kight, Valerie Hodge, Louisa Kobielusz, Gina {Alex} Madill, Katie {Travis} Hart, Lenaya and Audrey Costa. Schalayne had many friends and adopted brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles who we are not able to list. You are not forgotten.You are all remembered and respected. Extended Families include Iron, Bear Cloud, Blaine, Holds the Enemy, Leider, Plain Bull, Whiteman, Hugs, Bull Tail, Costa, Birdinground, Shane, Other Medicine, Half, Nomee, Stewart. Our families are very large. Please forgive us if we forgot to mention anyone. Dahl Funeral Chapel is entrusted with funeral services to be held June 24, 2016 at Dahl Funeral Chapel at 11:00 am in Billings, Mt, with burial services to follow at the Plain Bull Cemetery in Pryor, Montana. *****Please help the family with funeral costs by donating funds to Dahl Funeral Chapel.