Leona Rides Horse

Leona Veronica Rides Horse Our beloved mother, grandmother, and sister Leona Veronica Rides Horse, (“U'utte Isi'tchee”) “Likes Weasel”, went to be with our Heavenly Father on May 8, 2014 at Aspen Meadows in Billings. Her great-great-grandson Carlos Pisano, 4, prayed with her right before her passing. She was the daughter of Emma Buffalo Coat and Stanley Rides Horse. She was an enrolled member of the Crow Tribe, and a member of the Ties the Bundle Clan. Leona attended high school in Edgar, MT. She worked at the Northern Hotel in Billings as a housekeeper and was a longtime employee of the Crow Tribe Head Start as a teacher's aide, custodian and cook. She was also a member of the 107 Crow Enrichment Committee, under the Old Coyote Administration. She was a strong Christian woman that believed in the power of prayer and prayed for everyone in need. She loved attending church and traveling with family and friends, Shirlene Glenn and her late mother, Kathleen Big Hail, to several camp meetings. Leona took pride in her Native Culture and was a beautiful beader, especially the flowers in her designs. She opened her home to people in need of a place to go and took them under her wing and treated them as her own. She started a memorial scholarship award in honor and memory of her son Stanford Rides Horse at the Plenty Coups High School for graduating seniors. She also coordinated several memorial basketball tournaments in his memory. Leona enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren play basketball and box, and always took pride in her children and grandchildren's accomplishments. She loved being surrounded by family and friends and will surely be missed by everyone. Leona was very proud of family members in the Military, like her brother Lewis and her sons Mike LaForge Sr. and Mark Spotted Horse, also grandsons and granddaughters that served in all branches of the Armed Forces. God Bless You! Love You Forever! Leona was preceded in death by her parents; sons Michael Lewis LaForge, Sr., Stanford Lee Rides Horse; aunts Elizabeth Smart Enemy, Amy Chief Stick; nieces Marlene Rides Horse, Mercellyn Buffalo; nephews Edward & Virgil Buffalo; sisters: Marie, Alice & Maggie Rides Horse; brothers: Lewis, Leon & Tyrone Rides Horse, Alvin Bird Hat, Leo Stewart, Gordon Plainbull; uncles: Ted & Henry Rides Horse Sr. Survivors include daughters: Susan (Thomas), Sherry & Cheryl Rides Horse; sons Mark Spotted Horse, Stanley (Sarah) Rides Horse, James Stewart. Grandchildren she raised: Quana (Jesse) Delgado, Lujuana (Jodi) Old Crane, Michael & Mithchell Laforge, Rosemarie (Jerome) Big Hail. Adopted daughters: Emma (Owen) Richardson, Jashawn Eagleman, Annette BearTusk, Faye Medicine Horse, Noreen LaForge, Grace Kelum, Loismarie Rides Horse, Sharon (Jerry) Kenyon, Ethel (Chester) Birdhat, Charlotte (Gary) Martell, Theda Medicine Horse, Thelma Doney, Tina Red Star Hendricks, Martha (Richard) King, Leita Rides Horse, Sheila Rides Horse, Julie Bell Rock, Lena and Melvina Prince, Lana Guiterrez, Theresa Haun, Ursula (Barry) Russell, Christine (Reuben) DeCrane, Iris Buffalo, Bernadine (Paget) Bad Bear, Peggy (Jerry) Spotted Bear. Adopted sisters: Genieva Whiteman, Clara Big Lake, Ruby & Judy Plain Feather. Adopted sons: Stanley (Nelvetta) Rides Horse, Sealmer Red Star Jr., Orin (Diane) Pickett, Robert “Sargie” (Carol) Howe, Manual (Linda) Covers Up, Hanks (Laura), Curtis “Hoss” (Alberta), Harold (Annie), Curtis (Samantha), Gary (Lavine), Sammy (Lucille), Golden Eagle, Adrian, Roy, Stanford Cary Grant Rides Horse, Leland Stewart; Grandnieces and nephews, Carmen LaForge, Steve Whitehip, Jr., Ava Onion, Claudine, Annabelle, Victor, Clive Jr., Joe Dust. Extended family: Rides Horse, Monroy, Smart Enemy, Plainfeather, Big Lake, Howe, Plenty Hawk, Dust, Covers Up, Crooked Arm, Little Light, BirdHat, Stewart, Beartusk, Fighter, Writing Bird, Chief Stick, Chief Goes Out, Top Sky, Ironmaker, Caplette, Stump, Stiffarm, Half, Blain, Medicine Horse, Bear Crane, Tsosie, Onion, Hendricks, Richardson, Red Star. Our family is very large so we apologize if anyone was excluded. Visitation 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday. Funeral Service 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 13 at Plenty Coups High School Gym. Burial will be in Pryor Cemetery. Arrangements are in the care of Dahl Funeral Chapel and memories may be shared at www.dahlfuneralchapel.com