Billings Gazette; Billings MT; 2000-12-27

CROW AGENCY AD Morris 'Chris' Big Lake, Sr., 63, of Crow Agency, passed away
Monday evening, Dec. 25, 2000, in the Crow Agency IHS Hospital, following an
extended illness.
Bisheehaakaash (Last Buffalo) was born Nov. 21, 1937, in Crow Agency, a son
of James and Edith White Clay Big Lake. He was raised by his aunt Alice Mae
LaForge in the Crow Agency area, where he grew up and attended schools. He
later attended the University of Wyoming.
Chris married LaVern Williamson in 1957 and the couple later divorced. He
married Ruth Goggles on May 25, 1972, in Sheridan, Wyo.
He worked on various area ranches and worked on several campaigns at the
Holly Sugar Factory. He later worked as a custodian for Hardin High School.
Chris was a member of the Catholic Church, Bad War Deeds Clan and a child of
the Sore Lip and Greasy Mouth Clans. He participated in the traditional Crow
way of life, social and ceremonial activities. He was instrumental in
providing the groundwork for the creation of the Crow Detox Center in Crow
Agency.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Lorette; two grandsons,
Todd and Alan Curtis Old Elk; a sister, Marcella; and two brothers, Thomas
and Delbert.
Survivors include his wife Ruth of Wyoming; six daughters, Gloria (Porgey)
Old Elk of Crow Agency, Janet Big Lake and Maria (Jay) Weigand of Hardin,
Sharon Lee Stands of Lodge Grass, Edie and Toniette Big Lake of Wyoming;
three sons, Morris (Cecelia) Big Lake, Jr., of St. Xavier, Randy Red Wolf
and Gary Big Lake of Wyoming; eight sisters, Ramona (Ira) Left Hand of Lodge
Grass, Jeanean (Sam) Turns Plenty of Hardin, Dorothy (Raymond) Hair of
California, Ella Big Lake of Miles City, Rena (Joe) Pickett of Garryowen,
Clarice (Spencer) Denny, Myra Left Hand and Loretta Three Irons of Crow
Agency; three brothers, Arlen Stewart of Crow Agency, Archie (Daverne) Big
Lake and Vernon Big Lake of Hardin; two adopted brothers, Vincent (Lorrine)
Spint and Kenneth (Diana) Spint; his Tobacco Society adopted family,
Clarence (Joclyn) and Randy Three Irons, Daisy (Panda) Bad Bear and Marlene
(Yvon) Little Light; and his 13 grandchildren, Jongary, Ruben, Sandra,
Adrian, Leah, Marny Jo, Namoi, Weston, Todd, Keish, Lamar, Jolette and Kane.
Rosary will be recited 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Bullis Funeral Chapel.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Thursday in the Crow Agency St.
Dennis Catholic Church. Interment will follow in the Crow Agency Cemetery.
Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.