Nicholas John Demontiney

CROW AGENCY - Nicholas John Demontiney, 26, of Crow Agency, died tragically Tuesday evening, Sept. 11, 2007, of injuries sustained in an auto accident north of Crow Agency.
PasKwaStatim "Rough Horse," an Indian name given to him by his lineal grandfather Doug Standing Rock, was born Sept. 29, 1980 in Sheridan, Wyo., a son of James S. and Peggy Yellowtail Demontiney. Nick was a direct descendent of Chief Big Bear and Chief Little Bear. He grew up and received his education in the Lodge Grass School system, graduating in 1998. He was very active in high school, where he excelled on the football team, was Homecoming King and a member of the livestock showing and judging team. The late Pasty Fitzgerald tutored him. He later attended Sheridan Community College.
Nick was a member of the Greasy Mouth Clan, was a child of the Whistling Water Clan, Northern Plains Indian Rodeo Association and the Wrangler Team Roping Association. He was a saddle bronc rider and rookie team roper, who showed great promise as a rodeo competitor.
He was a hard worker, who learned heavy equipment operations while working for Fletcher Construction and later for Sletton Construction. He currently was employed at the Westmoreland Absaloka Mine as a heavy equipment operator. He loved to hunt, fish, ride and break horses. He was very full of life and looked forward to everyday with a positive attitude.
He began a life with Lauren Pickett in 2004, and the couple made their home near Crow Agency.
His grandparents, Four Souls and Joe Demontiney, Sr., Eva, Elizabeth, Rudolph, Kenneth and Bill Yellowtail, Sr. preceded Nick in death.
Survivors include his companion, Lauren Pickett; his step-daughters, Velma Pease and Tia Cummins; his parents, Jim and Peggy Demontiney of Wyola; his sister, Jini (Mevlin) Demontiney; brothers, Michael, Harrison, Solomon and Rudy; grandparents, Delia Demontiney, Joyce Four Souls, Virjama Wyles, Caroline Houston, Connie Jackson, Winona Plenty Hoops, Julia and Cyril Not Afraid; his in-laws, Lloyd and Elvina Pickett; his aunts, Dixie Yellowtail, Beldean Bird in Ground, the Demontiney ladies including Linda, Jeanette, Yvonne, Susie, Natalie, Hayley and Mary; his uncles, Larry (Patsy) Yellowtail, Peter, Sr., Joe II and Pete Demontiney III; numerous aunts and uncles; as well as his extended family including the Bends, Whiteman, Yellowtail, Not Afraid and Demontiney families.
Traditional wake services will be held 7 p.m. Thursday in the Lodge Grass Elementary School Gymnasium. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Friday in the Gym. Interment will follow in the Lodge Grass Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.

This obituary was originally published in the Billings Gazette.