Katie Pretty Weasel

CROW AGENCY ? Katie Froze Pretty Weasel, 78, of Crow Agency, passed away Wednesday, March 9, 2005, at Billings St. Vincent Healthcare.

She was born Jan. 18, 1927, in Crow Agency, the daughter of Fred and Eliza White Fox Froze. She was a member of the Big Lodge Clan and a child of the Sore Lip Clan and Peigan Clan.

She married Owen Pretty Weasel, Jr., on Aug. 28, 1948. Owen passed away Oct. 10, 1988.

Her parents; son, Fred; grandson, Hank Blacksmith; sisters, Freda Froze, Jewell Froze, Betty LaForge, Janie Teeter, Vera Froze; brothers, Darrell Froze, David Plenty Hoops, Hugh Plenty Hoops, Claude Dawes; uncle, Herbert White Fox; and niece, Lavina LaForge Funjal, preceded her in death.

Katie was politically active with the Crow Tribe. Through lobbying in Washington, D.C., she, Minnie Ellen Fritzler, and Pauline Small were instrumental in obtaining funds for the creation of the Little Big Horn College, Head Start, Lodge Grass High School, and Plenty Coups High School.

They also lobbied for the Indian Health Service and license plates exemption for Crow Tribal members. She worked for Crow BIA Realty, as well as various jobs with the Crow public school system as a teacher's aide. She also worked as Crow Tribal Housing Director and Personnel Officer for the Crow Tribe.

She enjoyed being with her family and friends.

Survivors include her four daughters, Stephanie (Joe) Pretty Weasel Christie of Albuquerque, N.M., Brenda Pretty Weasel of Crow Agency, Jewell (Hugh) Pretty Weasel Blacksmith of Eagan, Minn., and Kathryn Pretty Weasel of Billings; her sons, Harold (Twilla) Pretty Weasel of Black Lodge, Darrell Pretty Weasel of Crow Agency, Howard Pretty Weasel of Hardin, William Pretty Weasel and George (Oma) Pretty Weasel of Crow Agency, and Edward Pretty Weasel of Billings; her nieces and nephews she took as her own children, Dwayne (Renee) Yellowtail, Janice (Alex) LaForge, James (Linda) LaForge, Beldean (Dillard) Birdinground, Thomas (Gloria) LaForge, Leonard Teeter, Russell Teeter, Billy (Omeda) Froze Red Hawk; three grandchildren she raised as her own, Billie Kaye (Lind Hogan) Tall Bull, Veronica Pretty Weasel and Brian Pretty Weasel; 52 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren who affectionately called her "Grandma Grapes" (Grandma Grapes especially loved all her grand and great-grandchildren;) and her sister, Bernice Jefferson. She also adopted and raised Leland Stewart, Roy, Stanford, and Cary Grant Rides Horse, and Kenneth (Jennifer) Turns Plenty. Other children she helped raise and/or adopted and loved include, Carl (Edwina) Venne, Tilton (Sarah) Old Bull, Hugh (Karen) White Clay, Donna (Harold) Stewart Hill, Linda (Tom) Little Owl, Karen (John) Old Elk, Clara Rides Bear, Al Big Hair, Carlton, Clifton, and Clayton Big Man, John Jefferson, and Gary Reed; other children she adopted and were special to her include, Ruth Roper Brown, Steve and Paul Roper, Irma Jane (Ed) Bird Hat, Iva Bull Shows, Gloria Burgess and Lance Pedersen. Katie also held a close and special relationship with Rev.

James (Marie) Roper and the late Sister Dorothy Roper, Rev. Juanita Humphrey, Rev. and Mrs., Harry Turner and Rev. Kirby (Flavina) Bromley. She is also survived by her cousins, Lizzie and Eleanor White Fox, Carol (Vernon) White Clay, Alice M. Tobacco, and Marie Wallace. Her extended family includes White Fox, Dawes, Pretty Paint, Bear Cloud, Rides Bear, Fitzpatrick, Horn, Stops, Williamson, Plenty Hoops, Tobacco, Ten Bear, Singer, Stray Calf, Hill, Medicine Horse, White, Not Afraid, Bear Claw, Black Eagle, Bad Horse, Three Irons, Spotted Horse, Jefferson, and Takes Enemy families.

During our time of grief, we might have forgotten some of our family and friends. Please forgive any oversights.

Wake services will be held 7 p.m. Monday, March 14, at the St. Dennis Catholic Church. Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 15, at the Crow Multi Purpose Building. Interment will follow in the Crow Agency Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary has been entrusted with the arrangements.