Kathleen Denise Dawes

Kathleen Denise Dawes, 69, of Hardin, Montana passed away in her home Sunday morning, August 24, 2024. Born October 16, 1954 in Crow Agency, Montana, a daughter of the late Larry Ambrose Dawes and Regina. Her Crow name, Heel'leen Iiwishish- "Raised Among", was given by Thomas Medicine Horse, Sr.
She grew up in Dunmore (Black Lodge), Montana, was a member of the Whistling Water Clan and Child of the Big Lodge, a member of Night Hawk Society and a member of the Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church in Lodge Grass.
She attended her early education at the Crow Agency Public schools, attended high school at St Labre Catholic School in Ashland, MT. She later transferred to Lodge Grass High School and was a varsity boys basketball cheerleader for the Lodge Grass Indians in the early 1970s. She had an in-home DayCare center where she took children in under her wing. Afterwards, she was a traveling CNA at the Crow Care Center, Big Horn County, Yellowstone County and Great Falls. She later received her GED and attended Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas and also Little Big Horn College studying Early Childhood Development focusing on becoming a HeadStart teacher. Her last employment was at Super 8 Hotel in Hardin, MT. She was proud to say she was a part of every Crow children's educational foundation and found joy in witnessing her students achieving their academic endeavors such as Jae Hugs, graduating from Gonzaga University. She was a fan of watching high school and college basketball, cheering for the Lodge Grass Indians and the Hardin Bulldogs. She especially liked watching her two grandson Cordell Bird and MJ Shield and her granddaughters Adree Shield and Aaliyah Big Lake as well as, Famous Left Hand, Kola Bad Bear, Damon GrosVentre, whom she knew though head start.
She was preceded in death by her father Larry Ambrose Dawes her mother Regina WalksOverIce, her biological father Hartford BlackEagle, Sr, her grandfather David Dawes, her sister Marilyn BlackEagle, her brother Sonny Lagrant BlackEagle, uncle Larry Littleowl, Sr. Her grandparents Hartford and Ruth (Fog in the Morning) BlackEagle, Louis Walks Over Ice and Elizabeth Fitzpatrick; her uncles Myers Black Eagle and Cedric Walks Over Ice, her brother Carson WalksOverIce, Myron Little Light, Marlon on BlackEagle and Larry BlackEagle, Sr.; her sisters Sandy WalksOverIce and Charlene BlackEagle, her aunt Teresa Gun Shows, her nephews Gareth Reed, Sr, Aubrey BlackEagle, Sr. and Shann Nomee, precious granddaughters; Angel Rose Bird and Laila Bird and grandson, Tanner Black Eagle.
Survivors include her biological mother Mary BlackEagle her daughter Shonna (David) Walks; sons Ryland Bird-Williams and Adrian Bird, Jr. Her precious grandchildren; Adree, Myron (Emily) Shield, III, Ambrose (Emily Dickinson) BigLake and Aaliyah BigLake, Tiara and George Walks, SunniRose Bird-Willams, Cordell (Janessa), Princess (Ben), Lakota, Adryelle, Sioux Bird, and Issitchiio Bird, her side kick who she raised. Her precious great grandgirls; Kayleah, Aurora, Elladee, SaRayna, Sariah and Kai'lana. Her sisters: Melvina Dawes, Carlene, Gloria and Carlene (Gary) Johnson, Mary Ruth (Danny) Plainfeather, Tina BlackEagle, Bertha BlackEagle, Janice SunGoesSlow, Denise Hill, Regina Bends, Susan Whiteshirt, Ada Bends, Germaine, Geneva, Carol BlackEagle, Gema Stewart, Sharolynn (Chester, Sr) Nomee, Jeralyn (Joey) Pretty On Top, Venessa, Philamine and Angie Spint, Reva NotAfraid and Lavonna Littleowl-RealBird. Her brothers: Carl (Blanche) Goes Ahead, Cedric (Audrey) BlackEagle, Hartford (Dinah) BlackEagle, Brad (Billie Kay) BlackEagle, Ronnie (Virjama) Flatmouth, Larry Littleowl, Jr., Larny Littleowl and Solomon Littleowl, Shawn (Hannah), Joe, Jr. "Bumper" and Jade Fitzpatrick, Shobe, Orlin (Barbara) and Theodore (Stephanie) Little Light, Dean (Mona) and Hartford Ly (Angie) Bearclaw. Aunties partner in crime and traveling partner Delma Yarlott, Linda Jean (Manuel) CoversUp, Sr., Janice Singer, Agnes Joy Parrish, Sarah Old Bull, Lana Mountainsheep, Genie Alden. Uncles: Chief (Mary Helen) Medicine Horse, Larry (Pearl) and Dana Tobacco, Gilbert (Kathy) Birdinground, Jr., and Lorenzo Mountainsheep, Sr. Nieces: Nyla and NaLayna Melendrez, Natasha and Katelyn Goes Ahead, Kylee Red Wolf, Chrislyn (Marlon) Redstar, Garilyn and Natasha Reed, Misty (Tom) Nagel Jr., Wendy Nomee, Maranda "Putterjacks" BlackEagle, Deborah BlackEagle, Lanita (Clyde) Jefferson, Kristie and Kimberly SunGoesSlow, Kendra Fitzpatrick, Leta Trosper, Courtney, Mary and Neta Hill. Nephews: Joe Goes Ahead, Bob and Scotty Dawes, Clement (Micah) Other Medicine, Bruce Goes Ahead Pretty, Chester (Jonalea) Nomee, Jr, Travis (Willena) Reed, Sr, Randall, Dylan (Cora), Levi (Brocade) BlackEagle, Brant BlackEagle, Larele BlackEagle, Wacey (Tawni) BlackEagle, Cyle BlackEagle and William Hill. Adopted Brothers: Father Jim Antoine, Deacon Joe (Shirley) Kristufek, Jean (Cecile) Lamaro, Burton (Randean) Pretty On Top and former President Barack (Michelle) Obama.
Adopted daughter Kassie Birdinground. Adopted Navajo Family: Steven and (Lucy), Tim (Lynn) Ronald (Charmayne), Luke, Sandy, Ambrose (Viola) and Faith Benally. Grandmother Betssie Wagon, brother John (Pauline) Bitsuie, and sisters Gwedlynn and Melinda Bistuie and Melissa (Miah) Curley. Uncles: Samkey Benally and Lawrence Cleveland.
Extended Families include Dawes, BlackEagle, Iron, Walks Over Ice, Medicine Horse, Bear Claw, Sarah High Nose Stewart family, Pretty Paint, Mountain Sheep, Old Crow, Lucy Real Bird family and Laura Singer family.
If we might have forgotten anyone, the family apologizes.