Moise "Moses" Fils-Aime Telfort Reib

Moise “Moses” Fils-Aime Telfort Rieb was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti to a courageous, but still unknown woman, who faithfully cared for him for the first years of his life. Amid extreme poverty and the devastating earthquake of January 2011, she nurtured him until she could no longer care for his physical and developmental disabilities. Pressed to her limit, with certain death his proximate future, she strategically placed him outside the gate of Heartline Ministries' maternity center on August 9, 2011. Subtracting a year from this date, the Haitian magistrate gave Moses the birthday he celebrated for 13 years, August 9, 2010. He was then cared for by the Livesay family who shared his story with the world through the broad reaches of social media prompting his future family to inquire about the possibility of adopting him, though they met none of the Haitian requirements for adoption. This first step of faith led to many more over the following years, some taken boldly, others arduously. In the fall of 2011, Moses was transferred to the care of Children of the Promise in Cap Haitian, Haiti. He would spend the next 2.5 years in the care of loving Haitian nannies, awaiting the completion of his adoption. 

On February 24, 2014, Moses dipped his toes in the Caribbean for the final time. The following day, he boarded a plane in Port-au-Prince with his parents. Enduring a 100-degree temperature swing, he landed in Cody to -10-degree temperatures on his first brother’s day, welcomed by his sister and 3 brothers. He spent the remainder of his years loving and being loved by his forever family, earning a variety of nicknames, the last being "Uncle MoMo." His love of music was eclectic, ranging from the classical movements played on the family piano by his siblings, to hair bands played loud with his beloved respite providers, Misty and Jason Streeter, to boy bands and Britney Spears sung to him by his long-time physical therapist, Josh Westerhold. His favorite by far, though, was hearing his mom sing to him Ronnie Milsap’s “What a Difference You’ve Made in My Life” almost daily. Moses was a Sleeping Giant season pass holder for years, having taught his dad to use a sit-ski. Through the years, he managed to ski Jackson Hole (where he was admonished by ski patrol for skiing too fast), Grand Targhee (where he hit a tree, bending the footplate of his ski), and Big Sky (where he carved the wide groomers in style).

Moses was baptized and his family became members of Christ Covenant Reformed Church in Billings, MT on December 18, 2016, where they continue to worship. Singing with his church family remained the highlight of Moses’ week to the very end, opening his eyes for the last time while members of his church sang over him on the evening of August 6. Moses and his family had moved to Billings in April of 2021 where he resided until his death at home, surrounded by his family in the early morning hours of August 7, 2024, due to complications of his profound cerebral palsy.

Moses is survived by his parents, Nathaniel and Lisa of Billings, MT; siblings Julia (Miles) Whitling of Viola, ID, Jackson (Julia) of Moscow, ID, Justin, and Jonathan; niece Madison Whitling and nephew “Baby Brisket” due in September to big brother Jackson and wife Julia; grandparents Duane and Sara Miller of Powell, WY and Stanley and Heidi Rieb of Billings, MT; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in Moses' honor to this year's Billings Clinic Classic which will benefit the pediatrics department and the Pediatric Complex Care Program, who aided Moses' care immensely in his final years, or your local crisis pregnancy resource center (Serenity Pregnancy Resource Center in Powell or LaVie Health in Billings).

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, August 10, 2024 beginning at 2:00 pm at Grace Point Church, 550 Kattenhorn Dr. in Powell. Viewing will be held at 1:00 pm at the church preceding the service. Burial will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery.

Live Stream of the funeral will be available at the Grace Point Powell website.