Donnie Wayne LaForge

Donnie Wayne LaForge, 77, of Crow Agency, Montana, left us to be with our Heavenly Father, on Monday, June 17, 2024 at St. Vincent Hospital.   

Awax’aawe He’eleen Daka’akash, “Bird in the Mountain,” was born June 15, 1947 in Crow Agency. Chiich iip’ ow’waape’, “Blue Mountain Grouse,” was also given to him by Douglas Adams. He was a son of James LaForge and Louise Dawes.  He was raised in the Black Lodge area and received his education in Hardin. In his younger years he liked to Saddle Bronc, was a fire fighter, and later enlisted in the United States Army, having served in the Vietnam War, and received an Honorable discharge in 1969.  He worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Transportation Department and Land Management in Crow Agency, Montana, later transferring to Alaska.  Upon his retirement from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Alaska, he returned to Crow Agency and worked for the Sarpy Coal Mine and the Crow Tribe. 

Wayne married Darlene Backbone, and with this union they had four children.  

He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, member of the Newly Made Lodge, and was a child of Big Lodge. 

His parents, James LaForge, Louise Dawes, adopted parents, Frank LaForge and Alice Mae, children, Donnie, Donita and Stephan LaForge, brother, Michael LaForge, sister, Lavina LaForge, nephews, Josiah Yellowtail, Michael Birdinground Jr., and Melvin Pretty Weasel, niece, Susan LaForge, and grandchildren, Echo and Donnie Stephan LaForge, Roddy and Michael Not Afraid, preceded him in death. 

Survivors include his daughters, Pearl (Wayne) LaForge-Onion, Jennifer LaForge, son, Wayland (Jackie) LaForge, his grandchildren, Carl, Jerilyn, LaShawnda, Jaren, Larnita, Wayette, Ivory and Branson, sisters, Clara (Julian) Joe, Patsy Yellowtail, Rachel (Joe) Wallace, Beldean (Alex) Plain Feather, and Raylene (Henry) Rides Horse, brothers Bouyer, and Jimmy Dean LaForge, aunt, Mary Louise LaForge, nephew, Marlon (Jenna) Joe, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; as well as his extended family, including the Dawes, White Fox, Spotted Horse, Laforge, Little Light, Plain Bull, Bull Tail, Comes Up, Snell, Anderson, Hunts Arrow, Carpenter, Jefferson, Little Owl, Whiteclay, Bouyer, Goes Ahead and Big Hails families.  

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