Janice Medicine Horse

Funeral service Friday Dec. 31st at 10:00 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Burial will follow at the Crow Agency Cemetery. Visitation Wednesday 2-4 and Thurs. 10-4.

Janice Medicine Horse, was born March 20, 1957, to Thomas Medicine Horse Jr. and Isabell Hill in Crow Agency, MT, and she was member of Big Lodge and Child of Big Lodge clans of the Apsaalooke Nation. Befitting, to her Apsaalooke name, Hawassdaahwii Isitcheesh ‘Likes to Travel’ began her final journey to the other side camp, on December 26, 2021. Janice walked on, by complications from her battle with diabetes for several years, it took a toll on her health.

Janice AKA ‘One Stitch’ grew up on the Crow Indian Reservation and moved to Los Angeles with her family, who participated in the Indian Relocation Program. Eventually, returning to Apsaalooke Country, while still in grade school. During this time the Mormon religion came onto the reservation, offering an educational placement program for baptized young members who were eight years of age or older.

Janice participated in the LDS placement program for many years getting her education in the state of Idaho, while living with foster parents for the school year. After the school year, she would return home for the summer months. This program allowed her to get an exceptional education. During her high school years, she decided to go to Intermountain Indian Boarding School, in Bringham City, Utah. While at Intermountain, she met Patrick Doctor and began dating. After finishing high school, they married and lived in Crow Agency. From this marriage Patrick Jr. AKA ‘Gator’ was born to them in Billings, Mt. After, Gator was born, they moved to Hollywood, Florida to Patrick Sr’s Seminole Reservation.

After, several years her marriage ended, she met Howard Osceola in Ft. Lauderdale. From this union her daughter Alice ‘Allie’ Osceola was born to them in 1981. Several years passed and Janice returned home with Alice.

During this time, she started her pursuit to become a nurse’s aide. After completing her training, she was a CNA Certified Nurse’s Aide. She began an extensive career working in various nursing homes, in the Billings area. One Stitch was a very caring person and would help her people, who were in the hospitals from nearby reservations. She would take home cooked meals to patients, visit, and invite families to her home to eat and offered a place to sleep. During this time, she met and lived with Loren Hayes and helped Loren manage his apartments on the north side of Billings.

Janice maintained a traditional life with her beliefs. She started sun dancing at a young age and continued throughout her adult life in both the Crow and Lakota styles. She loved to traditional dance and looked forward to the parade dances during Crow Fair. She was always teaching the young girls of her family; the way women dance properly. She travelled to many traditional gatherings throughout Indian County. One of her favorite trips was to the United Tribes Pow Wow in Bismarck, ND with her sisters Deana and Myrna along with their grandchildren, to spend time with her brother and his children. She would dance with her granddaughters, Chelsea Pretty Paint, Lindsey Door, Katerena and Alexis Morrison, Letha Cloud, Dominica and Myrna Medicine Horse, and Lillian Cloud.

Janice was very active member of the Native American Church and would sponsor or take part in the ceremony with her younger brother Tyler Medicine Horse. For many years, this way of life was a big part of her scheduled gatherings. Attending ceremonies was always something she held close to heart.

Also, a very gifted artist with her beading, some of her peyote stitch articles she gave away freely to her family, probably why she was nicknamed ‘One Stitch’.

Growing up in the 60’s and 70’s she was an activist for Native rights, having had to deal with racism, she believed today’s kids shouldn’t endure such treatment. She was a long-time member of the American Indian Movement. She said, what needed to be said and was very blunt with her expressions, often participated in protests or marches for different reasons.

Janice was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Isabel, brothers Hubert Dawes, Thomas Larson, Donald and his wife Darlene, Raleigh Kae, Jay and Joseph Medicine Horse, sisters Rosemary Dawes, Thomasine and Corlana Medicine Horse..

She is survived by her son Patrick Doctor Jr. with his children Denise Osceola, Lauren Doctor, Sarah Robbins, and Kaleb Doctor all of Hollywood, Florida. Daughter Alice Osceola, who lives in Brighton Florida, her children include Patrick Brady of Denver and Alliana Brady, who lives in Billings with her father Dana. Her Brothers include Rick (Ethlene) Two Dogs, Tyler (Veronica) Medicine Horse and Rolling Thunder (Ron Medicine Horse), Harold, and Mike Hill, Garland, Leroy, and Marlan Not Afraid and Dr. James Upchurch. Sisters: Deana MH LaForge, Myrna MH Dawes, Agnes, Racheal, Tina, Jonella Hill, Rebecca Stops, and Patti Medicine Horse, Alma (Henry) Real Bird and Angela Hill. Nephews include, Ben (Victoria), Troy, Chris and Frankie Cloud, JR (Jody) and Paul (Sarah) Medicine Horse, John (Heather) and Mark Perez, Joe (Angela), Dennis Gutierrez, Tyler Jr., Talon Medicine Horse, Jeff and Donnie Medicine Horse, Raleigh Cloud, Mike Lee, Erin Stops, Jeff Iron Cloud, Gabe Morgan, Bruce and CJ Other Medicine, Sam Griffel, Wesley Stops Jr. Frank Caplett, George Little Wolf, Lawrence (Lydia), Bemus Big Hair, Preston (Maria) and Hubert (Billie)Two Leggins, Marvin (Berta) Wall. Nieces include, Theo Dawes, Makalia Gutierrez, Angie (Jason) Louie, Elizabeth Birdinground, Delrae Elkshoulder, Carmella Brown, Inez Smart (Devon Tom) and Marjean Dawes, Elsie Half, Johnann Chief Child, Donette (Mitchell) Medicine Horse. Grandchildren include, Robert (Suzanne), Vernon Tillman, Ron (Emma), Curtis (Heather) Rides Horse, Mike (Cyndee) Medicine Horse, Chris (Grandbaby) Teller, Tierza Medicine Horse, John (Tasha), Robert (Grace) Dust, Michaelyn (Justin) Bear, Crystalyn (DJ) Coulson, Thomas Ivery, Tifton, Thomas III, Justin, Marlin, Isabelle, Jonathan, Dominic, Derek, and Jenna Medicine Horse. Jeff War Eagle, Simpson Little Light, Lacey, Alexys, Verdell, Devina, and Thomas Tom. Calley, Krissy (Edwin), Josiah (Serena), Lukas, Gabriel, Lillian, Aramis, Benjamin IV, Letha, Cordero (Racheal), Isiaha and Coty (Steph), Roxy Jo, Tahnee, Tristan Cloud. Chelsea Pretty Paint, Lindsey (Randy) Enemy Hunter, Katerena and Alexis Morrison, Nicole Half. Marlee, Dustin, and Josiah Gutierrez. Alvin (Suneeta) Stewart III. Robin Stewart, Dorian Big Medicine, Ira and Rosalie Dawes, Noel, Son Son, Seriaha Two Leggins, Sereatha (Jason) Kills the Pretty Enemy, Della (Andrew) Stump, Sheldon Big Hair. Misty (Michael), Alisha (Jan), and Jaylin (Kodie) Louie. Jay and Hiram Armajo, Wesley Jr (Marguerite) and Darrell (Renata) Underwood.

She has many cousin brothers and sisters, nephews, nieces, and grandchildren from all of her relatives from Canada, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, California which include descendants from Medicine Horse, Hill, Other Bull, Rides Horse, Cloud, Dawes, Two Leggins, Wall, Turns Plenty, Tillman, High Hawk, Good Horses, Two Dogs, Coming Out, Gives Away, White Buffalo, Old, Top Of The Sweat House, Washakie, Little Warrior, Crow Good Voice, Yellow Cloud, Half, Onion, Black Eagle, Chief Child, Walks, Buffalo, Door, Bends, Louie, Gutierrez, Perez, Caplett, Morrison, Big Medicine, Stewart, Stops, House, Smart, and Not Afraid Families. Accept our apology if we missed mentioning your name. It was not intentional, because of numerous members of our family.

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