Joanne Old Crow

Funeral Dec. 7, 2021, Tuesday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Hardin at 10:30AM. Burial will be held at the Lodge Grass Cemetery.

Our dearest Joanne Bedonie Old Crow crossed the veil into the spirit world on December 1st, 2021 at the age of 62. Joanne was born on September 16, 1959 in Tuba City, AZ to Joe and Elma Lou Bedonie. Joanne was a Navajo woman who was of the T[iz7[an7 (Manygoat) clan and born for the Ta’neeszhani (Tangle) clan. Her maternal grandfathers were of the B88h bit0odnii (Deer Water) clan and her paternal grandfathers were of the T1chiinii (Red running into the waters) clan. Joanne came from a very large extended family which included her own children, grandchildren, her siblings, aunts and uncles, cousins, and friends within her community. She was not one to just walk by anyone she knew. She greeted everyone as her relative acknowledging them through her Navajo kinship. This is a Navajo cultural practice she learned from her mother and grandmother. Joanne knew lots of people between Montana and Arizona.

As a child she grew up and went to school in Tuba City, AZ. She began her school years at the Tuba City Boarding school and attended the boarding school until 2nd grade. She attended the Indian boarding school in Tuba City for two years as a young student. There after she transferred to the Tuba City Primary School until the 5th grade. Joanne graduated from eighth grade at the Tuba City Jr. High School in 1974. Four years later she graduated from high school in 1978 from Tuba City High School. In high school her best friend introduced her to her love of Pow Wow dancing and music.

Upon graduating she set off to attend the LDS Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho (now known as Brigham Young University- Idaho). She attended from 1978 to 1981 and received her Associates degree in psychology. While attending Ricks College she met Newton Old Crow Jr. and began dating. As a result of this courtship, they eventually married. They began their civil marriage at the Tuba City court house in Tuba City, AZ on December 27, 1979. They later married in the LDS Idaho Falls Temple in 1983 where their children Vanessa and Brennon were sealed to them. In 1980’s they moved between Montana, Idaho and Arizona.

Together they had four children. Their first daughter Vanessa was born in Crow Agency, MT in 1980. Their son Brennon was born in Rexburg, ID in 1981. Their third child Deona, was born in Tuba City, AZ in 1986 and their youngest daughter Sariah was born in Phoenix, AZ in 1991. Joanne was ambitious as a young person as she learned how to weave basic Navajo rug weaving from her mother. As a young married woman, she made small Navajo rugs that she actually sold to help her family financially while attending Ricks College. Joanne enjoyed Northern style beading. She learned this style of beading from her sister-in-law the late Ursula Badhorse. With this skill she made numerous pow wow regalia for multiple people. She was very well known for her northern style bead work and people admired her work. She also liked to make pow wow shawls for northern traditional women dancers. She learned to crochet from her eldest sister the late Rena Bedonie Molina. With this skill she made baby blankets, booties and doilies.

Joanne worked for the Tuba City Boarding school as a teacher, substitute teacher, and student mentor for many years. This is a job she enjoyed because she loved teaching her Navajo students. She was involved in many extracurricular activities with her students, like the Tuba City Boarding School Indian club, AISES (American Indian Science Engineering Society), and tutored students in all subjects. In 2003 Joanne also taught preschool at the Tinaabaas Habitiin (Gap) Elementary School. In Tuba City Joanne and her family became involved in the Navajo Song and Dance community. Her father Joe Bedonie was a well-known traditional Navajo song and dance singer who influenced their involvement into these events. These events became very competitive to the point that they would regularly win money, trophies and prizes. Joanne and Newton Jr. lived in Tuba City the longest and in 1999 they divorced.

Joanne attended Dine College in Tuba City and Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ to continue her studies in Elementary Education. In 2001 Joanne met Emery Zeena a Hopi and Tewa man through a mutual friend. Emery taught and took her to the seasonal Hopi ceremonial dance on the Hopi reservation because he participated in them. They dated for five years and became engaged prior to his death in 2004.

Joanne is survived by her children Vanessa Jo Old Crow, Brennon Old Crow (Lorita) and Sariah Old Crow. Her grandchildren Cedar Darling Chase, Lucile Mae Goes Ahead, Lamani Goes Ahead-Old Crow, Katelyn, Casey, Kailani, Bailey, and Tirzah Old Crow, Marv, Destiney and Abigal Old Horn. Her siblings Robert Bedonie, Sr. of Tuba City, AZ, Irene Bedonie of Farmington, NM, Lorraine Red Day of Flagstaff, AZ. Margaret Jefferson of Wyola, MT, Clara and Chris Bedonie of Salt Lake City, UT and numerous nieces and nephews and close relatives and friends here in Montana and in Arizona.

She was preceded in death by her daughter Deona Autumn Old Crow, her eldest sister Rena Bedonie Molina, her parents Joe and Elma Lou Bedonie, her grandparents Zoe Polly and Herbert Zohnnie Sr., her maternal aunts Sadie Yazzie, Julia Hadley, Jennifer June and her maternal uncles Wilson Zohnnie, Norman Zohnnie, Herbert Zohnnie Jr. On her Paternal family side, she was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Esitty Yazzie Bedonie and Hastiin Tso Bitsi’. Her paternal uncles Ray Bedonie, Frank Bedonie, Chee Bedonie, Sr. Her cousins Chee Bedonie Jr., Michael Bedonie, Norman Bedonie, Timothy Bedonie, Paul Bedonie, Benjamin Bedonie, Norman Bedonie. Her nephews Anthony Bedonie and Dakota Red Day.

Our beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend Joanne Bedonie Old Crow lived a fulfilling life until the age of 62. We will always remember her love, humor, and dedication to family and friends. Our Heavenly Father was extremely generous in sending such a beautiful and compassionate spirit. We were truly blessed! We love you, Joanne.

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