Lori Pretty Paint

Funeral services Friday Dec. 3rd at 1:00PM at the Spirit of Life Foursquare Church. Burial will follow at the Crow Agency Cemetery.

Lori Pretty Paint, 57, of Dunmore, MT went to the Other Side Camp on Sunday, November 28, 2021 after a courageous 5 year battle against cancer; she is now pain free and went onto heaven to be with family she missed dearly.

She was born on January 14, 1965 in Crow Agency, MT to Melvin and Elsie Ann (Dawes) Pretty Paint. She was raised by Annie (Singer) and Augustine “Gussie” Costa in a traditional Crow home and learned to speak Crow as her first language. . Her Apsáalooke name is Chiwakiideeiisitcheesh (Likes To Go Pray) given to her by her Mama Kaala, Annie (Singer) Costa. Lori’s was member of the Big Lodge and a child of Greasy Mouth.

Lori Ann came from a large family of nine siblings and was the sixth child. While being raised by Annie and Gussie, she was spoiled and always wanted her picture taken at events. They would dress her in the finest dresses and she would carry her African American doll.

She attended the Kingsmen School in Crow Agency, Crow Elementary, LDS Placement Program in Basin City, Washington then onto Hardin High School. While in Basin City, she was placed with a family who owned a large chicken farm.

She was employed by the Crow Tribe for 25 years in various departments; Crow Tribal Courts, Song Bird Daycare, Domestic Violence, Legal Assistant for the Crow Tribe Legal Department. As an assistant, her knowledge of Crow culture and being fluent in the Crow language was an excellent resource in the Crow Tribal Attorney’s Office. She assisted Crow speaking clients with legal language. Her secretarial and filing skills were assets for her work in the Attorney’s Office. She was instilled with a strong work ethic and was a reliable and dependable employee. Her innate intelligence always helped her find a way to get the upper hand!

She was a talented Crow floral and geometric designer and always took pride in her exquisite beadwork. She was also a caterer for large events. Her mother’s fry bread was well known and she passed her recipe down to Lori. Her mother would say “It’s my Ancient Chinese Secret Fry-Bread recipe”. Lori Ann passed it down to her daughter, Julianna, and she is now the 3rd generation using the recipe and being a Fry-Bread Queen. She was a One-Day Black Lodge Princess during Crow Fair as she had to fill in for her sister.

Lori Ann won the “Last Point” of Sr. Handgame Championship game at the Historic Round Hall Building and winning many outstanding prizes in less than 30-seconds with her rough hand gestures while spitting chew out! She designed the Black Lodge Jr. Handgame Team outfits using her favorite color Lime Green.

Lori’s harsh sarcastic comments and loud voice were her expressions of love to her family and friends. She always welcomed people into her home and took care of many family and people.

Even with her medical issues, she never expressed her pain or complained and always put others needs before hers. She went above and beyond to take care of her children and grandchildren. While in Billings Clinic, she was very sick but was determined to go home.

Lori Ann was proceeded in death of her parents; Melvin and Elsie Ann (Dawes) Pretty Paint, Annie (Singer) and Augustine “Gussie” Costa, Great-Grandmother; Mable (Townsend) Pretty On Top, Grandmothers; Melinda (Bravo) Half, Henrietta Pretty On Top, Grace Three Irons, Pansey (Dawes) Williamson, Loettal Wallace Grandfathers; Claude Dawes Sr., Uncles; Victor and Clifford Singer, Thomas Wall, Claude Dawes Jr. and Adrian Medicine Horse; Aunt; Glenda (Pretty Paint) Morrison, her brother Jo-Jo Pretty Paint, Larry Dale, Mike and Clifton Singer Nephew and Nieces; Lancing Iron, Molly JoVi Smells, Josiah Yellowtail, OJ Iron, Courtney Little Nest; her grandson Buster Lee Birdinground; great granddaughter Elcee Stops.

She is survived by Jeremy (Joelle) Pretty Paint, Terry Singer, Selena, Julianna, Harold Jr. Rides Horse; Grandchildren; Jeremy Jr, Jeroen, Lakota, Alliya, Jemersen, Jeremih, Jalaya, Jesse, Joshua and Ayden; Brothers and Sisters: Melva (Ray) Iron, Melvina Dawes, Victor, Jeannie, Brenda, Clyde and Jana-Jo (Alden) Pretty Paint, Darrin (Rhonda), Conrad (Tiffany), Martha, Susan, Jolene, Diane, Janice Singer, Katherine Hogan, Ann, Jocelyn, Andrea, Jessica Costa, Porgey (Gloria) Old Elk, Marvin,Larson, Max, Greg, Sophie Dawes, Patsy, Claude Jr., Melinda Lee, Patsy, Verena and Luellen Dawes; Aunts; Frances Pretty Paint, Twyla Birdinground, Myrna Medicine Horse Uncles; Gary Pretty Paint, Woodrow Plain Feather, Dwayne Birdinground, Bruce House Grandparents; Agatha and Bruce House and Warlene (Dawes) Comes Up. Her extended family House, Wallace, Dawes, Pretty On Top, Bravo, Morning, Singer, Costa and Medicine Horse. We have an extremely large family if we have forgotten anyone; please accept our apology while we are in mourning.

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