Manuel Sonny Covers Up, Jr.

Funeral services November 13, 2021 at Our Lady of Loretto Catholic Church. Burial Lodge Grass Cemetery.

NewManuel “Sonny” Covers Up, Jr. went to the other side camp on November 6, 2021. His Crow name is IIpkualaxiasash which means “Middle Tail Feather Brings Good Luck” given to him by the late Henry Bright Wings, Sr. He was a member of the Piegan Clan. He was a descendent of Chief Pretty Eagle.

Sonny was born to Manuel Covers Up, Sr. and Maria Gutierrez on December 16, 1972 in Lawrence, Kansas. Sonny grew up in Lodge Grass, Montana where he attended school. Throughout his high school years, he played football and was an outstanding basketball player. He graduated in 1992.

During his high school years, Sonny traveled with the Black Whistle Singers the group included his brothers Matt, Clinton, Neal, Darrin, Jay, Buzzy, the late Edmund Old Crow, Jeff, Tim, Evan, Mark, Dawayne, the late Brian Old Crow and the late Jon Gros Ventre. They traveled throughout the United States singing at PowWows.

Sonny attended Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas where he furthered his basketball career. He later married and moved to Idaho where he traveled and attended many, many basketball tournaments, meeting some of his best friends and taking them as brothers. After residing in Idaho, he moved to Ronan MT and attended Salish Kootenai College, where he excelled in basketball and won numerous tournaments and was named the MVP outstanding player of the year and was recognized as the player with most rebounds in a single game.

He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling to different powwows and playing in Handgame tournaments with his brothers Jordell and Skeeter. Sonny always bragged about Felix Blaine outfitting him and playing with the No Water Sr’s during the annual Handgame tournaments held at Multi in Crow Agency.

Sonny is preceded in death by his grandparents, Marie Big Hair and Henry Rides Horse, Leo (Adelia) Gutierrez; his brother Marty Paul Covers Up; his aunt Billie Jean Old Bull; his uncle Bernard “Buzzy” Covers Up; his aunt Alpha Birdinground.

Survivors include his other half Dionne Addison; his mother Maria (Byron) Bad Bear; his father Manuel (Linda) Covers Up, Sr.; his children Shelby Lynn, Natalia (Robert), Chauncey (Corina), Ezekiel, Hattie (Fletcher), Manuel (Lillinoe), Aaliyah and Ann Marie Covers Up; his grandchildren Marty, Marcell, Kailoni, Demontae, Keaven, CJ, Rodney, Kyler, Alora, Emilio and Gabe; his sisters Maranda, Willamina, Noranda, Miriam, Roseen, Nova, Thomasa, Jennie Rose, Nancy, Mari, Bernadine, Reva, Girl Pearl, Kari, Carla and Julia; his brothers Matthew, Joey, Jay, Darrin, Buzzy, Jordell, Skeeter, Sport, Trindell, Frank, Paul, Jack, Huggy Bear, Jim and Brandon; his aunts Saravene, Roxanne, Tina, Mavis, Clarice, Arbutus, Tracy, Lauren, Leandra, Barbara, Christinia and Antonia; his uncles Terrence, Jack, Ben, Paul, Willado and John; and his grandparents Sarge (Carol) Howe.

Sonny’s extended family include Gardner, Old Crow, Pretty Eagle, Little Light, Good Luck, Bell Rock, Red Star, Old Bull, Rides the Horse, Bull Chiefs, Gutierrez and McKinney. If we have left anyone out, please forgive us during our time of grief.

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