Walter Merle Big Medicine

Walter Big Medicine, funeral services Monday November 29, 2021 at 11:00 AM at the Spirit of Life Foursquare Church in Crow Agency. Burial will follow at the Crow Agency Cemetery. Visitation Sunday 1-4.

Walter Merle Big Medicine, Básanne x’iásah (Outstanding Leader) 80 of Dunmore passed away on November 22, 2021 at Big Horn Memorial Hospital after courageously fighting cancer for 3 years.

Walter Merle was born July 19, 1941 to Florida House and Edward Big Medicine. Walter was Whistling Water and a Child of the Big Lodge. Walter Merle was the youngest of 11 kids. He was one of the last full blooded crows from the Black Lodge District.

Walter married Phyllis Falls Down on July 17, 1969 at Sheridan, Wyoming. They were married for 48 years.

Merle, as he was affectionally known, attended schools at Crow Elementary and Hardin Schools until the age of 13 where he started working for Warren Feedlot and at the age of 20, he started working at Sugar Factory. He later worked for Bureau of Indian Affairs Roads and Irrigation Department until his retirement of 35 years. After his retirement, he worked under the Carl Venne Administration, where he has taught a lot of young men that still use his trainings today.

He was a diesel mechanic for so long that when he would see a diesel exhaust, he would know what was wrong with the truck.

Merle was a well respected man where he was asked to pray and give Indian names to his clan children.

Merle was one of the original Crow Sweat Builders and right to pour which was handed down from his Grandfather. With this, the late Crow Tribal Chairman Carl Venne asked Merle to build a sweat along the Banks of the Little Big Horn River for the Crow Tribe.

Merle was one of the original “Wranglers” drum group where he traveled around Indian Country with his brothers. They traveled to many powwow’s and Sundance’s where they made lifelong friends.

Merle was the first Teepee Capital of the world Crow Bred winner with a horse named Miss Revenue in 1976. He owned, raced and trained Miss Revenue, Tommys Airline, Sharshack, Delphi Rosebud along side with his side kick aka son, Jonathan Big Medicine. With the love of horses, he has taught his children how to train and race their horses so they can carrie on the tradition. if anyone knew Merle, he was always at the Barns helping and giving advice when needed and hanging out with his Barns Family - Mervin White, Ross Whiteman, Panda Bad Bear, Larry Eastman, Gail Three Irons and Late Buster Three Irons, Late Cleo Medicine Horse,Jr., Late Robert Pickett and Late Marlin Black Eagle. He will be missed by his Barns Buddies.

He was very proud of his 3 grandchildren, Andrew House, Marie Five and Nadan White Clay, who were State Basketball Champions. He often talked of how proud he was of them n how he followed them on the basketball Traill.

His pride and joy were his kids, grandkids and his great-grandkids.

After Phyllis’s passing, Merle, Jon, Merla and Alta got closer n were there to help each other thru any trials.

Merle was preceded in death by his wife-Phyllis, sons-Darin, sr. and Franklin, his parents and his siblings Vera, Charlotte, Grace, Annie, Edward, jr., Willard, Maxine, Donna, Marietta, Ethel and nephew-Quinton Big Medicine, granddaughter-Trueann Old Horn Danforth.

Merle is survived by his sons-Jonathan (Tracy) Big Medicine, Darin Big Medicine, Jr.,, Daughters; Merlene (Donnie) Harjo, Alta (Delano)White Clay, Dorian Big Medicine. Grandkids-Shandi, Shandre, Antwoine, Shaylin Harjo, Dron, Lettie, Kota Big Medicine, Leslie (Samuel) Dixson, Lex (Tasha)Pierre, Ramiko Mireau, Nevada Lafley, Justin, Maverick (Natoya), Shania (Ezekiel) and Nadan John White Clay, Frank Stewart, Aurie Song Old Horn Danforth, Jennifer Ann Whiteman, Great Grandkids: Kiylah and Kaylah Dixson, Saellah, Kadance, Quinn, Lyrix & Evelyn Pierre, Audric Velez, Mayleigh, Madison & Khelani White Clay, Ticalyon and Hayley Whiteman Brothers: Bruce (Agatha) House, Johnny Stops, Raymond House, Jack, Dale (Myrna), Corky (Rachel) Old Horn, Larry (Agnes) Pretty Weasel, Jerry Allen Plain Bull, Channis (Norma) Whiteman, Franklin (Verna), Stephen, John, Tim (Edwina) Jefferson, Sisters: Fannie (Kenneth) Plenty, Mary (Edward) Iron, Lori Madill, Jackie (Larry) Blacksmith, Maxine Jefferson, Dorthea Dust, Karen Jefferson, Francis Pretty Paint, Adopted children: Mark and David Humphrey, Shawn Danforth, Lance & Stephen House, Carlene (Gary) Johnson.

His Extended Family include: House, Old Horn, Crooked Arm, Plain Bull, Medicine Crow, Shane, Pretty Weasel, Takes Enemy, Bad Bear, Ten Bear, Goes Ahead, Big Hail, Doyle Families, also the Family of Mary Walks Laforge.

Our family is large, please accept our apologizes if we forgot anyone.

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