Russell PlainFeather

  In Loving Memory of

Russell PlainFeather

“One Who Works Every Day”

Russell Plain Feather passed away on March 20th with his family by his side at the family home in Lodge Pole.  Russell was born on April 27, 1945 on the Crow Reservation to Adeline (High Medicine Rock Above) & Samuel Plain Feather.  His Maternal grandparents raised him according to Crow Tradition; Julia (LionShows) & Al High Medicine RockAbove.  Russell’s paternal grandparents are the late Lillian (BullShows) & Alex PlainFeather (Buffalo Colt).  He is a direct decendant of Chief Plenty Coups

As a young child he spent his time living with his grandparents on the family homestead in Pryor they were involved in the Montana Horse Racing across Montana and neighboring states.  He loved to fish, hunt, play with his aunts & uncles, and getting into mischief like believing he could fly. Russell learned the traditional Crow culture by becoming involved in traditional ceremonies he enjoyed playing Hand game, singing, helping his family with the Sun Dance and other ceremonies He grew up talking the Crow Language which was his first language.  He didn’t waste his time going to school he assisted in taking care of his sisters & Mother working for local ranchers & farmers. Russell loved the Lord Jesus Christ he accepted him as Lord and Savior since he was a young man raised by his grandmother Julie who instructed him in the ways he needed to follow.  He had a good sense of humor, he was honest, generous, he learned how to be humble and accept things as they were. He loved to gamble play machines, play bingo, and buy scratch tickets.  Thinking he was going to become a millionaire.  Before that he’d buy lottery tickets and say if he won he was going to buy a Hummer. He was a firefighter going out on Ft Belknap Crew & Pryor Crew.  He traveled all over the Northwest and enjoyed where he went.  He was a camp crew boss on his father in law’s crew; as his children grew he went firefighting with Ivana, Levi, & Wylon.  His best times were working on movie sets for his friend Mack Harding who hired him to work on Little Big Man, Walks Far Woman, Far North, Son of Morning Star, Far & Away and Cintennial. He met lot of professional actors Dustin Hoffman, Requel Welsh, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman to name a few. The biggest envey among his fellow horse wranglers was when he was assisting Raquel Welsh hoof her on the horse he pushed her too far over and she almost went off on the other side he grabbed her by the butt and set her back on the horse the other fella teased & said how did it feel.  He worked with his son Wylon on some of these movies.

 He auditioned for Walking Tall, Forest Fires in Montana, and a River Runs Through it. Russell spent some time working for Anaconda Aluminum Company in Columbia Falls, Lodge Pole Head Start, Lodge Pole school bus driver, and Fire Cache in Billings where he spend most of his time. He earned a certificate from United Tribes at Bismark, North Dakota in Auto Mechanics. Due to COPD & COVID he slowed down his favorite relaxing time was watching TV, Price is Right, golfing, football, church, local news, weather, & being the kids after school.

He lived a long life of 77 years He made every day count as he prayed for his family members, community members, relatives, pastors, & his Christian friends.  He led a meaningful memorable, exciting life he loved to travel with his Indian Relay Team which consisted of his boys, daughters, & their friends. Russell was involved in the Pilgrimages, Curcillo, & Traditional Native Games Society. He loved to watch Kessie box and rodeo. He raised seven grandchildren Kessie, Kay, Kass, Chahe, Rylie, Maymay, & baby Eslie later in life. In his younger years he raised Milton Scoot Healy, Sissy, LeeJay, Missy, Norman, Brian, & BG.  He was never without children.

Russell married Benita Bell in 1970 at Cody Wyoming because Gramma Julia said “quite messing around with that woman you better marry her” LOL From this union they were blessed with six children: Wylon, Ryan, Russellyn, Ivana, Levi, & Paul, In order for Benita to finish college they moved to Pryor in 1999.  They enjoyed time spent going to school, in sweat lodge, sun dance ceremonies, & being with the grand parents everyone talks Crow if you wanted to know what is going on you better understand what is being said.

Aside from being survived by his wife, children, grand children Russell also leaves being his sister Cerise,  Samantha, Billie Plain Feather, Renita Hill, Rebecca Falls Dawn, Teatta(Ben) Bear Below, Sara (Michael) Laforge.  Brothers who raised by his parents are Richard Crow & Holland Plain Feather.  Big brothers Haywood Bid Day & spouce Mary Big Day on maternal side on the parternal side Adam Sings in the Timber these are the oldest family members

Maternal aunts Joann Rock Above and Alice (Grady) Hunts the Arrow.  Cousins/sisters Maureen, Janet, Julie, Elizabeth, Lilly, Seja, Rosalie, Ollie, Donya, & Kristy as well as other nieces, nephews, grand children, & great grandchildren.  Joining him on the other side is the children Ryan and Russellyn. His parents Sam & Adeline Plain Feather, Sister Millie Plain Feather, Maternal & Paternal grandparents,

Russell is survived these families Mullenbergs, Boggs, Howe, Davis, Shenderline, Plain Feathers, and Rockabove,

 Many thanks and appreciation to all the prayer warriors Ed & Julia Doney, Tony & Joyce Castello, In Touch Ministry, all the family, friends, Facebook and clergy Crow & Ft Belknap tribes, Ft Belknap Housing, Pat Ditmyer, Jerome Bell all his brother-in laws, sister-in laws,  We are forever grateful.  

A wake will be held Thursday, March 24, 2022 at 5pm at Wilderness Funeral Home in Malta. Funeral Service will be held Friday, March 25, 2022 at 10am at Chief Nosey Center in Lodgepole.

Wilderness Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements and services. 

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