BIRDIE MAE SHORTMAN obituary

HAYS - Birdie Mae Lodge Shortman, Ee-Tsa-Nay-Tha (Pipe Woman), 86, an enrolled member of the Gros Ventre Tribe, died surrounded by her family on Saturday, June 19, 2004, at a Havre hospital.

A wake service will begin at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Mission Recreation Center. A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Mission Recreation Center.

Burial will follow at Roadside Cemetery at Hays.

Birdie Mae was born on Feb. 5, 1918 in Calumet, Okla., to Fred V. Lodge (Gros Ventre) and Pauline Big Horse (Southern Cheyenne). She was raised in Calumet until the age of 6, when her mother and father moved to Montana. She attended Fort Belknap Boarding School, Hays Public School and boarding school in Pierre, S.D.

She met and married Joseph William Shortman in 1940. Fourteen children were born out of this marriage. They lived in Hays until 1964, when they moved to Havre, where she lived for 13 years. She also lived in Great Falls, and Cass Lake, Minn., until she moved back to Hays, where she resided until her death.

Birdie Mae received the Lord on Feb. 5, 1957. She was a longtime member of Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Hays, Havre, and Cass Lake, Minn. She enjoyed reading her Bible and holding many Bible studies in her home. She was a prayer warrior for her family and for many people in the community.

Birdie Mae enjoyed speaking her native Gros Ventre language and attended Gros Ventre language classes at Fort Belknap College for several years. She was a dedicated supporter of the Hays/Lodge Pole Thunderbirds and an avid Atlanta Braves fan. Birdie Mae enjoyed pow-wows and feeds, being around her children, and listening to and singing Indian music.

Her hobbies included making quilts, sewing pillowcases, and making imitation flowers, key chains and warbonnets.

Birdie Mae was preceded in death by her parents; children, James Shortman, Gary Shortman, baby girl Shortman; brothers, Fred (Buster) Lodge, Benny Lodge, Tommy Lodge, Willy Lodge; sister, Lillian Lodge Dejarlais; and granddaughter, Winona Williams.

Survivors include her daughters, Pat Bear, Darlyne Shortman, Aloha Shortman and Marcella Shortman, all of Hays, Winona Shortman of Havre, Arleda Shortman and Jolene Shortman, both of Polson, Cheryl Von Gulner of Missoula; sons, Donald Shortman of Harlem, Leon Shortman of New Mexico, Daryl Shortman of Helena; sister, Annabelle Thomas of Hays; adopted sisters, Theodora (Ola) Cochran, Amy Messerly, Ruby Brockie and Marlene Stiffarm, all of Fort Belknap; adopted brother, Rueban Horseman of Fort Belknap; adopted granddaughter, Pamela Joy Norem of Hays; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.