WILBUR BIGBY obituary

FORT BELKNAP - Wilbur J. “Hooch” Bigby II, 16, a sophomore at Harlem High School, died at his residence Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005.

A wake and rosary will be held at 7 p.m. today in the Red Whip Center. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Harlem High School Gymnasium with burial following at Pony Hill Cemetery.

Wilbur's Indian name in the Assiniboine language is Waci Wakan and in Gros Ventre is Bitdan Bahdayee, which mean “Holy Dancer.” The name was given to him by Spiritual Leader Joe Iron Man Sr. at the Hays Sundance.

He was born July 30, 1989, in Havre to Calvin R. and Marilyn R. (Doney) Bigby. He attended Head Start at Fort Belknap and elementary, junior high and high school in Harlem. In high school, he enjoyed football, basketball, track and cross-country for extra-curricular activities. Hooch loved playing pool with his little nephew. He was a member of the gold medallist team at the 2005 Big Sky Games in Billings for the ninth and 10th grade.

During barbecue season, he would sample food from his neighbors' barbecuing without them knowing.

Survivors include his parents, Calvin and Marilyn Bigby of Fort Belknap; brothers, Wayne Bigby of Portland, Ore., Kyle Bigby of Fort Belknap and Kevin Bigby of Fort Bragg, N.C.; sister, Kelli Bigby of Fort Belknap; grandmothers, Elizabeth Doney of Hays, Delores Snow of Fort Belknap and Yvonne Bigby of Harlem; nine nieces and nephews; and numerous uncles, aunts and cousins.

Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.