Obituary - Anthony 'Tony' Little Owl

nɔ́ɔ́kɔ́tiyéíhih 'áánékik'i, Speaking Eagle, of Fort Belknap, MT, began his journey to the Sand Hills at the age of 39.

The family announced a traditional wake scheduled at 5:00 p.m. Sun., Oct. 13, at the Fort Belknap Community Center and funeral at 11:00 a.m. today, Oct. 14, also at the Community Center.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Please visit Tony’s online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Anthony “Tony” Little Owl is Aaniih of the Frozen clan, Mandan and Hidasta, and a loyal Montana State University Bobcat, acknowledged as former MSU Bobcat homecoming king. 

Speaking Eagle was born December 23, 1979, to Delores (Stiffarm) and Gerald Little Owl at Fort Carson Military base, Colorado Springs, CO. He attended school at Harlem school, he graduated in 1999, and furthered his higher education at Fort Belknap College, Montana State University-Northern, and MSU in Bozeman, where he majored in mathematics. Tony was a big part of Upward Bound as a student and a mentor. He coached junior high football as a special team’s coordinator and also as an offensive lineman coach. He coached girl’s basketball in Bozeman. He volunteered with Big Brother Big Sister program. Teaching and coaching the youth was a huge part of his life guided by the coaching principles of Coach “K” Mike Krzyzewski. Tony read the guiding principles written in “Five-Point Play: Duke’s Journey to the 2001 National Championship,” among many books.

Tony was passionate about sports. His teams are the Miami Dolphins, NCAA Duke, and MSU Bobcats. His laughter and sarcastic sense of humor could brighten up the room. His niche was making people laugh and he did not hold back when he teased you and your losing hippie teams. He was nominated and voted as the first Native student to be honored as MSU Bozeman homecoming king, which brought pride to our family and community. He genuinely proved Bobcats are better.

Tony worked at KGVA Aaniiih Nakota College as DJ Speaking Eagle. He moved to Polson to be closer to his mom and sisters. He played Indiana Jones Gally Ma Shukde with his nephews and nieces. He loved our dogs and he enjoyed cooking for his family, frybread was his specialty. Tony was a very loving son, brother, uncle and friend.  He has a special place in his heart for his niece Whisper. 

 Tony was preceded in death by his dad, Gerald; brother Junior; sibling baby; his maternal grandmother, Vina Malony Stiffarm; maternal grandfather, Tom Stiffarm; paternal grandmother, MaryAnn “Tinny” CarryWater-Kezar; paternal grandfather, Milton Little Owl; stepgrandfather Leon Kezar. and adopted grandmother Ruby Brockie and adopted grandfather Henry “Prince” Brockie. 

Tony is survived by his mom, Delores of Polson MT; brother Mike (Becky) of Flagstaff, AZ; sisters, Vina and Crystal of Polson, MT; nieces, Whisper, Tae-Resa, Kaia and Jaeda Whiteclay; nephews, Nee-Thone, Jeremiah, Kai, and Keeyan; Tony’s adopted Brockie family; along with all his aunts, uncles, cousins; and his many friends.