Leota Marie Standing Bear

Leota Marie Standing Bear “Woman in the Center of Earth,” 81, passed away Sunday morning September 11, 2022, at the Northern Montana Care Center.

Her wake service began Monday night at 5 p.m. and continued until the Rosary service at 7 p.m. Her wake will continue through today with her funeral service 1 p.m. Wednesday, September 14, 2022, all at the Rocky Boy Lutheran Church.  Her burial will be held at the Parker/Belcourt Cemetery in Parker Canyon on Rocky Boy Reservation.

Please visit Leota’s online memorial page to leave a message of condolence for the family at http://www.hollandbonine.com .

Leota was born April 30, 1941, in Fort Belknap, Montana, to Cecelia Parker and Joe Stanley. She was raised by Levi Belcourt and her mother in the Box Elder and Rocky Boy area. She attended school, graduating from high school and obtaining her associate degree as a paralegal. She worked at the Billings Refinery, which she referred to as the “meat market,” the City Court in Great Falls and for various tribal departments with her last position being the clerk of tribal court.

Leota was a fun-loving person who enjoyed playing the machines, but she didn’t like anyone to stand behind her. If you did, she would politely ask you to move. She enjoyed watching NBA games, her favorite team being the LA Lakers and her favorite player Kobe Bryant. She was so loved by her grandchildren. They learned so many cultural heritages from her teachings. And Leota loved being a grandmother. She was very traditional and attended her traditional church and cultural events. She was a pipe carrier and also was High School Indian Royalty where she won beauty queen. She was adopted by the late Lucille and Sam Windy Boy Sr.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her baby boy Anthony Corcoran and 15 siblings.

Leota is survived by her two daughters, Teresa Standing Bear and MaDonna Briere; seven grandchildren, Tysha Swank, EmmaJo Jones, Jeremiah Jones, Jacen, Nevaeh, and Malia Corcoran and Jasmine Rider; one great-granddaughter, Taleah Swank; adopted kids, Rhea Russette, Sara Trottier, Dave Fullerton, Jennifer Russette; brothers, Merle Belcourt and Sonny Belcourt; adopted brothers, Mike Ley, Sam Vernon Windy Boy and Jake Parker; sisters, Luanne Belcourt, Thelma Stanley, Ethel Parker, and Syliva Ryan; adopted sisters, Mary Windy Boy, Connie Farmer and Wendy Bradley.