Tillie Mae Lone Fight was born in Elbowoods in 1939, to Allen Paul and Gladys Rassette Turner. She was of the Dripping Dirt Clan and a Child of a Water Buster. She attended school up to the 9th grade. She moved to Medford, OR, to help her sister Primrose with her children. She later moved home. Tillie was united in marriage to Matthew Lone Fight, Sr. She worked at the Mandaree School for many years. Tillie wore a few different hats there, working as a custodian for many years, in the kitchen, she also taught Hidatsa to the students as well. She took a lot of pride in her work. Tillie had 5 children, Sherry, Matthew, Vivian, Zehuman aka (Roderick) and late Mary Lou. Her children knew when they were in trouble; Tillie would get after them in Hidatsa. She has 18 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. Tillie took a lot of pride in her grandchildren. She always had Christmas at her house she lived in the brown house just outside of Mandaree. Every Christmas the house would be packed with her kids and grandchildren running around her white tree she put up every year. She made custom decorations of her own with her children and grandchildren’s pictures. She put on a Christmas program with her extended grandchildren and her younger kids that was a grand time for her and all the family who came to see their kids perform. Tillie loved going to the casino, she would always be cruising to town in her little orange car. She loved eating at Kentucky Fried Chicken; she enjoyed playing bingo and 4 hand whist too. She spent a lot of her time with her sister’s family; she took a lot of pride in her family helping her sister’s, Nina and Rebekah with their kids too. She will be remembered always by her big wonderful generous smile and how it would light up the room. She will be greatly missed but she leaves behind pieces of her heart in all her children and grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Her lion heart as some of the grandchildren would call it was filled with lots of strength showing her kids and grandchildren how to overcome their obstacles and persevere she overcame anything set before her and raised a beautiful family. Tillie had a Heart of Gold. She had the most beautiful smile, she was the sweetest person, and she never got cross to anyone. She was very kind to everyone greeted people with a smile and wave. Tillie’s hobbies included supporting the youth in all their sports she was a true Warrior fan. She gave her niece Christine the nickname “George” in which she still goes by today. She had a little store called the “Do Drop In” she said her song was “Poor Poor Pitiful Me.” She loved playing games with her children and her extended family and taking them on nature walks, Tillie was always laughing and smiling. She loved to dress up during Halloween. Her last time was when she was Obama. Tillie was a happy joyful person to be around no one ever knew when she was hurting inside; I think she really didn’t have time to waste on showing those emotions. Just a Happy Go Lucky “Granny Boonie”. She will be Greatly Missed. We Love You, Mamma.
Tillie passed away on Sunday, September 30, 2018, at her home in Mandaree, ND.
Tillie is survived by: her daughters, Gladys Sherry Lynn (Ted), Vivian Renate; her sons, Matthew, Jr., and Zehuman (aka Roderick); grandchildren, Sandy Mae, Clancey-Theodore-Melody, Natie, Damon (Swan)-Love-Waatronie-Leelee-Warhoop, Lyman, Tedsena (Nate), Maybella (Jay)-Dizen, Jewelz, Holy Horse, Kalolo-Telesia, KamRie, Warior, Losa Lynn (EliJah)-Keoni-, Kaius, Phillip, Michael, Chrissy Mae, Jonie (Chris), Theo-Ronin-Legacey-Mahpiya, Barclay-Bijou, Esther, Kurtlynn, Curtis Jr.; adopted son, Barlow; adopted sister, Verna Sitting Bear; adopted late Francis Standish into the Dripping Dirt Clan.
She is preceded in death by: her husband, Matthew Lone Fight, Sr.; daughter, Mary Lou; parents, Allen and Gladys Turner; her beloved nephew and niece, Martinez Canyon and Emma Finley White Owl.