1933
Doris
2011
Doris Marie Wells
May 20, 1933 — April 11, 2011
Doris ‘Dari’ Wells, 77, a member of the Blackfeet Indian Nation, died April 11, 2011 at the Great Falls Benefis Hospital ICU due to complications from cancer treatment. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, April 18, 2011 at Little Flower Catholic Church with Father Ed Kohler officiating. Interment will be in the Wells Family Cemetery in Old Agency with a reception to follow at the Glacier Community Center. Visitation will be from Thursday, April 14, until Monday, April 18, at the Glacier Community Center. Rosary will be held Sunday, April 17, at 7:00 pm. Whitted funeral Chapel of Shelby is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include her children: Matthew Wanchena of Washington, Alivia Bear Child (Richard) Montes of Oakland, CA, Larrain Eley Big Craine of Austin, TX, Gail Bear Child(Kenneth) Everybody Talks About, Alta Running Crane (Donald) Bird, Terrance Running Crane, and Kimberlee Running Crane all of whom live in Browning on the Blackfeet Indian Nation; 34 grandchildren, and 38 great grandchildren; sisters: Geraldine Wells Gordon, Wilma Wells (Edward) North Peigan both of East Glacier; brothers: David Wells, Jr, and James V. Wells of Spokane, WA; and numerous nieces and nephews. Doris was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Dorothy Dragonfly and Vivian Wells; brother, John Buster Yellow Kidney; daughter, Abigail Running Crane Green; sons, James ‘Stormy’ Bear Child, and Anthony Running Crane; three grandchildren; and one great grandchild.
Doris was born May 20, 1933, the eldest daughter of Dave and Rose (Yellow Owl) Wells. The family ranched on Two Medicine and Blacktail until 1950 when they moved to Martin City, Montana. She attended the Cut Bank Boarding School and finished. She later studied for and received her GED and attended Laney Community College in Oakland, CA and the Blackfeet Community College. She married Lloyd Bear Child in 1950; they divorced 1956. A later marriage to Mitchell Running Crane ended in divorce. She raised her children in San Francisco and returned to the Blackfeet Reservation in the 1970s. Doris worked as an advocate for women in need and at the Blackfeet Chemical Dependency Center, and as an employment counselor in California.
Doris was a member of the Little Flower Catholic Church, a member of the Women’s Blackfeet Honorary Council, a member of the Green Wood Burners, and Slickfoot Societies. She belonged to the Tallow Melting Clan. She was also a member of the American Indian Movement and participated in many of the events that changed and improved the lives of Indian people and Indian Nation governments. She participated in the 1969 Occupation of Alcatraz, the 1972 Trail of Broken Treaties, and the 1978 Longest Walk. She loved going to California to visit her children and grandchildren and participating in international Indian dances and gatherings there. She loved playing handgame, shopping, Indian Dancing, and decorating her home.
She said her greatest achievements were her relationships to the Creator, her children and grandchildren, and her siblings and friends. Her greatest joy at the end of her life was the outpouring of love she experienced from her family and friends.
Survivors include her children: Matthew Wanchena of Washington, Alivia Bear Child (Richard) Montes of Oakland, CA, Larrain Eley Big Craine of Austin, TX, Gail Bear Child(Kenneth) Everybody Talks About, Alta Running Crane (Donald) Bird, Terrance Running Crane, and Kimberlee Running Crane all of whom live in Browning on the Blackfeet Indian Nation; 34 grandchildren, and 38 great grandchildren; sisters: Geraldine Wells Gordon, Wilma Wells (Edward) North Peigan both of East Glacier; brothers: David Wells, Jr, and James V. Wells of Spokane, WA; and numerous nieces and nephews. Doris was preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Dorothy Dragonfly and Vivian Wells; brother, John Buster Yellow Kidney; daughter, Abigail Running Crane Green; sons, James ‘Stormy’ Bear Child, and Anthony Running Crane; three grandchildren; and one great grandchild.
Doris was born May 20, 1933, the eldest daughter of Dave and Rose (Yellow Owl) Wells. The family ranched on Two Medicine and Blacktail until 1950 when they moved to Martin City, Montana. She attended the Cut Bank Boarding School and finished. She later studied for and received her GED and attended Laney Community College in Oakland, CA and the Blackfeet Community College. She married Lloyd Bear Child in 1950; they divorced 1956. A later marriage to Mitchell Running Crane ended in divorce. She raised her children in San Francisco and returned to the Blackfeet Reservation in the 1970s. Doris worked as an advocate for women in need and at the Blackfeet Chemical Dependency Center, and as an employment counselor in California.
Doris was a member of the Little Flower Catholic Church, a member of the Women’s Blackfeet Honorary Council, a member of the Green Wood Burners, and Slickfoot Societies. She belonged to the Tallow Melting Clan. She was also a member of the American Indian Movement and participated in many of the events that changed and improved the lives of Indian people and Indian Nation governments. She participated in the 1969 Occupation of Alcatraz, the 1972 Trail of Broken Treaties, and the 1978 Longest Walk. She loved going to California to visit her children and grandchildren and participating in international Indian dances and gatherings there. She loved playing handgame, shopping, Indian Dancing, and decorating her home.
She said her greatest achievements were her relationships to the Creator, her children and grandchildren, and her siblings and friends. Her greatest joy at the end of her life was the outpouring of love she experienced from her family and friends.
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