"Bill" William Joseph Running Fisher

Fort Belknap, MT

"Bill" William Joseph Running Fisher (Indian name of Traveling Wolf), Gros Ventre of the Blackfeet Nation accidently fell resulting in his death June 16, 2016. Bill was born at the old Fort Belknap Hospital on March 26, 1943, the second youngest of 12 children to Mamie Anne Shortman and Frank Joseph (Running) Fisher (Indian name of Rides High) (both deceased) from Hays, MT. His dad was born July 4, 1897 and was a World War 1 Combat Veteran posthumously awarded for his bravery under fire by United States President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Bill's father's grandfather Chief Running Fisher brought 100 of the prettiest Assiniboine women from Canada in the 1870's to repopulate the decimated Gros Ventre of the Blackfeet Nation and was the principle founder of the Fort Belknap 1888 Agreement making Fort Belknap home to both Assiniboine and Gros Ventre from that time.

Chief Running Fisher was the grandson of Bear's Shirt, a principal Gros Ventre signer of the 1855 Blackfeet Treaty allocating land, water and minerals belonging to the Gros Ventres as a member of the Blackfeet Nation in 1855. Chief Running Fisher's father was Tall Eagle. The 1855 Blackfeet Treaty was signed before Montana became a State.

Bill was medically retired from working as a Heavy Equipment Reclamation Specialist for Nuclear Energy Resources in 1990. Prior to that he served as a combat veteran in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War stationed in Siagon and later with the American Indian Movement prior to becoming one of Jehovah's Witnesses in 1974. Thereafter, Bill advocated "All men of peace belong to the same Tribe."

Bill is survived by, his widow, Bara Buffalo Hide of Dodson, MT. his Uncle John Henry Ironman and Five sons: Harry Lewis Beauchamp (Melissa) of Oswego, MT (granddaughter) Cherish Beauchamp (deceased grandsons) Dennis and Harry Beauchamp III - Nicholas Hood Running Fisher of Renton, WA - Adam Arthur Elkboy and granddaughter LeDeana Elkboy of Billings, granddaughter Chelynn Elkboy and grandson Tre Elkboy of Lodgegrass, MT - Young Bill Eagle Child Running Fisher (Ronelle) of Fort Belknap (granddaughters) Anaya and Navi Davis Of Covington, GA - Frank Joseph Running Fisher of Great Falls, MT and a daughter, Lorraine Anne Moccasin of Spokane, WA (beloved eldest grandson) Ricky James Champagne (Janet) of Great Falls, MT - beloved nephew Josh Horn Sr. Two siblings survive Bill. His youngest brother Larry of Butte, MT and older brother Albert of Great Falls, MT.

Bill is related to the following families: Running Fisher, Fisher, Shortman, Horse Capture, Dwarf, Deafy, Good Kill, Bull Lodge, Snakeman, Racine, Little Dog, Horseman, Black Wolf, The Boy, Bad Roads, Mount, Walker, Cole, Stiffarm, Striker, Strike, Medicine Chief, Eagle Chief, Matte, White Grass, Filesteel, Red Whip, White Clay, Stewart, Yellowtail, Lincoln, Brockie, Bracelet, Chandler, Guardipee, Sunchild, Spoonhunter, Moss, House, White Plume, Cuts The Rope, Eagle Child, Otter Robe, Curley Head, Bushyhead, Quincy, Johnson, Bradley, Snow, Rides High, Rides at the Door, Spear, Heavy Runner, Aimsback, Ironman and Gambler. Bill was lifelong friends with John Plumage, Med Buck, Dusty Buck, Ozzie Snow and Leroy Tucker, Sr. His dear friend and mentor was George "Bud" Knudson of Saco, MT and Richard Jones of Elko, Nevada also his good friend and confidante was Ray Shorter of Chinook, MT. Bill has many friends and relatives to remember him and his wonderful sense of humor and integrity that honored his best friend Jehovah.

Bill is Just Sleeping in the memory of our Creator until his resurrection to possible life everlasting on a Cleansed Paradise earth in the prime of his youth and vigor.

A Memorial service will be held on June 30, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. in the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses located at 135 - 12th Street West in Chinook, MT 59523. A Memorial Feast will follow 3:00 p.m. at the Red Whip Center at Fort Belknap Agency. Then his son, Young Bill Eagle Child Running Fisher "Itn-Tyi-Waatyi" will set free his father's cremated ashes atop Eagle Child Mountain. A Memorial stone will be engraved and placed on Running Fisher Land in Hays, MT.

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