Thomas E. Shawl, Wiyak-Numba

Thomas E. Shawl, Wiyak-Numba, 79, passed away due to natural causes on Sunday, October 1, 2017, at Northern Montana Hospital. Wake services were at 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 4, 2017, with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday. Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 5, 2017. All services were held at the new Fort Belknap Agency Community Center. Cremation will follow his services. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit Thomas' online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Thomas was born on May 28, 1938, in Fort Belknap to Moses and Angela (Kunehen) Shawl. Wiyak-Numba (Two Feathers) received his Indian Name in a traditional naming ceremony as an infant where he was passed around to all the elders so they could say a blessing over him. He was raised around LodgePole by his Grandma Blue, spending summers at the Jim Kipp Ranch. In 1956, Thomas graduated from Harlem High School, and entered the US Army. He served with the 82nd Airborne out of Fort Benning, GA, until his honorable discharge in 1959, when he joined his family in California. While in California, Thomas met and married Kay Billeadeaux in 1960 in Los Angeles. In 1963, the couple and their oldest son moved to Billings, MT, where their daughter was born, so that Thomas could attend Eastern Montana College. In 1965, the couple moved again, this time to Fort Belknap, where they raised their four children. Thomas worked for many years, as a carpenter, a firefighter, and for the past many years, in the credit department for Fort Belknap.

He loved to play the fiddle and banjo and attend Pow Wows. When he was younger, he enjoyed fishing and hunting. And when he was very young, he enjoyed Pow Wow Dancing and breaking horses.

Thomas was preceded in death by his parents, Moses and Angela Shawl; his brothers Roderick, Dennis, and Daniel Shawl; his sister Donna Cantrell; and his three nieces.

He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Kay Shawl, of Fort Belknap; his sons Thomas (Waverly) Shawl of Browning and Kenneth (Linda) Shawl of Crow Agency; his daughters Crystal Shawl of Acworth, GA and Krista English of Fort Belknap; his 11 grandchildren; his 17 great-grandchildren; his sister Barbara (Vic) Perry of Poplar; and numerous beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and other extended family and friends.

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