Alan Jay Raining Bird

11/30/1973 – 10/21/2023

Indian Name: 'Raining Bird'

Alan Jay "AJ" Raining Bird, of Elko, Nevada, passed away on Friday, October 20, 2023, at his residence.  Wake services will begin at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 27, 2023, and will continue until his funeral service, which will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 28, 2023, all at Our Savior's Lutheran Church.  Burial will follow in the Rocky Boy Cemetery.  Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.  Please visit Alan's online memorial page to send a card or leave a message of condolence for his family at www.hollandbonine.com.

AJ was born on 11/30/73 in Blackfoot, Idaho to Louis Raining Bird Sr. and Hazel Big Bow. As a youth he attended Box Elder and Rocky Boy Schools. AJ graduated from Rocky Boy in 1992. After high school he attended Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute (SIPI), AJ was very smart and known for his intelligence in school, while there he walked on and starred on the men's basketball team. He met the love of his life Shawna Hicks and together they had 3 children and started their life in Schurz, Nevada.

He began his journey home on October 21st. Wake Friday 10/27/23 at 3:00 p.m. Funeral services will take place Saturday at 9am and a traditional feast will immediately follow.  Rocky Boy Lutheran Church

He started working for the US forestry service where he developed lifelong friends and close colleagues.  In 2004 he worked for the Boise National Forest, from 2005-2006 he went and worked in Zig Zag, Idaho. From 2007-2011 he continued his commitment to Pleasant Valley in Young, Arizona. AJ started to wind down and made his way back to Boise where he had his last season in 2014.  AJ was also known for his avid basketball skills.  He travelled all over Indian country tearin em up!

A lot of the youth on the reservation looked up to AJ because of his charismatic character and ability to lead. He taught many young men lots of different skills, whether it was something from basketball or working the fire line.

Our dad, brother, and uncle will also be remembered for someone who will NEVER turn down a pick-up game on the court.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 nieces, 1 nephew, and 1 brother Louis (Donna) Raining Bird.

AJ is survived by his children, Alanna Raining Bird of Havre, MT., Brevyn, Cree-Lynn, and Peyton Raining Bird of Owyhee, Nevada, AJ's youngest is Madison Raining Bird also of Owyhee, Nevada; grandchildren, Tayson and Teagan Raining Bird, Sonora Lozano, Gracey and Joyce Smith and 23 other grandchildren from his nieces and nephews; siblings, Duane (Jody LaMere) Raining Bird, Louann Raining Bird, Lois Lynn Raining Bird, Earl Raining Bird, Lynada Raining Bird, Jillian (Enoche Minme) Raining Bird, and Jessica Raining Bird; aunts, Francis Fisher, Mary Big Bow, Janice Meyers, and Pearl Whitford; nine nieces; seven nephews; and numerous cousins and other extended family and friends.