Billie Lone Bear, 59, passed away due to COVID-19 at Northern Montana Hospital on January 1, 2021.  Due to the pandemic, private family services will be held.  Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.  Please visit Billie's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at www.hollandbonine.com .

Billie was born in Minot, ND to her loving parents William Lone Bear and Alpha Dean Healy. Billie was a happy baby and was always her big sister's partner. They spent the first few years of life in Chicago, IL until moving to Chinook, MT for a brief time.  Billie had lived in numerous places and attended multiple schools in her youth. Billie and her sister Marlis enjoyed their often trips to Taco Bell for their 10 cent tacos and Nickle Pickles. Bill and Marlis would often babysit for Bum Stiffarm and watch Pete and Amy Stiffarm when they were babies. Billie graduated 8 ^th grade in Rocky Boy and graduated in Box Elder. Billie also attended welding school and was the top of her class. She made her mom a Christmas Star, a pair of ornamental spurs, and a clothesline. Billie also attended some college classes in Missoula and graduated in Fort Belknap Colleges first graduating class with an AA in Business Administration. Billie was always a hard-working woman. She worked for the Fort Belknap College, New Horizons, and BIA Realty for over 10 years until retiring in 2016. In the late 80's she met John P. Short and a few years later the couple had Baby John. Billie loved her baby boy so much. He was her pride and joy. Three years later she had her baby girl and best friend Camille. Billie loved her children very much and worked so hard to give them a good life. She was the best mom. She also loved  John and Camille's friends as if they were her own, always opening her home to them. Mama Billz was her name to her adopted kids and many of her friends. She always had the best advice when anyone was feeling down and never let anyone feel sorry for themselves. She also cooked the best suppers and fed everyone who was hungry. Billie loved being a Grandma. She loved all of her grandbabies very much but had a special relationship with her little sidekick Celena.  Billie was really the best mom and gramma. Genuinely a one-of-a-kind woman and she will be so dearly missed and cherished. We love you  so much Mama Billz we will forever miss you.

Billie is preceded in death by her dad, Joe Ironman, Sr.; grandmothers, Virginia Lone Bear, Aline Lone Bear, and Vernie Chopwood-Bell; twin sons, John and Joseph Lone Bear; brother Austin William Lone Bear; brother-in-law, Tom Filesteel; aunts, Verna First Chief, Sharon Lonewolf; uncles, John Froggy Ironman and Mathew Foolish Bear; niece, Janelle Healy; nephew, Darren Healy; first love, John P. Short; and adopted sons, A.J. Long Soldier, Robert "Burly" Ball, and Jacob Bearcub.  She is survived by her parents, William Lone Bear and Alpha Dean Healy; sister; Marlis (Muggy) Filesteel; adopted sisters, Nona Longknife, Petronas Arwite, Lana Longknife and Sheila Martin; adopted Brothers; John (Nancy) Stiffarm, Terry (Tawnya) Brockie, and Joe (Stacey) Ironman Jr.; son; John (Shaina) Short-Lone Bear; daughter, Camille Short (her Millie); nieces, Colleen "Queenie", Brooke, Emmy, & Sandy Filesteel; nephews, John and Cameron Filesteel, Chad (Nike) Matte; grandbabies, Dontez, Hayley, her Tiny Baby Celena, Macynn, Elias, Caleb, D'kauri, and Ayonna; numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, friends, and adopted children that she cherished so much. Lastly she is survived by her last love forever, Benny Rider. If anyone was forgotten it was not intentional, we are sorry and we love you.