Elgin Crows Breast, Jr.

Elgin (Fast Horse) Crows Breast, Jr., 62, of New Town, ND went peacefully in his sleep at home with his wife, Nina, by his side. Services will be held at 10:00 AM CDT on Monday, March 18, 2019 at Twin Buttes Memorial Hall, Twin Buttes, ND with Diane Travers and the Native American Church officiating. He will be laid to rest in God’s acre at the Burr Family Cemetery in Twin Buttes, ND.

A wake service will begin at 4:00 PM CDT on Sunday March 17, also at Twin Buttes Memorial Hall.

            Elgin was born to Ramona Sue (Hopkins) Foolish Bear and Elgin Crows Breast, Sr. on September 30, 1956 in Garrison, ND.  Elgin attended school at Parshall Elementary, Parshall, ND; Wahpeton Indian School, Wahpeton, ND; and Halliday High School, ND which is where he graduated from high school in 1976.  Elgin stole the heart of Nina Jean (Fox) in 1974 and they were married June 12, 1976 in Twin Buttes, ND.

He had three children with Nina, they are Shannon Leigh (White Medicine) Crows Breast, Brandon Jay (First Bird) Crows Breast and Jaelyn Faith (Comes with the Sun) (Crows Breast) Ponce.  Elgin was so proud of all his children and would do anything for them.  Then along came the joys of his life, his grandchildren; Jesse Chase, Bailey Chase and Azdon Crows Breast. Then came his first great-grandchild, Colten Cash Chase, whom he adored. Elgin loved taking pictures of himself with all his children and grandchildren.

Elgin’s life was devoted to his family and to his cultural heritage. He was on the Three Affiliated Tribes Tribal Business Council which is when he pushed for the establishment of the Cultural Preservation Office. He became the Cultural Preservation Officer in 1990 (est.) to the present.  Elgin also was instrumental in getting the Cultural Education Foundation established with the state of North Dakota.  Elgin did so many good things during his life but the one thing he felt most important was the one when he was able to have the “old ones” returned and buried at home so they could make their journey in the right way. He knew they would help him complete his journey home.

            Elgin loved playing guitar and he always planned on starting up a band with his brother-in-law, Clifton Whitman.  Elgin could name almost any rock and roll song and who sang it, the band members’ names, the year and what he was doing at the time.  He was teaching his granddaughter, Bailey Belle, how to play the guitar. He loved music and even start liking country western music in his later years.  Elgin loved basketball and claimed credit to teaching his grandson, Jesse Chase, all his moves.  He was so proud of Jesse (Always First), Bailey (Comes with the Light) and Azdon (Fast Thunder) and little Colten Cash (His Holy Rope). He won’t be here physically for the new great-granddaughter’s arrival but he will be there spiritually.

Fast Horse is survived by his wife of 45 years, Nina; his children, Shannon, New Town, ND; Brandon Jay, New Town, ND; Jaelyn (Robert) Crows Breast-Ponce, Bismarck, ND;  Tony Damien, Bismarck, ND; and Tino Lira, Parshall, ND; mother, Ramona Foolish Bear, Parshall, ND; sister, Mina Howling Wolf, Parshall, ND; brothers James Crows Breast, Parshall, ND; Dale (Brenda) Crows Breast, Parshall, ND; Daryl (Dori) Lyson, New Town, ND; Kenny (Claudia) Lyson, New Town, ND; Terry (Becky) Lyson, New Town, ND; Ronnie Lyson, Phoenix, AZ, Albert (Lil Al) Couture, Parshall, ND Lori (Eric) Severence, Parshall, ND and Casey Cutler, Parshall, ND. Uncles Lloyd (Rosemarie) Spotted Wolf, Albuquerque, NM; Bobby Whitebody, Larimore, ND; aunt Belva Rowe, Aberdeen, SD; Esther Spotted Wolf, Great Fall, MT. His grandchildren, Jesse Chase (Kalee Robertson[EC1] ) Mandaree, ND Bailey Belle Chase, Mandaree, ND; Azdon Crows Breast, Twin Buttes, ND and great-grandson, Colten Cash Chase, Mandaree, ND. And all his many nieces and nephews.

            Elgin (Fast Horse) Crows Breast was preceded in death by his father, Elgin Crows Breast, Sr.; brother, Loren Crows Breast; sisters Barbara (Tiny) Crows Breast-Walker; Susan Crows Breast; and Iva Lyson; Uncles Wilbur Spotted Wolf and Dreke Irwin; aunts Charlene Lyson, Barbara Couture, and Roxy Cutler. Grandmothers Elsie Spotted Wolf, and Lucille Painte.  Grandfathers, James Crows Breast, Archie Hopkins and John White Body. Great-grandfather Thomas Spotted Wolf.

Arrangements conducted by Barbot Funeral Home, Beulah and Hazen.

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