Mabyle Joan Bitsy Avery
Mabyle Joan “Bitsy” Avery began her journey to the Spirit World Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, where she will once again be with all her ancestors and family who have already made the journey.
We, her loved ones, are now left to tearfully walk to the future without her omnipresent outstretched hand to catch us before we fall or to pick us up when we do.
Thankfully our tears are not just sorrowful but also joyful as we recall how this tough little Assiniboine Indian woman from the Fort Belknap Reservation overcame many health problems to live a long, fulfilling, caring and loving effervescent life.
Her omnipresent outstretched hands now cups our heavy hearts from above salving them with the love and strength she exhibited during her life’s journey.
Bitsy was born Jan. 4, 1933. She was the second of four daughters born to Benjamin Medicine Bear and Josephine (Pephyrs) Medicine Bear of Fort Belknap. Bitsy and older sister Winona were soon joined by Edna and Florence. Her other siblings are Charlie and Westy Medicine Bear and Margie Plumage, her father’s other children.
She was nicknamed “Bitsy” shortly after her birth — and death.
She was born premature. Small and severely sick she was pronounced dead shortly after birth. Lying in the Fort Belknap Indian Health hospital bed sobbing, her mother Josephine heard a noise coming from the basinet her tiny “dead” baby girl had been placed in on the other side of the birthing room. Josephine rushed to basinet, pulled back the baby blanket that was covering her little girl head-to-toe and saw her “reborn” baby sucking on her thumb. “When I looked down, there was my itsy bitsy baby girl, that pretty little thing sucking on her thumb,” her mother said about that moment of unbelievable joy. And Mabyle Joan Medicine Bear has been known as “Bitsy” ever since.
Bitsy was a strong Christian — I guess that happens to some of those that have been resurrected.
Because of the Great Depression, Bitsy was raised by her grandmother, “Grandma Susie” Long Knife on Fort Belknap until she was nine years old. She then moved back with her parents in Harlem to be closer to the school. She attended school at Harlem and Flandreau, S.D. through the 10th grade.
In 1948, she welcomed her first-born, Bernard Azure into the world. Her first marriage didn’t last and two other marriages brought Carmen Viola and Jonathon Dwight Adams and Richard Neil and Allan Scott Bear into the world.
In 1960 Bitsy married William “Bruce” Avery in Wolf Point. Bruce took her five young children under his wing and soon joining the family were daughters Tammy and Shannon.
Also joining the family at various times were great-grandmother Agnes Red Feather Cochran, Linda Kampf, Louie Clayborn and nephew Galen Hall.
Through the years, following Bruce’s career working for the Great Northern, BN and BNSF railroads, the family lived in the Hi-Line towns of Harlem, Wolf Point, Havre, Bainville, Culbertson, West Glacier and Libby.
Bitsy worked as a cook in various restaurants in those communities. With her outgoing and engaging nature she made many lifelong friends and acquaintances everywhere she lived and worked.
Bitsy was a hardworking and very talented woman who was gifted in many areas. She took classes in upholstery and reupholstered some of her own furniture, she was a gifted seamstress and made many clothes for her children. She was an accomplished self-taught knitter and everyone in the family sported her handmade sweaters. She taught herself how to can fruit and vegetables as well and there wasn’t a vegetable out there that she didn’t try to pickle, at least once.
She learned oil painting later in life and painted many beautiful pictures and around the same time became interested in and mastered the art of quilting, and in fact was nominated Featured Quilter of the Year by her local quilt guild in Libby.
Since the early-1970s the family has resided in Libby, where Bitsy worked at restaurants until retiring. Her cinnamon rolls are still remembered by many in the Libby community. She was well known around Libby and dubbed queen of quilt raffle ticket sales and sported a pink tint on her silver hair as a fashion statement and conversation starter. She never met a stranger, she loved people and they loved her back.
Bitsy was preceded in death by Grandma Susie; her parents; beloved stepfather Joe Wakeman; sister Winona Quirk; sons Allan “Scott” Bear and Richard Neil Bear; daughter Carmen and son-in-law Mark Knapton; grandson David Knapton and infant daughters, Mary Jo and Micki Joy.
She is survived by her husband of 55 years William “Bruce” Avery, Libby; children Bernard (Kim) Azure and family, Ravalli; Jon Adams, Ravalli; Tammy (Cole) Anderson and family, Troy, and Shannon (David) Cimino and family, San Juan, Puerto Rico; sisters Edna “Blue” Miller, Harlem; Florence “Tiny” Medicine Bear, Missoula; Margie (Frank) Plumage, Moses Lake, Wash., and brothers Charlie and Westy Medicine Bear, Fort Belknap; grandchildren, Lanada, Jacob, Casey, Brian, Mitchell, Steven, Adam, Reanna, Jared, Josie, Gus, Stormy, Celina, Lucas, 19 great- grandchildren, and dearest friend and companion Sara Clark.
A memorial service will be held at the Libby United Methodist Church, 713 Main Ave. at 2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 10, followed by interment at the City of Libby Cemetery and luncheon to follow at the church. Arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.