Bigcrane, Francis Andrew

RONAN - Francis Andrew Bigcrane, 69, stepped on to the path to be with his parents and siblings, November 8, 2008, battling valiantly after his most recent surgery. He was lovingly given into the care of those who went before him, surrounded by his family.

Francis was the fourth youngest child of Frank and Josephine Bigcrane's 18 children. He was born July 11, 1939, in Perma, Montana. He is one of the few remaining full blood Pend O'Reille Salish, born on the Flathead Reservation. As a child and young man, he traveled with his parents visiting relatives on the Coeur d'Alene, Spokane, Kalispel, and Nez Perce reservations. Throughout the rest of his adulthood he maintained and treasured his ties to extended family and friends.

He attended grade school and high school in Dixon, and attended Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kansas. He enlisted in the Air Force, and spent part of that tour in Japan. When he returned from military duty he worked in California, and later attended school in Colorado to become a journeyman printer. He worked as a Resident Home Buyer Counselor and Emergency Medical Technician for the Spokane Tribe at Wellpinit, Washington, as well as for the Western Nuclear Company on the Spokane Reservation. He worked as a Community Health Representative and as the Trust Money Account Manager at different times for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Francis was swept off his feet by Louise Wynne and they married in 1976. They had two children, Angela Marie and Dawn Jean. Dawn preceded her father in death 2004.

The beam of Francis' smile and his humor lightened the lives of the many people who crossed his path. He was a fixture courtside at local games and sporting events, and his fondest place to be was cheering on the Lady Griz.

In the early 1970's Francis and John Arlee worked together teaching young people Salish and Pend O'Reille songs, and took up the work of Salish Prayers and Hymns at wakes. He is well known for his attendance at wakes far and wide, with his friend Stan Healy, Octave Finley, and other prayer leaders. Francis sang with powwow drum groups on the Flathead and Spokane Reservations.

Francis was especially close to his nephews Roy, Lester and Art, and his niece Cindy in recent months as they chauffeured him to his social and sporting engagements. Francis was very athletic through his life and loved to jog during his time on the Spokane Reservation, and even after his heart surgery a few years ago he was a familiar sight walking around Ronan. Not forgotten is his walking friend Johnnie Reynolds, as they made their rounds of Ronan, visiting friends and sharing their cheer. Wherever Francis traveled he made friends.

Francis was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Josephine Cocowee Bigcrane; his siblings Anna, Christine, Louise, Alexander, Mary Adeline, Mary, Marie, Harriet, Lucy Frances, Lorene Elizabeth, Christine Elizabeth, John Francis, Mary Ann, Louis Joseph; niece Sally Addison Morigeau; and his beloved daughter Dawn Jean.

He is survived by daughter Angela Marie; his very special and beloved grandchildren, Jimi Allen Hendrickx, Mathew Steven Bigcrane, Maria Josette and Martina Christine Aripa, Nina Christine Ford, Levi D. Ford, and Seanna Rose Ford; his ex-wife and friend, Louise Wynne of Wellpinit, Washington; his sister Louise (Dee) Weaver; brother James; sister Joanne Bigcrane; the children of his older brother John Bigcrane: Roy, Art, Arlene Caye, Steve, Lester, James, Edward, and Ellen Pretty On Top and their mother Alice; the children of his brother Louis: Mike, Theresa, Lucinda, and Lorisa and their mother Mary; the children of his sister Mary Ann: Alameda Addison Lavadour, Allen Addison, and Amy Drennan; the children of his sister Louise: Kevin and Deanna Weaver; the children of his brother James: step daughter Clarice, step son Tex, Lanita Matthew, Carlos Matthew and their mother Rose; the children of his sister Joanne: Sam, Melanie and Antoine Sandoval and their father Tony; and innumerable grandnieces and grandnephews, and great-grand nieces and great grand nephews.

Pallbearers are members of the Lady Griz basketball team. Honorary pallbearers are Kevin Weaver, Art, Roy, Mike, Steve, Jamie, Lester and Ed Bigcrane, Allen Addison, Carlos Matthew, Jesse Redsky, Charles Morigeau, Sam and Antoine Sandoval, Dee Weaver and Johnnie Reynolds.

The rosary will begin 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Longhouse in St. Ignatius. The wake closing will be at 10 a.m. on Wednesday and mass will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday at the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission with interment to follow.

Arrangements are by Foster Funeral Home and Crematory.