Obituaries - Leandra L. Thomas

Leandra L. Thomas, Traveling Thunder Bird Woman (Ph-aw Nay-Thaa Nah-No Thaa), passed away on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, due to injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.

Wake services will begin at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015, at the Red Whip Center in Fort Belknap, and rosary services will be held at 7 p.m. Leandra's funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2015, also at the Red Whip, and burial will follow in the Thomas Family Cemetery.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Please visit Leandra's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for her family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Leandra was born on Jan. 2, 1989, in Havre to Judy Thomas. She was raised in Old Hays, attending schools at St. Paul Mission and then Harlem, graduating from Harlem High School in 2007. Leandra went on to attend Montana State University-Northern on a golf scholarship, and then transferred to Salish Kootenai College, where she played basketball. She graduated from Aaniiih Nakoda College with an associate degree in computer information systems in 2010.

She worked at IHS as a medical records clerk, worked as a CIS tech for ANC, and for Housing, Central Administration and Enrollment for the tribe. She began working for the Land Department as an appraisal assistant in June 2014.

Leandra enjoyed cross-fit training, basketball, running, softball, volleyball and golf, but she loved spending time with her family, especially her children. She placed in divisionals and states in golf and basketball, and still holds records at Harlem High School in volleyball. Leandra was a self-taught cook, excelling as usual, at whatever she tried her hand at. She was a true Warriors and Spurs fan, and loved her country music. Leandra comes from a strong spiritual family on the Lodge side. Bull Lodge was the last true keeper of the Feathered Pipe bundle.

She was preceded in death by her aunt, Georgia Bear Cloud; her grandfather, Albert Kelly Thomas; and her great-grandfather, Louis Thomas.

Leandra is survived by her two children, Taliyah and Kellcyn Goes Ahead of Fort Belknap; her mother, Judy Thomas of Fort Belknap; her sister, Dawn Thomas of Fort Belknap; her brother, Brian Thomas of Fort Belknap; her grandmother, Annabelle Thomas of Havre; and numerous beloved aunts, uncles, cousins and other extended family and friends, including her one special friend.