Obituary - Louis A. 'Sonny' Raining Bird, Looking for That Special Boy

Louis A. “Sonny” Raining Bird, Looking for That Special Boy, 61, passed away due to natural causes Tuesday, March 3, 2020, at Benefis Medical Center in Great Falls.

Wake services began at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, 2020, and continued until his traditional funeral service, which were at 10:00 a.m. today, March 5, 2020, all at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. Burial will follow in the Raining Bird Family Cemetery.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Please visit Louis’ online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com .

Sonny was born December 29, 1958, in Fort Belknap to Louis and Hazel (Big Bow) Raining Bird. He was raised in Rocky Boy, attending Box Elder schools.

Immediately following his senior year, Sonny left for SIPI and then moved on to Haskell Indian College. After college, Sonny married and had three sons, living in Busby until 1993, when he and his wife divorced.

He returned home, and soon met Donna Mitchell. The couple married in 2007, and later adopted Louis’ twin grandchildren. He worked as a bus driver for over 20 years in Busby and Rocky Boy, transferring to the position of custodian in 2008 when his health required him to quit driving bus.

Sonny was a wonderful grandfather, and his grandchildren were the light of his life. He loved attending powwows and singing powwow music. He was a stern man but kind and loving, as well. He was a straight shooter, and you always knew where you stood with him. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, and loved to tease his family and friends. Sonny was fluent in Cree, preferring to speak it over English. He was a traditional man, who enjoyed traveling until his health limited it, but he was able to travel to Kansas City twice this past year to visit his niece. We want to offer a special thanks to ShyAnn, who was willing to give Sonny a kidney so he could remain with us.

He was preceded in death by his daughter Erin Raining Bird; son Zane Raining Bird; granddaughter Jaelah Raining Bird; and parents, Louis Raining Bird and Hazel Eagleman.

Sonny is survived by his wife, Donna (Mitchell) Raining Bird; children Stefan (Antonia) Raining Bird of Busby, Todd (Shawna) Raining Bird of Kluwkan, AK, and John Ray (Patty) and Tashina Running Rabbit and Keiran and Dae Raining Bird, all of Rocky Boy; 10 grandchildren; siblings, Duane (Jody) Raining Bird of Rocky Boy, Louann Raining Bird of Helena, Lois and Earl Raining Bird, both of Rocky Boy, Lynada Seminole of Rocky Boy, and Alan Raining Bird of NV; adopted mother, Elaine Nault of Rocky Boy; special nieces Jillian Raining Bird, Shaneen Hammond, ShyAnn Raining Bird and Alicia Raining Bird; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and other extended family and friends.