Spike Norman Bighorn

Spike Norman Bighorn, 65, Dakota name “Sung gdeska agdi” or “Brings Home Spotted Horses,” passed away following a brief illness at the University of Oklahoma Medical Center on Sunday, November 23, 2025. Spike was a beloved daddy, husband, papa, son, brother, uncle, in-law, dear friend and good relative to people near and far. His love for his family and community was the most important thing to him in life (although he considered sports, basketball in particular, as his first love). Spike was born on May 23, 1960 in Poplar, Montana. His parents, Doremis Hollow Bighorn and Alpheus ‘Sonny’ Bighorn Jr. were young working parents who received help with raising Spike from Spike’s maternal grandparents, Norman Hollow and Vera Bertelsen Hollow. The family divided their time between the Hollow Ranch, located between Brockton and Culbertson and the town of Brockton.

Spike was a 1978 graduate of Brockton High School (class of 12) and earned an athletic scholarship to play basketball for Miles Community College in Miles City, Montana. He went on to graduate with a Bachelors Degree from Dickinson State University, and earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis on American Indian Entrepreneurship from Gonzaga University.

Spike was a 2018 inductee in the Montana Indian Athletic Hall of Fame and was one of the first Native referees to officiate a state basketball tournament in Montana. He paved the way for many to follow his example and he led a life of impact.

Spike had a heart for helping people and giving back to his community, which guided his career choices. He held many professional public service leadership roles throughout his career. He served as the tribal chairman for the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Ft. Peck Indian Reservation for two years and was on the tribal executive board (tribal council) for eight years. Spike held numerous educational leadership positions with the Ft. Peck Tribes and the local public school system, including serving as the Brockton Elementary School Principal. He moved on to a career in federal service, holding multiple positions with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), most recently leading the national BIE Office of Sovereignty in Indian Education. He loved his most recent position, the wonderful team he led, the tribal grantees he supported and felt blessed by the support of his boss and leadership. Spike was well known for his ability to listen to the needs and concerns of others, his humility, his efforts to understand the perspectives of others and for always striving to be a good person. His faith formed his values as well.

Spike was preceded in death by his sons, Quinn Lydell and Sean Adam, his mother, Doremis Bighorn, his maternal grandparents, Norman and Vera (Bertelsen)Hollow, paternal grandparents Alpheus Bighorn Sr. and Josephine Juneau Bighorn, aunt Sharon Vierra and uncle Maurice “Buggy” Bighorn Sr. He is survived by his wife, Stephanie Birdwell and daughters Raven and Willow Bighorn of Oklahoma City, OK, his grandsons Jarron Bighorn of White Clay, NE and Patton Bighorn of Bozeman, MT father Alpheus “Sonny” Bighorn Jr. of Brockton, sister Carolyn (Greg) Brugh of Brockton, nephew Greg (Chelsea) Brugh Jr. and niece Chelbi (Alicia) Brugh of New Town, ND, in-laws Dwight and Virginia Birdwell and brother-in-law Ed Birdwell of Norman, OK, cousins Ernest “Rowdy” (Clarissa) Vierra of Ft. Washakie, WY, Blossom Longee of Poplar, MT, his grandson’s grandmother, Roxann (Robert) Smith, aunts: Alice (James) Melbourne and Alva Bighorn of Brockton, Karen Atencio of Centennial, CO, Maureen (Gary) Curtiss of Denver, CO, Mary (Preston) Persson of Williston, ND, Janet Cuperus of Reading, MN, Kitty Hollow of Seattle, WA, Toni Bertelsen Stooky of Big Horn, WY, and Rose Morsette of Poplar, MT uncles: Dr. Walt (Lynn) Hollow of Seattle, WA and Mike (Sandy) Bertelsen of Dickinson, ND, cousins: Joleen (Roy) Emerson, Barry (Estelle) Bighorn, Pam Bighorn, Maurice (Nichole) Bighorn all of Brockton, Maureen Bighorn of Madison, WI, Janice Bighorn of Milwaukee, WI, Tom (Nonette) Brown, Wes Brown, Troy Brown and Liz Melbourne all of Brockton, B.J. Melbourne of Plentywood, MT, Antoinette (Kory) Melbourne of Wolf Point, Jodi (Todd) Hollow-Bist of Hansville, WA, Craig Hollow, of Oakland, CA Malila (Nic) Hollow-Gonzalez of Long Beach, CA, Ben Hollow of Albany, NY, Ataya Cesspooch and Rebecca Cesspooch, of Washington. Spike is also survived by the Juneau and Heavy Runners of the Blackfeet Reservation. We have a large extended family and are sorry if anyone may have been left out, please know that Spike loved and respected all of his relations. Spike is also survived by life- long dear friends located in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin Arizona, Virginia, South Dakota and beyond.

Spike was respected and admired for his many talents working with youth, young professionals, elders and people from every walk of life. Spike experienced the devastating losses of beloved family members during his lifetime, including the passing of his two precious sons. Those losses equipped him with a depth of empathy and compassion that truly refined who he was as a human being. Spike showed up for everyone in moments of tragedy and celebration. His big smile, love, words of encouragement and wisdom will continue to influence us as well as all of the lives he touched. We love you Spike. We’ll miss you forever.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Spike Bighorn Honor fund at Opportunity Bank in Culbertson, MT, phone: 406-787-6661. Checks can be made payable to Stephanie Birdwell with Spike Bighorn Honor Fund in the memo. Any funds received will be used to support causes near and dear to Spike’s heart including youth sports, educational initiatives, family wellness initiatives, the arts and animal welfare (in honor of his beloved cat Reese, who is lost without her boss).