Arlyn Headdress Sr.

Arlyn Craig Headdress Sr., 70, of Wolf Point died Nov. 21, 2021.

He was born on Nov. 28, 1950, at Poplar Hospital to Dale and Norma Headdress. He was the fourth-born sibling out of 13. As a child, he spent a lot of time with his grandparents, Henry and Sarah Headdress.

He moved to Poplar in 1962 and in the eighth-grade He participated in the LDS Placement Program through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He then returned home after the school year where he finished his schooling in Poplar and ultimately White Swan High School on the Yakima Indian Reservation in 1969. After graduation, he moved back to Poplar. He attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah, for a time where he would study criminology/ criminal justice.

He then moved back to Poplar and he was hired as a Bureau of Indian Affairs police officer. He pursued other employment opportunities and began his years of service with the Fort Peck Tribes, this includes a stint as a judge with the Fort Peck Tribal Courts. He then ran for the Tribal Executive Board on which he served four terms. During this time also was placed on the board of directors for West Electronics, a board he sat on for nearly 40 years until retiring in 2020 and he was also placed on the Fort Peck Community College board of directors, where he sat on for more then 30 years until retiring from that board in 2015.

After four terms on the Tribal Executive Board, he then went back to work in law enforcement, this time as a tribal highway safety officer for the Fort Peck Tribes until being hired by the Bureau of Indian Affairs again, this time as a rights protection specialist.

In 1999, he decided he wanted to get back to serving his tribe directly rather than working for the federal government so he decided to run for the office of chairman of the Fort Peck Tribes and was elected. This was a source of great pride for him. He would go on to serve two consecutive terms. During this time, he had the privilege to serve on the Montana-Wyoming Tribal Leaders Council.

He will always be remembered for his kindness and willingness to help others. He had a great sense of humor and could light up a room with his presence. He loved spending time with his grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. He loved taking rides out to the land and telling stories. The last couple years were hard for him but he had his grandchildren and great-granddaughter Esme to keep him going.

He is survived by his children, Michael Headdress, Anthony Headdress, Christopher Headdress, Angelita Headdress, Craig Headdress and Arlyn Headdress Jr.; 12 grandchildren; one greatgrandchild; five brothers, Charlie Headdress, Henry Headdress, Leroy Headdress, Lonnie Headdress and Larry Headdress; and three sisters, Shannon Gonzalez, Ione Hanson and Doris Headdress Thompson.

He was proceeded in death by his brothers, Mitchell Headdress, Dale Headdress and Sheldon Headdress; sister, Michelle Buck Elk; and great-grandchild, Chloe Headdress.

His funeral was held Monday, Nov. 29, at the new Community Hall in Wolf Point. Interment followed at the Headdress family cemetery. Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.