Alvin Talks Different
Alvin “Cubby” Talks Different, 82, died Oct. 5, 2020, at Northern Montana Care Center in Havre.
He was born on Feb. 1, 1938, at Fort Belknap to Harry Bear Cub and Louise Talks Different and was adopted by Grandpa Ira Talks Different and Mary Big Beaver Talks Different. He attended school in Lodgepole and the Mission School in Hays.
In 1956, he entered the Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1957. He married Helen Whitecow on Dec. 19, 1960. In their union, they were blessed with several children. They separated in the early 1980s and divorced 2011. Later, he met Peggy Redboy of Wolf Point and from this union came two children Alvah and Avah Talks Different.
He worked for the BIA Maintenance Department, Burlington Northern Railroad, A& S Tribal Industries in Poplar and as a camp crew boss for the Fort Belknap Montana Indian Fire Fighters. After his retirement in the mid-1990s, he ran a small lawn mowing business.
He attended Sacred Heart Church at Fort Belknap and St. Thomas Catholic Church in Harlem. Every Good Friday, he was present at the “CrossWalk.” He also enjoyed attending Sundance ceremonies and the sweat lodge to support his children and grandchildren.
He enjoyed basketball games, playing the machines at the casino and attending pow-wows with his two granddaughters, Avah and Amira, whom he raised.
He is survived by his children, Joan Johnson of Fort Belknap, Alvin Talks Different of Ethete, Wyo., Ralph Talks Different of Fort Belknap, Ira Talks Different of Harlem, Lena Horn of Fort Belknap, Virgil Talks Different of Fort Belknap, Gene Talks Different of Fort Belknap, Ester Lamebull of Fort Belknap, Carol Lavallie of Havre, Edward Whitecow of Havre, Sherman Lavallie Sr. of Fort Belknap, Kim Norquay Sr. of Great Falls, Alvah Talks Different of Wolf Point and Avah Talks Different of Wolf Point; brothers, Ivan Wing of Fort Belknap and Mike Talks Different of Harlem; sisters, Laura Wing of Great Falls, Margaret Strike of Fort Belknap, Carmen Jackson of Fort Belknap and Sivinna Wing of Fort Belknap; and over 100 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by brothers, William “Bobby” Talks Different, Joey Wing, Sherman Talks Different and Clarence Maroe; sisters, Avis Talks Different and Roberta Talks Different; and grandchildren, Richard Horn, Snowshield Talks Different, Elena Frazier-Talks Different, Javen Talks Different, Alvin “Shafter” Talks Different Jr., Damien Gone and Amanda Messerly.
A service was held Oct. 9 at Ira Talks Different residence in Harlem.
