Clara Caufield: Northern Cheyenne veteran celebrates 94th birthday

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Melvin Small, oldest Northern Cheyenne man celebrates 94th birthday

By Clara Caufield
Native Sun News Today Correspondent
nativesunnews.today

On February 17th, Melvin Small, a resident of Kirby Creek area, Northern Cheyenne reservation, Montana celebrated his 94th birthday, making him the oldest living man of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe.

Born in 1925, Melvin was one of 13 children (10 boys and 3 girls) and as he once remarked, after his mother passed away at a very young age, he and his siblings “mostly raised their own selves.” His mother Josephine Rondo was of mixed heritage (Cheyenne and Mexican) and his father, Tom Small, was from Texas.

In the 1930’s Melvin was one of the first allottees at Northern Cheyenne and is now one of a few still living. Based upon that original 160 acres, he went on to build a much larger and very successful cattle ranching operation in the lush Kirby Creek valley now dominated by the large Small clan. Indeed, his children and even grandchildren continue that legacy.

Known as a very hard worker, excellent cattleman and horseman, he successfully passed the legacy of a good work ethic to them.

Melvin is also one of two surviving Northern Cheyenne WW II Veterans. He served for seven years in the U.S. Army, a personal barber and aide to a U.S. general.

Birthday wishes can be sent to him in care of bandcsmall@rangeweb.net or acheyennevoice@gmail.com.