ISABELLE (ISSAPAKI) LANKFORD
1927 ~ 2015

Isabelle (Issapaki) (Bruised Head) Lankford, of the Blood Reserve, was called home on the morning of January 3, 2015 at the age of 87 years. Isabelle passed away peacefully in her sleep at the St. Michaels Health Centre in Lethbridge, AB.

She was born to the late Genevieve and Pete Bruised Head at the Cardston Indian hospital on January 28, 1927. Isabelle attended Residential School at St. Mary’s on the Blood Reserve and also attended school in Calgary and Edmonton, AB before moving to the USA in 1944.

She left home when she was 16 years old and eventually made her way through Southern California to Los Angeles where she lived for over 50 years. Isabelle worked in clerical and administrative roles throughout her time in LA and came home to visit on several occasions. Isabelle lived and raised her son Tim on Normandie Avenue, just minutes from Hollywood and Downtown LA, until 2011 when she moved home to the Blood Reserve at the age of 85 years.

She is the eldest of 8 siblings and is survived by her daughters, Blanche Bruised Head and Vivian Little Bear; grandchildren, Matt (Emily) and Pernell (Marietta) Bruised Head, Robin (Desmond) and Tyler (Trina) Little Bear; great grandchildren, Daniel Red Gun, Lije (Simone), Quinton, Chantry, Aaron (Kelly), Kelly-Ann, Lucky and Crystal Bruised Head, CJ and Halle White Quills, Maple, Aerial and Tye Little Bear; great-great grandchildren Tristan and Crista Red Gun, Teal Nova and Delilah Bruised Head; siblings Joe (Loraine) and Pete Bruised Head, and over 200 nieces and nephews from the Bruised Head family; and numerous relatives from the Blood Reserve.

She is predeceased by her son Timothy (Bruised Head) Lankford; Mother and Father; siblings Chester, Everett, Regis and Norbert Bruised Head; grandparents Mike and Louise Blood (maternal) and Halting (English translation) and Maggie Many Bears (paternal).

A Funeral Service / Viewing will be held at 2:00pm – 7:00pm on Thursday, January 8, 2015 at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610-4 ST. S., Lethbridge, AB. Prayers to follow from 7:00pm – 8:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Kainai Food Bank Society, Main Street, Stand Off, AB T0L 1Y0