Lorenzo Kelly Spotted Bear, Old Bear Looking Back (Matóxihe Ikaráptah) was a member of the Flint Knife Clan, born to Lorenzo “Larry” Spotted Bear and Olive “Ollie” Sholaas on August 3,1953 in Richardton, ND. Kelly, as most people knew him by, attended elementary school in both Stephan, SD and New Town, ND. He went to Middle School in Twin Buttes, ND and High School in Halliday, ND where he graduated in 1971.

During high school, he worked in Twin Buttes and Halliday area as a ranch hand working with horses, fixing fence, cutting hay, and running heavy equipment. After high school Kelly started working for the oil field and joined the rodeo circuit bulldogging and bull riding where he made lifelong friend ships. A lot of wonderful stories came from these endeavors.

In 1976 there was a devastating earthquake in Guatemala, and a few months later Kelly, Bruce Gillette, and Jim Mossett went as missionaries with the United Methodist Church out of Canada as they worked with all Canadians and with the Canadian embassy to help reconstruct the villages by building small, prefabricated houses and restoring buildings. Their trip was cut short when Bruce unfortunately hurt his leg, and instead of sending him back on his own, Kelly and Jim came home with him.

In the late 80’s Kelly moved to Mandaree with his lifelong companion DeeDee, and for a short time he worked at Limited Corporation Manufacturing (LCM) doing carpentry and construction alongside Kenny Stevenson and the late Jerry Stevenson. In the early 90’s he started working with the Mandaree Roads Department alongside Art Smith, Bill Hale, Virgil Eagle, Rudy Sanderson, and Fred Smith. He was active as a Heavy Equipment Operator for many years. Whether it was the weekday or a weekend, regardless if it was blizzarding or if his car was under 5 feet of snow, Kelly Spot would make the trek on foot to the roads department, and take out the blade to clear roads and driveways for the elders in the winter time or fix potholes and make sure the roads were safe and well-kept for vehicles. He always made big snow piles around town for the kids to play on making sure the biggest pile was right by his house for his kids. He would go as far east as McKenzie Bay, far north past Carlin Rave’s down in Bear Den, and far south past Manuel Chases making sure our community had access to anything and everything. He had a big heart and cared deeply about his community.

Kelly and DeeDee had the opportunity to travel with their daughter Wind Spirit to Hawaii when she was in high school, as she was set to take part in the Tourney Sport USA Hawaiian Classic basketball tournament. This was one trip they loved to share and reminisce about. They immediately made friends with locals who showed them around the island of Oahu, giving Kelly and DeeDee the most amazing experience from a local’s perspective. They would wake up early and walk along the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Kelly would fill his bag with seashells he’d collect along the way, enjoying the ocean air, and occasionally coming across marine life. Kelly loved everything about his journey to Hawaii with his daughter and wife.

Kelly and DeeDee worked with Dennis Hurkes’ contracting business for a short time building houses around the MHA nation and then Kelly and his son Hjalmer worked alongside Shannon Hale for the tribe when going around to all the MHA Segments installing doors and windows in homes as part of a renovation project. He loved doing this type of work.

Later, Kelly was hired on with the Mandaree Bison Project alongside his great friend Rocky Avery, his son Hjalmer, and his little buddy Kalolo IU under the direction of his other great friend Ted Lonefight III. He loved working and caring for the bison and elk. They took great pride in this work and took immeasurable care of the bison and their environment. Kelly had a great respect for these animals and always made it known to any visitors who would stay on the property that they too needed to respect these majestic beings. Some of the best stories came from this time in his life. Kelly retired shortly after this and spent his remaining days at his home in Mandaree doing projects, working on vehicles, going to the lake, visiting relatives, enjoying the local celebrations, playing his guitar, and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He loved his babies deeply and was beyond proud every one of them. Kelly’s greatest joy was his grandchildren. He loved when they’d come to visit. He’d turn into a big loving teddy bear and his voice would go up 8 octaves when he teased with the babies.

In his younger years, Kelly was an avid Hunter, Fisherman, and an exceptional athlete. Much of these traits passed on to his children and grandchildren. He loved reading books and retained so much knowledge that made for a great conversation. He enjoyed solving strategic puzzles like the Rubik’s Cube and he and DeeDee enjoyed playing board games with their kids and taught them a lot of card games. You could find him sitting at the table playing solitaire and drinking his coffee in the mornings. Kelly loved watching movies with his family and playing hide and seek. He even went as far as dressing up as the easter bunny for the kids one year. He truly was the best dad and grandpa.

In everything he did, Kelly did it with a big heart. Many would refer to him as “the legend “or “a mountain of a man.” His friends would say, “Kelly Spot is a good man who loved his family. He had old style values, and respect for our elders.” He would visit quite often with his elders to hear old stories about his dad and his hometown of Twin Buttes. He loved taking his children to the lake to camp and always made sure to visit his homelands of Twin Buttes where much of his family stems from. He was the type of guy that would shake your hand and greet you with big hello, a teaching he passed on to his children.

Of all the things he was known for, Kelly’s love for music and sharing it with his family and friends was his greatest attribute. He loved playing guitar and singing with his buddies and his sons. Many of his buddies would say, “the party didn’t start until Kelly Spot started playing his guitar.” He was known to change the words to popular songs and add his own words to make the songs more personal and heartfelt. He was a self-taught guitar player who learned to play by ear. He didn’t read music, but he knew every chord and passed these teachings down to his children and his buddies and nephews who contribute much of their success as musicians to him. Kelly’s children would tell you that some of their favorite memories of their dad was how he would sing for them and have his own little concert in their home. To his last days, you would hear him humming a tune, or singing to his grand babies, putting them to sleep with his deep, calming voice. To them, he was one of the greatest musicians to walk the earth. He was always there for his children. Always teaching. Always sacrificing. Always protecting.

Lorenzo Kelly Spotted Bear of Mandaree -Twin Buttes, ND, passed away at age 72 on November 29th, 2025 at his residence. Kelly will always be remembered for his love of music and for the kind, caring, respectful human he was. His memory will live on through the stories and memoirs shared by his family, friends, his children, grandchildren, siblings, and most of all his best friend and love of his life for 43 years, DeeDee.

He is survived by his companion DeeDee Mossett; his Siblings, Sisters, Marian Spotted Bear-Cook, Ivetta (David) Holding Eagle, Helyn (Mark Erickson) Zarfos, Roberta (Dennis) Dahlen, Julie Beston; Brother, Lonnie (Diana) Spotted Bear, Barry Benson, Sal Beston, Jimmy “Chicken” Morsette; Children: Sons, Cory (Sierra) Spotted Bear, Delmar Sheppard, Denver (Jade) Spotted Bear, Justin Spotted Bear, Hjalmer Spotted Bear; Daughters, Wind Spirit (Jess Hall) Spotted Bear, Olivia “Ollie” Spotted Bear; His 24 Grandchildren, Morning Grace, Sháhkohe, Niibwin, Selena, Delmari, Daemar, Amaya, Aurora, Maddy, Arrow, Numákshi, Kaydence, Ezra, Kalee, Elyza, Jaden, Hunter, Hailey, Thaddeus, Brooky, Journey, Feather, Náske, and Jaydon; Great Grandson Dameric.

He was preceded in death by his Paternal Grandparents, Justin Spotted Bear Sr. and Stella Tail, and his Maternal Grandparents, Ingwald and Mary Sholaas; Parents, Lorenzo “Larry” Spotted Bear and Olive “Ollie” Sholaas; Sisters, Janet “Gertsy” Gunderson, Sandy “Spook” Spotted Bear, Alyce Spotted Bear, Karen Lynch, Rhonda Schettler; Brother,Marty Benson; Daughter, Boe Wolf; Son, Clay Spotted Bear; Grandson Michael Grieves.