James Edward Large Jr.

Sargent James "Jim" Edward Large, Jr., was the great, great, great, great grandson of Chief Black Coal and Sacajawea, passed away on December 26, 2025 at his residence on the Wind River Reservation. Mr. Large was born to James "Bites" Edward Large, Sr., and Elsie Louise Hungry Wolf on June 14, 1945, in Fort Washakie, WY, along with his twin sister Elizabeth "Betty" Large/Friday. His Indian name was "Night Scout - Tece' Notkon." They were both boarding school survivors. He went to numerous grade schools but graduated 8th grade in Mill Creek, WY. He attended Lander Valley High School but graduated from Valley High School in Eden, ID in 1964. After graduation he enlisted in the Army-Air Force and was sent to the Vietnam War. His rank was PVT E1, LT WPN INFMN, and Sargent (E-5). He received PARCHT BADGE, VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL, VIETNAM CAMPAIGN MEDAL, COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, PURPLE HEART(1ST OLC), ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL, and GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. Being a Vietnam Veteran made a huge impact on who he was. Jim was an avid hunter and lived by the Northern Arapaho way of life participating in all ceremonies and had a wealth of knowledge.

His Sundance Grandfather was Ralph Beard and one of his Sundance grandsons' was Dennis Black. He was an artist and silversmith, the late Crawford White had shown him how to work with silver. After the war, he worked in Alaska for a summer and spent a lot of time in the Wind Rivers and Owl Creeks. He met Linda Whiteplume and they married in 1985, and had Bendetta Whiteplume and Verdell Large, James "JD" David Large and Katie Lou Large. He then decided to try his luck at college. Jim graduated Central Wyoming College in 1988 and went on to University of Wyoming and graduated in 1995. While at the University, he was the President of the Native American Club and he attended a cultural exchange program where he was able to go to Brazil and experience the culture. After college he was a teacher in Kyle SD. He also worked in the BIA Roads department for a few years. His dream was to start a Silversmith School to teach our community how to work with silver.

Jim was proud to have helped establish Wyoming Indian Schools and was on the school board at one time.

Jim was the rock of his family and family meant everything to him. He enjoyed being around his grandchildren, and winning at the casino. He loved everyone and tried to help in any way he could. Jim and Betty were adopted by a few families while they were growing up. Lucy and Ambrose Walker, Snakey and Lucille Ridgley, Cleone Thunder, and Mary Hungary stepped up to help raise them.

Survivors include his wife, Linda Large, Son James "JD" Large, daughters, Kelli Ann Jefferson, Adele Mandan, and Bendetta Whiteplume(Steve), niece, Fawna(Ruben), nephews, Justin Friday, Ira Running Shield, Benjamin "Benji Wolf" Running Shield, Doug Brown, Grandchildren, Corbin, Trinidad, Tristan, Blackwolf, Aaron, Amirue, Nevaeh and Aniyah, Corwin DaeShawn RedTomahawk, Savannah Rose Smith, Kaylee Mariah Sun goes slow, Michael Jude Smith Jr., Selena Sue Gutierrez, Julia Maria Gutierrez, Martha Viola Gutierrez, Kaylin Reece Carmella Elyxis Tabaho, Nizhonii Cataleya Simone Tabaho, Tusty Tso Warrior Tabaho Jr., De'Andre Ali Rodas, Karita Moss, Katlynn Hutchinson, Cleone "CC" Friday, Annalilla and A'lea, Alicia, Arianna and Ruben Jr., Sanchez, his nephew, and extended families Large, Lajenesse, Hereford, Iron, Thunder, and Hungary and numerous others not mentioned

He is preceded in death by his father and mother, his brother Jess Large, Wilbur Walker, and Theodore Higgenson, his Aunt Romona K (Hungary)Ornelas: grandparents Mary(Underwood)Hungary, Cleone Thunder, Otto Hungary, son: Verdell Large, daughters: Fatima and Katie Large

The wake will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, December 29, 2025, at the Blue Sky Hall in Ethete, WY, with an all-night wake following at the family home (921 Blue Sky Hwy, Ethete, WY 82520).

The funeral will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at the Blue Sky Hall in Ethete, WY.