Thomas Antiste Obituary

Thomas Antiste, 89

Big Arm- Thomas Raymond Antiste, age 89, passed away August 13, 2025. He was born in St. Ignatius on December 9, 1935. He was chosen as a newborn by Joe and Mary Antiste of Elmo.

He had a sister, Annie, who through her marriage, got to travel to South Carolina and work on an Army Base, Camp Lejeune. As he left the base to return back home, the MP's hauled him back to the base, thinking he was AWOL. He was only 16 at the time. He said he was taken back to the base a couple more times before they finally believed him and let him go home. He enlisted in the Army Reserves at the age of 17.

His parents arranged his marriage to Susie Squeque and they married on February 15, 1954. Susie was the love of his life.

Tom and Susie had 8 children together and were married until Susie's passing on December 18, 2020.

Tom enjoyed many different careers in his lifetime. He worked as a Sawyer, Sawmill Worker; Road Construction; Tribal Forestry and Heavy Equipment Operator/Excavator, Tom was legendary for his operating skills with the excavator, any time you go into the mountains and see a tire or bicycle high up in a tree, you know Tom worked that area. Tom retired at the age of 71.

Tom was a man of few words unless you knew how to tell a good story and he would join in with stories of his own. He could be a pretty good prankster, with a great laugh if you were lucky.

He enjoyed camping, picking huckleberries, playing stickgame, traveling, he took us on trips all over New Mexico, Texas and Utah, he also loved spending time at his sweat lodge with loved ones.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Mary Antiste; his sister Annie Antiste; his beloved wife Susie; his great grandson Dashane Hewankorn; his grandson Shade Birdrattler; son-in-law Louie Charlo; his biological sisters Tina Matt; Geraldine Butler; biological brothers Joe and John Butler.

Tom is survived by his children Dacia (Mickey) Fisher; Tony Grant; Raymond (Sharon) Antiste; Cindy Charlo; Pam (Carlie) Antiste; Bonnie (Jerry) Hewankorn; Joe (Tracey) Antiste; Mary Antiste; K'la (Abe) Birdrattler. Grandchildren Francesca (Art) Taimanao; Marlene (Kenny) Bullchild; Lacey Crawford; Randy Grant; Celeste (Mario) Hewankorn; TJ (Davida) Hewankorn; Ashley Hewankorn; Charlene Hewankorn; Patrick Jefferies; Christina Antiste; Jennifer Antiste; Raven (Qwinsee-lah) Antiste; CJ Plant; Kolten Antiste; Aneena Antiste; Carissa Thiel; Charis Tanner; Trea (Jessica) Paulite; Kellen (Rosy) Paulite; Kaleb Birdrattler, and Sonny Birdrattler. Many, many great and great-great grandchildren.

A wake will begin on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 2:00 pm, rosary on Friday, August 15th at 8:00 pm, and a funeral service will be held on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at 10:00 am at Elmo Hall. Burial at Elmo Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the care of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.