Michael Anthony (BB) Bisbee III was born May 17, 2004, in Dillon, Mont., Big Hole Valley, to Roberta Josephine Jose Bisbee and Michael Anthony Bisbee Jr. He joined his older sister, Micah Bisbee, and was later blessed with sister, Madden (Din Din) Bisbee.
He was an all-around athlete and enjoyed playing football, basketball, baseball and miniature golf, among other sports. He played a variety of positions, including quarterback and receiver. He recently hit a double at his baseball game and was the only one to score and steal bases. He loved to play basketball and played in numerous Amateur Athletic Union tournaments. His team took second place at the Basketball Against Alcohol and Drugs tournament in March in Pendleton, Ore. He was selected as an all star. He was a member of the third-grade Lapwai AAU team, Indians minor league baseball team, the 2012 Hoopfest team, Slippery Salmon Skins, and was a second-year Baby Wildcat player.
BB was a tough little defender who was well-known for his defense and for setting screens. He was dedicated and played as hard as he could all the time. He gave 110 percent every game, every minute, every second; he gave it his all. He also loved to dance just as hard on the powwow floor as he would playing basketball.
He loved to go to the gym with his dad for men's night and would hurriedly grab his shoes when he knew it was time to go. He was known for hanging out on the bench with his uncles at tournaments. He was very active with his dad on the basketball floor.
He started out dirt biking at a young age and, in fact, got his first motorcycle at 5 years old. He also enjoyed fishing, cutting wood and hunting with his father and uncles. He spent his first "manly" trip in the summer of 2012 at Buffalo Hump Lake. They hiked several miles with only a backpack and a tarp for three days.
BB had such a big heart; he was loving, nurturing, compassionate and consoling, with a smile always on his face. He loved his sisters unconditionally but was at his best while fighting them. He was well-known for terrorizing his family and friends. He especially loved to terrorize his uncles, aunties and grandmas. He would show them his Michael Jackson moves in the living room. Sometimes his sense of humor was too much for kids due mainly to the amount of time he spent with his uncles. He used to love flipping his eyelids and scaring people, just like grandpa Joe Hardy Daniels. He always greeted people with hugs and he would hug them again and tell them he loved them when they left. He was very smart and intelligent. His mom would bring him brain-teaser games after her work trips, which he would immediately open and have them solved within 20-30 minutes.
He was really close with his grandpa Dennis (Gunny) Paul. He wanted to be a Marine just like Grandpa Gunny. Gunny would teach him attack and combat formations around his toy military tanks, and BB would always want to show his newfound skills to everyone.
He loved hanging out at Webb Creek making spears, swimming, chasing and shooting rabbits and birds, and throwing apples from the apple tree on the hill at cars. He had the time of his life making Bigfoot videos with Papa Mike in his Halloween costume.
He used to brag about being the only Bisbee out of a family of five born in a different state. He was born in the Big Hole Valley and was proud of that fact because his great-great-great-grandfather, Josiah Redwolf, was the last survivor of the Nez Perce Wars. The family celebrated the 135th commemoration of the Big Hole Battle in August 2012.
Family was important to BB. He always requested Auntie Mazie's fry bread for his class parties and birthdays. He wanted his dad to bring the coho project to his classroom and, afterward, a publication was released from the Lapwai School District. He was protective, comforting and sensitive, especially toward his mother while she served on council. He knew when she needed him the most and would massage her hands and feet just to make her feel better. He looked out for everyone's safety. He was a hard worker who would take care of his chores and even do chores that he didn't have to in order to help out.
The family traditionally ate dinner at their dinner table every night. BB was such a strong believer in the reasons why, so he would set the table and turn the TV off. Everyone would wash their hands and they would eat as a family at the table. He always loved second helpings.
Although he was an avid Dallas Cowboys football hater, especially toward his papa and his dad, he would fight with his sisters for the Cowboys blanket every night. He was so upset when Mitt Romney lost the election; he was our little Republican in a house full of Democrats. He even took part in a debate at school in the third grade on the importance of voting and which candidate deserved their vote.
He was preceded in death by his great-grandfathers, Aaron Ramsey, Don Taylor, Gilbert Towner and Allen (Smoky) Raboin; great-grandmother Josephine P. Ramsey; grandfather Joe Hardy Daniels; and grandmother Benedicta Scott Holt.
Surviving are his parents, Michael Jr. and Roberta Bisbee; and sisters Micah and Madden of Lapwai; great-grandparents Norman and Shirley Bisbee of Lapwai; grandfather Michael Bisbee Sr. of Webb Creek; Anton Kickingwoman of Missoula, Mont.; Laila and Mariah Bisbee of Webb Creek; great-grandmother Geneva Towner; great-grandparents Kenneth and Gerri Sherwood; grandparents Keith and Trish Heavyrunner; Simsin and Symayn Heavyrunner; grandparents Peewee and Kathy Taylor; grandfather Dennis R. Paul; grandmother Imogene Ingawanup of Portland, Ore.; grandmother Jennifer (Grandma Woofy) Ramsey of Lapwai; grandfather Richard M. Ramsey Sr. of Lapwai; uncle Aaron Nicholai Ramsey of Lapwai; aunt Mazie Daniels Wilson of Lapwai; his "other mama," Paula Ellenwood; the Jose/Moffett family; and numerous aunties, uncles, cousins, classmates and all who knew and loved him.
A dressing will be held at 2 p.m. today at Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home, with a memorial service to follow at 6 p.m. The funeral will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday. The memorial and funeral services will be held at the Pi Nee Waus Community Center, Lapwai, followed by burial at the Spalding Cemetery. Officiating at the services are Bill Picard and Paul Sherwood.
Donations can be made to the Michael (BB) Bisbee III Memorial Fund at Potlatch No. 1 Federal Credit Union.
