Francis Bull

Francis Xavier Lame Bull of Wapato, WA, 77, died Thursday, February 21st, 2019 at home surrounded by his loving wife and daughters. Francis was born March 9, 1941, at Fort Belknap Hospital, Harlem, MT, son of Cecilia and Andrew Lame Bull Sr. He graduated from Toppenish High School in 1959 where he excelled in most sports especially basketball and football. Francis joined the United States Navy in 1959. During his enlistment he served as Medic and Phlebotomist in various locations including Japan and Hawai'i. He was attached to a Marine Corp. Unit which served in Vietnam. He was honorably discharged in 1963. Francis was attending Green River Community College in Auburn WA in 1970. He then attended Southeastern State College in Durant OK, where he received a BS in Aviation Science in 1971 and had a long life passion for flying. He applied for his flying certifications from a flight school at Boeing Field in Seattle, WA. From August 1971 he lived in Los Angeles, CA and received his Juris Doctorate in May of 1974 from UCLA. He then worked for his tribe, The Gros Ventres, in Browning, MT, from September 1975 to January 1977. After passing the Montana State Bar, Francis moved to The Fort Belknap reservation and opened his own law office from February 1977 until he moved to Billings, MT in 1985. In March of 1981 Francis, as lead attorney had a monumental win on the landmark case representing his tribe on the THE FORT BELKNAP HOUSING AUTHORITY vs R.J. WILLIAMS Co. v. FORT BELKNAP. In 1988, Francis moved to Washington to be the first in house lead counsel for the Yakama Nation. On March 9th, 1990 he married the love of his life, Luana Lumley. Shortly thereafter he was given the opportunity to move his family to Saipan, the largest Island of the Northern Mariana Islands. There he worked as an attorney for the Legislature of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. In 1991 he moved to Tinian as one of the first attorneys for the Tinian Gaming Commission. In 1992 he moved back to the United States where Francis worked as the Executive Director for various Nations including the Lummi Tribe, Yakama Nation, Suquamish Gaming Commission, and the Colville Tribe until 2002. In 2007, Francis relocated to Puyallup, WA. and had the honer of becoming a Judge for the Puyallup Nation Tribal Court. Francis returned to his home on the Yakama Reservation where he found occupational freedom as an independent consultant for numerous gaming ventures that reached as far as South America. Additionally this enabled him to give back and serve his community as a member of the Wapato City Council. Francis is survived by his spouse and soulmate of 28 years, Luana Lumley, daughters, CeCelia of Portland, OR, Bonnie of South Korea, Elyse of Mercer Island, WA, Lauren of Lynnwood, WA, Cheyne of Wapato, WA, Shelian of Bozeman, MT, one cherished granddaughter, Ana'ce of South Korea and two grandsons both arriving in April 2019. A viewing will be held Monday, February 25 at Valley Hills Funeral Home in Wapato, WA. from 3:00 to 7:00 PM. with a prayer and sharing from 5:30 to 7:00 PM. Funeral Services will be held Tuesday, February 26 at 10:00 AM at the Winterlodge - Yakama Cultural Heritage Center. Graveside Services at 12:00 PM. at the Reservation Community Memorial Park with a dinner to follow back at the Winterlodge, Yakama Cultural Heritage Center at 2:00 PM. He inspired us all with his three-year courageous battle. A charitable contribution in memory of Francis X. Lame Bull can be made to the following accounts: Paypal.me/luanalumley & to luanas@live.com. Our family appreciates your love and support. God Bless you. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Francis Bull, please visit our flower store.