By HDN Staff
HARLEM Joseph W. Blackbird, Jr., 51, a ranch hand, died Sunday, Sept. 23, 2001, of natural causes at a Havre hospital.
The wake was scheduled for today in the Red Whip Complex at Fort Belknap Agency. Funeral services are 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Red Whip Complex.
Joe was born May 23, 1950, at Fort Belknap Hospital to Joseph Blackbird, Sr., and Mary First Raised Blackbird. He attended schools in Harlem and Havre.
He worked on the Great Northern Railway and on numerous local ranches.
He raised four nephews, Chris, Pat and Jim Cole and Dale Campbell, and enjoyed attending rodeos and watching them rope. Joe enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, fishing and wood hawking.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Mary Blackbird, and brother, Sommers Horn and Shirleen Horn.
Survivors include his brothers, Chrissie Blackbird, Lonnie Blackbird, Leon Horn, Ronnie and Ben Speakthunder, Edgar Johnson Sr., and Amos First Raised of Fort Belknap; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and grandchildren.
Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook is in charge of arrangements.
