Emery Red Eagle, Jr., 39, was called home by our Beloved God on April 16, 2019 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Billings, MT surrounded by his loving family. Emery was born in Poplar, MT on February 21, 1980 to Emery Red Eagle, Sr. (Jumbo) and Jolene Miller. He is a member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine Sioux Tribe and a child of the Knife Clan of the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. He received the Indian name “Diriia-aru-giiaricish” (Running Brave).
Emery, as many knew him by “J.r” or “Squirrel” spent most of his life growing up in Poplar MT. He graduated from Poplar High School in May of 1999. Jr participated in Basketball and Cross Country. He was a natural athlete. He always gave a 100% in whatever he did. He was a member of two state cross country championship titles in 1996 & 1997 and earning All-State Honors his senior year. In his younger years, Squirrel loved attending Powwows where he loved to grass dance along with being a whistle carrier. He learned the ways of old style grass from his dad Jumbo. He would travel with his Auntie Maureen’s family to a powwow every weekend in the summer. When J.r was a little boy, he loved his remote control cars.
J.r was a hard worker. He worked various job throughout his life; working at Liheap with his Uncle Darryl in Poplar, as a dishwasher at Ramkota Hotel in Bismarck ND, worked as a Roofing laborer and Cleaning Service Consultant in MN, and was a ranch hand for Dunn O’Connor in Poplar, MT and his most recent was working Powwow Security.
In 2013, Squirrel moved to New Town, ND where he enjoyed attending family gatherings and cruising “Big B”, his van, which he was so proud of. He enjoyed cooking for his Grandma Darlene and fixing whatever needed to be fixed in the house. Squirrel was always helping at family events and enjoyed learning about his Hidatsa ways while in ND. You could always count on him to help whatever needed to be done.
In April 2018, J.r went to live in WA with his brother Rick & family. During his time there he made many life-long friendships and many he called family. They all meant so much to him. On May 6, 2018 while attending Together Church with his Washington Family, Jr surrendered all his struggles and accepted Jesus into his heart. He attended Sundown M Ranch Treatment Center and completed the program on June 26th. He was very proud of this achievement. He made such an amazing impression in the program that the Center wanted him to work for them. His laughter was contagious and his words were encouraging. So it’s no wonder why they wanted him to work there. He then lived with his Sister LaVerne for a short time before moving back home to Poplar.
He enjoyed visiting family and friends where ever he went. Even along his many travels, He knew to always check on all his grandmas and Grandpas. Squirrel was a man with a heart of gold, he left a great impression on so many that knew and loved him. He was a kid at heart, he loved spending time with all his many nieces and nephews. He had all the patience in the world for them. Whether it was going for walks, cooking supper or taking them to the park. He also enjoyed visiting with family & friends, teasing and telling jokes. JR was a practical joker always trying to make others smile by pulling pranks or just doing and saying funny things. He was a great story teller. Squirrel was quite the artist too, he loved to draw and listen to music. Squirrel was an avid runner and it became his passion, even after high school he continued to compete in 5k and 10k races all across the country. He participated in many Fort Peck Tribes Red Ribbon Runs across the Reservation. He always wanted to get back into running, because it was his therapy, but was unable do to a battle with diabetes. Squirrel had a compassionate heart and his caring and thoughtful ways will be deeply missed by all his family & friends.
Survived by his children, Joseph Ray and Emarie Red Eagle and Jesse Foote; Brothers, Richard (Nettie) Dionne- Zillah, WA , Tolley (Reed) Red Eagle- Poplar, MT ; Sisters, LaVerne (Jeremy) White Bear- Waubay, SD, Fahtima (Carson) Hood – New Town, ND , Shannon (Clayton) Martell, Brandie And Mercedee Dionne- all of Poplar, MT ; Nephew, James Miller- Waubay, SD ; Niece, Sabrina & Granddaughter, Meadow Mei LaBelle- Albuquerque, NM ; Special Aunt and Uncle Maureen & Richard Dionne- Poplar, MT ; Aunt, Deb (Vernon) Fourstar- Spokane, WA, Jodi Finley -New Town, ND ; Uncles, Rodney, Joseph and Willard Miller- Wolf Point, MT , Gerred Red Eagle- Poplar, MT , Chauncy Good Bird- Mandaree, ND ; Grandparents; Reba Ogle, Pauline Red Eagle, Doreen Red Eagle- all of Poplar, MT , Gloria (Robert) Garcia- San Jose, CA , Doris Spotted Bird- Brockton, MT , Darlene Finley, Ina Mae Driver, Eleanore Good Bird- all of New Town, ND , Darlene “Marvina” Bishop- Williston, ND , Marilyn (Allen) DeYoung- New Town, ND , Juanita Two Hearts- Fargo, ND; Arnold (Ida) Good Bird- Poplar, MT , Leonard Good Bird- Rapid City, SD and many other grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews who were very special to him but too numerous to mention.
Preceded in death by his parents Emery Red Eagle, Sr. and Jolene Miller; Paternal grandparents, Delmar Red Eagle, Betty Ann Good Bird; Maternal Grandparents, Joe and Laverne Miller; Uncles, Jamie Miller, Harold, Delmar Jr, Darryl, and Dennis Red Eagle; Cousins, Kimberly, Issac, Phillip, Harold and Mandy Red Eagle, Ryan Moshe Miller, Lyle Miller.
A wake will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, April 22, 2019 at the Poplar Cultural Center. The funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at the Poplar Cultural Center. Interment will follow at the Ft. Kipp Cemetery.
Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel has been entrusted with the arrangements and condolences for the family may be left using the form below.