Our beloved Husband, Son, Brother, Grandpa, Grandson, Uncle, Nephew, Cousin and Friend Eugene Gerald Hale, Jr. began his journey home on July 15, 2016 at the Poplar Community Hospital.
“Junior” the name everyone knew him by, was a loving, caring, happy and giving person to everyone who knew him and he had a good heart always trying to help someone out. He was born to Mildred “Midge” Longee and Eugene Hale, Sr. on November 1, 1975 at the Poplar Community Hospital. He learned a lot from his grandma Gladys First, great-grandma Jesse DeMarrias and great-great Unci Sarah Lawrence, who all helped raise him in his early years of his life. In his teen and early 20’s Junior lived off and on with his dad Eugene. Where he learned the ways of the Native American Church, where he would drum for his dad and really enjoyed it, it was during this time he received his Indian name “Inya Wakan Hoksina-Holy Rock Boy” from Leroy Comeslast thru ceremony. During his late 20’s he moved to Omaha with his aunt Hazel Longee, whom he claimed as his “favorite” auntie. He eventually returned to Poplar in his early 30’s and had remained his home till his death. He especially liked spending time with his son Orlando Hale, taking him fishing or just sitting and visiting him for hours at a time. Orlando had his heart no matter what anyone said or did. Junior enjoyed the outdoors fishing and hunting with family and friends. Junior also had a special bond with his sister Anita whom he shared his secrets with and they were best friends until the end. He met Glenna Eagle in his 20’s; they got married and later divorced but remained friends until his death. He met Hattie Shoots a few years ago and got married a couple years ago, they shared a lot of memories together in their short time together, but Junior will always live on in many hearts…
Junior is survived by his parents Mildred Longee of Poplar and Eugene and Sylvia Hale, Sr. of St. Michaels, ND; his wife Hattie Hale of Wolf Point; his son Orlando Hale of Poplar; brother Steven Jones III and Family of Poplar; step-brothers Elvis Demarce and Family. Kevin Brown, Sr. and Fmaily, Robert Brown, Jr and Family, Billy Brown and Family and Michael Demarce of St. Michaels, ND; sisters Carmen and Michelle Hale of St. Michaels, ND, Jessica Hale and Family of New Town, ND, Anita and Kids, Tanya Jones and Kids, Priscilla Jones and Kids, Jennifer Jones and Kids all of Poplar, Sonia Jones of Billings and Sarah Longee and Kids of South Dakota; step-sister Melody Brown and Family of St. Michaels, ND; grandma Ethelene White Hawk; aunts Hazel Longee of Sioux City, Iowa, Mary Rose Kollman of Williston, ND, Verlynn Longee of Washington, Williamette Hale-Olge of Poplar; uncles Del, Vernon “Tuffy” and Wayne First all of Ft. Kipp, Doug of Ft. Totten, ND, Justin Hale, Jr. of Shelby, MT; his nephews, nieces, grandkids, the Hale, Longee, Feathers, Lawrence, Maza Kahomani, First, DeMarrias, Azures, KOpperdahl, McKay (Canada), Spotted Bird, Hapa, Rider, Greybulls, Comeslast, Sherman, Bow, Birthmarks, Melbourne, Chapman families and others. If failed to mention anyone we are sorry it wasn’t intentional.
Junior is preceded in death by his great-great Unci Sarah Lawrence, great-grandma Jesse DeMarrias, great-grandma Edna Long, grandma Gladys First, grandma Elsie L. Long, great-grandma Maggie Haskell, grandma Vicki Azure, great-grandpa Henry Feather, grandpa William Longee, grandpa Abraham DeMarrias, grandson Dustin Scoot, Jr.; uncles Alfred Merle and Charles Longee, Allen Nelson; aunts Wilma Longee-Feather, Mildred “Mille” First, Lois Ann Lawrence, Olivia Feather-Sherman, Andrea and Terry Lee DeMarrias; cousin Whitney Ogle; nephew Clifford Plain Bull. We have too many relatives to remember they all but forgive us if we have forgot you.
Junior, had a lot of friends, “Bros”, “Sisters”, who will dearly miss him as well as all his family and extended families. Thank you everyone for everyone for prayers, and condolences in our time of need, Junior will be dearly missed by all.