Our beloved son, brother, the coolest uncle and nephew, Norris Lee Red Tomahawk (Holy Elk) passed away on January 5, 2016 at 12:06 pm (CT) with his mother, father and sister at his side, St. Mary’s Hospital (Mayo), Rochester, MN. He battled Kidney Disease/Renal Dialysis for 27 years, which he fought till his last breath.
Norris was born on September 27, 1975 in Glendive, MT to Wilbur Red Tomahawk and Karen DuBoise. He attended the Poplar, MT, Wolf Point, MT and Standing Rock (ND) schools, participating in Basketball, Football and Baseball. He enjoyed spending his time visiting with his friends, playing games, cards, cruising around, watching movies, messing around with his remote control cars, fixing stereos and fishing… also during his teenage years, he loved to skateboard and learn new tricks, always getting new boards, shoes and trucks/wheels. When he lived in Poplar, he would ride motorcycles with his friends Ronnie, Mousey and other’s behind east end. Liked to fix up old cars and they would run forever, barely going down the road but the loudest stereo system coming from it… While he played baseball for the Wolf Point Yellow jackets, he did a no hitter and took state. He was known for wicked curveball and fast pitches, he loved the game and always would talk about how it would’ve been if he was still playing.
Norris was diagnosed with kidney disease at the age of 13 years old, had a kidney transplant when he was 14 years old and it rejected at age 21. Since then he has been on dialysis, but through many obstacles he was always determined and never gave up. There was countless times that we almost lost him and he would always pull through like nothing happened, we use to always tease him and say you’re like a cat with 9 lives but more like 100. He had major heart surgery on November 11, 2014 in Bismarck, ND in which he got his aortic valve replaced and double bypass…
December 15, 2015 he was flown to Billings, MT then transferred on December 21, 2015 to St. Mary’s Hospital (Mayo) in Rochester, MN. On December 24, 2015, the cardiologists wanted to meet with the family right away to discuss his options… So his father Wilbur, step-mother Ava, Sister Berta and niece Erika went out to meet with Norris and the heart team, which is when the surgeon and cardiologists said he was to high risk to operate on. That if they did the surgery, he wouldn’t make it through and if he didn’t do the surgery he would do medical therapy (antibiotics and pain meds) till his passing. So the family and Norris talked about it and decided to not do the surgery, and to move him back to Bismarck to be closer with family. His sister Berta stayed the night with him Christmas Eve, they took pictures, talked about all kinds of things, cried, laughed… and one comment he made to her was “I guess it’s time to go home now…” Then New Year’s Eve, his mother Karen, Sister Berta, niece Savannah and brother-in-law Shawn traveled back to Mayo to pick him up and bring him back to Bismarck, but when they got there… The doctor’s met with the family and said he’s too frail and he wouldn’t make the trip, Berta called her dad, he flew in and they all spent the last 5 days with Norris, at his side. His last word’s was to his sister Berta, when she was talking to him and told him, “Norris, I love you…” and he opened his eyes and said, “I love you too!” then closed his eyes again. 2 days later, his body relaxed and he took his last breath @ 12:06 pm.
He is survived by his mother, Karen DuBoise of Wolf Point, MT, his father, Wilbur (Ava) Red Tomahawk of Porcupine, ND, his sisters Wilberta (Shawn) Red Tomahawk, Miranda Eagle & Kathleen C. Red Tomahawk of Porcupine, ND. Brothers Darris DuBoise of Wolf Point, MT, Wyatt (Latoya) Red Tomahawk of Porcupine, ND, Andrew Thunder hawk & TJ Iron Road of Cannonball, ND. 9 Nephew’s and 10 nieces, which he held one special nephew dearly to his heart, Dusan Red Tomahawk.
Norris is preceded in death by his older sister Nickcole “Nikki” Red Tomahawk and Marisa Iron Road, maternal and paternal grandparents. And one favorite grandma, Evelyn E. Smith, which he had mentioned that he would be seeing her when he goes home… also his grandfather “Chester” Windy. His 3 aunts Brenda Red Tomahawk, Ernestine Huravitch & Patti (DuBoise) Sam.
Evening services will be held Thursday, January 14, 2016 at 7pm, Blue Sky Ministries, Wolf Point, MT. Funeral will be on Friday, January 15, 2016 at 11am, Blue Sky Ministries, Wolf Point, MT with burial in Poplar at the Poplar Cemetery. Following the burial, will be a dinner at the Blue Sky Ministries, Wolf Point, MT.
We will all miss you so much Norris and love you, but we’ll be at peace knowing you are not suffering or in pain no longer. Love, Mom