JAMES WALKING CHIEF

FORT BELKNAP AGENCY - James Walking Chief, 95, died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2003, at a Havre care center of natural causes.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Medicine Bear Lodge in Lodge Pole. Burial will follow in the Lodge Pole Cemetery. A wake will begin at 5

p.m. today in the Medicine Bear Lodge with rosary to be recited at 7 p.m.

James was born on Jan. 20, 1908, at Lodge Pole to Moses and Mary (Turns Around Woman) Walking Chief. He attended school and was raised in the Lodge Pole area.

James married Suzie Shad and moved to the Agency area in the 1940s. James lived in the valley until 1966, when he moved to Half Town and lived there until he was placed in the care center in Havre in May 2000.

James did ranch work, was a preacher for a while, and loved to play his guitar and sing Christian music. He was a strong Christian believer.

Suzie died in 1964, and James married Ruth Ironman in June 1992. She died on Dec. 6, 1997.

James was preceded in death by his parents, wives, and stepdaughter Dorothy Sanchez in 2001.

Survivors include his son, Curtis Walking Chief of Harlem; stepdaughters, Rose (Basil) Doney of Hays, Vivian (Tom) Anderson of Havre, Cheryl Coblin of Boston, Mass., Sandra (Dennis) Nelson of Chinook and Birdie (Robert) Sanchez of Flandreau, S.D.; stepsons, Lee Manuel of Havre, Kim Norquay of Harlem; nephews, Joseph Wing and Dennis "Bo" Wing of Fort Belknap Agency; nieces, Elmira Wing and Rosalyn Wing of Fort Belknap Agency; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.