DUANE PATRICK BELCOURT obituary

ROCKY BOY's INDIAN RESERVATION - Duane Patrick Belcourt, 58, died on Monday, Jan. 19, 2004, of cancer.

A wake service will be held at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church today with a Rosary at 7 p.m. The funeral service will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Rocky Boy Catholic Church with burial at the Rocky Boy Cemetery. The Rev. Pete Guthneck will officiate, with Kenny Writing Bird to sing a going-away song in Duane's honor.

Duane, whose Indian name was Ki-iw-wah Kah-wi-che-kot or Eagle with Him, was born on May 7, 1945, to Levi Belcourt and Cecelia Parker Corcoran in Fort Belknap.

Duane graduated from Flandreau High School in 1964. He married Ernestine Hopkins in September 1966, settling first in Denver and later making a home at Rocky Boy, where his family was from.

Duane completed masonary training at Flandreau High School. He worked independently in the construction field before forming the Belcourt & Morsette Construction Co. in partnership with Jon "Cubby" Morsette. Duane later formed Belcourt & Son Inc.

In 1997, he was awarded the first-ever Native American-owned Small Business of the Year Award in Montana by the Small Business Administration. Duane completed many construction projects throughout California, Illinois, South Dakota, Montana, Nevada, Arizona and in his hometown of Rocky Boy.

Duane was a great supporter of the sport of rodeo. Duane first got his start in rodeo as a bull rider, then later took up the sport of team roping. He was a member of the United States Team Roping Championships and the Montana Team Roping Association. He enjoyed roping off of his horse Six, attending the National Final Rodeos, and spending time with his family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Gerald "Chief" Belcourt, and Levi "Gene" Belcourt, and sisters Margaret "Peggy" Nagel, Tami Corcoran Frost, and Connie Jo Belcourt Limberhand.

Survivors include: his wife, Ernestine Belcourt; sons, Shawn Belcourt and Leslie Belcourt; adopted daughters, Terry Jo Skalski, and Charlotte Big Knife; sister-in-law, Arvella Hunter; grandmother, Mary Jane LaMere; brothers, Merle (Wilma) Belcourt, Robert (Sandy) Belcourt, Kermit Corcoran, Raymond "Jake" Parker; adopted brother, Mike (Ligia) Ley; brother-in-law, Bruce Nagel; sisters, Myrtle Belcourt, Elsie (Robert) Geboe, Leota Standing Bear, Linda Belcourt and Luanne (Erwin Little Sun) Belcourt; numerous nieces and nephews; and grandchildren.

Any monetary donations may be submitted to Ernestine Belcourt, HC 30 Box 370, Havre, MT 59501. All donations will be used to fund a Duane Belcourt Rodeo Scholarship. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.