MARGARET BALL obituary

FORT BELKNAP AGENCY - Margaret Frances "Peggy" Ball, 64, died Feb. 9, 2004, due to complication of diabetes at a Havre care center.

A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Red Whip Center with burial following at the Hi-way Cemetery. A wake and rosary will begin at 7 p.m.

Wednesday in the Red Whip Center.

Peggy was born on Aug. 2, 1939, to George and Ell (Cloud Robe) Blackbird at Fort Belknap Agency. She was raised and attended school in Harlem.

Peggy married George "Monty" Ball on Dec. 27, 1973, and they renewed their vows many years later. Peggy worked as a custodian for the Fort Belknap Housing Department; she was a counselor for the Chemical Dependency Center of Fort Belknap and retired as a CHR from Fort Belknap Tribal Health Department due to health reasons.

Peggy was a well-known caterer throughout Fort Belknap, cooking for various people and organizations.

She enjoyed dancing and traveling to powwows, and took part in bingo and keno. Some of her many crafts were sewing quilts, making memorial wreaths and enjoying her coffee cup collections. Her dedication to her grandchildren as she traveled was well spent with each of them. Peggy leaves behind a lot of love, kindness to her family and community members.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Ella Blackbird; brothers, George and Robert Blackbird; stepsisters, Edna Ball and Amy Belgard; and adopted daughter, Alberta Johnson.

Survivors include her husband, George "Monty" Ball of Fort Belknap; sons, Erwin Little Sun of Rocky Boy and Lincoln Begay of Billings; grandchildren, Sable Little Sun, Robin Begay, Lincoln Begay III; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brother, Walter Blackbird of Fort Belknap; adopted brother, Philip "Knobby" Stiffarm of Fort Belknap; sisters, Arleen Sandovaul of California and Jean Campbell of Fort Belknap; adopted sister, Ruth LaMere of Fort Belknap; adopted sons, Douglas Johnson, Benny Johnson, Stanley "P-Nut" Johnson, Reese Grayboy, Sr .; adopted daughters, Vikkie Johnson, Mary Kay White and Vivian Hershel, all of Fort Belknap Agency.

Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.