JOHN SUNCHILD obituary

ROCKY BOY - John Roddy "Eagle" Sunchild, an enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation died Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2004, of natural causes at the Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Va.

A wake will be held on Saturday and Sunday at Our Saviour's Luthern Church at Rocky Boy. A burial with military honors will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Rocky Boy Cemetery.

John was born on June 10, 1930, in the Bear Paw Mountains to Pete and Fannie (Oats) Sunchild. He was the grandson of Sunchild, an early leader of the Cree people. John served in the Korean conflict as a U.S. Airborne paratrooper with the 4th Airborne Ranger Company, 187th Regimental Combat Team. He was one of the most highly decorated veterans in Rocky Boy.

Roddy's greatest enjoyment were his grandchildren and his great-grandchild. He enjoyed being home with family and friends, and family get-togethers were held at his house regularly. He enjoyed the peace and quiet of Haystack, where he made his home, an early morning sweat with friends and, most of all, being with family. These are the times that he was able to share his knowledge, views, wisdom, love and laughter with all who came to his house.

He also, as the chief executive officer of the National Tribal Development Association, enjoyed traveling to advocate on behalf of American Indian economic and governance issues. He did this on a national and international level. During the time of his death, John was traveling on behalf of NTDA and was scheduled to provide the opening prayer at the USDA's First Farmer's Celebration held in conjunction with the opening of the Smithsonians's National Museum of the American Indians in Washington, D.C.

Survivors include his wife, Florence; children, Rick (Mona), Pete, Laurie, and Lisa (Larry); grandchildren, Serene, Allie, Anjel, Deidra, Deena, John, Clifford, Tennae, Rainie and Cruz; one great-grandchild, Alyxandria aka Lexus; brothers and sisters, Bruce (Valarie) Sunchild, Dorothy Small, Helen Parker (Junior), Irene Mitchell and Zellah Nault.

He was proceded in death by his father, Pete Sunchild; mother, Fannie Oats Sunchild; brother, Ned Sunchild; daughter, Sharon Sunchild; and grandsons, Joseph Sunchild and Nathan Sunchild.

Holland & Bonnine Funeral Home is in charge of the funeral arrangements.