Joe Fox Sr.

'High Eagle'
Netse-oxhaa'ehooese

ASHLAND - On May 11, 2008, Joe Fox, Sr. departed this life to meet the Creator Maheo.
Joe was born to Pat Tallwhiteman and Mary Redbird on June 16, 1925, on the banks of the Tongue River, Ashland. He attended schools at St. Labre Indian School and Busby School. He was then drafted to the United States Army during World War II. He served in the Pacific theater, Philippines, Guam, New Guinea, and his battalion marched through the devastated area of Hiroshima. He earned two Bronze stars and numerous citations and victory medals during his service for the United States and earned the rank of Corporal. Joe was a lifetime supporter of the St. Labre basketball players and athletic teams; he seldom missed a game during times of good health. He also participated in the Ashland Legendary Baseball Team. The team consisted of players from the Otter Creek, East Fork of Otter Creek and Ashland area. Players were Eddie Foote Sr., Steve Two Two Sr., Hansons, Tarters, Richards, Hurr, Barthelmess, McKelveys, Haleys, Greens, Stabios and Capras and other players. Joe was one of the last living members of the Sage Brush League of 1950. We apologize if we missed any names.
He was the eldest member of the Elk Horn Scraper Society and Keeper of their Society Bundle, was a lifetime member of the Ashland Powwow committee, a devoted Catholic and member of St. Labre and close friend of Fr. Paschal Siler and Fr. Emmett Hoffmann. Joe was also an honorary graduate of Chief Dull Knife College. He participated in seven Sun Dances; two times as pledger, a high honor in the Sundance culture, and fasted six times at Bear Butte.
He worked at various ranches, which included Keith Stevens, Boyd Shaver, Lee Dunning, Rollie Hart and John Dennis, and Truslers along Tongue River and Otter Creek. Joe worked at St Labre Indian School Cafeteria and Guild Arts and Crafts.
Joe is preceded in death by his parents, spouse Winona Tangled Yellow Hair (Fox) and siblings, sisters Margaret Fox (Yellow Eyes), Helen Fox (Headswift) and brother Francis Seminole. Joe is also preceded in death by two sons, Matthew Fox, David Fox and adopted son Arnold White Antelope. Joe Fox, Sr. is survived by his sons, Joe Fox, Jr. (Lucinda), George Fox (Verlene), James Fox, Edward Fox, Richard Fox and Marvin Fox, and adopted daughter Adeline Fox. Grandchildren include David (Thelma), Jennifer, Velinda, Desiree, Sidney, Luanna Fox, Emily Weasel Bear (Joe), Tammy Roundstone (Mark) and Goldstein Little Eagle. Great-grandchildren include Dustyn, Andrea', Bailey and Joseph Codi Fox; Devin Tang, Valor, Chitat Killsback, Jerome Fox, Raymond, Sheldon, and Shelrae Limpy; Virgil (Nakia) Weaselbear, Emily Rose, Gretchen Weasel Bear, Tamika (Joe) Martinez, Spur and Ruben Roundstone, Silver and Jorgi Little Eagle. Also adopted grandson Tony Veigh (Debbie) and adopted son Oscar Rodriquez (Donna). He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and extended family, Delores, Jeanette, Joanne, and Andy Yelloweyes, Eugene BeaverHart (Thelma), Jake (Shanny) and Cody Gion, Faye Ellen Thompson, Mike (Karen) Scott, Tim Hufford, Roger Lingenfelter, Martin Hart Sr. (Marcella), Gerald Rowland (Rosie), Special Nephews Wayne Headswift (Roseanne), Charles Littleoldman (Marcelline), Gilbert Whitedirt, Christopher Larance (Ramona), Danny and Sonny Carlson, Herbert (Marie) Bearchum, Special Niece Delores (Daniel) Fisher, Special Granddaughters Inez and Amy Foote, and Nellie Speelman. Other families include the Whitedirt, Foote, Tallwhiteman, TwoTwo, Whitewoman (Allen, SD), Elkshoulder, YellowEyes, Woodenthigh, Redneck, Fightingbear, Strangeowl, Crazymule, Roundstone, Redbird, Whitecrane, Littlebird, Shoulderblade, Whitewolf, Littlewolf, Clubfoot, Gray, Yellownose, Redbreath, RedCherries, Killsontop, Bearcomesout, BraidedHair, Redwoman, Firecrow, Russell, Blackwolf, Seminole, and our apologies to those families we missed, as his family is very numerous.
Special thanks to the Northern Cheyenne Elderly Center, Heritage Living Center, Crow/Northern Cheyenne Hospital, Heritage Acres and all St. Labre Indian School staff and Students.
Wake services will be held Thursday, May 15, 7 p.m., at St. Labre Social Room. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, May 16, at St. Labre Soaring Eagle gymnasium, with burial following in the Fox family cemetery.

This obituary was originally published in the Billings Gazette.