WILLIAM ROLAND FOX SR.

William Roland Fox Sr., 80 of Fort Totten formerly of Elbowoods and Minot ND passed away on Sunday evening, October 16, 2011 at the Good Samaritan Center in the loving care of his family and Mercy Hospice. A Wake for Roland will be held at the Crow Hill Recreation Center, Crow Hill ND on Friday, October 21, 2011 beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Prayer Service at 8:00 p.m. The procession to the Crow Hill Recreation Center will leave Friday at 4:00 p.m. from the Spirit Lake Casino and Resort. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at the Seven Dolors Catholic Church, Fort Totten on Saturday, October 22nd at 10:00 a.m. Fr. Charles Leute will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in St. Jerome’s Catholic Cemetery, rural Fort Totten. Serving as Casket Bearers for Roland will be KJ Graywater, Joe Many Bears, Joe Azure, Scott Chase, Alton Nestell, AJ Nestell, Loren Reynolds and Rondena Fox. Honorary Bearers will be Spirit Lake Oyate/Elders, Spirit Lake Veterans Program, Spirit Lake Senior Services, Spirit Lake VFW Post #6547, Elmer Bear-Joseph Young Hawk Post # 253 of Whiteshield ND, Emerson Chasing Bear and family, Hermenia McKay and family, Lillie Shaw, Andy Shaw, Rosal family, Boke Thomas family, Lighthouse Assembly of God Congregation, Pastor Brandon, Russell Wallace, Richard and Bonnie Yankton, Josie Lawrence, Bob Charboneau, Tiffany Foss RN, Sam Merrick, Carl Merrick, Rocky RedFox, Leland RedFox, Ernestine (Peewee) Mountain-Redfox, Roxanne Redfox, Paul Fox, Ardella Star-Boca, Darlene Myers, Joyce Yellowbird, Buzz Jensen, Tony and Vina McDonald, Terry McKay, Clayton Dubois Sr., Estella Garcia and family, Derrell Three Irons and family, Fishy McKay, Midge Chase and family, Clark L from the Good Samaritan Center, Sonny White, Tim and Jerome DeMarce, and Perry Fassett. Music will be provided by Pastor June Lockwood, Tony and Vina McDonald, Spirit Lake Singers, and anyone who wishes to share their music. William Roland, son of Joseph and Susan (Many Bears) was born on September 4, 1931 in Elbowoods, District of Nishu, North Dakota. He lived several years with his family at Elbowoods until his family was inadated by flood waters that forced them to leave the area. The family established their home in Billings, MT and Minot where Roland attended school until he joined the military. Roland entered the United States Army at Fargo, ND on April 17, 1952 and served his country during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged on April 20, 1954 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois with the rank of Private First Class. While in the military, Roland earned the National Defense Medal of Honor and his GED which was a very important goal in his life. Roland was united in marriage to Mary Louise McKay in March of 1962 at Crookston, MN. They established their home in Minot. Roland worked residential and commercial construction in the Minot area. He and his crew were the first to begin construction on the Minot Air Force Base and they also built the Minot "Magic City" Bank-Federal Building among many other projects. In 1969 the family moved to Fort Totten and Roland worked at the Nekoma Missile Site. He then joined forces with Twin City Construction and was part of many building projects for the Spirit Lake Tribe on the Spirit Lake Nation including the Blue Building and several Housing Projects, he was also grounds keeper for David Garcia’s Law Firm, Sioux Manufacturing, Dakota Tribal Industries, until Roland’s health problems forced him to retire. Roland served as a Board Member of the Lighthouse Assembly of God Church, and most recently became a member of Seven Dolars Catholic Church, a member of the Spirit Lake VFW Post # 6547 and the Joseph Young Hawk-Elmer Bear Post # 253 of Whiteshield ND. Roland enjoyed reading The Bible, Devils Lake Daily Journal, Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Times, and any educational literature, watching TV, especially Inspirational Chanels, rodeos, bull riding , TV Land and Westerns. He also wanted to be up to date with current events and watched the 10:00 News faithfully. Roland had a great sense of humor and he made sure EVERYONE had a nickname. His great grandsons always brought a smile to his face, much joy and happiness and they meant the world to him. Roland will be greatly missed by his family. His children Susie Fox, Beverly (Ken) McKay-Graywater and Robert (Euretta) McKay all of Fort Totten; adopted sons Stacy MakesGood of Saskatchewan, Canada; Maynard Dunn of Minneapolis, MN; and Sylvester "Big Son" Littlewind; grandchildren Chanoa (Alton) Nestell, Kateri DeMarce, William Garet (Kylie) Fox, Joshua (Darlene) Fox and Shakeya Fox; KJ Graywater, Carmita (Patrick) St. Pierre, Cody (Donna) Graywater and Kendell Graywater; Brian McKay and Franny McKay; Jenny; Desmond and Desiree; great grandchildren Alton Jeremiah “AJ”, Arnell “Monster”, Daniel “Rooster”, Ellyanna Mary Louise, Little Josh, Quincy, Desciah, Maria, Patrick, Nicholas, Robert, Cody Jr., Calden, Brayden and Braylee; sister Dolly Azure of Fargo ND; many nieces, nephews and their families also survive. Preceded in death by his parents; wife, Mary Louise on September 7, 2002; sons Billy Fox and Bruce McKay; Grandsons Bobby and Brent McKay; sisters Esther RedFox and Alfreda ManyRibs; brothers Buster RedFox, Wilbur RedFox and Laidman Fox Sr.; special niece Laverne Fox- IronRoad