Lea J. Black

Lea J. Black, 68 of St. Michael, ND made her journey to Heaven on Thursday, July 30, 2015 at her home surrounded by her family and friends who loved her very much. Lea was a loving wife to the late Peter Black and was also a loving mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, cousin and friend. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church, St. Michael. Father Paul Schuster and Father Charles Leute OP will concelebrate the Mass and burial will be at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. with the Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at St. Michael’s Church. The procession to St. Michael will leave on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. from the former Wal-Mart. Serving as Casket Bearers for Lea will be Derrek Black, Tyler Black, Leland Cavanaugh, Joran Black, Melvin Langstaff Jr., Jason Robertson, Brendon Flatt and Perry Cavanaugh. Honorary Bearers will be Roberta Sweeney, Burle and Bibs DuBoise and family, Lenny RedTomahawk, Erica Cavanaugh, Cheryl GoodIron, Diane Hubbard, Daryl Grant, Clifford Allery, Loretta and Glen Delorme and family, Rolanda Laducer and family, Caroline HighElk, Marsha White, Diane Jackson, Marie Owlboy, Douglas Hubbell, Esther Rodriquez, Jr. Charboneau family, Evelyn Green, Libby Littleghost, Helena Littleghost and Inez Chaske, the Spirit Lake CHR Staff, staff at the Devils Lake Dialysis Unit and the Spirit Lake Ambulance. This has been an overwhelmingly sad time for our family and if we missed naming any of Lea’s dear friends and relatives, we truly apologize and please know it was in no way intentional on our part. God Bless You All. Lea J. Black was born on November 1, 1946 at Belcourt, ND the daughter of Edward and Alice (Grant) Brunelle. She grew up in the Fort Totten and St. Michael’s area. She graduated from the 8th grade at Sioux County, Fort Yates, ND and later went on to further her education at Fort Totten, ND where she met the man she would eventually marry. She attended Little Hoop Community College and received her GED and her two year Liberal Arts Degree. Lea was united in marriage to Peter Black on July 15, 1963 in Aberdeen, South Dakota. They lived for a time in Aberdeen and then returned to the Spirit Lake Nation and would make the Spirit Lake Nation and would make the St. Michael’s area their home where they lived, worked and raised their family thru the years. Lea began working at CCCC and Spirit Lake Casino for a long period of time. She was well respected and a mother figure to many. Lea enjoyed many things and lived her life to the fullest. But her favorite things to do would be just spending time with the ones she loved. Her family meant the world to her and she loved to follow her son-in-law Perry to the horse races. She lived to race all summer long. If she wasn’t at the races, she would be at the barn watching them work the horses. Her warm loving smile will be greatly missed by many. Lea is survived by her loving children Curtis (Kristy) Black, Devils Lake, Joan (Perry) Black, Warwick, ND and Donna (Cody) Graywater, St. Michael; adopted son Brendon Flatt; 10 grandchildren Derrek Black, Tyler Black Sr., Clarissa (Jason) Robertson, Leland Cavanaugh, Joran Black, Shayna Cavanaugh, Melvin Langstaff Jr., Bailee Langstaff, Cody Graywater Jr. and Calden Graywater; 7 great grandchildren Mackenzie Robertson, Tylee Black, Tyler Black Jr., Oscar Black, Zayla Black, Julynn Langstaff and Jaxon Black; adopted great grandchildren Reggie and Jeremiah Black; brother Edward Brunelle Jr., San Francisco, CA; sister-in-law Carolyn Black, St. Michael; brother-in-law James Baker, St. Michael; godchildren Lonna (Jackson) Street, Kenny Merrick Jr., Dennis Chaske, Melissa Brunelle, Ron Delorme Jr., Whitney Black, Chad Christenson, Jesse Baker, Richard Jackson Sr. and Edward Lewis Brunelle III. Lea is also survived by special nieces Cheryl Brunelle, Merry Brunelle, both Bismarck, ND, Melissa Brunelle Belgrade, MT and Kerry Brunelle also Bismarck and many other nieces, nephews and cousins. Lea was preceded in death by her parents Edward and Alice; husband Peter on November 16, 2007; daughter Ann Marie Black; grandson Alden Black and sisters Corrine Brunelle and Ruth Ann Brunelle.