EMERSON P. BIGTRACK SR.

Emerson P. BigTrack, 72 of Devils Lake formerly of the Spirit Lake Nation, began his journey to the Spirit World on Wednesday evening, January 27, 2016 at Altru Hospital, Grand Forks, ND. A Wake for Emerson will be held on Thursday, February 4, 2016 at the Fort Totten Wellness Center beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. The procession to Fort Totten will leave from the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday at 4:00 p.m. Funeral Services for Emerson will be held on Friday, February 5th, at 10:00 a.m. also at the Fort Totten Wellness Center with Father Charles Leute, OP officiating. Emerson will be laid to rest in St. Jerome’s Cemetery, rural Fort Totten in the spring. All Drum Groups are welcome to share their songs in memory of Emerson. Emerson Phillip BigTrack was born on July 20, 1943, in Fort Totten, ND the son of the late Phillip and Mary Jane (Little) BigTrack. He was raised in Fort Totten and was fluent in the Sioux language. Emerson attended the Fort Totten Calvary Square, the old school. He then attended Flandreau Indian School in South Dakota. He sang with the Fort Totten Juniors. He was the last of his drum group to pass away. He sang at many pow-wows in his native language and liked to tell stories of the history of the Sioux people. Emerson traveled throughout the United States, taking part in rodeos, as a professional bronc rider. He traveled with his good friend Demus McDonald. Emerson was united in marriage to Velma Jane Cavanaugh in Minnewaukan. They had four children; sons Emerson Jr., Lydell and Thomas BigTrack and a daughter Thomasine Marie BigTrack who lived only one hour before passing away in May of 1974. Emerson worked for area farmers for several years and also for the Spirit Lake Tribe doing fencing on tribal land. He also worked for Spirit Lake Head Start as a substitute teacher, speaking the Native Language. He was employed with Spirit Lake Food Distribution at Fort Totten, until illness forced him to retire. Emerson was a hard worker. His hard working hands gripped the rope of the bucking bronco; helped to raise 3 boys; worked putting up and mending many miles of fence line. His hands are now marked by furrows of time passed. His spirit will reach out to others and more stories will be told and wisdom will be shared. Emerson will be greatly missed by so many people who knew and loved him. Emerson is survived by his precious family. His sons Emerson BigTrack Jr., Lydell BigTrack and Thomas BigTrack; godson Murray McKay; brother Robert BigTrack; special grandson Anthony Jalen Littlewind (Puckie); adopted daughter Lavern (Feather) Bear; adopted sister Patty Christianson; nieces Lea (Fred) Longie, Lisa (Melvin) People, Ervinetta (Kevin) KillsPlenty; nephews Wesley (Geneva) BigTrack and Irvin KillsPlenty; granddaughters Ashley BigTrack, Kaitlyn BigTrack, Willanette Goodshot, Heather Snow, Rani Howard, Carolyn BigTrack, Diane Peoples and Myalynn BigTrack; great great granddaughter AunnaLisa Catherine BigTrack; grandsons David Tikanye, Akiro Tomahawk, Irvin Tomahawk, Jalen Peoples, Phillip KillsPlenty, Winter BigTrack, Faron Howard, Cameron Howard and Kelly (Carrie) Brown. Emerson was preceded in death by his parents Phillip and MaryJane (Little) BigTrack; wife Velma BigTrack; daughter Thomasine BigTrack; brothers Luke, Corbett, Donald, Rudy, Frederick, Allen and Herbert BigTrack; sisters Bernice KillsPlenty, Barbara BigTrack, Vyonne BigTrack and Annie BigTrack; granddaughters Mary BigTrack, Mary TwoHearts and Elizabeth Ashley BigTrack; grandsons Wesley BigTrack Jr. and Arthur (Zeke) Brown and nieces Patricia “Cissy” BigTrack and Lynette Tane BigTrack. Casket Bearers for Emerson will be Jalen Peoples, Phillip KillsPlenty, Winter BigTrack, Anthony Littlewind, Irvin Tomahawk and Akiro Tomahawk. Honorary Bearers will be Demus McDonald, Peter Belgarde, Roger McKay, Vincent Shaw, Louie Chaske, Ivan LoveJoy Sr. and Aaron Green.