Douglas J. Lohnes

Douglas J. Lohnes “Black Hawk” passed away on Thursday, July 11, 2024, at his brother’s home in Devils Lake. He was 64 years old.

A wake will be held at St. Michael’s Wellness Center on Friday, July 19, 2024 beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church with burial in St. Michael’s Cemetery.

Douglas was born on November 29, 1959 in Minneapolis MN, the son of Ruth Ann (Neconish) and David A. Lohnes Sr. He graduated from St. Mary’s Academy in Devils Lake where he excelled in football. In his younger years he was a boxer and won a gold medal at the Junior Olympics held in Bismarck, ND.

Douglas was an inspiration, a mentor, an example to so many when it came to education, to his culture, to his community of the Spirit Lake Nation.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in Indian studies from UND. He received training and specialized education in Law Enforcement, specifically the Game Warden Program at Wind River, Wyoming. He also sought knowledge in so many areas as he created and advanced many programs on the Spirit Lake Nation. As a professor of Indian Studies, he taught at Eastern Washington University in Cheney, Washington and at Cankdeska Cikana Community College.

Doug began his career in Law Enforcement/Game Warden in 1991 and served with that department of the SLT for 10 years. Doug worked tirelessly to establish the Fish and Wildlife Program for the Spirit Lake Tribe. He was responsible for the wildlife counts on the reservation from grouse, to deer, you name it, and Doug was counting it. He also wanted to recreate what life was like on the reservation the best he could, so he wrote a grant to get buffalo back roaming the hills of the Spirit Lake Nation. What started with about a dozen buffalo coming to Fort Totten was eventually over 80 buffalo. He researched and did the work necessary to obtain the buffalo and properly care for them.

His desire to learn, to create, to improve life was never in question. He did whatever it took to get the job done. He wrote a grant to start and Agricultural Department at CCCC. After obtaining equipment, knowledge, students, etc. he set about creating and maintaining a garden for the Elders. Doug also was the editor, publisher, photographer, journalist for the Dakotah News, the Tribal newspaper. He was always so excited to write about all the positive happenings on the Spirit Lake Nation.

When not working, Doug enjoyed hunting, fishing, time with family and friends and was a history buff. Reading and researching anything he could find to further his knowledge. He was a mentor to so many people in his life.

Douglas loved his people, his family, his fellow workers, his community and dedicated himself to caring for them, helping them in anyway he could.

Douglas leaves behind his loving and precious family. His children Douglas Z. Lohnes, William Joseph Lohnes, Ione Skye Lohnes, Dara Marie McDougall, Arlete Marie Lohnes, Lisa Faye Lohnes and granddaughter Matissa Medicine Stone; siblings David Aaron Lohnes Jr., Daniel Stuart (Ruby) Lohnes, Dana Mark (Loren) Lohnes, Lisa Romero (Vincent) Lohnes, Pamela Faye HolyBull and Erik Lohnes; special friends Chuck and Bennett Brein and Peter and Bonnie Bellile; many nieces, nephews, cousins, several aunts and uncles.

He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Kitana Wolfe Lohnes, brother Derrick Lohnes, grandparents Joseph and Marie Neconish, Aaron and Florence Lohnes, nephew Adrian Daniel Lohnes; brother-in-law Greg HolyBull; in-laws Bill and Hermenia McKay.

Casket Bearers for Douglas will be Willilam Lohnes, Dustin Lohnes, Dylan Lohnes, Dane Allapowa, Peter Bellile and Kenny Lohnes.

Honorary Bearers are all of Douglas’s dear friends and family.