MILES A. LEFT BEAR

Miles A. Left Bear, 63 of Fargo and the Spirit Lake Nation, passed away on Saturday, April 7, 2018 at Sanford Health in Fargo. The Wake for Miles will be held on Friday, April 13th beginning at 5:00 p.m. at Dacotah Oyate Lutheran Church, rural Tokio, ND with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m.  The procession to Tokio will leave at 4:00 p.m. on Friday from the City Plaza, Devils Lake. Funeral Services for Miles will be held on Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Dacotah Oyate Lutheran Church, rural Tokio, ND with Reverend Larry Thiele officiating. Burial will be in the Dacotah Oyate Cemetery.  Miles was born on November 23, 1954 at Devils Lake, ND, the son of Simon A. and Margaret (Pahn) Left Bear. He was raised in the Tokio area, starting elementary school in Tokio and also attending Warwick Public School.  He also attended Oak Grove in Fargo and graduated from Four Winds High School.  In his younger years, he participated in Golden Gloves Boxing. He completed Basic Training with the Marine Corp but received a medical discharge. He moved to South Dakota to be closer to his Mom and attended the Sisseton Wahpeton College in Sisseton. Miles was a free spirit who earned his living as an artist. He traveled extensively throughout the United States and used his artistic talent to capture the beauty of each place he visited.  Miles loved to travel, but he never missed an opportunity to come “home” and spend time with his loving family and nieces and nephews.  In his travels, he had many adventures and loved to share those stories with his family.  He found great inspiration, courage and hope from spiritual teachings and was very moved when he attended a Billy Graham Crusade in Texas with a youth group many years ago.  Miles will be so very missed by his dear sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. Miles is survived by his loving family. His daughter Amanda; sisters Pauline Merrick and Ramona Left Bear; nieces and nephews Cathy Yankton, Michelle Myrick, Brenda Merrick, Austin Smith, Nathan Smith, Larissa Left Bear, Danielle Left Bear, Tanisha Left Bear, Trudy (Clint) Laroque, Wesley Young, Justin Young, Gary Demarrias, Vanessa Demarrias, Starlight Demarrias, Summer Demarrias, Shayna Demarrias and Tom Malnourie and several other beloved nieces and nephews and cousins. He was welcomed to the Spirit World by his parents Simon and Margaret; his aunt who raised him Martha LeftBear Glaser; uncle John LeftBear; a son in infancy; sister Evelyn LeftBear Young; brothers Walter, Tom and Dwight Demarrias and Jonah LeftBear; brothers-in-law Frank Merrick and Gabe Young and niece Raina Demarrias. Active Pallbearers for Miles will be Austin Smith, Joe Yankton, Nathan Smith, Clarence Morin, Daniel Redroad and Harlan Blueshield. Honorary Bearers will be: Bonnie LeftBear and family, Clarence LeftBear and family, Crystal LeftBear and family, Solomon LeftBear, Holly LeftBear and family, Cora Whiteman and family, Catlina Herman and family, Roland and Julie Johnson, Russell Brown and family, June Blueshield and family, Larry and Darla Thiele and the Spirit Lake Elders.