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Mike Cross

May 17, 1941-Dec. 23, 2020

Mike Cross, “Maaishu

Dzeedish” (Yellow Eagle),

79, New Town, died

Wednesday, December 23,

2020, in Stanley.

He was born in his

family’s home outside of

Elbowoods, North Dakota,

on May 17, 1941 to Martin

and Dorothy Cross. He

was a member of the

Prairie Chicken Clan.

Mike was the

seventh-youngest brother

out of his five brothers

and four sisters. He at-

tended Elbowoods Day

School, Stephan Immacu-late Conception Catholic

School, and graduated

from Parshall High School

in 1960. He continued his

education at Haskell

University. Mike entered

the United States Army in

1966, serving two years

active duty and four years

active reserve with Honor-

able Discharge. He relo-

cated to Oakland, CA and

worked at the Intertribal

Friendship House

throughout the 1970s.

Mike returned home to

the Fort Berthold Indian

Reservation and married

Kyle Patterson May 7,

1979. They had three chil-

dren, Amanda, Kara, and

Forrest, and resided in

Parshall and then New

Town. Mike worked for

the Three Affiliated

Tribes, Fort Berthold

Housing Authority, and

developed his own in-

dependent consultant

business. He focused his

life’s work on building tri-

bal community programs,

many of which focused on

bettering the lives of tribal

youth. Mike enjoyed

spending time with his

family, especially his

grandchildren, reading,

writing, watching sports,

and gardening. He shared

his passion for traditional

gardening with the com-

munity, especially with

the young children at the

local tribal Head Starts.

Mike is survived by: his

children, Amanda Cross,

and Kara Fox (Clint);

grandchildren, Kayla

Franklin, Kylie Franklin,

Isaak Franklin, Tristan

Fox, and Ellie Fox; si-

blings, Milton Cross,

Alfred Cross, Carol

Juneau, Dorothy Atkin-

son, Raymond Cross; and

many beloved nieces and

nephews.

He was preceded in

death by: his parents,

Martin and Dorothy (Bar-

tell) Cross; son, Forrest

Cross; and siblings, Mar-

tin Cross, Forrest Cross,

Phyllis Old Dog Cross,

and Marilyn Hudson.

The family will cele-

brate Mike’s life privately,

in respect of CDC, North

Dakota, and Mandan Hi-

datsa Arikara Nation CO-

VID-19 guidelines.

Langhans Funeral

Home, Parshall

(www.langhansfuneral

home.com)