Jay Holding Eagle

Jay Paul Holding Eagle, 66, of Fargo, ND passed away Thursday, September 11, 2024. Funeral services will be held Friday, September 20 at 10 AM CDT at Twin Buttes Wellness Center, Twin Buttes, ND, with burial to follow, at the Holding Eagle Family Cemetery, Twin Buttes, ND. A wake will begin at 5:00 PM CDT on Thursday, September 19 at Twin Buttes Wellness Center.

Jay was born on July 2nd, 1958 in Hazen, ND to Amos and Etheleen Holding Eagle. He was an enrolled member of the Mandan Hidatsa Arikara Nation, and had Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara relatives. He graduated high school in Bismarck, ND, and enlisted in the Army shortly after. He trained as a member of the 101st Airborne. Following his Army service, he married Doreen Holding Eagle (née Beston), and they made their home in Fargo, ND, where they raised their children. He attended Police Academy and upon graduation, became Fargo, ND’s first Native police officer. At the same time, he continued serving in the Air National Guard in Fargo, ND. He retired as a Senior Master Sargent. Upon retirement, he worked at the Fargo VA hospital as security.

Jay loved life. He loved his grandbabies, he loved cats, he loved traveling, and he loved cooking for his friends and family. An excellent marksman, he loved hunting with his cousin-brothers and nephews near Lake Sakakawea. He survived Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and recovered with a renewed dedication to living.

Jay passed away on Wednesday, September 11,  2024, at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, ND, due to injuries sustained following a traffic incident. He was accompanied by his daughters, Jamie and Jessica, and his extended web of friends and family, who held vigil.

Jay is preceded in death by his parents, Amos Holding Eagle and Etheleen Dickens; his second youngest daughter Pamela Neubauer (née Holding Eagle); his youngest daughter, Erica Holding Eagle; his uncle and aunt Mathew and Louise Holding Eagle; his cousin-brother Tommy Sage; his nephew Jeremiah Sage; his nephew Lance Chasing Hawk, and other Holding Eagle and Sage relatives.

Jay is survived by his oldest daughter, Jamie Holding Eagle; his next youngest daughter, Jessica Holding Eagle; his stepson Delvin Rogers; stepdaughter Jodi Tsabetsaye; his granddaughters Scout Holding Eagle-Bushaw and Nina Holding Eagle-Bushaw (Jamie), Willa Holding Eagle (Erica), and Frankie Neubauer (Pamela); and grandsons Justin White Twin (Jodi) and Walter Holding Eagle (Erica). Also, nephews Mathew Holding Eagle III, Travis Holding Eagle, Caleb Sage, Jake Sage, Brad Sage, Elijah Benson, and niece Bobbi Sage-Ranger, and many more Holding Eagle and Sage kids. In addition, he is survived by his brother, David Holding Eagle, and cousin-siblings Willis Sage, Josh Sage, Luke Fredricks, Dinah Belgarde, and Kathy Holding Eagle-Turner.  Also, his co-grandparent Doreen Holding Eagle, dear companion Ann Erdahl, and best friends Doug, Doreen, Patrick, Rick, and more, and son-in-law Andrew Bushaw. We also can’t forget his big orange cats, Steven and Butters.

To paraphrase one of his favorite movies (‘Full Metal Jacket'): “This was our dad. There are many like him, but this one was ours.”

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations of new bike helmets to your local elementary school and veteran’s centers. Family also requests attendees wear Hawaiian shirts and/or black suits with ties, a la ‘Reservoir Dogs’.

Senior Pallbearer: Kevin Finley

Arrangements conducted by Barbot Funeral Homes, Beulah and Hazen.

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