Obituaries
Wendy Lee Eagle
FORT HALL — Wendy Lee Eagle, a proud member of the Shoshone and Bannock Tribes, passed away peacefully on December 14, 2025, in Pocatello, Idaho, following a courageous battle with liver disease. She was 53 years old.
Born March 1, 1972, to Danny Eagle and Gwenevier Dixey Fisher at Bannock Memorial Hospital in Pocatello, Wendy spent most of her life in Southeast Idaho. She attended the Blackfoot School District, where she graduated in 1990 from Blackfoot High School. After high school, Wendy moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to pursue her passion for graphic arts at the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute.
Wendy attended the Fort Hall Assembly of God Church in her youth and later finding a deep connection with the Faith Baptist Church and the Native American Church practices. Over the years, Wendy worked in various roles, including with Bingham County Soil and Conservation, Shoshone Bannock Gaming, Sho-Ban News, and Trading Post Grocery Store, among others. Her love for animals was a lifelong passion, and she dreamed of becoming a veterinarian.
Wendy cherished helping her Grandpa Homer with his draft horses in Ross Fork, and she loved riding her Grandma Eldean’s Appaloosa, Surprise, in parades. She loved to traditional dance at pow-wows in her younger years, where she was involved in royalty pageants, holding titles such as Miss SIPI Queen and Miss Cultural Days Powwow. She was known for her kindness and spirit, earning several Miss Congeniality awards and runner-up titles throughout her life.
On September 25, 1996, Wendy brought into the world her only child, Lailoni Dawn Eagle, with her companion at the time Timothy Larlee. Besides her daughter, Wendy’s greatest joy and pride were her grandchildren, whom she loved deeply. Her grandchildren brought her immense happiness, and she considered them her greatest accomplishment.
Wendy is preceded in death by her parents, her maternal grandparents Edison Dixey and Eldean George, paternal grandparents Paul Eagle and Ella Bear, adopted grandparents Homer and Nell Cutler, and her granddaughter Baby Eagle Flores. She was also preceded in death by uncles Wesley, Wayne, and Darryl Dixey, Everette and Mike McConnell, and Cordell Eagle, as well as Aunt Evelyn Dixey Surdam. Wendy was also preceded in death by her companions Emma “Bull Dog” Hevewah and Linda Lizarraga.
She is survived by her daughter, Lailoni Dawn Eagle, and grandchildren, Luis Eagle, Zaw, Zanayiah, and Kashton Lee Thomas. She is also survived by her stepfather, Glenn Fisher, who raised her; her sisters Colista and Quintana Eagle, Glenda Fisher, Ardella Buckskin, and Kari (Mike) Merrill; and her uncles Kelly McConnell and Morgan Poog. Wendy is also survived by many aunts, including Paulette (Jordan) Caskey, Audrey (Ruben) Siewiyumptewa, Angie Buckskin, Anna (Larry) McConnell, Arletta Buckskin, Maryanne Appenay, Ellen Ball, and Elva Dixey. She is further survived by her special friend Alvina Phelps, as well as her numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews, who she loved dearly.
Wendy was taken to her Aunt Angie’s home on East Ferry Butte, Tuesday, December 16, 2025. Funeral services were at Hill Hawker Funeral Home in Blackfoot, Idaho, on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. Burial followed at the Ross Fork Cemetery on Thursday, December 18, 2025.
Michelle Lynn Perdash-Friday
FORT HALL — Michelle Perdash-Friday, of Fort Hall, Idaho passed away December 4, 2025 because of complications of pneumonia.
Michelle was born December 2, 1969 to Arlinda (late) and LeeRoss (Whitey) Jones and Dwayne Perdash (late). She was a resident of the Fort Haßll Reservation and attended Chemawa Indian Boarding School in Salem, Oregon. She graduated from Blackfoot High School and achieved her secondary education at Haskell Indian Nations University.
Michelle was an enrolled member of the Shoshone Bannock Tribes. During her years of employment, she worked for the Indian Health Service Dental Program and the Shoshone- Bannock Tribes 477 Program. She was active in sports and played basketball for Haskell and excelled as a pitcher in co-ed softball. She enjoyed jr./teen fancy shawl in her youth and later found her love of playing horseshoes.
She is survived by her children, Traelee (Jessika) Perdash, Chaylen Perdash, Jayvis Friday, Jeremy Friday Jr., and grandchildren, Sierra Perdash, Nova Perdash, Skyla Perdash, Arlani Perdash, Zahylia Friday, and Chaskaé Friday. Her father LeeRoss Jones (Whitey), siblings, Cathy Coby, Shannon Calico, Char Perdash, LeeRose Jones, Gina Gomez.
She is preceded in death by her parents Arlinda Jones and Dwayne Perdash. Maternal grandparents, Ivan and Charlotte Kniffin, Paternal grandparents, Steven and Ireness Teton Perdash.
Her body was taken to LeeRoss (Whitey) Jones residence on Edmo Road on December 8, 2025 through Wednesday December 10 at 4 p.m. for a traditional viewing. She was taken to the Hawker Funeral Home for a service. Cremation followed the service.
Irving Cruz Pokibro
FORT HALL — Irving Cruz Pokibro, 82, passed away peacefully on December 5, 2025, in Pocatello, Idaho. He was an enrolled Shoshone-Bannock Tribal member and was a lifelong resident of Fort Hall.
Irving was born September 16, 1943, at the Fort Hall Hospital, to Josephine Sandy and Russell Pokibro. He was raised in Gibson, in a Bannock and Shoshone-speaking home.
When he was young, he had special memories of his Aunt Ida, and they traveled on foot and by horse or wagon. He had crazy stories of his upbringing, like being bounced around in the middle of hides that his aunt and siblings were stretching. He attended Fort Hall Elementary, where he learned to speak English, and he also went to Blackfoot schools. Later, he went to heavy equipment school in Salem, Oregon.
Irving was a heavy equipment operator, range rider, and also worked as a buffalo caretaker. He enjoyed going into the mountains, camping, fishing, working with leather, drawing, playing cards, going to rodeos, watching construction videos on YouTube, documentaries, and driving around in Lincoln Creek. He was very creative, making his own brain puzzles and crafts, and he especially liked decorating and celebrating Christmas. He was quick-witted, had a great sense of humor, and enjoyed teasing and making himself and other people laugh.
His sidekick was his great-grandson Nathan Shawn Pokibro, who was very close to him. Other special people included Chase Davis, Forrest Broncho, and Vidal LaVatta.
Irving was a member of the Native American Church and a strong believer in traditional ceremonies. He was a Sundancer, participated in sweats, and sang traditional Sundance and other traditional songs. He was a trilingual speaker, fluent in Bannock, Shoshone, and English. He enjoyed traveling, attending powwows, watching baseball, and taking part in cultural gatherings.
He is survived by his daughter Lanelle Pokibro, sister Zelphia Pokibro Towersap; grandchildren Darryl Lynne (Mel) Timbana, Kiana Pokibro, Marissa Pokibro (Chase Davis), KayLynn Pokibro, Steven Pokibro; and great-grandchildren, Nathan Shawn Pokibro, Paisley Pokibro, Raylee-Anne Pokibro. He also had numerous cousins, nephews, nieces, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Russell Pokibro and Josephine Sandy Pokibro; his aunt Idaho “Ida” Horsehead; his siblings Merceline “Bel” Boyer, Ezra Pokibro, and McNivens “Kay” Pokibro; his sons Lionel Kay “Hootie” Pokibro and Shawn Russell Pokibro; and his nephews Robert Sloss, Vincent Boyer, and Garth Towersap.
He was a descendant of Captain Jim on his mother's side, with his grandfather Isaac Sandy and grandmother Belle Venus. On his father's side, his grandfather was AC Pokibro and his grandmother was Pooyah Pokibro.
He was taken to his family home for traditional viewing. Funeral services were on Sunday, December 7, 2025, at the Hawker Funeral Home in Blackfoot, after which he was taken to the Pokibro home on Pokibro Road. Sunrise Service was Monday, December 8, 2025, at sunrise. Traditional burial services were on Monday, December 8, 2025, with burial at the Gibson Cemetery.
