Obituaries
Vida Mae Jackson Ballard
February 19, 1939 – May 2, 2026
FORT HALL — Vida Mae Jackson Ballard was born February 19, 1939, in Fort Hall, Idaho to Willie and Grace George Jackson. She walked on to be with the Creator on May 2, 2026, surrounded by family at Portneuf Medical Center.
Vida was a loving and caring Wife, Mother, Cagu’, Hutsi, and JoJo.
She met Alfred Jones and had two daughters, Alvina and Carol, they later separated. She married Willard Ballard, whom she loved deeply, and remained with him until his death in 2018. They built a life together taking care of their two daughters Alvina and Carol along with two nieces and a nephew Jesus Torres Jr., Daphne Ramon Apodaca, and Cideahzah Ramon.
Vida was a homemaker who spoke her Shoshoni language to her family and lived a traditional way of life. She was a member of the Native American Church and was one of our last few, full-blooded, Shoshoni elders of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. Vida loved sharing stories of her youth and the good old days which brought joy to her. She was a well-known beadwork artist who also tanned and smoked hides with her husband. Her talent for doing beadwork was taught to her daughters, and to her grandchildren, which then was passed onto her great-grandchildren. She has made many beadwork pieces across the U.S. for dance outfits along with numerous buckskin dresses and men’s old-style outfits. Her beadwork is well known for her intricate, beautiful designs, and vibrant colors. This was shown in her unique roses, geometric designs and animal beadwork pieces.
Her and Willard enjoyed traveling to powwows and selling their beadwork and hides. She liked going camping and spear fishing every year with her family. She also loved gathering native plants for medicine and food. In her last days, she said she was very happy with her life, she was proud of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren in what they were doing in their lives. This brought happiness to her knowing that they would be passing down her family traditions.
She is survived by her two daughters; her 8 grandchildren: Marquette Bagley, Milo Pabawena, Corinne Walker, Bryant Pabawena, Anthony Bagley, Tiffany Pabawena, Chantay Pabawena and Jared Pabawena. Her great-grandchildren: Tiauna Walker, Carlise Walker, Trayson Bagley, Jace Walker, Susanna Mejia, Emma Pabawena, Olivia Pabawena, Andrew Pabawena, Isaac Mejia, John Mejia Jr. (JJ), Elise Pabawena, Lennon Pabawena, Rayne Pabawena, Marcelles Apodaca, Jacob Schmidt along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and extended family in Idaho, Utah and Wyoming.
She is preceded in death by her mother, father, husband, brothers Lavon Sr., Reuben, Isaac Sr., Elgin, and sisters Serena Evening, and Carlene Jackson and one granddaughter Patricia Pabawena two grandsons Derrick Schmidt and Jesus Apodaca and a nephew Jesus Torres Jr.
Vida was deeply loved by her family, and they have been blessed to have such a great woman in their life. She had many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, along with numerous families that she loved dearly. She will be missed by many.
She was brought to her home on Tuesday, May 5,2026, at her residence at 212 Ballard Road. She was laid to rest with traditional services on Thursday, May 7, 2026, at Gibson Cemetery. Arrangements were conducted by Colonial/Wilks Funeral Home.
We extend our gratitude to Portneuf Medical Center doctors and staff, along with Colonial/Wilks Funeral Home.
Jesus Apodaca
FORT HALL — Jesus Apodaca, 24, passed away April 29, 2026.
He was born July 17, 2001 Daphne Apodaca and Aaron Apodaca Sr.
Jesus was the baby of the family, being the baby didn’t stop him from out growing all his siblings. He attended school in Blackfoot and is a Shoshone-Bannock tribal member. He loved movies and he loved music. Family was everything to Jesus. He loved all his family; he loved even more to be there for them.
He had the most beautiful smile and it lit up the entire room. He was the sweetest caring guy! In his younger days, he would love to dance and sing his dad’s all-time favorite Temptations. He started vlogging youngn creating movies with his absolute best friend in the entire world his big brother Marcellis as he inspired to be like him. He loved his brother so much. Those two were inseparable. Even though Jesus was a little brother, his spirit was big brother to all his brothers and sisters. He loved hard. Jesus always seen the brighter side of things, he’s always making the mood better! Jesus was a firm believer in Jesus our Lord and savior. Jesus was loved by so many. He was so sweet yet so stern. He’s truly a blessing and gift from Jesus Christ. His sweet 24 years were lived to the fullest. My baby brother will be missed! Thank you for everyone who loved him.
He is survived by his mother Daphne Apodaca, his brothers Shane Apodaca, Marcellis Apodaca, along with his sisters Leah (Apodaca) Tindore, Vanessa Apodaca, his nieces and nephews Michael Jr., Liam, MiLea, George, Jasette, Mahalia, Hezekiah, King, Sunrise and AzaLee, Armani, Isaac, Israel, Isaiah and Mya.
He was preceded in death by his father Aaron Apodaca Sr., his brother Derek Schmidt and Aaron Apodaca Jr.
Viewing was May 1 and 2, 2026 at Alex Vallely’s residence at A Street on the Fort Hall Townsite.
Burial was at 2 p.m. May 2, 2026 at the Good Shepherd Episcopal Mission Cemetery.
Levi Blaine Kaiyou
FORT HALL — Levi Blaine Kaiyou, 45, passed away on April 24, 2026 at Portneuf Medical Center.
Levi was born May 17, 1980 in Pocatello, Idaho to Phillip “Smiley” Kaiyou Jr. and Stephanie Daugomah Kaiyou.
Levi was a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and grew up on the Fort Hall Indian reservation his whole life and attended Tyhee Elementary, Hawthorne Middle School, and graduated from Shoshone-Bannock High School. He was also a member of the Faith Baptist Church.
Growing up, Levi loved spending time with his dad, Smiley. Whether it was watching tv, cruising around, hunting or riding his bike as his dad jogged down the road, or watching his favorite football team the Dallas Cowboys.
Levi was very athletic in school, participating in basketball, football, as well as the JROTC program at Sho-Ban High School, where he was a member of the color guard.
After high school Levi continued his relationship with Lisa Evening where they had four children, Anneka, Nina, Javen, and Emmitt. They later separated.
In 2017, Levi reconnected with his middle school crush, Juanita Edmo, and on December 24, 2019 they married spending the next 6 years together until his passing.
Levi is survived by his wife Juanita M. Kaiyou and his children; Anneka Evening, Nina Kaiyou, Javen Kaiyou, and Emmitt Kaiyou all of Fort Hall and three grandchildren Leo, Theo and Jacaerys Nogales. Stepchildren, Kamya Pooengerah, Samuel Pooengerah, and Rokya DeVinney. Siblings, Rachel Kaiyou, Sarah Kaiyou, and Micah Kaiyou all of Fort Hall, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Phillip “Smiley” Kaiyou Jr. and Stephanie Daugomah Kaiyou; Maternal grandparents Arthur Daugomah and Roselinda Poog; Paternal grandparents Phillip Kaiyou Sr. and Amy Kaiyou; cousins, Sonny Jay, Billie Jo Kaiyou, Juanita Kaiyou, Lorenzo Pahvitse-Rodriguez and his best friend Eric “Tigga” Edmo.
Prayer services were at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at the Hawker Funeral Home, 132 S. Shilling Avenue in Blackfoot. Following services, Levi was taken to his grandpa Darrell Shay’s residence on Cemetery Road. Burial services were on Friday, May 1, 2026 at the Gibson Cemetery.
Farrell Wildcat Sr.
Farrell Robert Wildcat Sr., age 82, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family on April 26, 2026. He resided in the Gibson District on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. He was a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes. He was the grandson of a man named Pooengerah who lived to be 112 years old and was said to be close to seven feet tall.
Farrell was born to Sparks and Mary (Pooengerah) Wildcat on June 06, 1943, in the Bannock Creek area of the Fort Hall Indian Reservation, one of thirteen children. As a youth, he lived with James and Stella Simmitse of Bannock Creek, they helped to raise him. He attended the Bannock Creek Day School, the American Falls Elementary School and achieved a sixth-grade level of education, receiving his GED later in life. He knew many of the old cowboys of Bannock Creek and worked as a ranch hand for Sherm Swim of Arbon Valley. He was a skilled construction worker and installed dry walls in many local buildings. He was so skilled at dry walling, that in the early sixties he entered local contests for dry wall workers, winning a few. He also worked with the BIA fencing crew in the sixties with many fellow Native Tribal men to install and lay fence across the reservation. He worked for the Boise Cascade Company in Pocatello and helped to build a new home for his growing family. He received a medal from Boise Cascade that hung outside of that home, this was something he was very proud of. He also learned the trade of upholstering furniture.
As a young man, Farrell was helping to herd and gather cattle in the Bottoms area, when he met and began to court Isabell Pohipe. They married and to this union came five children, three daughters; Wendy, Sonya and Bobette, and two sons; Titus and Farrell Jr. They later divorced. He then joined with Delthea Beverly Smith, sharing his life with her and helping to raise her children and grandchildren.
He was a member of the Native American Church and never forgot the cultural teachings of his elders, often praying for those in need. He participated in local Tribal activities singing and dancing. He was a war dancer in his early years and a picture of him appeared in the Sheridan, Wyoming newspaper winning the war dancing championship. He believed we should dance for the people, and he did at local lodges, pow wows and different schools in the area. He also served on the Buffalo Lodge Committee, helping to plan the activities for the district community.
He enjoyed playing handgames locally at Buffalo Lodge and traveling to play in nearby states but recently had to stop due to illness.
He was a fisherman, hunter and gatherer of plants and enjoyed traveling with family to attend Tribal cultural events the last five years of his life. He loved to reminisce and share family stories and songs with his daughters, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He looked forward to going salmon fishing and camping each summer with his daughters and their families in Bear Valley.
He enjoyed his many hobbies; beading, hide tanning and making tooled leather crafts like purses, wallets, key chains and belts, many of which were made as gifts for his children and grandchildren. In his elderly age, he would often be seen at the local arts and crafts sales on the reservation, selling his buckskin gloves and beadwork.
He is survived by his three daughters, Gwendolyn B. (Sam) Galloway of Gibson, Sonya Wadsworth of Fort Hall, and Bobette K. (Russ) Haskett of Bannock Creek, nine grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren (Jo Jo's), along with several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two sons; Titus R. Wildcat and Farel Simons, several brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces, and son-in-law; Lawrence D. Wadsworth.
A viewing service was held Tuesday evening, April 28, 2026, at Hawker Funeral Home in Blackfoot. On Wednesday at his body was taken to his daughter, Sonya Wadsworth's residence on Treaty Highway 91 in Fort Hall until the burial on Thursday, April 30, 2026, with traditional funeral services beginning at Cedar Cemetery.
Farrell will deeply be missed by his family and friends. He held many traditional teachings of his elders. He was a fluent speaker of the Shoshone language.
