Josephine Barnes

Josephine Keepseagle Barnes, 87, of Fort Yates, North Dakota sadly but peacefully passed away, Friday, September 16, 2022, at Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck, ND.  A private family service will be held at the burial site.  No flowers are required in Josephine’s memory.  The family appreciates you keeping them in your thoughts and prayers.

Josephine Gertrude Keepseagle was born August 4, 1935 in Fort Yates, ND to Joseph and Elizabeth Keepseagle.  She graduated from Fort Yates High School in 1954.

She worked for the BIA at the Pierre Indian School in Pierre, South Dakota for 29 years. She moved back to Fort Yates, ND in 1975.  She worked for several years as a police dispatcher for Standing Rock Law Enforcement.  Her coworkers enjoyed the many treats she would often bring in for them.  She then worked as a seamstress in the uniforms department at Prairie Knights Casino for over 10 years.

Her greatest joy in life was being surrounded by family, her pets, and loved ones. She was very devoted to the several dogs and cats that were fortunate to be her pets over the years.  She enjoyed the many whist games she played with her nieces and sister-in-law.  She looked forward to her yearly Christmas trip to Wisconsin to see her grandchildren and other family members.  She traveled with dear friends to attend Pow-Wows and Indian Relay Races.  She cherished the yearly tradition of attending the United Tribes Pow-Wow with family and friends.  She also enjoyed baking, playing bingo and gardening.

She greatly appreciated how her nieces (Dawn, Cheryl, Carol and Joelle) and nephew (Wade) would frequently check in on her and help with groceries, yard work, etc.

She enjoyed her many visits from her good friend Lois Chapman from Aberdeen, SD.  They loved to bake and watch WNBA basketball games together.

She will be in our hearts forever and will always be remembered with great love for being a wonderful mother, sister, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend.

She is survived by her daughter Roberta Barnes; her brother George (Marilyn) Keepseagle; sister-in-law Eunice Keepseagle; grandchildren Elizabeth Barnes, Bert (Trish) Barnes and Robert (Kelly) Barnes; her daughter-in-law DeLayne Mooney: several nieces and nephews and 8 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her sons Duane Barnes and Bert Barnes, her parents, her brother Joseph Keepseagle and her sister Mary Mae Taylor.