Louis Joseph Felix III Ar'iht A'hani' (Young Bald Eagle), 64, White Shield, died on Thursday, March 8, 2018 in Mandan. Funeral services were held on Monday, March 12, at 10:00 am at the Ralph Wells Jr. Memorial Complex in White Shield. Wake services were held on Sunday at 5:00 pm at the complex. Burial was at St. Anthony's Catholic Cemetery in White Shield.

Born on December 23, 1953 in Minot, ND to Corinne Jones-Felix and Louis M. Felix, Jr., he was the fourth oldest of 10 children. Louis is descendant of Crow Ghost (Kaka-Neksa'nu) and was proud of the special 'kha kha' songs made by Crow Ghost.

Louis attended elementary school at Wahpeton Indian Boarding School for eight years, and graduated from high school at Flandreau Indian Boarding School, Flandreau, SD. While at Wahpeton, Louis Joe learned to play guitar and was a singer in a band called "the Sapphires". While at Flandreau his band was selected to play most high school dance events. Louis Joe was a member of the Flandreau Indian Boarding School track team where he competed in the 440 and 880 events. He told of a track competition in Rapid City when the track team of five or six members arrived in a little bus, and after suffering 'stares and glares' from other school teams, his entire team 'cleaned up' or won every event. After high school Louis Joe joined a gospel group that traveled around the country. He later auditioned and was selected to be a member of a National American Indian Theater Ensemble and performed across the US. One of their venues was at the famed LaMama Theatre, off-Broadway, in York City, NY.

Louis enlisted with the U.S. Navy and was a Boatswain's Mate on the U.S.S. MARS APS 1 Supply Vessel. He said his supply ship was cheered often at the rendezvous point on sea with other Navy vessels, because the sailors were out of real food, and tired of powdered eggs, packaged meals and no beer. He told that his and other Navy vessels would head out to sea to ride out typhoons. Louis told of a particular typhoon where the waves were way above the ship and it would dive into the waves and then go almost vertical. He was at the pilot wheel on one typhoon. His tour of service was in the Pacific Theatre and he spoke often of Subic Bay, in the Philippines. Their supply depot was in San Francisco and he enjoyed the view of the Golden Gate Bridge. He felt bad when he learned his former ship was scuttled at the end of its service.

Louis married Ardene Perkins and they later divorced; he was companion to Marliss Bearstail for a time. Louis Joe married Juliet 'Rollie' Everett and they resided in White Shield where they raised several of her grandchildren-Betty and Promise. Louis was employed at the Four Bears Casino for a time and then worked for TAT Housing.

Louis was gifted with exceptional musical and artistic abilities. He mentioned some of his former musician buddies: Ronnie and Billy Starr; the Everett brother/cousins: Lucky, Russell, Marlon, and Seeney Everett; Lockwood brothers: Darrell and Leo; Sam Meyers and Loren White. Louis Joe's band played the Pioneer Park in conjunction with the Minot State Fair. After his band experiences slowed down he continued to sing gospel songs at wakes. His favorite song to sing was 'Jesus is My Pilot' while he strummed his old Ovation guitar that was personalized with stick-on letters spelling his 'Loose Joe' nickname, and 'White Shield'; 'Arikara'; 'Nishu, ND, USA'. Louis Joe liked country music and especially Hank Williams songs. When he sang he easily included the small yodel phrase-start that was Hank's signature style.
Louis Joe kept himself employed and when we traveled with him he would point out jobsites he worked on: an elevator, a building, or railroad.

Louis read the Holy Bible from beginning to end and was genuinely kind, considerate and forgiving to people. He always had a smile and exemplified the term of a gentleman. Throughout his battle with cancer he rarely complained amidst discomfort and was courageous facing the outcome of choosing no radiation or surgery. Louis had an amazing sense of humor and his perspectives on things always made everyone laugh. Louis Joe was very special had a connection with wildlife, and he related that on a summer day in his youth he held his finger up and a bird landed on it for a while. When he came back to where he was raised, prairie chickens landed in the nearby trees, and flocks of migrating birds stopped for a day. Herds of deer came into the yard and watched us watching them.

Louis is preceded in death by his mother, Corrine (Jones) Felix; father-Louis Felix II; sisters-Lisa and Marita Felix; grandmother-Philomene (Little Sioux) Felix/Frederickson; grandfather-Louis Felix Sr; grandmother-Clara (Ballenger); grandfather-Morgan Jones.. Louis Joe is survived by siblings: Angelita; Frank; Dorothy; Kathy; Charles; Felicia; and Eileen. Louis Joe was loved and will be missed by many people.