Michael James Boyd

Michael James Boyd, 42, of Fargo, died Thursday, July 28, 2005 at the MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, North Dakota.

Traditional funeral services in the Indian custom will be held on Monday, August 1, 2005 at approximately 2:00 PM at the Squaw Lake Community Center in Squaw Lake, MN, with Spiritual Leader Dennis Morrison officiating. A wake began on Saturday, July 30 at the Squaw Lake Community Center and will continue until the time of services on Monday. Burial will be at the Round Lake Cemetery in Squaw Lake. Cease Family Funeral Home of Cass Lake assisted the family in arrangements.

Honorary and Active Casketbearers will be his family and friends.

Michael was born on December 31, 1962 in Cass Lake, MN, the son of Louis Boyd and Patricia Vannett.  He attended school in Blackduck, and graduated from High School in Flandreau, South Dakota.  He then studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Sante Fe, New Mexico.  He continued working as an artist and painting throughout his life.  He had also worked in construction for a number of years. Michael was a talented artist from a very young age.  At the age of 4 yrs. he was made an honorary chief of Red Lake.  Michael loved art, and his work was well known throughout Minnesota and the Dakotas. 

He is survived by his father Louis Boyd of Cass Lake; 2 sisters, Dawn Marie Boyd of Lame Dear, MT, and Mariah Luzius of Bemidji, MN; 4 brothers, Warren Bobolink of Fargo, ND, Brad Atkinson of Roseau River Reserve, Manitoba, Canada, Harley Louis Pratt of Sioux Valley Reserve, Manitoba, Canada, and Zachariah A. Hill of Fargo, ND; 2 aunts, Frances Vannett, and Constance Vannett of Minneapolis, MN; an uncle, Vernon Vannett of Cass Lake; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his mother Patricia Vannett; grandparents, Alvin Boyd, Sr. and Elizabeth Boyd & Randall and Margaret Vannett; and 2 uncles, James Vannett and Alvin Boyd, Jr..