Rest In Peace for Jesse
Donation protected
Hello again my friends. I’m reaching out to you to ask for your help and, as with the last time that I did so, it’s not for me, but for another tribal family, this time on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation.
A few weeks ago some friends and I were driving out to the Pine Ridge Reservation to work on a straw bale building. Our route takes us through the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. As we were driving east on highway 212 and approaching Busby, MT, I wanted to stop in and pay my respects to Amy Juare. You see, her husband, Jesse, lost his battle with cancer on June 17, 2016 and made his journey to the next world. I had wanted to attend his service after he passed, but the time of the service changed at the last minute and there was no way for me to be there in time with a four-hour drive ahead of me. I had promised Amy that, the next time I was in Busby, I would visit her to pay my respects.
I met Jesse back in 2001, while I was volunteering for Red Feather Development Group to build a home for the Bear Quiver family. In typical Jesse fashion, he was there, eager to help, and readily volunteering his time to this project for his fellow community member. Jesse was quick to befriend everyone he met with his big smile, contagious laugh and strong work ethic. I didn’t return to the Northern Cheyenne again until 2003, to once again help build another home as a volunteer. And once again, there was Jesse; smiling, laughing and helping.
In 2005 I was fortunate to be hired by Red Feather to lead the volunteers to build the homes that I had previously been volunteering to build, which brought me even more often out to Busby and the rest of the Northern Cheyenne. Over the past 15 years I built quite the friendship with Jesse and Amy while working alongside Jesse, eating Amy’s frybread, and helping Jesse with repairs to their home, wanting to do for him what he was always so eager to do for others in his community.
Jesse eagerly applied for and took part in the opportunity to work with Red Feather through their Indigenous Builder Exchange program. This allowed Jesse to learn more building skills and gave him the chance to use those skills to work on homes within the Hopi community, as well. Jesse warmed the hearts of many of the volunteers and made long lasting relationships with them. I even learned that a couple who had volunteered with Jesse went on to name their son after him.
During my recent visit with Amy, I learned that while Jesse was acknowledged as a Shoshone tribal member, he was not an officially enrolled member. The difference is that he and Amy were ineligible for benefits. Amy has been burdened with the funeral costs and is trying to make monthly payments. Payments she can’t afford, and their teenaged kids are looking for work in order to help out. She also hopes to be able to have a headstone made for Jesse. Again something she can’t afford.
Please join me in raising money for this worthy cause to honor a joyful and caring spirit who has touched many lives. Even if you haven’t met Jesse, you have met me, and you know what I would do.
Thank you for your support.
~Mark
A few weeks ago some friends and I were driving out to the Pine Ridge Reservation to work on a straw bale building. Our route takes us through the Northern Cheyenne Reservation. As we were driving east on highway 212 and approaching Busby, MT, I wanted to stop in and pay my respects to Amy Juare. You see, her husband, Jesse, lost his battle with cancer on June 17, 2016 and made his journey to the next world. I had wanted to attend his service after he passed, but the time of the service changed at the last minute and there was no way for me to be there in time with a four-hour drive ahead of me. I had promised Amy that, the next time I was in Busby, I would visit her to pay my respects.
I met Jesse back in 2001, while I was volunteering for Red Feather Development Group to build a home for the Bear Quiver family. In typical Jesse fashion, he was there, eager to help, and readily volunteering his time to this project for his fellow community member. Jesse was quick to befriend everyone he met with his big smile, contagious laugh and strong work ethic. I didn’t return to the Northern Cheyenne again until 2003, to once again help build another home as a volunteer. And once again, there was Jesse; smiling, laughing and helping.
In 2005 I was fortunate to be hired by Red Feather to lead the volunteers to build the homes that I had previously been volunteering to build, which brought me even more often out to Busby and the rest of the Northern Cheyenne. Over the past 15 years I built quite the friendship with Jesse and Amy while working alongside Jesse, eating Amy’s frybread, and helping Jesse with repairs to their home, wanting to do for him what he was always so eager to do for others in his community.
Jesse eagerly applied for and took part in the opportunity to work with Red Feather through their Indigenous Builder Exchange program. This allowed Jesse to learn more building skills and gave him the chance to use those skills to work on homes within the Hopi community, as well. Jesse warmed the hearts of many of the volunteers and made long lasting relationships with them. I even learned that a couple who had volunteered with Jesse went on to name their son after him.
During my recent visit with Amy, I learned that while Jesse was acknowledged as a Shoshone tribal member, he was not an officially enrolled member. The difference is that he and Amy were ineligible for benefits. Amy has been burdened with the funeral costs and is trying to make monthly payments. Payments she can’t afford, and their teenaged kids are looking for work in order to help out. She also hopes to be able to have a headstone made for Jesse. Again something she can’t afford.
Please join me in raising money for this worthy cause to honor a joyful and caring spirit who has touched many lives. Even if you haven’t met Jesse, you have met me, and you know what I would do.
Thank you for your support.
~Mark
Organizer
Mark Jensen
Organizer
Bozeman, MT