Elouise Cobell family announces details of funeral services and burial

The family of Elouise Cobell family has announced plans for services. Here are the times beginning in four days in Browning, Mont., on the Blackfeet Reservation:

Friday, Oct. 21, 2011 5 p.m. Viewing 7 p.m. Rosary Location – Browning High School gymnasium

Saturday, Oct. 22, 2011 11 a.m. Funeral Service followed with lunch at the Browning High School gymnasium 3 p.m. Burial at Cobell Blacktail Ranch (26 miles south of Browning)

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Condolences and remembrances for Elouise Cobell may be sent via email InRemembranceofElouise@gcginc.com.

Remembrances from Elouise’s friends and colleagues:

Elouise Cobell, a Blackfeet Nation tribal citizen, led a 16-year landmark legal fight to get the federal government to pay an estimated 500,000 American Indians for mismanaging their trust accounts. She died Sunday at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls, Mont.

A great granddaughter of Mountain Chief, a legendary Indian war chiefs, Ms. Cobell had been diagnosed with cancer a few weeks before her class-action lawsuit was given final approval by Judge Hogan in Washington, D.C. on June 20, 2011.

Born on the Blackfeet Reservation on Nov. 5, 1945, Ms. Cobell was one of eight children.

Her survivors include: her husband, Alvin Cobell of Blacktail, Mont., a son, Turk Cobell and his wife, Bobbie, of Las Vegas, two grandchildren, Olivia, and Gabriella, a brother, Dale Pepion of Browning, Mont., and three sisters, Julene Kennerly of Browning, Mont., Joy Ketah of Seattle and Karen Powell of Browning, Mont.

Ms. Cobell will be remembered as an extraordinary person as well as a warrior and uncommon leader. She drew the line in the sand and told the government “no longer, no further, and no more.” Against seemingly insurmountable odds, Ms. Cobell never backed down in her selfless fight for justice for the most vulnerable people in this country and concluded this long-running case for the largest settlement involving the government in American history.

A true hero is gone today and everyone should be thankful for her sacrifice and enduring spirit. We may never see the likes of her again. And, while Ms. Cobell did not live to see the fruits of her labor, she saw over the horizon to a better world for all individual Indians.

The Cobell Litigation Team