Obituaries
Martinez “Marty” Martel Cortez
FORT HALL — Martinez “Marty” Martel Cortez returned to his Creator on January 20, 2026, at his home in Fort Hall, Idaho.
Martinez was born to Bill R. and Venus (Pocatello) Cortez on July 19, 1953, in Pocatello, Idaho. He spent several years as a child living with his paternal grandparents Wille and Maude (Jake) Cortez, Fort Hall, Idaho and attended elementary school there. He then lived in Elko, Nevada and attended high school there.
He attended trade school after high school and was a certified heavy equipment operator, he worked in that field and as a maintenance technician for Indian Health Services at Fort Hall, Idaho until 1995.
Marty entered the United States Army in 1979 and was a tank driver during his service. He then served eight years with the National Guard.
Marty was the father of three children. Ria Cortez was born at Elko, Nevada to his relationship with Vicki Belka, and Maurica and Robert Cortez were born at Warm Springs, Oregon to his relationship with Minnie Charley.
Marty was an enrolled member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes and the fifth great-grandson of Chief Pocatello, for whom the City of Pocatello was named. He was a fluent Shoshone speaker and dedicated to his people and the traditions and continuity of the Tribes. He was very close to his maternal grandparents LaSalle and Louella (Tetobee) Pocatello and cared for them and their home and stock for many years.
He was Chief, at both Bannock Peak and Ruby Valley Sun Dances, and supported Sun Dances at Ross Fork and Buffalo Lodge in Fort Hall, as well as Fort Washakie, Wyoming. He was instrumental in reviving the (Ghost) Circle Dance at Fort Hall, supporting traditional carriers Virgene (Tesheep), Hardy and Howard Hardy and Marlene Durant. He was the caretaker to the Pocatello Family War Bonnet and took part in the Bonnet Dance supporting the children of his dear friends and relatives, James and Norma Osborne; Gifferd Osborne and Kimberly “Numi” Osborne.
He supported his tribal members through his dedication to these practices and cared for and provided a healing sweat lodge for all, giving of himself to encourage the youth and to honor his elders and ancestors. He was often called upon to pray for community and long-distance friends and family and enjoyed and thrived on these times.
Marty appreciated traveling and meeting with friends and family wherever he went and enjoyed events in his life wholeheartedly.
He took the opportunity for a role portraying guide Toby in a movie about Lewis and Clark, which unfortunately was never completed but he had a great time, travelled to Canada and greatly enjoyed the experience.
He worked with sculptor J.D. Adcox as he created the Chief Pocatello statue located in Pocatello, Idaho, and also with artist Tal Sampson and his Chief Pocatello painting, which is displayed in both the Shoshone-Bannock Tribal Council Chambers as well as in the City of Pocatello City Chambers. Both experiences gave him great pride in his ancestors and his family, and he dedicated many hours to both endeavors.
Marty is survived by his wife Lynn, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren, two of which he assisted in raising, stepchildren Jennifer and Myles Gallardo and their four children JD, (Miriah) Tony, (Sami) Louisa and Dylan, nephews and nieces Nathan, Ray and Phillip, Cary, Lisa and Danielle Wadsworth, with their children, who have been part of his home over the years, daughter Ria Cortez and her children with Clifford Button, Clifford Jr., Loreal and Alina, daughter Maurica and her children, son Robert, brothers Kenneth (Hodo) his son Greg and children, Deloy (Big D), his daughter Ashley and children, sisters Yvonne and son Deloyd, his son, Marlene and her daughter Yolanda (Beave) and her children, son Adrian, sister Marietta and sons Wayne and William and their children. He was especially close with his Nagashoah brothers Lester, Darrell and Moki and sister Vernita, and enjoyed his times with his Holliday cousins.
Marty was taken to his home for traditional services and viewing on Thursday, January 22, 2026. A prayer service was Friday, January 23, at 5 p.m. and burial was at Cedars Cemetery at 2 p.m. Saturday January 24, 2026.
Marty is greatly loved and will be forever remembered and missed for all he was and did.
Milana Leia Wesaw
FORT HALL — Our precious little angel, Milana Leia Wesaw, beloved infant daughter of Dana Spotted Elk and Emilio Wesaw (Millz), was born on November 1, 2025, in Pocatello, Idaho, and entered eternal rest on January 22, 2026, peacefully in her home in Fort Hall, Idaho.
From the very beginning, Milana’s life was surrounded by love. Her presence brought warmth and comfort into her home, held close by her mommy and daddy, her big brothers and sisters, and many extended family members, including those who held her in their hearts but did not have the chance to meet her.
Milana was known for her beautiful silver eyes, her tiny smile, and her cute little bald head. She found her safe place in her daddy’s arms where they shared quiet conversations and she answered him with soft coos. She knew him not just by his voice but the gentle tickle of his mustache as it brushed across her bald little head a touch that always brought out her brightest smile. Millz loved walking her gently through the house and introducing her to the world one step at a time as she explored her surroundings with quiet curiosity. She loved receiving ummah kisses from her mommy and found comfort in the warm baths her mommy gave her. Their gentle routine they shared became moments of care and love, moments where her mommy poured herself into tending to her making sure she was clean, and comfortable before carefully dressing her in her new outfits. Her mommy never missed a chance to add a bow, even though Milana wasted no time letting everyone know she was not impressed. Her siblings found endless joy in laughing at everything she did from the funny looks she gave them to the little socks she wore. They greeted each of her awakenings with excitement and to them she was the best part of their day. Among them, she shared a special bond with her big sister Jalyiah who embraced the joy of being her big sister and played a special role in caring for her. Jalyiah never hesitated to help eager to change her diaper or make her bottle, proudly holding it for a few seconds before getting tired and laughing that she couldn’t hold it anymore. Milana had a front-row seat to D’Angelo’s world as he proudly showed her his Spider-Man figures or sat beside her while playing on his tablet at full blast, convinced she didn’t mind at all. Jameer added a playful spark to her days spending time with her in the living room watching YouTube videos, always gently moving her tiny hands into the “6–7” motion and making each moment silly for her. She loved to stay awake as long as she could and her mommy and daddy would tease that she didn’t want to miss a thing. She was often soothed during car rides when her favorite song, “Jesus Loves You,” was playing but for the most part she didn’t care being out and she found the greatest comfort being at home just like her siblings, who were all homebodies at heart.
Milana is survived by her parents, Dana Spotted Elk, an enrolled member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of Fort Hall, Idaho, and Emilio Wesaw (Millz), an enrolled member of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe of Fort Washakie, Wyoming; her older brothers, Jameer “Prince” and D’Angelo Spotted-Elk Diaz; her older sisters, Jalyiah Spotted-Elk Diaz, all of Fort Hall, Idaho, and Taylor Wesaw of Fort Washakie, Wyoming. She is also survived by her aunts Jessie Robert’s (Ricky) of Arapaho, Wyoming, and Kara Murray (Josh) of Fort Washakie, Wyoming; her great-grandparents Glen and Donna Wesaw of Fort Washakie, Wyoming; and many cousins from both sides of her family.
Milana was preceded in death by her grandparents Reedene Fawn Galloway of Fort Hall, Idaho, John Abraham Spotted Elk of Lame Deer, Montana and Kerry Rae Roberts of Fort Washakie, Wyoming, and her uncle Johnny Abraham Limberhand Spotted Elk Jr., of Fort Hall, Idaho.
Milana was brought home to Dana Spotted Elk’s residence on Sunday, January 25, 2026 at 10 a.m. Funeral services were at 6 p.m. Monday January 26, 2026 at Hawker Funeral Home, 132 S Shilling Avenue in Blackfoot Idaho. Traditional burial was on Tuesday January 27, 2026 at 1pm, Gibson Cemetery.
Milana’s gentle spirit will always be remembered for the peace and love she brought into our lives.
