Leslie Johnson Ballard
FORT HALL — Leslie Jan Johnson Ballard, 24, Fort Hall died Wednesday, February 17, 2010, from injuries sustained in a one-vehicle accident.
She was born August 26, 1985, in Nampa, Idaho to Rama Johnson and Damasio Torres.
Leslie married Wendall L. Ballard on August 27, 2004 and they had two children together, Keyanna Token and Kendrick Gojo Ballard.
Leslie worked at Wal-Mart in Ruidoso, N.M. then moved to the Fort Hall Indian Reservation where they made their home.
She was a member of the Native American Church. After receiving her GED, Leslie was working towards becoming a Certified Nursing Assistant with on the job training with the Assisted Living Center in Pocatello. She grew up in Owyhee, Nev. in Miller Creek on the Idaho side and was raised by her grandparents and her Uncle Julian and Aunt Virginia Mendez.
She enjoyed doing beadwork and spending time with family and friends. She is survived by her husband Wendall L. Ballard, his children Keyanna T. and Kendrick G. Ballard all of Fort Hall, her mother Rama Johnson and father Damasio Torres, sister Josephine Johnson, brothers Damasio Jr. and Jeremy Johnson of Nev., along with numerous uncles and aunts.
A memorial service was at 6 p.m., Saturday, February 20, 2010, at the Mountain View Church in Gibson, Idaho with Thomas Mendez presiding.
On Sunday, February 21, 2010, Leslie was taken to Owyhee, Nevada with funeral service and burial taking place on Monday, February 22, 2010 at the new cemetery.

Waco Sky Preacher
FORT HALL — Our son, brother, and friend, Waco Sky Preacher, returned to the Creator February 17, 2010 as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.
Waco was born March 15, 1990, to Wandell Wenee and Inez Preacher of Fort Hall, Idaho.
Waco attended Fort Hall and Tyhee Elementary Schools and was a graduate of Shoshone-Bannock Jr./Sr. High School Class of 2008. He participated in football and basketball for two years and in his senior year the “Chiefs” took the District V Conference Basketball Championship. The Chiefs continued on to the State tournament where they placed 4th in a 42 team division. Waco was a captain of the basketball team and nominated to the All-Conference team. He played in the Senior All-Star game and was listed as one of the top three-point shooters in the State of Idaho. Waco had many interests and talents. He especially enjoyed riding horses, drawing, beading, music, tattooing, basketball, and showing his nephews, Teland and Bungu, his basketball skills.
Waco had many friends and will be greatly missed all those who loved him and cherished his friendly charisma.
Waco is survived by his parents, brother Luke Ponzo, sisters Danielle Johnson (Keith), Clarissa Stacey (Lenny), Alese Wenee-Jim all of Fort Hall, also Vanessa Stensgar of N. Idaho and Hannah Reynolds from Eugene, Oregon, grandparents, Velda R. Racehorse, Frederick Auck and Davis Wenee, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and relatives. He was preceded in death by his paternal great-grandparents, Carl and Betty Towersap Wenee and John and Nettie Diggie Racehorse; maternal grandparents, Homer Preacher and Daisy Snipe, and great-grandparents John T. Snipe and Adelia Anzie, Tom Preacher and Alice Archibald Preacher Lipps.
Memorial services were held at the Shoshone-Bannock Jr./Sr. High School on Saturday, February 20 at 11 a.m. He was taken to Velda Racehorse’s home on Racehorse Lane off W. Ferry Butte Road in Gibson for viewing after the memorial services. A traditional service was Monday, February 22, at 1 p.m. at the Ross Fork Creek Cemetery with burial to follow. Funeral arrangements were family directed.

Ferlin Ariwite
FORT HALL — Ferlin Ariwite, 48, of Fort Hall, Idaho, passed away Saturday, February 27, 2010 and went home to the Creator (damee’e ape’e).
Ferlin was born in Salmon, Idaho on May 24, 1961 to Bill and Bertha (Edmo) Ariwite at Steele Memorial Hospital. Ferlin spent his childhood and youth in Salmon at the Indian Village and attended elementary school there.
Ferlin and his family moved to the Fort Hall Indian Reservation to the home of his grandfather, Bill Edmo, at the end of Ballard Road.
He attended Hawthorne Junior High School and graduated from the Shoshone-Bannock High School, he also attended the Santa Fe Indian Art Institute in New Mexico.
After returning to Fort Hall, he was a member of the Shoshone-Bannock Wildland Fire Fighting Crew, traveling abroad fighting fires.
Ferlin had relocated and moved to Boise, Idaho and resided there for the past 25 years, where he was employed by the City of Boise as a maintenance mechanic, he also had a business as a house painter with his best friend, Dave Korr, for 18 years. After retiring from the City of Boise, he returned to Fort Hall and resided at home until his death. His interests were also attending family sporting events and attending car shows in Boise.
He also enjoyed working on his “babies”, which are his ‘63 Chevy Nova and ‘68 Chevy truck, which he restored by painting and completing all the necessary mechanic work on them. Ferlin touched many lives through AA, he was best known for starting the Breakfast Club meetings. He will be truly missed by all his friends in Boise, as well as here in Fort Hall, Idaho.
Ferlin is survived by his sisters, Dathene Ariwite of Fort Hall, Berva Baker of Fort Hall and Sharene Ariwite of Blackfoot; brother, Wesley Ariwite of Fort Hall; three nephews, Tobias, Julian and Maddox; and two nieces, Bree and Sydney.
Ferlin is preceded in death by his parents, one sister, grandparents and numerous aunts and uncles.
The family will receive friends and family at the Ariwite residence in Gibson, on Noyuse Road, where he was taken the afternoon on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, until prayer services at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at Hawker Funeral Home, 132 South Shilling Avenue in Blackfoot.
Family also met with friends and family until 9 p.m. on Wednesday, after the prayer service. Interment is at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at the Salmon City Cemetery, in Salmon, Idaho.

Mary Faulkner
Mary Margaret Faulkner, 54, of Blackfoot, Idaho, passed away Thursday, February 25 2010 at her home, after a valiant battle with cancer.
Mary was born May 22, 1955 to Stanley Faulkner and Elaine Frandsen Ellefson in Blackfoot, Idaho. She spent most of her life in Blackfoot, living a short time in Alaska and California. Mary attended schools in the Blackfoot school district.
Mary married Larry Clovis in Blackfoot, Idaho. Together they had a daughter, Verena. They were later divorced.
Mary worked at various jobs, including waitressing, laborer and at Walmart for the last three years in the deli. In her free time, Mary enjoyed her Indian culture and spending time with her daughter and grandchildren. She was a member of the Sho-Ban Tribe.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Verena Clovis of Pocatello; brother, Steven (Jessie) Faulkner of Blackfoot; sister, Val (Roger) Lambert of Idaho Falls; and two grandchildren, Rylee and Skyler.
Mary is preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Doug, John and Jim Faulkner; and sister, Lucille Hansen.
A funeral service was at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 1, 2010 at Hawker Funeral Home, 132 South Shilling Avenue. Family met with friends and relatives for one hour prior to services and then after services until 9 p.m. Condolences may be sent to the family at condolences@hawkerfuneralhome.com