Michael Buckles

Raymond Michael Buckles began his journey to the Star Nation on Monday, May 5, 2025 at his home in Fort Totten at the age of 50 years.

The Wake for Michael will be held on Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at the Fort Totten Wellness Center beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. The procession to Fort Totten will leave at 4:00 p.m. from City Plaza in Devils Lake. Funeral Service will be on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. also at the Fort Totten Wellness Center with burial in St. Jerome’s Cemetery.

Michael was born on April 24, 1975 in Devils Lake, ND to Raymond and Maxine (Waanatan) Buckels. Michael attended Head Start, the grade school at Four Winds and graduated from the 8th grade at the Pierre Indian Learning Center in South Dakota. He later attended the Kicking Horse Job Corps in Montana.

Michael worked a variety of jobs for Spirit Lake Tribe, including working at Cankdeska Cikana Community College, Spirit Lake Casino, Dakota Tribal Industries and Sioux Manufacturing Corporation. He also worked for Knife River Construction.

Michael loved working on cars and doing yard work. He never turned down a chance to play cards, dice games, playing basketball and horseshoes. He was a talented artis who loved drawing. As a teenager, he was always riding his bike and “doing wheelies”. Michael loved to spend time with his grandkids, his children, parents, siblings and other family members. He was always willing to give a helping hand whenever and wherever needed. He loved to cook and do cookouts.

Michael met Tammy Smith and he and Tammy were the proud parents of his first born son Michael Thomas Smith-Buckles. In 1996, he met Shirlene Feather and they were the proud parents of 6 children. They were together, raising their family for 22 years at their home in Fort Totten.

Our precious Michael is gone too soon and leaves behind his loving family. His parents Raymond and Maxine; four daughters Shirissa, Michaela, Shylene and Michelene; two sons Mikah Buckles and Michael Smith; special grandkids Ellionna, Laileeyah, Jae-Angelo , Kalem, SaQani, Hazlynn, and Kalauni; sister Jessica Buckles; brothers Wayne Buckles, Jeremy Buckles and Mitchell Buckles; Lila, Marilynn, Marcella, Kim, Michelle and Carmen; uncles Frankl, Arlan, Roger, Ritchie, Dwayne, Kenny and Emery; great grandma Helena Littleghost; nieces Joanna, Haley, Jayann, Phenix, Grace, Chadley and Lillian; nephews Billy, Saunders, Parrish, Samuel, Noah, Nicholas, Jeremy Jr., Mitchell Jr., Xavier and Riley; great nephews Zane, Elijah and Riley Jr.; godfather Richard Charboneau; godchild William “Billy” Buckles; many cousins, friends and beloved family. If we forgot to name you, know it was not intentional. Michael’s heart was so full of love for all of you.

He was reunited with his daughter Shyra M. Buckles, sister Shannon Buckles, brother Merlyn “Chad” Buckles, uncle Melvin “John” Knutson, nephew Starson Buckles, niece Shyra Mae Buckles, grandparents Francis and Joanne Marie Waanatan, Raymond Buckles Sr., Mary Jo Buckles Greywater, Andrew Greywater, Tom and Mary Buckles, godmother Carrie Waanatan, good friend Dwight “Wicha” Hunt; and other very special relatives.

Active Pallbearers: Samuel Buckles, DJ Charboneau, Jeremy Buckles, Mitchell Buckles, William Buckles, Paul Cavanaugh, Mark Littleghost, Steve Brown and Marcus Curley. Honorary Bearers are Dane Cavanaugh, David Robertson, Dusty McKay, Vernon SpottedBird Sr., William “Chief” Waanatan, Mark Robertson, Rustin Hunt, Dustin Dunn, Michael Dunn, Austin “Tiny” Littlewind, Brandon Thomas, Joseph Cavanaugh, Frankie Chaske, John Jetty, Connie PoorBear, Daniel Rainbow, Isiah Hunt, Cathy TwoHearts, Patty TwoHearts, Mike Smith, Stacy Feather, Sharon Feather, Kris White and family, Lola Waanatan and family, Vanessa Cavanaugh and family, Dwayne Charboneau Sr., the Robertson family, all of the Charboneau family, Elton TwoHearts, Shawn Lawrence, Wanda Waanatan, Cha Cavanaugh, Roger Yankton and family, Kara Shaw and kids, Bud and Renita Shaw, Robbie Cavanaugh, Darrell Lawrence, Willis Herald, Tracy Alberts, BJ Robertson, and Richard Littleghost.