Grampa Marvin Blackbird passed away peacefully at Providence-Alaska Medical Center on Aug. 24, 2015, after a brief illness. Marvin was born on May 10, 1950, at Pine Ridge, S.D. An Army veteran of the 11th Armored Cavalry, Marvin served two tours in Vietnam from 1967-1973. His grandchildren knew him as a "war hero" for his sacrifice and he was proud to have served his nation. He was a member of Oglala Sioux Tribe and was proud of his cultural heritage. Marvin was an adventurer whose childhood life could have been written into a Mark Twain story or Jack Kerouac novel as a young adult. He loved to fish and could spend hours on the bank of a river and be content, so long as his hook was wet. He loved to travel and see the world. He could befriend anyone. Marvin was a generous man, who would often sacrifice his last few dollars to help those he thought needed it more than he. He was a devout Christian who faithfully dedicated his mornings to prayer and evenings to study the Gospel. He loved to read and could easily read an entire newspaper from front to back. Marvin loved to play bingo and often went to see friends and visit family. In 1991, Marvin met the love of his life, Gramma Sally. They wed in 1992, and made homes at Anchorage, Stariski Creek and Kenai, Alaska; Campo, Colo.; and finally at Kokhanok, Alaska. Marvin was preceded in death by his father and mother, Moses and Josephine Blackbird (Her Many Horses); brothers, Boris and Dale Blackbird; sisters, Phyllis, Diane, Deloris and Katherine Blackbird; wife, Sally Blackbird (Nielsen); and stepdaughter, Tisha Angasan. Marvin is survived by his sisters, Violet Blackbird-Williams of Campo, Colo., and Karen Blackbird-Settle of Englewood Colo.; stepson, Brad and fiance, Ronalda; grandchildren, Spirit, Hunter, River Angasan, Yaana, Harold Jr. and Saleena O'Domin; and family friends, Kristen Teeter and Kristy Silcott. Marvin was laid to rest at the National Cemetery at Fort Richardson, Alaska, at the attention of a full honor guard, on Sept. 2, 2015.