Kenneth Blackbird

At 69 years of age Kenneth Roger Blackbird's valiant fight with sorosis came to an end at Billings Clinic on the morning of December 4, 2025. 

Ken was born November 15, 1956 to parents Arlene Blackbird Sandoval and Floyd Hopkins. He was raised by Ella Cloud Robe Blackbird and Manny Blackbird. He grew up in Fort Belknap and moved to Havre for High School where he would enjoy his red pickup to get tacos or run out and ride Kate Miller's horses in the Milk River badlands.  

After High School Ken went to the University of Montana where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Photojournalism. 

His natural talent as a photographer took him all over the world, with stints at the Chicago Sun Times, Nebraska Lincoln Star newspaper and as a frequent contributor to National Geographic. His work was shown frequently overseas and in -country. 

Although traveling frequently, Ken called Cody his home since he arrived there in June of 1976. He volunteered with the Forest Service that summer spending 70 days on one of the outings in the North Absaroka Wilderness.  He worked as an outfitter for the Forest Service, spending years on horseback with a pack train exploring the mountains and trails around Wyoming. He would say that this was his favorite job. 

Additionally, Ken worked as an underwater welder on oil rigs in Texas, as a smokejumper.  He taught photography at the Haskell Junior College in Kansas. In the Nebraska Lincoln Star paper there was an article about when Ken was beaned by a foul ball at a baseball game. The governor called him to see how he was doing. He covered a military flight to Europe. Had an award winning story covering violence at the Pine Ridge Reservation. At the Anchorage paper, he did not like the long nights. 

Later on, he had many other jobs in Cody, including a welder at Keele sanitation. He worked at Wyoming Authentic, where he made beef jerky. He worked for FedEx delivering packages.  He also worked at the Cody Enterprise as their photographer for many years.

He worked as a cook as well. He had several contributions to Buffalo Bill Historical Center and exhibits. Several of his photos can be seen at https://kenblackbird.photoshelter.com

A wake will be held Monday, December 8, 2025 at 4:00 PM, and a funeral service will be held December 9th at 10:00 AM. Services will be held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Fort Belknap.

His family members include grandparents Manny, George, Ella Blackbird, Ella Cloud Robe; mother Arleen Sandovaul; aunts and uncles Margaret "Peggy" Ball, Angela Denny, Jean Campbell, Bernice "Beanie" Johnson, Leona "Moldy" Small, George Blackbird II, Walter Blackbird, Robert Blackbird; cousin Elmer Blackbird; nephews and nieces Mardell Castillo, Elmeretta Blackbird; Relative Clarena Brockie; Friends, Lesa Muckley, Kate Miller, Linda Hofer, Shelly Fiant, Sheila Lipps, Evanne Deines, Luana Ross, Sandra Counter, and many many more.

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