James "Moldy" Molash Sr.

Due to a weak wifi signal in Fort Yates, the service will NOT be able to be livestreamed today. The service will be recorded and we will post here shortly following the service. 

James Richard “Moldy” Molash Sr. was born on December 17, 1940, in Fort Yates, ND, to James H. and Sarah I. (White Eagle) Molash. James passed away peacefully at home on July 15, 2026, while sitting in his favorite chair watching the news. He was 85 years old.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM on Thursday, July 23, 2026, at St. Peter Catholic Church, Fort Yates, with Monsignor Chad Gion celebrating. Burial will follow at St. Peter Cemetery.

Visitation and viewing will be held from 3-4 PM on Wednesday, July 22, at Weigel Funeral Home in Mandan, and will continue with a closed casket visitation from 6-7 PM at St. Peter Catholic Church in Fort Yates, with a Rosary & Prayer Service at 7 PM. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday.

He married our mother, Barbara Grey Bear on July 16, 1965, and together they welcomed four children, Harold, Michelle, James Jr., and William. They later assumed guardianship of their niece, Trish Grey Bear, and she was Dad’s right-hand helper.

Dad lived a life full of adventure from his early years until final days. One of his favorite stories was skipping down the road singing “Zippity-Doo-Dah” on his way to his grandmother’s house whenever he was escaping the consequences from his mother for his naughty behavior. He liked staying with his grandmother until he realized she went to bed at 7:30 each evening while his siblings were still outside playing. He spoke often about his grandmother, Johanna, and fondly remembered carrying water to her house and caring for his horse “Goldie.” He attended Marty Mission School, where he received the nickname “Moldy,” which remained with him throughout his life. He also learned to speak Latin while serving as an altar boy there. He returned to Fort Yates where he completed his education at Fort Yates High School, graduating in 1956. His sister, Janice, told us about him dancing the jitterbug with their sister, Becky, and secretly teaching Janice how to drive on the back roads late at night so his friends wouldn’t see him. After high school he went to California on the Relocation Program to be a diesel mechanic. Upon completing this program, he moved to Aberdeen, SD to work with a heavy equipment company. He then returned to Fort Yates to work alongside our Grandpa Jim at the BIA roads department. Dad changed careers and entered law enforcement. He received police officer training in Georgia before returning to Fort Yates to work for law enforcement. Our aunt said, “He would be a good cop because he ‘rode the fence’, but he wasn’t an innocent teenager and he knew all the places young kids would hang out”.

He began his career with the Bureau of Indian Affairs as a police officer, eventually serving as Chief of Police before becoming Lead Criminal Investigator. Along the way, he earned numerous service awards recognizing his dedication and leadership. He retired in 1995. During his career, he also served as Acting Superintendent for several agencies throughout the Great Plains Region. Although offered opportunities to become a permanent superintendent, retirement was calling, and in 1995 he chose to begin that next chapter instead.

During his life he had many hobbies including hunting, fishing, bowling, golfing, fastpitch, softball, participating in walking events where he earned awards, and let’s not forget his weekly “prayer meetings” which we later found out were card games.

He traveled annually to visit his aunt Margie and Shag in California until they moved back to Standing Rock. He also traveled every year to Artesia, New Mexico to participate in the Indian Country Law Enforcement Memorial. He enjoyed visiting with the “coffee crew” daily and sharing the current events around town. He attended many sporting events to cheer on all the Standing Rock players. He will be greatly missed at these sporting events and with the “coffee crew”. Dad made friends wherever he went. It would be impossible to name them all, and we ask forgiveness if anyone has been unintentionally left out.

~ Harold, Michelle, James Jr., William, and Trish

Dad is survived by his children, Harold, Michelle, James Jr., William, and Trish; grandchildren, Kris (Emily), Alyson (Misun), Samantha, Taylor, Joshua (Randee), Mitchell, Ryan, Megan, Morgan, and James III; great-grandchildren, Kristopher, Jacob, Jonah, Zy'erria, and Zaeir; sister, Janice; brother, Raymond; sister-in-law, Janet; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and Godchildren too numerous to list.

Our dad was preceded in death by his parents, James & Sarah; wife of 55 years, Barbara, who passed away in 2020; siblings, Rebecca, Joseph, Robert, and Kenneth; and his grandparents, Johanna & James Molash and Margaret & Richard White Eagle.