- Date Of Birth: September 21, 1967
- Date Of Death: May 31, 2016
- State: Minnesota
Elijio “B-Joe” Gavino Ortiz, Sr., age 48, of Ponemah, formerly of Somerton, AZ, began his spiritual journey on Tuesday, May 31st, 2016 from the Red Lake IHS Hospital in Red Lake, Minnesota.
Elijio was born on September 21, 1967 in Yuma, AZ, the son of Rudolfo and Maria (Lopez) Ortiz, Sr. He loved his parents which he helped take care of until their passing. In his early 20’s, Elijio met Guadalupe Burrola and had three beautiful children Elijio Jr., Jennifer and Amanda. In his early 30’s, Elijio met Barbara King in Somerton, AZ where they were married on October 15th, 2001 and they moved to Redby, MN. Upon returning to Minnesota, Elijio and Barbara got custody of Barbara’s oldest daughter Skye King, Back. He helped raise her and loved her like his own. Together they had two beautiful daughters Cassandra and Stephanie Ortiz. He was a very hard worker and a great tattoo artist. He had a BOC in building maintenance and Occupation and a one year JTPA-Chemical safety. He started work for his father-in-law Clarence “Carrot” Clark, Sr. planting trees. He worked at the turkey plant in Thief River Falls and the bean plant in St. Hilaire. Elijio worked at the Seven Clans Casino in Thief River Falls as a cook, at the Westbrook’s Redby Store and at New Beginnings and was working at the Red Lake Fishery at his time of passing.
He was a loving, caring, husband, father, son, brother, uncle, grandfather and friend. He was very much loved and appreciated while he was here. He caught onto the Rez humor and could hang in with everyone. He will be deeply and sadly missed for his great qualities
The family Elijio meets again are his parents; Rudolfo Sr. and Maria, brothers; Priscilliano and Rudy Ortiz, Jr., fathers-in-law; Clarence “Carrot” Clark, Sr. and August “Knotty” King, Jr., special brother; Aaron Clark, special niece; Angel Denise King and the mother of his three oldest children; Guadalupe Burrola.
Those left behind to cherish his memory are his wife; Barbara Ortiz of Ponemah, son; Elijio Burrola-Ortiz, Jr. of Ponemah, special son; Matthew LaDuke of Redby, daughters; Jennifer and Amanda Ortiz of Tucson, AZ, Cassandra Ortiz of Ponemah and Stephanie Ortiz of Bemidji, special daughter; Skye King of Redby, brother; Juan “Johnny” Ortiz of Tucson, AZ, sisters; Eva Gonzales and Alice Ortiz both of Yuma, AZ and Mary Medina of AZ, three grandchildren; Thomas and Lukas LaDuke and Javier Cordoua, special brothers; Leonard King, Clarence Clark, Jr., Stephan Cloud and Chad Sachs, special sisters; Rosalee, Charlotte and Sandi King and Natasha Clark, mothers-in-law; Charlotte Clark and Shelly Little, special niece and nephew; Destiny and Dominic Lussier, other relatives and many friends.
