It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our loving dad, grandpa, brother, uncle, and cousin, Joseph (Joe) Knife Sr., on February 3, 2026, at the age of 73.
Joe was born on March 5, 1952, at the Blood Indian Hospital to Jim Knife Sr. and Maude (Chief Calf) Knife. He was raised in the Farm 4 area of the Blood Reserve. During his childhood, Joe spent a lot of time in Standoff with his Knife family and around the north end of the reserve with his Chief Calf grandparents. Joe and his brother Ed were close to their family and learned many lessons about surviving off the land, along with the history of their homestead and surrounding area.
Dad and Mom traveled throughout the United States, along with Jack and Josephine Curly Rider, Mary-Alice and Steven Crying Head. Joe would always tell the story of when they encountered a few tornadoes. Also, the late Mary-Stella and Paul Bare Shin Bones family affectionally called Joe, Uncle Joe, as there is a story behind it.
Joe and his brothers had many fond memories of singing at get togethers in their home and around the community. His uncles and many of his relatives were well known Pow Wow singers and helped compose many songs and shared them at pow wows and with members connected to the Old Agency Singers and other respected singers in the community.
Joe’s dad strongly opposed him attending residential school. Joe later attended the Standoff Day School and public school in Fort Macleod. When he was about 12 or 13 years old, he stopped attending school and began travelling to the United States to help his nephews, Reginald (Big Man) and Kenneth (Piiksini) Knife. He later worked seasonally, doing warehouse labour in the winter and orchard labour in the summer.
Joe had a passion for breaking horses and took great pride when a horse could be ridden well. He also worked hard in many other ways through the years, including haying during the summer and fall.
Joe was a storyteller who loved sharing tales of his travels, the people he met, hobo camps, hitchhiking, and riding trains and buses. He entertained many with his talent for singing, especially his favourite ballads from Hank Williams.
One of Joe and his wife Margaret’s favourite pastimes was playing bingo in Lethbridge and at the Grey Eagle, where they made many bingo buddies of all ages. Many will remember Joe teasing and joking, especially with his sister Evangeline, often leaving everyone laughing. But, no one ever knew if he won , as he was always one number off, and he was know around the bingo circuit as King Joe.
Joe was a caring man. After the death of their dad, he and his brother Ed tried their best to care for their younger siblings and keep them together. Although they were not able to accomplish this because of their age at the time, Joe always remained closely connected to his family. Joe had a serious side and a teasing nature, and it was not always easy to tell which one you were getting, but it often ended in laughter.
Joe is survived by his daughters: Wanda (Andrew), Pam, Monica (Robert), and Deanna (Kelly), Joyce (Donald), and his sons: Joe Jr. (Reesa), Kevin (Chelsey), and Terry. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Chad, Mason, Nora, Shayna, Timara, Bailee, Darci, William, Ryder, Bo, Cohen, Kimberly, Robyn, Kiera, Elisha, Korilee, Kyle, Payton, Jyson, Leila, Meaghan, Jurnee, August, and Jimzlie, Meagan, Desmond, (Cheslea), Amber. Also, his adopted son, Leon Day Chief and his God child, Jenna Eagle Plume.
He is survived by his brothers: Edward (Tammy) Knife, John (Jackie) Knife, and Richard (Yvette) Knife; and his sisters: Evangeline, Joan, Emelda, Teresa, Catherine, and Jennifer (Albert) Rabbit. Also, his brother in-law Jack Curly Rider, Merlin (Lorna) Eagle Plume.
Joe was cherished his nieces and nephews: Leanne Eagle Plume family, Heather and Byron Crying Head family, Miranda Red Crow family, Kenny (Sherrie) Eagle Plume family, Yvette Red Crow family, Tana and Tara Knife Families, Jolie (Joe) Beebe family, Jocelyn Davis family, Eldon, Jamison (Indian) family, Candice, Justin Knife.
Joe was predeceased by his loving wife, Margaret Eagle Plume; his son, Chris Knife; his grandchildren, Keith Beebe, Justin Rabbit, and Jalisa Pace; his great grandsons, the twin boys Xavier and Josiah Pace; his parents, Jim Knife Sr. and Maude (Chief Calf) Knife; his siblings: Jim, Alex, George Sr., Annie, Teresa, Dan, and Bill (William) and Josephine; and his grandparents, Albert and Mary Chief Calf. He was also predeceased by many relatives and in-laws who meant so much to him.
Joe came from a large family, with connections to many families including Knife, Eagle Plume, Chief Calf, Eagle Bear, Spear Chief, Wolf Child, Crane Chief, Two Gun Knife, Shot Both Sides, Standing Alone, Eagle Tail Feathers, Bull Shields, Steinhauer, Thompson, Plume, Twiggs, Sweet Grass, Good Rider, Day Rider, Prairie Chicken, Big Swallow, Hind Bull, Cross Child, and Weasel Moccasin.
The family apologizes for any names that may have been missed.
A candle light vigil will be down the Hay Plant Road near the Hunt's residence. See Map Below (GPS location is 49.58539, -112.90671) Blood Reserve on Friday, February 13 starting at 2:00 pm. A wake service will be at Senator Gladstone Hall, Blood Reserve on Friday, February 20 from 7:00 - 11:00 pm. The Funeral service will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Blood Reserve on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 11:00 am. Interment to follow at Pioneer Cemetery.
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Joe was born on March 5, 1952, at the Blood Indian Hospital to Jim Knife Sr. and Maude (Chief Calf) Knife. He was raised in the Farm 4 area of the Blood Reserve. During his childhood, Joe spent a lot of time in Standoff with his Knife family and around the north end of the reserve with his Chief Calf grandparents. Joe and his brother Ed were close to their family and learned many lessons about surviving off the land, along with the history of their homestead and surrounding area.
Dad and Mom traveled throughout the United States, along with Jack and Josephine Curly Rider, Mary-Alice and Steven Crying Head. Joe would always tell the story of when they encountered a few tornadoes. Also, the late Mary-Stella and Paul Bare Shin Bones family affectionally called Joe, Uncle Joe, as there is a story behind it.
Joe and his brothers had many fond memories of singing at get togethers in their home and around the community. His uncles and many of his relatives were well known Pow Wow singers and helped compose many songs and shared them at pow wows and with members connected to the Old Agency Singers and other respected singers in the community.
Joe’s dad strongly opposed him attending residential school. Joe later attended the Standoff Day School and public school in Fort Macleod. When he was about 12 or 13 years old, he stopped attending school and began travelling to the United States to help his nephews, Reginald (Big Man) and Kenneth (Piiksini) Knife. He later worked seasonally, doing warehouse labour in the winter and orchard labour in the summer.
Joe had a passion for breaking horses and took great pride when a horse could be ridden well. He also worked hard in many other ways through the years, including haying during the summer and fall.
Joe was a storyteller who loved sharing tales of his travels, the people he met, hobo camps, hitchhiking, and riding trains and buses. He entertained many with his talent for singing, especially his favourite ballads from Hank Williams.
One of Joe and his wife Margaret’s favourite pastimes was playing bingo in Lethbridge and at the Grey Eagle, where they made many bingo buddies of all ages. Many will remember Joe teasing and joking, especially with his sister Evangeline, often leaving everyone laughing. But, no one ever knew if he won , as he was always one number off, and he was know around the bingo circuit as King Joe.
Joe was a caring man. After the death of their dad, he and his brother Ed tried their best to care for their younger siblings and keep them together. Although they were not able to accomplish this because of their age at the time, Joe always remained closely connected to his family. Joe had a serious side and a teasing nature, and it was not always easy to tell which one you were getting, but it often ended in laughter.
Joe is survived by his daughters: Wanda (Andrew), Pam, Monica (Robert), and Deanna (Kelly), Joyce (Donald), and his sons: Joe Jr. (Reesa), Kevin (Chelsey), and Terry. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Chad, Mason, Nora, Shayna, Timara, Bailee, Darci, William, Ryder, Bo, Cohen, Kimberly, Robyn, Kiera, Elisha, Korilee, Kyle, Payton, Jyson, Leila, Meaghan, Jurnee, August, and Jimzlie, Meagan, Desmond, (Cheslea), Amber. Also, his adopted son, Leon Day Chief and his God child, Jenna Eagle Plume.
He is survived by his brothers: Edward (Tammy) Knife, John (Jackie) Knife, and Richard (Yvette) Knife; and his sisters: Evangeline, Joan, Emelda, Teresa, Catherine, and Jennifer (Albert) Rabbit. Also, his brother in-law Jack Curly Rider, Merlin (Lorna) Eagle Plume.
Joe was cherished his nieces and nephews: Leanne Eagle Plume family, Heather and Byron Crying Head family, Miranda Red Crow family, Kenny (Sherrie) Eagle Plume family, Yvette Red Crow family, Tana and Tara Knife Families, Jolie (Joe) Beebe family, Jocelyn Davis family, Eldon, Jamison (Indian) family, Candice, Justin Knife.
Joe was predeceased by his loving wife, Margaret Eagle Plume; his son, Chris Knife; his grandchildren, Keith Beebe, Justin Rabbit, and Jalisa Pace; his great grandsons, the twin boys Xavier and Josiah Pace; his parents, Jim Knife Sr. and Maude (Chief Calf) Knife; his siblings: Jim, Alex, George Sr., Annie, Teresa, Dan, and Bill (William) and Josephine; and his grandparents, Albert and Mary Chief Calf. He was also predeceased by many relatives and in-laws who meant so much to him.
Joe came from a large family, with connections to many families including Knife, Eagle Plume, Chief Calf, Eagle Bear, Spear Chief, Wolf Child, Crane Chief, Two Gun Knife, Shot Both Sides, Standing Alone, Eagle Tail Feathers, Bull Shields, Steinhauer, Thompson, Plume, Twiggs, Sweet Grass, Good Rider, Day Rider, Prairie Chicken, Big Swallow, Hind Bull, Cross Child, and Weasel Moccasin.
The family apologizes for any names that may have been missed.
A candle light vigil will be down the Hay Plant Road near the Hunt's residence. See Map Below (GPS location is 49.58539, -112.90671) Blood Reserve on Friday, February 13 starting at 2:00 pm. A wake service will be at Senator Gladstone Hall, Blood Reserve on Friday, February 20 from 7:00 - 11:00 pm. The Funeral service will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Blood Reserve on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 11:00 am. Interment to follow at Pioneer Cemetery.
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Candlelight Vigil Location
