Jessie Rodriguez

Jesse Rodriguez was born in Texas February 17, 1962. He passed away May 20, 2023.

His mother was of Chippewa decent and his father was Spanish. They met while working in the fields in Grand Forks, ND. Jesse was close to his brother John Day, who also passed not so long ago. When he was 17, he moved to Fargo and lived on the streets for a time. He completed high school requirements and enrolled at NDSU. He was going for a degree in Family and Child Counseling and minoring in Psychology. He met Dorie there and they married and moved to New Mexico. He was the manager of two Burger Kings. After six years and their divorce, he moved back to Dunseith and was able to spend time with his Mom and John. He was in a serious car accident. He decided to come back to Fargo in 1995. In 1997 he met Rebecca Estey and they became life-long friends. Jesse’s interests were working with wood, making furniture and canes and lamps out of diamond willow. He was a photographer, one of his pictures is on an album of gospel songs. He enjoyed reading and socializing. He was employed with North Core for three years, running pipe under roads and working with heavy equipment.

One of his goals was to visit his scattered family. So he left for Washington and lived with his sister Sonia for a year and then settled in Spokane until 2020 when he decided to move back to Fargo. One of those times visiting Fargo, he spent time with his brother Joey and family.

Jesse’s kindness was remarkable, his love for his native brothers on the street in general his native people from many different reservations. He believed in a God that answered prayer. He prayed for many people daily. He enjoyed joking around with people that would put a smile on their face.

There will be a small graveside service next to his mother in Dunseith for the family. Blessed be the memory of Jesse Rodriguez.