Dakutak, a loving brother and friend
By Kristen Jones
Staff Writer
On Sept. 17, 2022, 17-year-old Bodhisotpha “Bodhi” Dakutak tragically passed away after his car rolled on CR-35, north of Watford City. Bodhi was known by family and friends as a fun-loving outdoorsman whose smile could light up the room. His death has impacted many in the community and has been felt by loved ones around the country.
Multiple agencies responded to the scene of the accident and all of the agencies involved, including the Watford City Police Department and the North Dakota Highway Patrol (NDHP) expressed their condolences to the family. The NDHP reports that there were multiple calls about the accident immediately after it occurred and that first responders arrived on the scene very quickly. This is the sort of call that emergency responders dread the most because it hits close to home for everyone.
Bodhi attended Watford City High School and friends say that things will not be the same without him. In the wake of Bodhi’s accident, the high school has provided grief counselors and Dr. Steve Holen, the district superintendent, has affirmed that there are additional services available to the students as they need them.
“It is important that our students know that we have services and people in place to support them through this,” Dr. Holen said.
A service for Bodhi was held at a local funeral home in Watford City on Sept. 23. He will be remembered as a kind and loving person who loved to brighten the lives of others. He had recently started a job in construction and his family said that he really enjoyed seeing the results of his hard work at the end of the day. He was a great brother to his siblings and was loved by his whole family.
The community has rallied around Bodhi’s family by setting up a fund in his name at the First International Bank & Trust. The money donated will go to help his family with expenses.