Judith (Greenleaf) Amberson

Judith (Greenleaf) Amberson

Born: Sun., Apr. 4, 1954

Died: Mon., May 4, 2015

Visitation

1:00 PM Thu., May 07, 2015

Location: Ponemah Boys and Girls Club

Traditional Native Service

10:00 AM Sat., May 09, 2015

Location: Ponemah Boys and Girls Club

Judith (Greenleaf) Amberson, 61, "Waabi-Gwanenz" which means "Little Flower", of Ponemah and the Kingfisher Clan, passed away on May 4, 2015 at the Neilsen Place in Bemidji, Minnesota. She was born in Red Lake, Minnesota on April 4, 1954 to Warren Sr. and Lucy (Stillday) Greenleaf.

Judy left her home in her early teenage years. She lived with Rose and Kenny for whom she babysat. She obtained her Certified Nursing License in the late 80's. She worked at the Jourdain-Perpich Nursing Home when it first opened. Judy then relocated somewhere else with her nursing license for many years. She then worked for the Thief River Casino for a year when it open in 1997 as a change clerk. Judy also enjoyed taking care of her husband and being his personal care assistant for three years. Judy met Alvin Amberson in 2009 and they married 2010. Together they made a life in Bemidji until Alvin's passing in 2012. Judy then moved back to her home town of Ponemah. She loved being around her grandchildren, playing with them and teaching them ojibwe words. Judy enjoyed attending pow-wows and going to the casino. She liked riding around and visiting everyone that she loved.

Judy has reunited with her husband; Alvin, her parents; Warren and Lucy Greenleaf, brothers; Francis "Jughead" Stillday, Warren "Denny" Greenleaf, Jr. and Byron Greenleaf, sister; Lucy Wilson, grandparents; Tom and Lucy Stillday and Henry and Helen Greenleaf, granddaughter; Tasheila Ann Greenleaf, numerous aunts and uncles.

Left behind to remember her are her sons; John (Allesha) Zamora, Patrick (Tina) Greenleaf both of Ponemah and Miskwanakwad Oakgrove of Duluth, special daughter; Donna (Darcy) Greenleaf, sisters; Beverly Cloud of Warroad, Roberta (Fred) Greenleaf of Ponemah, Linda Greenleaf of Bemidji and Debbie Greenleaf of Camdenton, MO, brothers; Gary (Priscilla) Greenleaf, Little Eagle of South Dakota and Darrell Greenleaf of Duluth, seven grandchildren; Bonnie, Andrea, Quintin, Jayden, Oliviahna and Braxton, special grand baby; Miairha, special grandsons; Vance Benais and Darcy Benais,Jr., aunt; Anna Gibbs, uncle; Wilbur Stillday, special friend; Bob Seki, numerous nieces and nephews.

A wake for Judy will begin at 1:00 p.m., Thursday, May 7th and continue until her traditional services at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 9th all being held at the Boys and Girls Club in Ponemah. Anna Gibbs will be her Spiritual Advisor. Judy's casket bearers are Grantt Greenleaf, Dwight "Arch" Greenleaf, Dale Kingbird, Wendell Spears, Jordan Cloud and Nicholas RoseBear. Alternate bearers are Fabian RoseBear, John Zamora, Jr., Patrick Greenleaf, Vincent Wilson and Dana Cobenais. Her honorary bearers will be Sharon Kingbird, Francine Kingbird, Eunice Whitefeather, Debbie Johnson, Judy French, Janine Durant, Earl Fairbanks, Bruce Stillday, Jr., Wilbur Stillday, Patsy Norquay, Kay Tainter, Carol Spears, Patsy Tones, all of her brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. Interment will be in the Stillday-Greenleaf Family Burial Grounds at Ponemah following her traditional service on Saturday.

Judy's care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker. Online condolences for the family may be left at http://www.northernpeace.com