Gary Lee Kingbird

Gary Lee Kingbird

August 31, 1964 - February 27, 2018

Gary Lee Kingbird, whose Indian name is Kiwizi which means "old man," 53, of Ponemah, MN entered the spirit world on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at the Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN.

Traditional Indian Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, March 5, 2018 at the Ponemah Boys and Girls Club in Ponemah, MN. A wake will begin at noon on Saturday, March 3, 2018 at the Ponemah Boys and Girls Club and will continue until the services. Burial will be in the Family Burial Grounds in Ponemah, MN.

Gary was born into the Eagle Clan on August 31, 1964 in Red Lake, MN, the son of Wallace Kingbird, Sr. and Ella Marie (Cloud) Kingbird. He graduated from Red Lake High School in 1983 and from the Detroit Lakes Technical College with a certificate in Heavy Equipment Operation in 1993. He worked in road construction with Red Lake Builders throughout Northern Minnesota, as a school bus driver for the Red Lake School District and manufacturing homes in Redby for Red Lake Custom Homes. He was a hunter and fisherman all his life. He enjoyed working on and fixing cars, playing softball and visiting casinos.

He is survived by his daughter, Lana (Corey) Whitefeather; 4 grandchildren, Tyler, Laciah and Dakota Rosebear and Taylor, all of Ponemah; adopted daughter, Kesheenah Greenleaf of Fargo, ND; 3 brothers, Norman Kingbird, Tom (Mary) Charnoski and Merlin (Shannon) Kingbird; and a sister, Lisa (Darren) French; uncle Myron (Rose Rosebear) Kingbird, all of Ponemah; numerous nieces and nephews; and his Godmother, Judy Roy.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Wallace Kingbird, Sr. and Ella Kingbird; 2 brothers, Wallace Kingbird, Jr. and Loren Kingbird; and his grandparents.