Mary Rose Kingbird

Baa-Daa-Maa-Nook Mary Rose Kingbird, 66, of Redby, MN, died Sunday, August 21, 2011 at the Sanford Bemidji Medical Center. Traditional Funeral Services will be 10:00 am Thursday, August 25, 2011 at the Ponemah Community Center in Ponemah, MN with Spiritual Leader Steve Jackson officiating. A wake will begin 1:00pm, Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at the Ponemah Community Center and will continue until the time of the service. Interment will be in Family Burial Grounds in Ponemah, MN, under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji.

She was born on July 1, 1945, in Red Lake, MN, the daughter of Johnson and Faye Kingbird. She got her GED, and went on to attend the Detroit Lakes Technical College where she earned her Licensed Practical Nursing degree. She worked for many years in the health field at the Kelliher Nursing Home, the High School TAPP program, Northwinds, Comp Health, in the Wisdom Steps program, and as the Chairperson of Indian Education. She was a foster parent and took kids into her home. She enjoyed going to pow-wows, and was a jingle dress dancer. She also enjoyed going to the casino, spending time with her great-grandkids, riding around, collecting treasures, rummaging, and loved to joke around. She was a loving Mom, Grandma, and friend to many. If you needed her, she was there.

She is survived by: Sisters, Martha Smith of Redby, Susan King of Ponemah, Pauline Hamlin of Ashland, Wisc. Brothers, James (Ames) Kingbird of Redby, Albert Kingbird of Redby, Mark (Diane) Kingbird of Tama, Iowa, Royce (Stephanie) Kingbird of Bemidji, Vernon (Mavis) Kingbird of Ashland, Wisc. Uncles, Lyman Kingbird of Red Lake, Vernon Hawk of Bemidji, Children, Verlin “Itto”, James “Yum” (Missy), Delbert “Dean” (Eunice), and Yvette “Eva” Grandchildren she raised, Jay-R (Liza), Jim (Whitney), and Tiffany Adopted Sons, Gary Lee Johnson of Ponemah, Jon Prentice of Red Lake, and Joe Medina of Walker, MN 9 Grandchildren, and 6 Great-Grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, daughters Vicki Jo, Kimberly Rose, sister Peggy Kingbird, brothers Johnson Kingbird Jr., and numerous aunts and uncles.

Active Casketbearers will be: Gordie Johnson, Barry Oakgrove Sr., Tom Cain, Gabe Garbow, Big Rob Kingbird, Ron Perkins, Jon Prentice, Marcus Kingbird, Nahjahi Kingbird, Lil Rob Kingbird, and Ronnie King.

Honorary Casketbearers will be: Judy Lussier, Donna Howard, Gayle Downwind, Rose Debungee, Liza Spears, Whitney Spears, Bonita Whitefeather, Delma Oakgrove, Deb Garrigan, Bev Prentice, Kym Kingbird, Darilyn Spears, and Marge Hawk.