Debra Jean Fairbanks

Debra Jean Fairbanks,"Biidosh Equay," 49, of Cass Lake, MN, died Tuesday, May 8, 2012 at her home in Cass Lake. Funeral Services conducted by the Native American Church will be 12:00 noon, Saturday, May 12, 2012 at the Veteran’s Memorial Building in Cass Lake, MN. A wake will begin at 3:00pm, Thursday, May 10, 2012, at the Veteran’s Memorial Building and will continue until the time of the service. Interment will be at the Morgan Cemetery in Oak Point, MN under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home of Cass Lake.

She was born on January 14, 1963, in Cass Lake, MN, the daughter of Richard and Josephine (Harrison) Dunn. She was raised in Oak Point by her parents and her grandparents Daisy and Jake. She drove her grandparents to many ceremonies, pow-wows, and was baptized in the Native American Church when she was 15 years old. She loved to go to pow-wows in Canada, North Dakota, and Wisconsin, where she enjoyed fancy shawl dancing. She met Gene Fairbanks and they were married in Oak Point on December 31st, 1988. She was the secretary for Leech Lake Heavy Equipment Department until she was one of a group selected to attend Black Jack training in Grand Portage, MN. She became the Black Jack Manager at the Palace Casino, and worked there until her illness forced her to retire. She enjoyed working in the pow-wow stand for her Mom and Dad. She enjoyed keeping a journal, writing in it daily about her, and her families daily activities. She enjoyed gambling and bingo. She loved spending time with her family, especially her Grandsons, Diondre and Elijah, who she enjoyed shopping for. She will be sadly missed by her family.

She is survived by: Her husband, Gene Fairbanks of Cass Lake, Children, Dora, Derek, Dusty, and Lizzie, Step-Children, David, John, Ben, Gina, and Doug, Siblings, Irene Kaye Wood Harrison, Beatrice Ann Dunn, Ernest (Valerie) Dunn, Ramona (Kyle) Dunn, Cheryl Ann (Rowa) Donovan, Barb (Pat) Haugen, Linda (Earl) Norton Harrison, Special Cousins, Nancy and Darwin Kingbird, Gordy, Kenny, Doug, Mike, Pam, and Katherine Harrison, Rhonda Woods. Aunts and Uncles, Henry and Veda Harrison, Shirley and John Dunn, Nieces, Nephews, Great Nieces, and Great Nephews.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, parents, sister Dora Jean Powers, Step-daughter Mindy Stangel, niece Kandace Dunn, Uncles Franklin Woods, Louis Dunn, and aunt Dorothy Jenkins

Honorary Casketbearers will be: all of her nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Active Casketbearers will be: Dennis Harrison, Gordon Dunn, Kyle Dunn, Adrian Dunn, Johnny Man Dunn, and Eldon Gooden.