Arnold Eugene "Shiekie" Pemberton Sr.

Arnold Eugene ”Shiekie” Pemberton, Sr. (Indian name is Giniiw) beloved husband, father and grandfather entered the spirit world Aug. 9, 2012 at the Red Lake IHS Hospital.

Funeral Services will be at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 14, at the St. Antipas Episcopal Church, Redby, Minn. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13, at the Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home in Bemidji, with a prayer service at 8 pm. Interment will be in St. Antipas Episcopal Cemetery.

Arnold was born November 6, 1932 on the Red Lake Reservation to George and Eleanor (Workman) Pemberton where he and his brothers and sisters were raised. He attended schools in the Red Lake area where he participated and excelled in baseball and basketball. He graduated from the Red Lake High School in 1950. He was united in marriage to Alberta Louise Smith on November 22, 1951. He along with his wife, Alberta, raised 10 children. Known to many as “Shiekie”, he was a loving caring man always willing to help others. Shiekie always said, “Be thankful for what you have and treat people the way you want to be treated.” Shiekie always encouraged his children and grandchildren to work hard for what you want out of life and things will work out, and also to participate in all family gatherings at his home. Shiekie worked many jobs in and around the Red Lake Reservation most notably for the Red Lake Fisheries, hauling ice to the Ponemah area fishermen and hauling their daily catch to the fisheries in Redby; a truck driver for the Saw Mill in Redby and as a logger-forming Pemberton Logging and Sons. Shiekie served on the Red Lake School Board of Education from 1973 to the present, Redby Post Office Board of Directors since 1980 and as an officer for the Bemidji Bowling Association. Shiekie’s hobbies included: bowling, hunting, fishing, gardening, bird feeding, playing Mr. Griswold during the Christmas holiday, watching NCIS, CSI and Lawrence Welk and enjoying company. He was also known for his smoked fish and scalloped potatoes.

He also was extraordinary craftsman and built ‘wishing wells’ along with other wooden crafts. He always enjoyed the company of his family and friends.

He is survived by his children: Arlette (Bryce) Abrahamson of Holt, MN, William (LaNae) Pemberton of Red Lake, Arnold Jr. from Red Lake, Cynthia (Donovan) Pemberton of Redby, Robert (Deanna) Pemberton, Sr. of Redby, Barbara (Michael) Stillday of Redby, Scott (Bev) Pemberton, Sr. of Redby, Kay (Ben) Pemberton of Redby, Wendy and Kaleb Pemberton of Redby, 23 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, 3 great, great-grandchildren, 2 adopted daughters; Kimberly (Stattner) Otake of Northbrook, IL and Wanda Bittner of Bemidji, sisters; Joan (Duke) Nelson from Redby, Nancy Beaulieu of Redby. His pets; Norman, Diamond, & Kitty.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Alberta, his parents, brothers; Leo, Louie, Duane and Donald Pemberton, special grandson Ronny Lee “Mick” Garrigan, great-grandsons; Arnold Lee Schoenborn-Pemberton, Marcus White, Joseph Scott Sumner, great-granddaughters; Kia Jo Graves and Angel Pemberton.

Honorary Pallbearers are Brent Gish, Dave Dudley, Maurice “Jocko” Thunder, Eugene Stillday Sr., Russell Nelson Sr. Melvin Staberg, James “Dino” Garrigan, Don Hazeman, Roman Schommer, Tommy Schommer, Frank Mistic, Rusty Nelson, Teri Malbraaten, Duane “Ole” Spears Sr., Sherri May, Jeff Pemberton, Allen Pemberton, Gary Chaboyea, Ed Gelhert, Red Lake School Board, granddaughters; Lynde, Colleen, Jolene, Rochelle, Barbara, Stephanie, LeEllen, Dawn, Dheena, Kim, Bev, Robyn and Aleisha; all his nieces and nephews.

Active Pallbearers; Lee Arnold Pemberton, Lucas Abrahamson, William Pemberton Jr., Brent Pemberton Sr., Robert Pemberton Jr., Randy Garrigan Sr., Arn Pemberton, Scott Pemberton Jr., Kaleb Lee Arnold Pemberton, Michael Stillday, Todd Brandon, Brady Brandon, Ben Youngbear, Donovan English and Bryce Abrahamson