Marlys Jean Kingbird

Our Creator God took Marlys Jean Kingbird into his loving arms to be in heaven for eternity. Marlys passed away Wednesday, January 16, 2013 at Havenwood Care Center in Bemidji with her family by her side.

Funeral Services will be 1:00 pm, Saturday, January 19, 2013 at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bemidji with Eli Hunt officiating. Visitation will be 5:00-7:00pm, Friday, January 18, 2013 at the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bemidji and 1 ½ hours prior to the service at the funeral home on Saturday. A Spring Interment will be at the St. Antipas Episcopal Cemetery in Redby, MN.

Marlys was a graduate of Bemidji High School, Class of 1951, where she was ranked third in her class academically. Marlys loved to go to church and while attending Mokum Bible School at Mission Corner in Cass Lake she met her husband McKinley Kingbird. The couple was sent to Los Angeles, CA in 1957 on the Indian Relocation Program to find employment. In 1958 they moved back to Minnesota and made their home in Minneapolis for a short time and then bought their home in Circle Pines, MN, where they raised their children. Marlys lived there for 40 years. She loved watching her son Mike play sports from the time he was a young boy all the way through college. She also enjoyed many dinners and Holiday Meals at her daughter Kathy's home. She worked for 3M Company in St. Paul as a Senior Production Coordinator for 34 years up until her retirement. In 2001 she and her daughter Karen ventured to Tennessee to be with her daughter Sandy. Two years later Marlys was diagnosed with dementia and the family moved back to Minnesota in 2007. After all her children flew the coup, Marlys became an advocate for Israel and she loved the Jewish people and worked with the US Christian Embassy to Israel. Marlys was invited to teach about Israel and show her slide shows around the twin cities area, she made twelve trips to Israel, each time taking medical supplies, hand lotions and toys for the orphans. Three of her children also made the trip to the Beautiful Land where Jesus walked and taught. The family of Marlys Kingbird is rejoicing that the Lord has called their mother home to see the Face of Jesus.

Marlys was preceded in death by her oldest son Scott Lee Kingbird and her ex-husband McKinley Kingbird along with her parents, Evelyn and Harry Burt of Bemidji and one brother Gary Burt of Montana.

Marlys is leaving behind four granddaughters Rachel, Katie, Rene, and Adena, and one grandson Darcy. She will be in heaven waiting for her son and daughters: Mike Kingbird, of Bemidji, Sandy Kingbird of Cass Lake, Kathy O'brien of Blaine, MN and Karen Kingbird in Anoka, MN.

Messages of condolence may be left at http://www.ceasefuneralhome.com.