Frieda Fairbanks

Frieda Nestling Fairbanks

Ishpimiw-ihkwe (Ojibwe Woman Reaching to the Sky)

November 20, 1924 – April 18, 2016

Frieda, a long-time resident of Oak Point, MN died peacefully on Monday the 18th of April in her home, after a yearlong battle with Multiple Myeloma.

Born in 1924 in Ponemah, MN., Frieda was the only child to Ben and Elizabeth Nestling. Enrolled in Red Lake Band of Chippewa Indians. She attended Ponemah Boarding School, Pipestone Indian School, and Squaw Point School House. She received her GED in 1967.

Frieda married Selam on August 16, 1950. They resided in Oak Point, moved to Minneapolis in 1961, and returned to Oak Point in 1979 until her death. Throughout her life Frieda liked to work; she was a WWII riveter, a house cleaner, and worked at Munsingwear in Minneapolis. Frieda was the historical matriarch to our family, her family was her life. She was a committed wife until Selam's death in 2003. Frieda was a faithful follower of Christ and a prayer warrior. Frieda will be loved and missed by her entire family and friends.

She is survived by daughters: Sharon (Anthony) Kotla, Oak Point, MN, Karen Moses, Oak Point, MN, Cynthia Jane Fairbanks, Oak Point, MN and Judith Fairbanks, Oak Point, MN; her adopted sibling, Stanley Nestling Chief, Onigum, MN; grandchildren: Ronald Shabaiash, Cass Lake, MN, Rachel Gagnon, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Christopher Shabaiash, Cass Lake, MN, Christina (Shawn) Gillingham, Jamestown, ND, James Moses, St. Cloud, MN, Jaycee (Ben) Garbow, Oak Point, MN, Lauretta (Faron) Blakely, Fargo, ND, Bryon Garbow, Cass Lake, MN, Sarah Strong, Cass Lake, MN, Beth Moses, Fargo, ND, Terry (Rikki) Robinson, Cass Lake, MN, Amber (Travis) Fairbanks, Cass Lake, MN, Kimberley (Kevin) Moses, Los Angeles, CA; 36 Great-grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ben Nestling and Elizabeth McGinnis; stepmother, Sarah Nestling; husband Selam Fairbanks; infant son, Benjamin Fairbanks; daughter, Barbara Alicia Fairbanks; Grandsons: Zachary Fairbanks and Skye Fairbanks; infant great-grandson Christopher Gagnon and her son-in-law James Moses.

Visitation will begin at 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, April 21, 2016 at Frieda's home, 13097 56th Ave. NW, Cass Lake, MN and continue until the service at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, April 22, 2016. Pallbearers will be: Ronald Shabaiash, Christopher Shabaiash, Byron Garbow, James Moses, Malachi Shabaiash, Darius Shabaiash and alternate Pallbearers will be: Benjamin Gotchie, Faron Blakely, and Natasha Shabaiash. Honorary Pallbearers will be: Stanley Chief, Shawn Gillingham, Anthony Kotla, Terry Robinson and all her grandchildren. Interment will be at the Chippewa Bible Chapel, Oak Point, MN.