Verna Rose Kingbird

Verna Rose Kingbird

Born: Mon., Oct. 13, 1952

Died: Thu., May 12, 2016

Visitation

12:00 PM Sat., May 14, 2016

Location: Ponemah Boys and Girls Club

Traditional Native Service

2:00 PM Mon., May 16, 2016

Location: Ponemah Boys and Girls Club

Verna Rose Kingbird, "Zoongkwe" which means Strong Woman, of the Eagle Clan, age 63, of Ponemah, began her spiritual journey on Thursday, May 12, 2016 at the Havenwood Care Center in Bemidji, with her family by her side. She was born on October 13, 1952 in Red Lake, the daughter of Fred Kingbird, Sr. and Sarah (Horton) Kingbird.

Verna was a very kind hearted person who enjoyed taking care of her grandchildren, especially Dion and John. She loved her grandchildren deeply. She would always let people stay at her home when they didn't have a place to go. Verna loved doing puzzles, reading books, traveling to the casinos, going to pow-wows, attending ceremonies, doing crossword puzzles, and spending time with her family and her grandchildren. She had a great sense of humor and loved joking around and making people laugh. Verna will be sadly missed by all those who knew her.

Those family that Verna joins again are her parents; Fred and Sarah, sisters; Lillian (Jones) Kingbird, Grace (Perkins) Kingbird, Regina (French) Kingbird and Elsie Bruyere, brothers; Gerry Kingbird and Fred Kingbird, Jr., special brother; Peter Black and her significant other; John William Parker, Jr., an aunt; Eliza Medicine, numerous other aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.

The family that she leaves behind to cherish her memory are a son; Damian Kingbird of Bemidji, daughters; Jonessa and Shaulissa Kingbird both of Ponemah, sisters; Mardel (Roland) Iceman, Elsie (Robert) Rushman, and Judy French all of Ponemah, brothers; Alfred "Togie" Kingbird, Sr. and Rudy Kingbird all of Ponemah, adopted children; Robert Lightfeather, Shawna Reyna, Conrad "Ox" Kingbird, Amber Johnson and Crystal Halfred-Kingbird, and seven grandchildren.

A wake for Verna will begin at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, May 14, 2016 and will continue until the 2:00 p.m. service on Monday, May 16, all held at the Boys and Girls Club in Ponemah. Spiritual advisor will be Allen Hardy. Pallbearers for Verna will be Josh Kingbird, Sr., Robert Rushman, Jr., Steven Coloff, Christopher Hurd, Mikey French and T'Jay Kingbird. Alternate pallbearers will be Zach Rushman, Kevin Martin and Jerrell Martin. Honorary pallbearers are Sacheen Waybenais, Eunice Lightfeather, Yolanda French, Bruce Taylor, Jr., Glenda Martin, Rose Rosebear, Sandra Brown, Candida Rodriguez, Lolita Rodriguez, Zenaida Iceman, Kristy Sumner and numerous nieces and nephews. Interment will be held in the Kingbird Family Burial Grounds at Ponemah Point. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred.

Verna's Care has been entrusted to the Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker, MN. Online condolences for the family may be given at http://www.northernpeace.com