Tanya Jean Kingbird

Tanya Jean Kingbird

March 20, 1980 ~ March 27, 2017 (age 37)

Tanya Jean Kingbird, "Ishpiimiiwiikwe" which means "Spirit Woman", 37 years young, of Ponemah, Minnesota and the Kingfisher Clan, journeyed to the spirit world on March 27, 2017 from the Red Lake IHS Hospital. She was born on March 20, 1980 in Bemidji, MN to Romona Kingbird.

Tanya spent the first few years of her life in Ponemah before her attending elementary school in Wahpeton, ND. She then attended and graduated from the Riverside Indian School in Oklahoma. After high school she moved back to Minnesota and took some housekeeping work and was currently employed at the 7 Clans Casino in Thief River Falls as a Security Guard. When she wasn't working she enjoyed playing games on her phone and doing her word find puzzles. Tanya liked spending time with her friends but she cherished the time she spent with her son Jaden.

Tanya is welcomed to the spirit world by her grandparents; Julia and John Kingbird, Alma and Robert Iceman, Katherine and Murphy Thomas, Sr. and her step dad; Robert Thomas and other family members.

She leaves behind her son; Jaden Kingbird, mother and step father; Mona and Herb Nelson, Sr., brother; Bob Kingbird, aunties; Andrea (Dave) Rosebear, Roberta (Sam) Syed, Carol Martin, Phyllis Iceman, Pricilla Iceman, Barb and Janet Thomas, uncles; John (Rita) Kingbird, Roland Iceman, Sr., Kenneth Iceman, Irvin Iceman and Murphy Thomas, Jr., great aunt; Joanie Neadeau, great uncle; Lyman Kingbird, nephews; Aaron and Ryan Kingbird, other relatives and many friends.

A wake for Tanya will begin at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, March 30th and continue until her traditional services at 12:00 p.m., on Saturday, April 1st all being held at the Boys and Girls Club in Ponemah, MN. Her spiritual advisor will be Zac Mitteness. Pallbearers for Tanya will be John Kingbird III, Gilbert Rosebear, David M. Rosebear, Kevin Martin, Jr., Brian Rosebear, and Kevin Andersen. Alternate pallbearers are Truxton Andersen and Henry Donnell, Jr. Her honorary pallbearers are Fleurette Warner, Cindy Kingbird, Angel Rosebear, Alisha Thomas, Rhonda Rosebear, Devon Andersen and Brittney Rosebear and all her friends. Interment will be in the Family Burial Grounds at Ponemah following her Saturday service.

Tanya's care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker. Online condolences for the family may be left at http://www.northernpeace.com.