Frances Ann Strong

Frances Ann Strong

June 15, 1929 - September 12, 2017

Frances Ann Strong (Mazinaakizon Aanakwagookwe – Fancy Cloud Woman), 88 of Redby, MN died on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at Neilson Place in Bemidji, MN.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 pm on Saturday, September 16, 2017 at the New Redby Center in Redby, MN. A visitation will begin at 1:00 pm, with a wake to begin at 7:00 pm, Friday, September 15, 2017 at the New Redby Center and go until the time of the service. Interment will be at the St. Antipas Episcopal Cemetery in Redby, MN under the direction of the Cease Family Funeral Home in Bemidji.

She was born June 15, 1929 in Red Lake, MN the daughter of Michael and Louisa (Wadding) Bagley. The family later moved to Pine Point (Ponsford). She returned to Red Lake and worked for the Red Lake headstart as an ojibwe language teacher. She married Melvin W. Strong, Sr. November 16, 1952. She lived in Red Lake up until 7 years ago, due to health reasons, she moved to Bemidji. She enjoyed bowling, bingo, casino keno, and word find puzzles. She was a member of the Eagles Ladies Auxiliary and Women of the Moose.

She is survived by her children, Mildred “Millie” (Delwyn, Sr.,) Holthusen of Ponemah, Margaret Parkhurst of Minneapolis, Rex, Sr. (Elsie) Strong of Redby, Willy (Earlene) Strong of Redby, Mavis Strong of Redby, Melodie (Mike) Strong of Redby, Merrilee Jan “Buddha” Strong of Redby and Melvin (Yvonne) Strong, Jr.; adopted family, Peter Graves, Donald Graves, Sr., Bruce Burns, Adeline Goodman, Diane Hatlen, Elfreda Knutson, Maureen Lyons, Verna Bonga, and Joe Thunder, Jr.; special granddaughters, Marnelle Strong, Marida Seki and Maelyn Strong; 28 grandchildren, 49 great grandchildren and 13 great great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvin W. Strong, Sr., daughter, Marilyn June Strong, grandson, Wesley Strong, sisters, Isabelle Cordelia Hatlen and Marie Bongo-Wile, parents, brothers, Joe Bagley, George Bagley, and John George Bonga, and son-in-law, Joe Parkhurst.

Honorary casketbearers will be Delores Cloud-Hammit, Sharon Garrigan, Sandy Brown, Elaine Johnson, Maureen Lyons, Susan Johnson, Elizabeth Kingbird, Evangeline Beaulieu, Verna Bonga and Flora Jones.

Active casketbearers will be Delwyn Holthusen, Jr., Joseph Parkhurst, George Parkhurst, Rex Strong, Jr., Brandon Strong, Gary Strong, George Strong, and Brent Pemberton. Alternates will be Michael Seki, Sr., Darrin Skadshiem and Matthew Parkhurst.

Condolences may be left at ceasefuneralhome.com.