Andrew Joseph Auginash

Andrew Joseph Auginash “Mazinaanakwad” (Fancy Cloud), age 41, began his spiritual journey home to Heaven to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, August 29, 2021, from Duluth, Minnesota.

Andy was born in Red Lake, MN on July 18, 1980, to the late Bill Pepion of Browning, Montana, and Trudy Kingbird of Redby. He was raised in Redby where he loved to hunt and fish with his uncles. He was a great fisherman, always catching many walleye.  Andy attended Red Lake schools, graduating in 1998. He was No. 44 on the first Red Lake Warriors boys basketball team to make that famous trip to the State Tournament in 1997. Those memories were very precious to him. He was also voted Prom King by his peers. Andy attended Northwest Technical College where he obtained a two-year degree as Forestry Technician and graduated at the top of his class.

Andrew met the love of his life, Alisha Beaulieu, and they had four beautiful daughters and one son. Alisha and Andy lived in Duluth with their family for five years. Through life’s many trials and difficulties, they remained together and married in a beautiful ceremony surrounded by their children. Their wedding day was one of the happiest day of their lives.  Alisha recently passed away, which broke Andy’s heart. He now joins Alisha in the Spirit world where things are new and their bodies are restored and are perfect.

Andy made many friends in Duluth and Red Lake. He also had family on the Blackfeet Nation. He loved both his Red Lake Nation and Blackfeet heritage. When visiting Glacier National Park, he would say to the park rangers with authority, “I AM BLACKFEET!” and the Park Rangers would wave us into the park!  Andrew loved seeing the mountains and the wildlife, and was amazed by the Bighorn sheep fighting. He saw a mother grizzly and her two cubs in the highlands. 

Andrew enjoyed talking to his Auntie Sue every day. He had a lot of friends and kept in touch with them. He loved going to his favorite restaurants – Mi Rancho in Bemidji and Famous Dave’s in Canal Park.  Most importantly, Andrew was very proud of his kids. He loved spending time with his son, Ian, and daughters Delayna, Alliyah, Tylah, and Kira. He loved his godson, Dan Sayers, very much, and  every day he would tell them he loved them.

Andy usually called home and asked about his brother Ryan. One night he called his Mom and said his name just got drawn at Fon-du-Luth Casino for $50,000. Trudy told him to call tomorrow and thought he was giiwashkwebii and hung up on him.  There are so many funny stories to tell about Andy. He had a way of making us laugh. He would say, “Mom, guess what happened? Don’t get mad now and I will tell you!”  Andrew cooked the best walleye with fry bread. He loved his cousins and friends dearly.

Andrew is survived by his mother Trudy Kingbird; stepfather Darryl Kingbird; brother Ryan Auginash; son Ian Auginash; daughters Delayna, Alliyah, Tylah, and Nikera Auginash; brother Jay Pepion; sisters Billy Jo Still Smoking and Laura Sue Pepion; stepsisters Michelle and Sheena Kingbird; aunts Susan Auginash, Roxanne (Darell) Johnson and Mary (Tom) Charnoski; uncles Bill Auginash and Fred (Bridget) Auginash; and special godson Dan Sayers.

Family he joins are his beloved wife Alisha; grandparents McKinley and Marcella Auginash, Carol Racine Pepion, and Gene Grant; father Bill Pepion; brother Willy Pepion; cousins Lucinda Auginash and Jared Johnson; and other family members.

A wake for Andrew will begin Wednesday, September 1, 2021, at 2:00pm at the Redby Center and will continue until his service on Thursday, September 2, 2021 at 1:00pm. Pastor Mitch Johnson will officiate. Active pallbearers will be Ian Auginash, Alliyah Auginash, Ryan Auginash, Dan Sayers, Arn Oakgrove III, Darian Auginash, Tom Charnoski Jr., and Chad Auginash.  Alternate pallbearers will be Bill Stately, Shawn Chaboyea, and Dallas Martin. Honorary pallbearers will be Delayna, Tylah and Nykira Auginash, Toni Wells, Maria Barghultz, Melanie Quaderer, Victoria Stately, Clarissa Smith, Jolene Lynn, Tanya Auginash, Jana Auginash, Susan Auginash, Darilyn Johnson, Dani Downwind, Anna King, Keith Neadeau Jr. Lee Beaulieu, Gerald Bud Beaulieu, Jamie Auginash Sr., DeAndre Wells, Miley Sayers, Josh Mostad, Troy Gillman, Tyra Smith, Robin Auginash, Rick Auginash, Ann Auginash, and the 1997 Red Lake Warriors Basketball Team Members and Coach Jack Desjarlait. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery, Red Lake, Minnesota.

Arrangements are being provided by Whispering Pines Funeral & Cremation Service, Walker MN,

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