December Skye Vanwert

December Skye Vanwert, “Wahbanung” of the Turtle Clan, age 26, of Redby, Minnesota, passed away on Wednesday, February 24, 2021.  December was born December 17, 1994, in Bemidji, Minnesota, to Larry and Roberta (McGinnis) Vanwert.  She was raised in Redby and graduated from Clearbrook-Gonvick High School in 2013. December was studying Native Law at the Leech Lake Tribal College while working as a Counselor at Equay-Wiigamig, a women’s shelter in Red Lake.

December loved powwows and was a champion women’s traditional dancer, dancing in powwows all across the United States and Canada. First of all, though, she loved time with her son Dallen and hanging out with her brother Nass and special cousins Heather and Whitney. In addition to powwows and being with family and friends, she loved hockey, especially the Pittsburgh Penguins, and watching Marvel movies. She will be greatly missed for her loving heart and love of life.

Welcoming December to the Spirit World are her grandmother Gail Vanwert and grandfather Ronald McGinnis.  She will be greatly missed by her son Dallen Allen Vanwert; parents Lawrence and Roberta Vanwert Sr.; brother Lawrence (Nass) Vanwert, Jr.; special cousins Heather Vanwert and Whitney Vanwert; and many more family and friends.

A traditional wake for December will begin Saturday, February 27, 2021, at 5:00pm at the Redby Community Center, and will continue until the service on Monday, March 1,  at 10:00am.  Waa-maajaa’iwed will serve as Spiritual Leader. Casketbearers will be Earl Fairbanks, Lawrence Vanwert, Jr., Heather Vanwert, Whitney Vanwert, Lester Loud, Darren Cook, Jr., Darren DeFoe, Jr., and Opwaganse Goodwin. Honorary Casketbearers will be Athena Cloud, Sara Fairbanks, LuAnn Crowe-Fairbanks, Carolyn McGinnis, Karen Barrett, Angela Charnoski, Grace White, Alexis Mason, Eileen Miller, and April Kingbird-Miller. Interment will follow in the Redby Community Cemetery, Redby, MN.

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

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