Elizabeth E. Kingbird

Elizabeth E. Kingbird,  Naa-tum-mii-gaa-bowiid "Standing Leader", age 91, began her journey to the spirit world on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.

Elizabeth was born on June 16, 1934, to Peter Baptiste and Edith Youpee in Red Lake, MN. She grew up in Ponemah and was raised by her mother, Edith, and Andrew Sigana. She graduated from high school, she attended BSU, she worked in a variety of jobs, Comp Health, School Bus Driver,  Ojibwe Language Speaker and teacher in the language immersion schools of the Red Lake Nation, namely Waasabiik Ojibwemotaadiwin, and eventually Endazhi-Nitaawiging Charter also of the Red Lake Nation. She was enrolled in the Fort Peck Tribes, Poplar Montana. Elizabeth met and married William Hardy and had three daughters, Lucina, Williamette and Maxine Hardy.  They divorced and she met and married Louis C. Kingbird Sr, who raised her daughters as his own. Louis and Elizabeth gave birth to two sons, Louis Jr (Roberta) and Oriole (Vicky) Kingbird. The family traveled across NDN Country to Powwows and had an all Women's Drum group called The Lone Eagle Singers. She was an all-around dancer, traditional, jingle dress, or fancy Shawl, she did it all.  She played softball, basketball and at one time subbed for the TBirds in a tournament as their players had all fouled out. Mom was the only woman on the basketball court.  She lived for 15 years missing the love of her life our Dad, Louis Kingbird Sr. At the time of her passing, she had a grand total of 33 Grandchildren and 74 Greats and Great great-grandchildren.

Elizabeth was preceded in death by her Parents: Edith and Andrew Sigana and Peter Baptiste; Grandparents: Helen and Joe Brush Horn and Frank Youpee; Sisters: Ruby, Lucina, Merida Baptiste, Zola Begs His Own, Alameda Roche; Brothers: Peter Jr and LaVan Baptiste; Daughters: Lucina Oakgrove and Maxine Hardy; Grandchildren: Delma and Stacy Hardy, Gideon and Harlene Hardy, LaVan Stillday, & Matthew Morrison, Great-Grandchildren: Benjamin & Marcus Johnson, Liam Kingbird, Jacob Kingbird, and Francisco Marquez and one Angel too perfect for this world; and nieces/nephews: Celeste St John, Josephine “Rocki” Youpee, Sheila and Darwin Hardy, Kathy Begs His Own and Oh’oshecha Defoe.

She is survived by Sons: Louis (Roberta) Kingbird Jr, Oriole (Vicky) Kingbird; Daughter: Williamette Hardy/Morrison; and Sisters: Andrea Sigana-St John of Moorhead, Minnesota, and Ilona Jo Youpee of Wolf Point, Montana.

A traditional wake will begin at Noon on Monday, August 18, 2025 at the Ponemah Boys & Girls Club in Ponemah and continue until the service at 10AM on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, with Allen Hardy officiating. Active Pallbearers will be Andrew French, Coby French, Trovell Stillday, Nicholas Johnson, Trevor Kingbird and Darris Kingbird. Alternates: Tyler Davidson, Oriole Johnson, Richard Defoe Jr and Edward Rodriguez Jr. Honorary Pallbearers are nieces/nephews Chaske St John, Esther and Edith St John, Opie Defoe, Jerry Lynn Begs His Own, and Karen Martin, Sophia Jacobsen, Tina Johnson, Naomi Long, Fran Miller, Staff and former coworkers, including Warroad Casino, all of the Obashing Community and all her grandchildren. Miigwech to Powwow trails and friends made. Burial will be at the Family Burial Grounds. Arrangements provided by Whispering Pines Funeral & Cremation Service of Northern Minnesota.

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