George Cummings, Indian name Wasaygishig, 81, of Bena, died Friday, March 7, 2008, at North Country Hospital in Bemidji.
The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Veterans Memorial Building in Cass Lake with the Rev. George Collins officiating. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. today until the time of the service at the Veterans Memorial Building. Burial will be later in the spring in the Boy Lake Cemetery. The Dennis Funeral Home of Cass Lake assisted the family with arrangements.
He was born March 5, 1927, to Thomas and Susan (Bear) Cummings in Boy Lake Village in Rogers Township. He grew up, and when he turned 18, enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Following his time in the Navy, he re-enlisted in the U.S. Army. After his time in the military, he returned home and spent several years logging in the Crane Lake area, and then returned to the Bena area where he spent the last 30 or more years. He enjoyed hunting, trapping, and going for drives in the woods. Attending powwows were important to him, and he also liked to take photos of many things. He was a quiet man, never complaining, and always persisted in his circumstances.
He is survived by his sister, Helen Cummings; eight nieces; six nephews; and numerous grand-nieces, grand-nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Jerry Bruegger; sisters, Alice Burnette and Dorothy Smith; and brothers; Walter Cummings and Mark Cummings.
