Louis "Acey" Northbird Jr., 51, of Cass Lake, died on Monday, Feb. 12, 2007, at Fairview University Hospital in Minneapolis, Minn.
Traditional funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday at the Veteran's Memorial Building in Cass Lake with Spiritual Leader Thomas Stillday Jr. officiating. A wake will begin at 3 p.m. today at the Veteran's Memorial Building and continue until the time of the service on Friday. The Cease Family Funeral Home of Bemidji assisted the family with arrangements.
Honorary pallbearers will be George Jenkins Sr., Earl Erion, Robert "Bob" Morgan, John "Joe" Raisch Sr., Gary Johnson, Darrell Ryan, Martin "Mutt" Robinson and Clem Nason.
Pallbearers will be Marvin Littlewolf, Russell Northbird Sr., Stanley Howard Sr., Thomas Reyes Jr., Dale Bohn, Robert "Bob" Ryan and alternate, Gilbert "Bert" Littlewolf Sr.
He was born on July 26, 1955, to Louis Sr. and Adella (Stillday) Northbird, in Red Lake. He was raised in Cass Lake. He attended school in both Cass Lake and Bemidji. He attended Staples AVTI and received his boiler license. He then went to the Bemidji Vo-Tech and got a degree in carpentry. He was well known for his carpentry skills. He also worked for the Indian Health Service and at the Palace Casino and Hotel. In 2002, he began instructing carpentry classes at the Leech Lake Tribal College. He worked for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (RTC) for more than 30 years.
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He loved to attend powwows, ceremonies, family gatherings, listen to country music and dance. He married Cathy Littlewolf on July 27, 2001, in Cass Lake. He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing and hunting. He liked to make people laugh and had a great sense of humor. He especially loved spending time with his nieces and nephews.
He is survived by his wife of Cass Lake; daughter, Nicole Northbird of Cass Lake; brothers, Gerald (Suzanne) Northbird Sr. of Cass Lake, Gordon (Peggy) Northbird of Cass Lake, Gene (Diana) Northbird of Cass Lake and Pat (Chyrle) Northbird of Cass Lake; sisters, Melvina, Lois, Arlene and Brenda Northbird, all of Cass Lake; and numerous nieces, nephews and relatives.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Leslie Northbird; a special nephew; and a grand-nephew.
