Bernadine Darla "Bernie" Ironhawk-Littlewind

Bernadine “Bernie” Darla Ironhawk Littlewind, 53, of Newport, OR, formerly of St. Michael, ND, exhaled her last sacred breath and entered into the Spirit World on Sunday, May 26, 2013 at her home. The Wake for Bernie will be held at the Tekakwitha Center, St. Michael on Sunday, June 2, 2013 beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 8:00 p.m. The procession to St. Michael will leave at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday from Wal-Mart. Mass of the Resurrection will be on Monday, June 3rd at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church with Fr. Anthony Hession celebrating the Mass. Bernie will be laid to rest in St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery. Music will be provided by the Eagle Tail Singers, GXP and any other drum groups who would like share their songs and music in memory of Bernie. Active Casket Bearers will be Bernie’s nephews and adopted son Michael Onebear, Jr., Bennett Swifthawk, Michael Ironhawk, Robert Ironhawk, Roger Ironhawk, Derek Ironhawk, Darwin Brown and Ryan Johansen. Honorary Pallbearers: Josie and Clarice Lawrence, Stacy Driver, Leona DeMarce, John Paul and Kim Ellis, John and Linda Ellis, Sara Ellis, Schale, Kent and Valerie Larson, Ruth Fletcher, Ella LaFrombois, Mary Jane Blanchfield, Cecelia Cavanaugh, Aggie Cavanaugh (Cornell Good Thunder), Elders of the Spirit Lake Tribe, all of Bernie’s many friends and extended family. Bernie was born April 10, 1960 in Devils Lake, ND to the Benedict Ironhawk and Elizabeth Lawrence. She was raised in the St. Michael’s District and rural Tokio and was educated at the Little Flower Indian Mission and Fort Totten School. Bernie attended Kicking Horse Job Corps in Montana where she completed her formal education. She later attended college at Mary College in Bismarck and Lake Region State College in Devils Lake. She was employed at Sioux Manufacturing Corporation and Dakota Tribal Industries in her early years. Bernie has a very close spiritual relationship with the Lord and was very devoted to making her children have a strong spiritual connection with the Lord. She developed a close relationship with John Paul and Kim Ellis when they were ministering at the Faith Bible Baptist Church in Devils Lake. Bernie enjoyed traveling and visited many different states, most recently making her home in Newport, OR. She found comfort being close to the ocean and enjoyed her long walks on the beach and hearing the songs of the water. In 2006 she suffered a traumatic brain injury and with prayer miraculously survived the odds stacked against her. She was given a bleak prognosis of six months but endured up until her unexpected passing. Her beautiful smile and courageous spirit will be missed by everyone that knew her. Bernie is survived by her mother, Elizabeth Lawrence of New Rockford, ND; stepfather, Isaac Mallard of St. Michael; sons, Robert LIttlewind of Fort Totten, Raybert Littlewind of Fargo, Rocky Littlewind of Crary, ND, Ryan Aasendorf of Minot, ND; adopted son, Ryan Johansen of Fargo; daughter, Tanya (Bernard “Ben”) Rainbow of Lakota; grandchildren, Isaiah DeMarce,, Wamayanka and Anpao Littlewind; sisters, Bessie Ironhawk of Devils Lake, Sharlene Ironhawk of St. Michael, Darlys Ironhawk and Darcie Ironhawk of Devils Lake; brothers, Roudie Ironhawk, Jason Ironhawk all of Devils Lake; stepbrother, Raymond Mallard; special niece., Rebecca Shaffer; uncle, Joseph “Josie” Lawrence. Bernie was preceded in death by her grandparents, Andrew Ironhawk and Annie Greywind, Henry Lawrence and Lily Mabebaya; father, Benedict “Benny” Ironhawk; brothers, Benedict Jr., Dwayne, Marvin, Myron and Roger Ironhawk Sr.; granddaughter, Wicaghpi Duta Littlewind; aunts, Celina Ironhawk and Bertha DeMarce;