Bernadette Marie McDonald

Bernadette “Bernie” Marie Mazakahomni Feather McDonald Wahacaka Waste Win Good Cane Woman Bernadette “Bernie” Marie Mazakahomni Feather McDonald, 61, of the Spirit Lake Nation journeyed to the Spirit World on Friday, May 5th at home with her loved ones by her side. Mass of Christian Burial for Bernadette will be held on Wednesday, May 10th at 10:00 a.m. at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. Fr. Paul Ruge will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery. Her Wake and Prayer service will be held at St. Michael’s Tekakwitha Center on Tuesday beginning at 5:00 p.m. The Rosary Service will be held at 8:00p.m. Music will be provided by Carol Greywater, Steffan Greywater, and Troy Woods Jr., and other family & friends. The procession to the Tekakwitha Center will leave from Walmart parking lot at 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday. Bernie was born August 8, 1944 at Fort Totten Hospital, the daughter of Moses & Clara (Belgarde) Mazakahomni Feather. She was raised in St. Michael and attended school at Little Flower Catholic school, Flandreau Indian School, Maddock High School, and graduated from Warwick High School. She grew up in a happy house with her sisters & brothers and enjoyed riding horses, climbing trees, attending “record hops,” and pow-wows. She met Samuel V. Windy Boy while attending Flandreau Indian School and married him in June of 1965. She traveled the world and saw many countries. In that marriage one child was born. Later they divorced, and Bernie met Joe Alberts and had one son. At the beginning of her adult life she was employed at Mercy Hospital as a nurse’s aid, and then worked with her best friend Diane Woods at The Ranch restaurant where she was a waitress. Bernie was employed with the Spirit Lake Tribe for several years. She then met in 1974 and married her life-long love Demus McDonald on February 22, 1978 in Crookston, MN and had four daughters and because she loved children so much she adopted two sons; they then renewed their vows on July 7, 1997 by Fr. Edward Sherman at St. Michael’s Catholic Church. Also, she and Diane worked at Sioux Manufacturing Corporation for several years, and worked as the Director of the Young Families Program where she and Diane took care of many, many babies who affectionately called them “grandma.” She then worked at Four Winds School as a cook for seven years (again with her best friend Diane at her side) and became fond of many students who she grew to love and care about throughout the years. After Bernie and Diane retired from Four Winds, they enjoyed spending many hours playing Bingo, Yahtzee, picking June berries, hosting picnics & parties, and traveling with both their families. One of her favorite pastimes was spending hours visiting at her friends and relatives homes, especially her sisters Cecelia and Eldora’s houses, where there was plenty of laughter and good times. She also spent a lot of time on the phone with her special Aunt Elizabeth “Grandma Lizbeth” Robertson who was the unofficial counselor of the family. Bernie spent plenty of time with the love of her life Demus traveling, going on dates, talking, and enjoying their 32 years together raising their children. Bernadette enjoyed life and brought joy to all that she met. She loved her grandchildren very much and would do anything for them. The grandkids always knew that “Grandma Bernie” would spoil them and buy them anything they wanted. She was a very generous and kind person who would help anybody who was in need. Serving as active casket bearers for Bernadette will be Loren Fox, Steven Potts, Rob Greywater, Damian Blackbird, Preston Feather, Pete Feather, Greg Feather Jr., and Nathan Jones Jr. Honorary pallbearers are Father Paul Ruge, Betty Flynn, Corey Ploium, Dr. Montaniel, Dale Fitzke, Dr. Mendoza, Joann Redroad, Pauline & Mike Greywater, Perry Kopp, Dr. Corbett, Daine ?????, Home Healthcare/Hospice nurses of Devils Lake (Melissa, Sharon, and Cheryl), Ambrose “Gumby” Lawrence, Merle Whitetail, Roberta Dunn, Joy Yankton, Shelly Luger & Galen Robertson, Clarise Brownshield & Donovan Robertson, Jennifer Feather Drake, Shelly Robertson, Robin Redroad, Chris Redroad, Kristen Walkingeagle- Gaking, Sara Fox, Gail Black Cloud, Frank & Dana Black Cloud, Gloria Yankton, Melissa Feather, Tanya Feather, Wayne Trottier Sr., Dinah Aceveda, Sandra McDonald, Sam McKay, Nola Lopez, Evie McDonald, Tony & Vina McDonald, Liz Nelson, Esther Abraham, Eunice Davidson, Rustin Iceman, Donovan Lambert, Robert Brown Jr., Daniel Dubois III, Lenny Redtomahawk, Lashawnda “Rosie” Fassett, Arthur Feather, Oscar Feather, Delma Feather, Misty Feather, Don Harrison Jr., Tamara Mazakahomni, Bob Greywater, Pamela Greywater, Zona Loans Arrow, Kenny & Bev Greywater, Pete Belgarde Jr., Donnie Belgarde, Beatrice Joramo, Lilly Owlboy, Dean & Sonta Dauphinais, Josie & Clarice Lawrence, Rena Anderson, Wigs Anderson, Tony & Deb Lavallie, Sherry Anderson, Melody Anderson, Sharon Anderson, Patricia Anderson, Hancock & Lila Anderson, Deborah Anderson, William Paul Windyboy, Doris One Horn, Celeste Herman, Jack Dauphinais, Bobby Joe Bull, Grayson Dye, Wade Ross, All her bingo buddies and bingo staff at Spirit Lake Bingo, Veronica Feather, Virgil “Smurf” Feather, Cheryl Feather, Richard Feather, Stacy Feather Jr., Ila Feather, Calvin Feather, Randell Feather, Mary Ann Blackbull, Sharon Ann Feather, Valentina Martin, Brian Alberts, Louise (Robert)Stump, Rena (Bimbo) Lenoir, Lois Leban, Myra Pearson, Cheryl Fox, Michael Thompson III and the Respiratory Therapy Staff (Fran and Rick). Grateful to be sharing Bernie’s life are beloved husband Michael “Demus” McDonald; her dear children Clarice (Loren) Fox of Devils Lake, Raymond “Joe” (Bobbie) Windyboy of Cannonball, ND, Elrae (Steven) Potts of Fort Totten, Jana McDonald of Fort Totten, Joann (Joe) McDonald of Fort Totten, Justine (Wade) McDonald-Ross of Devils Lake, Michael “Mikey” J. McDonald of Fort Totten, and Anthony “Tony” Goodbird of Fort Totten; Stepdaughters Jackie Whitethunder (and son), Anita McDonald (and children), and Yolanda McDonald (and children) all of Newtown, ND; grandchildren Joelle, JoLynn, JoVon, Jonah, Joetta, Michael “Eddie,” McKayla, Mashelle “Shelli,” Ezra, Jordan “Ruby,” Josiah “Joey Baby,” Brayden, Jessenia “Sugar,” and Bobby Jaye; Sisters Eldora (Jack) Feather, Cecelia (Nathan) Jones, Lavern (Alvin) Bear; brothers Ivan (Darlene) Black Cloud, Greg (Lavonne) Feather Sr., and Allen Fassett; Her very special and best friend Diane “Ozzy” Woods; Adopted sisters Lolita Gourd, Delemma Greywater, and Catherine Howard; Adopted daughters Laura “Doda” Smith, Shannon Demarce, Clarice “Maggie” Jones, Jocelyn Alberts Casillas, Janelle Fassett, Erlinda McKay, Wanda Waanatan, and Sheila McLaughlin; Adopted sons Perry Fassett, Mark Fassett, Robert Greywater Jr, Larry Meyers of Rocky Boy, MT, Preston Feather, Emmit Snell, and Duane Littlewind; Special grandchildren Cody Fassett, Perry “Googs” Fassett Jr. Damian Blackbird, Cassandra McDonald, and Chantel Dubois; and many other family & friends. She is proceeded in death by her maternal & paternal grandparents; parents Moses and Clara; brothers Raymond, Bruce, & Moses Jr.; sisters Cynthia, Twila, & Cissy; twin girl grandchildren (Clarice & Loren); Aunts Elizabeth Robertson, Mary Louise Simonson, Rose Jolson, Mary Johnson, Catherine Belgarde, Delia Handy, Geannie Abraham, and Agnes Littleghost; Uncles Joe, Frank & Alex Belgarde, Joe, Jesse, & James Mazakahomni; special granddaughters Clara Marilizabeth Cavanaugh & Lindsey Littlewind; Nephews Glen & Mark Black Cloud, Troy Woods Sr., and Duane McDonald; niece, Pamela Rose Mazakahomni. Friends may sign the online register book at www.gilbertsonfuneralhome.com