- Date Of Birth: December 7, 1943
- Date Of Death: April 23, 2018
- State: Minnesota
Melvina Northbird, “Zhoonii’aawasek“ which means “Money Making Woman“, age 74, of Cass Lake, Minnesota journeyed to the spirit world on April 23, 2018 from Sanford Hospital in Bemidji, MN. She was born on December 7, 1943 in Buck Lake, MN, the daughter of Louis and Adella (Stillday) Northbird, Sr.
Melvina attended the Buck Lake Country School and Bemidji High School and completed her GED studies in 1964. She then attended Cosmetology School where she received her license. Melvina worked at the Greenside Beauty Shop for about five years when she met Richard Allen Burnette.
They started a family together, after Richard was born, she took a position with the Chippewa National Forest as a cartographer for two years. Melvina worked for the Cass Lake/Bena School in the Indian Education Department on the Johnson O’Malley project for about five years. Over the next eight years, Melvina focused her time of raising her growing family. While raising her five children, she would help Richard in the sawmill of Richard Burnette Logging. When all her children were in school, she took a job with the Leech Lake Housing for the next three years. She decided that she enjoyed working at the school and went back as a para-professional in the English Department. She spent ten years there and while there she took a part-time job at the Palace Casino, which eventually became her full-time job. Melvina enjoyed cleaning cabins during the summer months for the Birch Villa Resort and doing some light housekeeping for Teal’s.
Melvina was an avid reader who liked to do crosswords, words with friends, sudoku and other puzzles. She also enjoyed watching cooking shows and trying the recipes out.
Melvina is welcomed to the spirit world by her parents; Louis and Adella Northbird, Sr., son; Scottie Bowstring, brothers; Jerry “The Bear”, Gordon “Uncle Mack”, Georgie “Georgie Pordgie” and Louis “Acey” Northbird, Jr., sister; Arlene “Sampson” Northbird, grandparents and other relatives.
Those she leaves behind to cherish her memory are sons; Richard (Justin Rierson) Northbird of Hutchinson and David Northbird, Sr. of Cass Lake, daughters; Victoria and Sheila Northbird both of Cass Lake and Tina (Kuna) Northbird of Bemidji, brothers; Gene “Sauca Doo” and Patrick “Moozininii” (Cheryle LaDuke) Northbird, sisters; Lois “Dolly” and Brenda “Ms. B” Northbird, grandchildren; Bubba “Makoons” and Sissy “Little House” Grayhawk, Julia “JuJu” Pacheco, David “Baby Dave” Northbird, Jr., Rhianna “Nana” Northbird and Keegan “Lil Sweetheart” Dreher, many aunties, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends.
