Brenda Ann Northbird

Brenda Ann Northbird, age 64, "Chi-Mookomaanikwe" which means "Big Knife Woman", Migizi Clan, of Cass Lake, Minnesota began her journey to the spirit world on Friday, December 5th, 2025, from the Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, North Dakota. She was born to Adella (Stillday) and Louis Northbird, Sr. on Saturday, April 19, 1961, in Cass Lake, MN.

For the last 40 years, Brenda worked for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe in various positions. In her younger days, she was a star basketball player and was part of Jerry's Girls softball team for years. Continuing with her competitive nature, she loved playing darts and washers with family/friends. Back in the days before children, Brenda used to gather up all her nieces and nephews for family volleyball and basketball games. She made it a point to be wherever her grandchildren were playing their sports; watching her grandson Jaxon play basketball, baseball and football also watching her granddaughter Kaiden play volleyball and softball. When Brenda was no longer able to throw darts she enjoyed watching and supporting RyAnn and her dad Stan while they competed.

Her personality was magnetizing and charismatic. She made friends easily and was always the life of the party. Brenda enjoyed singing karaoke and going out dancing. She loved attending powwows and cooking, hosting many family cookouts throughout the years. Brenda's contagious and giving spirit will be forever missed by all who loved her.

Brenda is welcomed to the spirit world by her son; Scott Bowstring, parents; Adella and Louis Northbird, Sr., brothers; Gerald, Wesley "George", Gordon, Louis "Acey" Jr., and Patrick Northbird, sisters; Arlene and Melvina Northbird, nephews; Darryl and Brian Northbird, nieces; Victoria and Nicole Northbird, and her best friend; Lisa Schulman.

Family left behind to cherish her memory are her daughter; RyAnn Howard (Michael "Bart" Isaacson), brother; Eugene Northbird, sister; Lois "Dolly" Northbird, sister in-laws; Chyrle LaDuke and Cathy Howard, grandchildren; Kaiden "Kaidster" Howard and Jaxon Isaacson, special daughters; Christine Goggleye, Karen "Kaye" Anoka, Diane Koutsky, and Rochelle "Rollie" Jackson, special friends; Stan and Leona Howard, the Anishinababe Dart Team (Brenda, Arlene, Lisa, and Cathy), and The Granny Squad (Brenda, Crystal, Betsy, Cathy, and Christina), extended children; Stan Jr., William, and Patrick Howard, Kortni, Kalli, Kody, and Kyle "Snake Eyes" Kohlhoff, including the Stillday, Cloud, Kingbird, Johnson, and Greenleaf families from Red Lake and Ponemah, also including numerous nieces, nephews, other family members and many friends.

The wake for Brenda will begin at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, December 8th and continue until her 10:00 a.m. traditional services on Wednesday, December 10th all being held at the White Earth Family Center in Cass Lake, MN. Zac Earley and Ty Stately will be her Spiritual Advisors with the Northbird Drum Group singing. Helping to lay Brenda to rest will be Eddie Lone, Hubert "Buddy" Braman, Dave Jones, Sr., Mike Bowman, Brian "Muffin Man" Anoka, and Pat Estey. The alternate pallbearers are Russell Northbird, Sr., Ricky LaDuke, Bubba Grayhawk, and Ethan Northbird. Her honorary pallbearers are Ernest "T-Bass" Howard, Betsy Allen, Brenda Rice, Von White, Crystal Kraskey and all her family and friends. Interment will be in the Northbird Family Burial Grounds at Cass Lake, MN following her Wednesday service.

Brenda's care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker, MN. Online condolences for the family may be left at www.northernpeace.com