Lorna Beth Fairbanks

It is with our heavy heart that we announce the passing of our beloved daughter, sister, auntie "hantie", cousin, niece, friend, granddaughter, and storyteller.

Lorna began her spiritual journey early on Sunday morning, September 28th, 2025, surrounded by her family at Sanford Bemidji.

Lorna was born to LuAnn Crowe Fairbanks and Earl Fairbanks into the Bear Clan on an early Wednesday morning during a blizzard November 23rd, 1983. Her Anishinaabe name is Migizi Miigwan Ikwe (Eagle Feather Woman).

She attended Ponemah Elementary School, Red Lake Middle School, Red Lake High School, and graduated from from Flandreau Indian School in 2002 (Go FIS)! During her cancer diagnosis she was attending Northwest Technical College in Bemidji, Minnesota in the LPN program. Her graduation date would have been Spring 2026.

She was employed with Red Lake gaming after graduating from high school and then went into law enforcement working as a Red Lake Detention Officer for many years. From there she went into the healthcare system as a student, wanting to know more about tending to her community and higher education.

Lorna Beth is known for being a very outspoken young woman who spoke her mind, loved you hard and gave you tough love when you needed it. Her infectious laughing, as her uncle Sonny described was one of her best traits, will be sadly missed. Her colorful spunky hair was one of her favorite passionate things to do, for her hair color was the best part of her life along with her nieces, and nephews for whom she was very proud of. Working with elders and continuing learning our Anishinaabe lifeways and Ojibwemowin was what she loved to do. She was our family storyteller sharing stories of our past, present, and future Ojibwe way of life. Her best memory before cancer took her life, she had the honor of witnessing her nephew Christian Diesel become the newly crowned Obaashiing Brave at the Ponemah Labor Day Celebration this past year (recently).

Her homemade baked goodies, and hot cooked dinners during family gatherings will be missed. During her cooking times she would watch cooking tv shows to see what the newest and latest food trends was. She created her own recipe book from scratch – her food memoirs. Her favorite foodies to make were smoothies, homemade breakfast biscuits and gravy. She enjoyed making character birthday cakes for her nephew Christian which was the joy of her life. She was also a vivid Harry Potter fan who gifted her sisters, and nieces each new Harry Potter memorabilia to them each Christmas.

The family that welcomes her to her ancestral lands are her grandparents, Percy Stillday, Roseadelle Johnson, Daniel Crowe, Sr., and Margaret Crowe; uncles, Brian Crowe, Marlon Johnson, and Bradley Johnson; aunties, Lois Fairbanks and Noni Johnson; cousins, Brian Chee, Tyson Fairbanks, and Billie Jean; her beloved puppy dog Mr. B, Special friend Benji Blake, Jr. and childhood best friend, Stephanie Caldwell.

Those she leaves behind to cherish her memory are her parents, Earl and LuAnn (CroweFairbanks) Fairbanks; sisters, Laura (Lucas) Fairbanks, Susan (Brad) Fairbanks, Sara (Benjamin) Fairbanks; special brother, Lance (Ciarra) Crowe; special sisters, Janine (Tony) Perkins Two Bears, SueAnn Crowe, and Liah Graves; special uncles, William Hindsley, Dennis Williams, and Richard Street; special aunties Hazel Hindsley, Dana Williams, Theresa Loud and Melissa Brady; special nephews, Christian and Bryce who she helped to raise.

A wake for Lorna will begin at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 1, 2025 and continue until the 10:00 a.m. Traditional Service on Thursday, October 2, 2025 all held at the Boys and Girls Club in Ponemah. Spiritual advisor will be Zac Earley assisted by Ty Stately. Pallbearers will be Benjamin Kingbird, Lucas Therriault, Joseph Holds The Enemy, Lance Crowe, Eddie Perkins, Jr., Julius Johnson, and Stephen Dow. Alternate Pallbearers are Uncle Darrell, Diesel, Lawrence Perkins, Baby Darrell, Jeff Schoenborn, Anthony Boes and Ray Adams. Honorary pallbearers will be Bradley Johnson, Jr., Vickey Fineday, Flandreau Indian School Graduating Class 2002, Sheila Northbird, Suzanne Northbird, former coworkers of Neilson Place of Bemidji, and Cierra Wittner.

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