It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, auntie, and friend Michelle Veniece Bird Otsskoipiiksa’kii (Blue Bird Woman) in Lethbridge, Alberta; at the age of 52 years.
Michelle was survived by her children Phobe (Cj), Brennon, Paul, Taylor, Carter (Simar), and baby Shadi Lady. Grandchildren; Harper, Aleeza, Karmin, Damon, Hayden, Caius, Georgia, Chypper, Maximus, Lincoln, Nicholas, Adonis, Alaila, Bailee, and Tanner. Mother Carol Bird; Sisters Edna, Alana (Warren), Lu Ann, Charlene, Lucille, Jeanine, Rolanda (Les); Brothers; Charles, Chad (Kate), Tim; Aunts; Paula Steinhauer, Diane (John) Bird, Lorna Bird, Nora, and Mary First Rider; Uncles; Harrison (Cynthia) Shade. Ervin First Rider. The late Arabella and Jiggs Creighton were her adoptive family.
Michelle received her education at various schools including Fleetwood Bowden Elementary, Stand-off Elementary, W. A. Day Elementary, and St. Mary's School, and later in life she received her diploma from Lethbridge Community College with the hopes of becoming a nurse. Though out the years Michelle worked in many departments including FCSS, BTA Custodian, and Stand-off Trading Post, as well as helping at her children’s schools throughout the years.
Michelle was a very devoted Catholic sometimes even walking to church in rain or snow, her church companions were Shadi, Karmin, and Junior B. Michelle was involved in the Search and Cursillo making her own in July 2004 her song being “Precious Jesus,” she enjoyed the walk on Good Friday from Stand-off to St. Mary's. Michelle was a continuous helper at the Sundance for whoever called upon her, she did this with extraordinary pride.
Michelle along with Preston Day Chief made a home together in Standoff for 20+ years. Michelle loved to camp and be around friends and family with food, fun, and laughter. Michelle would very often take whatever local kids she could fit into her vehicle at the time (sometimes it would be packed) to go to St. Mary’s Dam and Wally’s Beach. She would put together food and snacks so that the kids had a fun time and were full when they returned home. Michelle always had an open door and open heart to whoever needed a warm place to sleep, food in their bellies, or an ear to listen without judgment, she often had the response of just a kind smile instead.
Michelle enjoyed pow wow’s, picking berries, sage, and mint, she loved to be outdoors. Her interests included coloring, writing in her journals, watching her shows and movies, being with friends and family, and especially being with her grand kids. Michelle can be counted on to cook, clean, build and repair anything and everything that needed to be done whether that be at home with friends or family. She was always happy to help anyone who needed her, she was kind, loving, strong, proud, and loved all she encountered. She had the best funny stories from growing up and into her teen years which included many of her childhood partners in crime (you know who you are), as an adult she went on many adventures with family and friends like stealing Carol and Henry’s mafia car to Sundance to go hang out. When Carol and Henry settled in Moses Lake, and they were off on the pow-wow trail Michelle maintain the house and baby brother Chad. She was a friend to all who met her, to know her was to love her which is why she had so many adoptive “kids, brothers, and sisters.” She surrounded herself with a sense of family, family is where she was most comfortable. She made and kept friends everywhere she went.
Michelle was predeceased by her dad Henry Creighton, her father Randolph First Rider, brothers Marvin Ross, Desi Dusty, and Jason Beaver, sisters Shannon Louis and Raeanne Black Water; Aunts; Hazel Morning Bird, Gloria Black Plume – Bird, Delphine Yellow Old Woman, Doris Bird, Margret, Meridian, Rosabell, Joselyn First Rider; Uncles; Phillip and Harvey Morning Bird, Gilbert Wolf Plume, Clive, Herbert, Eddie “Bull Dog” First Rider; Grandparents Jane and George First Rider; Gordon and Louie Bird; adoptive grandparents Jim and Mary Rose Low Horn as well as numerous relatives and friends. Michelle’s family include Bird, Mountain Horse, Prairie Chicken, Crazy Bull, Morning Bird, First Rider, Hind Bull, Mistaken Chief, Chief Body, and Weasel Moccasin.
The family apologizes for anyone we may have missed
A Wake Service will be held at Moses Lake Community Hall, Blood Reserve from 6:00 - 11:00 pm on Monday, June 19, 2023. The Funeral Service will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Blood Reserve on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 11:00 am. Interment to follow in Blood Band Cemetery, Stand Off.
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Michelle was survived by her children Phobe (Cj), Brennon, Paul, Taylor, Carter (Simar), and baby Shadi Lady. Grandchildren; Harper, Aleeza, Karmin, Damon, Hayden, Caius, Georgia, Chypper, Maximus, Lincoln, Nicholas, Adonis, Alaila, Bailee, and Tanner. Mother Carol Bird; Sisters Edna, Alana (Warren), Lu Ann, Charlene, Lucille, Jeanine, Rolanda (Les); Brothers; Charles, Chad (Kate), Tim; Aunts; Paula Steinhauer, Diane (John) Bird, Lorna Bird, Nora, and Mary First Rider; Uncles; Harrison (Cynthia) Shade. Ervin First Rider. The late Arabella and Jiggs Creighton were her adoptive family.
Michelle received her education at various schools including Fleetwood Bowden Elementary, Stand-off Elementary, W. A. Day Elementary, and St. Mary's School, and later in life she received her diploma from Lethbridge Community College with the hopes of becoming a nurse. Though out the years Michelle worked in many departments including FCSS, BTA Custodian, and Stand-off Trading Post, as well as helping at her children’s schools throughout the years.
Michelle was a very devoted Catholic sometimes even walking to church in rain or snow, her church companions were Shadi, Karmin, and Junior B. Michelle was involved in the Search and Cursillo making her own in July 2004 her song being “Precious Jesus,” she enjoyed the walk on Good Friday from Stand-off to St. Mary's. Michelle was a continuous helper at the Sundance for whoever called upon her, she did this with extraordinary pride.
Michelle along with Preston Day Chief made a home together in Standoff for 20+ years. Michelle loved to camp and be around friends and family with food, fun, and laughter. Michelle would very often take whatever local kids she could fit into her vehicle at the time (sometimes it would be packed) to go to St. Mary’s Dam and Wally’s Beach. She would put together food and snacks so that the kids had a fun time and were full when they returned home. Michelle always had an open door and open heart to whoever needed a warm place to sleep, food in their bellies, or an ear to listen without judgment, she often had the response of just a kind smile instead.
Michelle enjoyed pow wow’s, picking berries, sage, and mint, she loved to be outdoors. Her interests included coloring, writing in her journals, watching her shows and movies, being with friends and family, and especially being with her grand kids. Michelle can be counted on to cook, clean, build and repair anything and everything that needed to be done whether that be at home with friends or family. She was always happy to help anyone who needed her, she was kind, loving, strong, proud, and loved all she encountered. She had the best funny stories from growing up and into her teen years which included many of her childhood partners in crime (you know who you are), as an adult she went on many adventures with family and friends like stealing Carol and Henry’s mafia car to Sundance to go hang out. When Carol and Henry settled in Moses Lake, and they were off on the pow-wow trail Michelle maintain the house and baby brother Chad. She was a friend to all who met her, to know her was to love her which is why she had so many adoptive “kids, brothers, and sisters.” She surrounded herself with a sense of family, family is where she was most comfortable. She made and kept friends everywhere she went.
Michelle was predeceased by her dad Henry Creighton, her father Randolph First Rider, brothers Marvin Ross, Desi Dusty, and Jason Beaver, sisters Shannon Louis and Raeanne Black Water; Aunts; Hazel Morning Bird, Gloria Black Plume – Bird, Delphine Yellow Old Woman, Doris Bird, Margret, Meridian, Rosabell, Joselyn First Rider; Uncles; Phillip and Harvey Morning Bird, Gilbert Wolf Plume, Clive, Herbert, Eddie “Bull Dog” First Rider; Grandparents Jane and George First Rider; Gordon and Louie Bird; adoptive grandparents Jim and Mary Rose Low Horn as well as numerous relatives and friends. Michelle’s family include Bird, Mountain Horse, Prairie Chicken, Crazy Bull, Morning Bird, First Rider, Hind Bull, Mistaken Chief, Chief Body, and Weasel Moccasin.
The family apologizes for anyone we may have missed
A Wake Service will be held at Moses Lake Community Hall, Blood Reserve from 6:00 - 11:00 pm on Monday, June 19, 2023. The Funeral Service will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Blood Reserve on Tuesday, June 20, 2023 at 11:00 am. Interment to follow in Blood Band Cemetery, Stand Off.
Click to Send the Family Condolences