Barbara Jane Swift Eagle Birdsbill, “Wawokiya winyan” Helps Others Woman, 86, of Wolf Point, Montana passed away on December 3rd, 2023 in Browning, Montana. Barbara was born January 18,1937 in Poplar, Montana to Daniel Swift Eagle and Lucy Bow. Barbara was raised in Hogan Yutapi community, Ft.Kipp Montana, raised by her grandmother Agnes, great grandmother See’s End of Horn, Sterling and Mamie Red Eagle who also raised her brothers William and Alfred.
Barbara was an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux tribes and a member of the Church of Latter-day Saints in Wolf Point, MT. In 1953 she met Verdell Birdsbill, they married in Wolf Point, MT. They had three children: Carmen Dale, Colleen Ann and Charlene Kay. Barbara worked various jobs; she was a waitress at the Triangle Café, Huskies Diner, Jessi Supperclub, Ft. Peck Tribal gun factory, Bureau of Youth Services, Ft. Peck Tribal commodity office and she also served 5 terms on Ft. Peck Tribal Council from 1993-2003. She retired in 2003.
Barbara was a fluent speaker of her Sioux Language and also a founder of the Silver Wolf Casino along with Earlena Azure, Sonny Bill Whitehead, George (Fish) Redstone and Murle Lucas.
Barbara enjoyed playing bingo, gambling, playing machines, watching Carmen and her grandchildren play sports. Barbara is survived by her daughters Colleen Birdsbill, Linda Weeks, Lois Weeks, sister Mary High Eagle, Gloria Garcia. Grandchildren: Tamara Birdsbill, Benjamin Reddies, Loni Birdsbill-Grant, Courtney Reddies, Elizabeth Birdsbill, Emorie Healy-Garfield, Daniel (Bushie) Healy and Margaret , McCormick, great grandchildren: Bailey Wippert, Avery Birdsbill, Christien Birdsbill, Tade Wallette, Maebelle Reddies, Easton Grant, Ricco Mays, Rebel Mays, RyDell Mays, LaKealah Mays, Karmyn Plain Feather, Heavenly Ellis, Brycen Healy, Madrox Healy, Huntly Garfield, Maxine Garfield, Great-great grandchildren Maverik Wippert and Yara Wallette. Special friends: Silvia Ryan, Judy Bow and Sadie Hamilton, Gary Clark and Bj Johnson.
Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Verdell Birdsbill, son Carmen Birdsbill, daughter Charlene Birdsbill, her parents Daniel Swift Eagle, Lucy Bow, brothers William Swift Eagle, Alfred Swift Eagle, grandmother Agnes, great grandmother Sees-End-Of-Horn, Elizabeth (Mary Ann) Grey Bull and Nellie Silk.
She was known as Grama Barb in the community, she was everyone’s grandma. She will be missed by all.
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