Marjorie “Margie” Bird Juneau, 86, a cook for Browning Public Schools, died Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2005, at Blackfeet Community Hospital of natural causes.
A wake is in progress at the Old Eagle Shields where the rosary will be at 7 p.m. today. A funeral service is scheduled for Saturday at the Old Eagle Shields at 2 p.m. Visitation and services will be in conjunction with Mildred “Bobbie” Bird Kipp, her sister who died Nov. 8. Cremation will follow the services.
Margie was born on Sept. 20, 1919, to Sampson and Margaret (Burgess) Bird on the Two Medicine Bird Ranch. She grew up on the Blackfeet Reservation and attended school at Chemawa in Salem, Ore., and Browning. Margie's Blackfeet name was Juniper Woman.
She and Edmond ‘Snackery' Juneau were married on Nov. 9, 1940.
Margie was a cook for the Browning Public Schools for 28 years, where she fed nearly every person on the Blackfeet Reservation. She was also counselor, confidante and friend to the students and her co-workers.
Margie loved the sport of basketball, having played for the 1932 Chemawa Indians basketball team. She was an active member of the Browning Indians booster club where she and her friends sold Popsicles during home games to support every Browning sports team. She could be found sitting in her special seat in the Browning gym, yelling at the refs, as she attended every home basketball game as long as she was able. Later in life, she watched, studied and argued about the NBA and WNBA.
Margie was always surrounded by her grandchildren and she loved visiting the, telling them about their family history, and providing advice. She was very proud of all of them and did not miss a chance to brag about them to all who would listen. Margie was a member of the Catholic Church.
Margie and her sister, Bobbie, died within 24 hours of each other.
Margie was preceded in death by her husband, Edmond; son, Mike Juneau; sisters, Ernestine Ketcher and Mildred Kipp; and brothers, Sam Bird, William “Snuffy” Bird and Charlie Bird.
Survivors include her children, Ed (Sharon) Juneau of Garland, Texas, Jerry (Lyle) Glatzmaier, Stan (Carol) Juneau, Bob Juneau, Sam (Melinda) Juneau, Dennis (Wilma) Juneau and Wayne Juneau, all of Browning; sister, Theo Bird Stone; 28 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be sent to Denise Juneau, Box 55, Browning, MT 59417.
Whitted Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.whittedfuneralchapel.com.
