PASSING ON (dec 2016)

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Mildred Carol Ann Longbody-Swartz December 12, 1939 – November 4, 2016

Mildred Carol Ann Longbody-Swartz was born Dec. 12, 1939, in Cloquet, the eighth of 10 children of Joseph and Mary (Flatte) Longbody from Grand Portage, Minnesota. Along with all her siblings, Millie was taken from her parents at a young age as a result of the federal forced assimilation program.

Millie was open-hearted and generous towards all. Despite many hardships in life, she remained a deeply cheerful person with a positive outlook. Her strength came from her spiritual life, in which she combined Catholicism and traditional Anishinaabe beliefs.

As children, Millie’s older eight siblings had been taken to Pipestone Boarding School in southwestern Minnesota. But she and a sister, being too young, were placed in a Catholic orphanage in Duluth. A few years later, Joe and Mary Reynolds of Deer River took the girls into their home. Millie always had high praise for the Reynolds, an Anishinaabe couple who were kind and helped her reconnect with her roots. She continued her education at Haskell Indian Nations University where she took up Commercial Cooking.

Millie wasn’t afraid of hard work and had a get it done attitude. She worked at Honeywell in Minneapolis, MN and later at the Minnesota Indian Women’s Rescource Center where she prepared meals for the children at their daycare center. Later in life she moved back to Grand Portage and worked at Grand Portage Lodge and Casino until she retired.

Millie loved Powwows and loved to dance and celebrate her heritage and culture. She loved the simple things in life like walking her beloved pet, “Dobie”, picking berries on a summer day and playing bingo at the casino. Millie’s most obvious characteristics were her easy laughter and enormous smile. Before a series of strokes seriously handicapped her, she became affectionately known as “Miss America,” because she waved and smiled at people as she passed them.

Preceding Millie in death were her parents; her husband, Glenn Swartz; four sisters, Josephine and Charlotte, Lillian “Theresa” Eveland, and Mary Lou Ackley; a brother, Joseph Longbody; and a granddaughter, Amber Lanham.

Survivors include one daughter, Brenda (Paul) Enyart of Shakopee, Minn.; three sons, Eugene Swartz and Duane Swartz of Grand Portage, and Tyrone Nehring of Florida; two sisters, Doris Blank of Grand Portage and Elsie Long of Auburn, Wash.; two brothers, Clarence Longbody of Red Lake and Ed Longbody of Grand Portage; six grandchildren, Jesse and Mya Swartz, Shane Losh, and Brock and Brandon Lanham, Jessica Wisnewski, all of the Twin Citiess; and great grand-children, nieces and nephews.

Services were held at Holy Rosary in Grand Portage. Burial is at Sunset Cemetery. Arrangements are by Nelson Funeral Home of Cloquet.

John Bluestone
December 28, 1940 – October 28, 2016

John Bluestone, age 75 of Minneapolis, formerly of the Lower Sioux Community, passed away Friday, October 28, 2016 at Hennepin County Medical Center surrounded by family. Memorial services will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 4 at St. Cornelia’s Church Hall, Lower Sioux Community. Visitation is one hour prior to services at the Hall. Online con-dolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Redwood Valley Funeral Home in Redwood Falls is assisting the family with arrangements.

John Henry Bluestone was born December 28, 1940 in Sherman Township, Redwood County, Minnesota to Thomas and Viola (St. Clair) Bluestone. He attended school in Morton. John enjoyed painting, drawing, and writing.

John is survived by his children: Jo Tallcheif of Red Lake, Casey Bluestone of Redwood Falls, and Shelly (Mark) Zeller of Morgan; grandchildren: Keith Williams (LeeAnn Prescott) Kay Williams, Michael Leith Jr., Ronald Leith, Isabelle Leith, Chaska (John) Bluestone, and Brooklyn Bluestone; great grandchildren: Riley Jo Clay, Tayten Williams, Asher Prescott Williams, Takoda John Williams, and Wambli Kulburg; and siblings: Dorothy Whipple of Redwood Falls, Ronald Bluestone of Redwood Falls, and Kaye (Herman) Hester of Wauchula, FL. He is preceded in death by his parents Viola and Thomas, infant son Thomas, good friend Les Prescott, many aunts and uncles, and other relatives and friends.