Tribute To George Joe Bush Fairbanks
Spiritual Adviser
Spiritual Adviser
July 29, 1933-May 26, 2009
George A. “Joe Bush” Fairbanks, Sr., 75, of
Ponsford, died Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at
Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes.
George Allen “Joe Bush” Fairbanks, Sr.,
“Mishkow-Binise” (Strong Thunderbird), was born
to Willis and Hattie (De Jorden) Fairbanks on July
29, 1933 in White Earth. He was raised in Pine
Point, and attended the Pine Point School and the
Park Rapids Area High School. In 1951, George
joined the Navy for six years, serving in Korea. He
was honorably discharged with many, many
medals received during his tour of duty for his
country. He was also a certified electrician and had
attended culinary school in the Twin Cities.
From 1968 to 1972, George was a cook supervisor
at the Job Corps Center in Rochert. He also served
as a White Earth Tribal Council member in the
1970s. George called himself a “jack of all trades.”
He married Emily Brown in June of 1961 in Park
Rapids. They had four children, and later divorced
through Indian custom. George was of the “Odag”
(Crow) Clan and became a spiritual advisor to the
White Earth Nation with his second wife, Margaret
Norcross by his side. They traveled around the
world, going to pow-wows and helping his people
as much as he possibly could. He was well known
by his people nationwide.
George married Margaret Norcross in 1972 at
Ponsford. He spent the last 35 years of his life
with his adopted family, six stepchildren, three
adopted sons and 31 great grandchildren.
George’s hobbies included visiting with friends and
relatives and whoever wanted to visit. He also
enjoyed traveling to pow-wows, telling stories of
his life, doing crossword puzzles, playing cards,
watching boxing and helping anyone who needed
his advice.
George will be sadly missed by his first wife,
Emily (Brown) Fairbanks of Osage; his children,
Delmas (Alvina) Fairbanks, George (Barb)
Fairbanks, Jr., Bonnie Jo (Leroy) Fairbanks,
Rhonda, Myron, Vincent, Joycelyn (Louie), Greg
and Lorene (Terry) Norcross, all of Ponsford;
adopted sons, Reginald Meeks, Tom Peirce of
Kentucky, Bob Peasley of Little Canada, Minn.,
and Mike Dahl of Nay-Tah-Waush; as well as
many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and nieces.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Willis and
Hattie Fairbanks; sister, Bernice; two brothers,
Delven and Raymond; son, David Fairbanks; his
grandparents, Anna and Bill Bassett; his wife of 32
years, Margaret Norcross; special granddaughter,
Carol Peake; and great grandson, Sheldon Peake
Bluebird.
There will be visitation from 4 p.m. Thursday,
May 28 until the time of services on Saturday at
the Pine Point New School Gymnasium.
A traditional funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.
m. Saturday, May 30 at the Pine Point New School
Gymnasium, with Mike Swan and Dr. Carson
Gardner officiating.
Pallbearers will be Terry Peake, Leroy Basswood,
Guy Lidstad, Butch and Gerald Roberts, Louie
Warren, Craig Jackson Jr. and Brandon Bloom.
Honorary pallbearers will be Porgi Auginaush, Fred
Urich, Roy Lindstrom, Robert Durant, Ron
Kingbird, the White Earth Honor Guard, the White
Earth Tribal Council, and all of George’s family
and friends from the Fairbanks and Norcross
families.
George A. “Joe Bush” Fairbanks, Sr., 75, of
Ponsford, died Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at
Emmanuel Nursing Home in Detroit Lakes.
George Allen “Joe Bush” Fairbanks, Sr.,
“Mishkow-Binise” (Strong Thunderbird), was born
to Willis and Hattie (De Jorden) Fairbanks on July
29, 1933 in White Earth. He was raised in Pine
Point, and attended the Pine Point School and the
Park Rapids Area High School. In 1951, George
joined the Navy for six years, serving in Korea. He
was honorably discharged with many, many
medals received during his tour of duty for his
country. He was also a certified electrician and had
attended culinary school in the Twin Cities.
From 1968 to 1972, George was a cook supervisor
at the Job Corps Center in Rochert. He also served
as a White Earth Tribal Council member in the
1970s. George called himself a “jack of all trades.”
He married Emily Brown in June of 1961 in Park
Rapids. They had four children, and later divorced
through Indian custom. George was of the “Odag”
(Crow) Clan and became a spiritual advisor to the
White Earth Nation with his second wife, Margaret
Norcross by his side. They traveled around the
world, going to pow-wows and helping his people
as much as he possibly could. He was well known
by his people nationwide.
George married Margaret Norcross in 1972 at
Ponsford. He spent the last 35 years of his life
with his adopted family, six stepchildren, three
adopted sons and 31 great grandchildren.
George’s hobbies included visiting with friends and
relatives and whoever wanted to visit. He also
enjoyed traveling to pow-wows, telling stories of
his life, doing crossword puzzles, playing cards,
watching boxing and helping anyone who needed
his advice.
George will be sadly missed by his first wife,
Emily (Brown) Fairbanks of Osage; his children,
Delmas (Alvina) Fairbanks, George (Barb)
Fairbanks, Jr., Bonnie Jo (Leroy) Fairbanks,
Rhonda, Myron, Vincent, Joycelyn (Louie), Greg
and Lorene (Terry) Norcross, all of Ponsford;
adopted sons, Reginald Meeks, Tom Peirce of
Kentucky, Bob Peasley of Little Canada, Minn.,
and Mike Dahl of Nay-Tah-Waush; as well as
many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and nieces.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Willis and
Hattie Fairbanks; sister, Bernice; two brothers,
Delven and Raymond; son, David Fairbanks; his
grandparents, Anna and Bill Bassett; his wife of 32
years, Margaret Norcross; special granddaughter,
Carol Peake; and great grandson, Sheldon Peake
Bluebird.
There will be visitation from 4 p.m. Thursday,
May 28 until the time of services on Saturday at
the Pine Point New School Gymnasium.
A traditional funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.
m. Saturday, May 30 at the Pine Point New School
Gymnasium, with Mike Swan and Dr. Carson
Gardner officiating.
Pallbearers will be Terry Peake, Leroy Basswood,
Guy Lidstad, Butch and Gerald Roberts, Louie
Warren, Craig Jackson Jr. and Brandon Bloom.
Honorary pallbearers will be Porgi Auginaush, Fred
Urich, Roy Lindstrom, Robert Durant, Ron
Kingbird, the White Earth Honor Guard, the White
Earth Tribal Council, and all of George’s family
and friends from the Fairbanks and Norcross
families.
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We had talked a couple times over the phone when I had called seeking your
guidenance in looking into the spirit world to make me aware of my spirit name.
I thank you for giving me the chance to speak to you in this manner, and what
you had said to me over the phone I will never forget. So I decided to make this
blog in your honor brother, for anyone from White Earth Reservation, MN or
any tribal community in the United States. For them to share stories and great
tidings that you will continue to make in our lives here. I trust that you are taking
care of the gifts I had sent to you in April 2009 and I respect now is not the time
for me to seek.
I had a vision some time ago when I thought I was at the lowest, darkest, ugliest,
place in my life, so I drew a picture, and it was a drawing of a tree. A tree
partialy sawed with one branch that beared one leaf on the whole tree. Today I
quarry the sacred pipestone down in the National Monument and my site is
Lone Tree Pit. One day I will carry the pipe, to heal myself, and others. But at
this moment I do not think I am ready, so I must not be. In this moment I am
very angry about what is going on around me and being done to me with the
system.
I had wrote a poem for my son and here it is.
My son we will never forget the days we spend together, when my breathe is
gone my spirit will be with thee in time to come. The day of trouble will
look back at us to guide away your day.
Remember the eagle soars high above the top his golden eyes see over all.
your dad 1997
Leave comments for George Joe Bush Fairbanks he is listening.
Joe Bush Blog
guidenance in looking into the spirit world to make me aware of my spirit name.
I thank you for giving me the chance to speak to you in this manner, and what
you had said to me over the phone I will never forget. So I decided to make this
blog in your honor brother, for anyone from White Earth Reservation, MN or
any tribal community in the United States. For them to share stories and great
tidings that you will continue to make in our lives here. I trust that you are taking
care of the gifts I had sent to you in April 2009 and I respect now is not the time
for me to seek.
I had a vision some time ago when I thought I was at the lowest, darkest, ugliest,
place in my life, so I drew a picture, and it was a drawing of a tree. A tree
partialy sawed with one branch that beared one leaf on the whole tree. Today I
quarry the sacred pipestone down in the National Monument and my site is
Lone Tree Pit. One day I will carry the pipe, to heal myself, and others. But at
this moment I do not think I am ready, so I must not be. In this moment I am
very angry about what is going on around me and being done to me with the
system.
I had wrote a poem for my son and here it is.
My son we will never forget the days we spend together, when my breathe is
gone my spirit will be with thee in time to come. The day of trouble will
look back at us to guide away your day.
Remember the eagle soars high above the top his golden eyes see over all.
your dad 1997
Leave comments for George Joe Bush Fairbanks he is listening.
Joe Bush Blog
July 29, 1933-May 26, 2009