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Obituaries

Journey to the Spirit World

This page serves as a space to honor and remember the lives of our tribal members who have passed away. Here, we come together as a compassionate and supportive community to pay tribute to their legacies.

Obituary picture of William “Bill” Clifford Bird Jr.
William “Bill” Clifford Bird Jr.

Born: October 4, 1980
Journeyed to the Spirit World: May 24, 2023

William “Bill” Clifford Bird Jr., 42, of Flandreau, passed away on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at Good Samaritan Center in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral services will be held 1:00 PM Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at Eastman Hall in Flandreau, South Dakota. A wake service will be held on Monday, May 29, 2023 starting at 7:00 PM and an all-night wake service taking place on Tuesday, May 30, 2023 beginning at 7:00 PM also at Eastman Hall.

William “Bill” Clifford Bird was born at the Flandreau hospital on October 4, 1980 to William “Bill” Sheldon and Doreen (Weston) Bird. He was delivered by the Nurse & Doreen while the doctor was off chatting with someone on his way walking to the hospital. He grew up in Flandreau and received his education beginning at the Flandreau Public Schools, then at Wahpeton Indian School and finished at Flandreau Indian School.

At the age of 19 he suffered at traumatic brain injury at which point he would reside at Good Samaritan Home in Sioux Falls. Because of his TBI at such a young age he wasn’t able to experience everything in life. He enjoyed drawing and artwork. He had hopes and dreams of what he wanted in his life.

He is survived by his mother, Doreen Bird; brothers, Lindsey Weston and James Bird; sister, Angie Weston; uncle, Duwayne Weston; aunts, Sheryl Weston, Cindy Weston, Cathy Ann Bird, and adopted aunt, Denise (Derby) Hill; nieces, Alexandria “Alex” (James Arpan) Weston, Veronica Bird, and Tanksi Layla Weston; nephews, Gabe Bird, Sawyer (aka Mekayla) Ray, Asa Eastman, Lindsay (June Bug) Weston Jr. and one Grandson, Alex’s son, Ashton Weston; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, William Sheldon Bird, Big Grandpa Elmer Weston, Kunsi Grandma Sarah (Black Thunder) Bird; brother-cousins, Scotty Anderson, David Forman, and Daniel Weston.