Edna Ethridge Obituary

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Edna Frances Ethridge (Famous Meat-Buffalo Tongue), 87, of Bellingham, Wash., formerly of Crow Agency, Mont., went home to be with her Lord May 18, 2005. She was a member of the Piegan Clan and child of the Greasy Mouth.
She was born July 7, 1917, in Aberdeen, S.D., a daughter of Marjorie White Hip and Sampson Bird in Ground Sr. She was adopted by Does Things Together and Ben Looks Back. She lived in the Black Lodge area while attending grade school in Crow Agency, Mont., where she added English as a native language. She attended high school in Hardin, Mont., Bismarck, N.D., and Flandreau, S.D., graduating in 1937. She later received her business training at the Haskell Institute in Lawrence, Kan., before working as a secretary for the government with the BIA and with Montana State University. She was also a descendant of Chief Onion and Chief Crazy Head.
Edna met and married John Ethridge in Butte, Mont., in 1952. He preceded her in death in 1998.
She enjoyed traveling, reading and sewing. She and John settled in Bellingham in 1969, where their children finished their schooling. She was very active in her church, King Mountain in Bellingham.
Her parents; sisters, Joy Brien, Agnes Holds, Louise Three Irons, Josephine DeCrane, Samona Martin, Rosebud Bulltail, and brothers, Chester Deputy, Adam, Andrew, Glen and Gilbert Bird in Ground, Sr. preceded Edna in death.
Survivors include her daughter, Marjorie Sytsma and husband Gary of Bellingham; her son, Brad Ethridge and his wife Nida of Issaquah, Wash.; grandsons, Mike, Jason and Cortez; granddaughter, Mina; great-granddaughter, Cady Marie; her sisters, Ferole (Bill) Pease of Benteen, Ataloa (Francis Harris) of Lame Deer, Mont., Verna (Carl) Pease of Billings, Mont., and Evelyn Old Elk of Crow Agency; her brothers, Sampson (Thelma) Bird in Ground, Jr. of Garryowen, Alex (Susan) and Clifford (Ardith) Bird in Ground of Lodge Grass.
Edna left many friends behind in Bellingham. A few of the people close to her heart include Clara Nomee, Carolyn Lopez, Twyla Tsosie, Magdalene Moccasin, Rena Frank, Lois Sharp and many more.
Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Monday in the Lodge Grass First Crow Indian Baptist Church. Interment will follow in the Lodge Grass Cemetery. Bullis Mortuary of Hardin has been entrusted with the arrangements.