Marilyn Thomas

There will be a Prayer Service for Marilyn on Wednesday, January 3rd at 7:00 pm. at the Crow Hill Wellness Center!

Marilyn R. “Bubbles” Thomas, “Tasina Duta Win” (Red Shawl Woman) 74 of Spirit Lake Nation, passed away on Thursday, December 28, 2023 at CHI, St. Alexius Health, Devils Lake Hospital.

The Wake for Marilyn will be on Friday, January 5, 2024 at the Crow Hill Wellness Center, rural Fort Totten beginning at 5:00 p.m. with a time of prayer and remembrance at 7:00 p.m. The procession to Crow Hill will leave at 4:00 p.m. on Friday from City Plaza, Devils Lake. Funeral Services will be on Saturday, January 6, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. also at the Wellness Center with Reverend Jim Harris officiating. Burial will be in St. Jerome’s Cemetery. The family invites you to share a meal and time of fellowship at the Wellness Center following the burial.

Marilyn Rose Thomas was born on April 19, 1949 at Devils Lake ND the daughter of Winifred (BuckElk) and Richard Thomas Sr. The family lived in Montana for a short time then returned to the Spirit Lake Nation. They made their home in Crow Hill and Marilyn attended the St. Michael Little Flower School and her high school years at Stephen Boarding School in South Dakota. She suffered a debilitating illness as a young woman and just never was able to fully recover. 

Marilyn dedicated her life to her family. She cared for her parents until their passing and raised several nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren as her own as a single parent. She was the babysitter for most of the children in the Crow Hill District at some point in their lives. She was a “Mom” and “Grandma” to numerous children.

Marilyn was famous for her fry bread. Everyone thought it was the best they ever tasted and just couldn’t seem to duplicate it. She loved sewing, quilting, cooking and cleaning house. She was a Four Winds Basketball Fan and enjoyed going to Bingo to connect with friends and family. Visitors to Bubbles house usually had to play a game or two of Yahtzee.

Bubbles was a very respectful person, caring and loving. She was always there for her family and would help in any way possible. She was the backbone of our family.

Bubbles will be missed dearly and will be kept in our memories forever. She is in God’s hands now.

Bubbles is survived by her loving family. Her brother Adrian Thomas Sr.; sisters Joyce Thomas, Wanda Longie, Anna Thomas and Cynthia Thomas; special nieces and nephews Mitchell Keo, Jonn Bowker, Jore Thomas, Darion Thomas and Tristan Thomas; special great grandchildren Misty and Hailie Keo, Anastasia Thomas, Hayden Redfox, Brayden and Elias Thomas, Lorraine, Lamira, Chael and Malik Keo and Saige Jones and Deja Thomas; adopted brothers Andy Demarce Jr. and Terry Dunn and numerous other precious cousins, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Duane Thomas, Mike Thomas, Richard Thomas Jr., Tim Thomas, Casey Thomas, Milton Thomas and Paul Yankton, sisters Annie Rene Thomas and Cheryl Thomas, several beloved nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles and cousins.

Active Pallbearers will be Mitchell Keo, Jore Thomas, Brayden Thomas, Charles WalkingEagle, Jonn Bowker, Kenyon Longie, Taylor Nestel and Elias Thomas

Honorary Bearers: Helena Littleghost, Gloria BuckElk, Donna Jackson, Jeannie Cavanaugh, Clara Brown, Millie Sherman, Justin and Brooke Yankton, Esther Hapa, Warren and Geraline BuckElk, Pam Rainbow, Joann Yankton, Alton and Chanoa Nestel, Velma Lambert, Carmen Littlewind, Yvonne “Hopsty” Dubois, Adelle Cavanaugh, Vincent Shaw, Marva Chapman, Connie and Ronnie McKay, Myra (Clayton) Dubois, Celeste Herman, Valerie Bull, Clarice Lawrence, Gloria Redroad, Bruce and Penny WalkingEagle, Myra Pearson, Darren WalkingEagle, Patricia WalkingEagle, Iris WalkingEagle, Mardell Merrick, Melvine Merrick, Catherine Howard, Charlene WalkingEagle, John and Ramona Chaske, Rebecca TwoHearts and family, Ivan and Lynette Lovejoy, Marilyn “Skinny” Thompson, Alfreda Dunn, Alberta Dunn, Millicent Chaske, Patty (Chaske) Kraft, Marty Alex, Vanessa Thomas and Royce McKay and family, Wahlen and Renita Shaw, Caroline and Kermit WalkingEagle, Anita Cavanaugh, Astel Cavanaugh, Wichapi Cavanaugh, Lisa Burdick and family, Darlene BuckElk and family, Greybear family, Mudgett family, Sharon Black and family, Russell and Francine McDonald and family, Arthur and Cindy Mudgett, Darlene Blackbird and family, Cora Whiteman, Catalina Herman, Debbie (Little) Bendickson, Robert BuckElk and family, Louis BuckElk and family, Dennis Keo and family, Paulette Driver and family, Mary Trottier and family, Myrtle Olson,

If there is anyone we left out, it is not intentional and we apologize during this difficult time of sorrow and bereavement.

A Special Thank You to the Spirit Lake Ambulance, Medical Staff at CHI, St. Alexius, Gilbertson Funeral Home and to all the friends and relatives who stopped by Bubbles house to comfort the family and brought food during this sad time of bereavement.