Philomena Young Bird Grinnell
(Adza-Egubush) “Goes With All (Medicines)”

Philomena Young Bird Grinnell, 94, of New Town passed away at Trinity Hospital in Minot on Saturday, March 4, 2017. She was a member of the Midi-badi (Water Buster) clan and a child of the Apoka-miga (Low Cap) clan.

Philomena was born in Elbowoods, ND to Thomas, Sr. and Margaret (Snow) Young Bird. Her early years were spent in Lucky Mound where her father ranched and farmed.

Philomena helped raise her nephews Matthew, Jr. and Afton when their mother Belva was hospitalized with tuberculosis. Philomena was united in marriage to Benjamin Grinnell on July 8, 1954 and they had six children; Calvin, Stewart, Bernadine, Byron, Madeline and James. Ben served as a BIA police officer in Rosebud, SD until he suffered a stroke in 1963 and they returned to North Dakota. They lived in Mandaree and Parshall briefly before settling in New Town.

With just an eighth-grade education, Philomena was a strong woman who took care of her quadriplegic husband for 34 years and raised five children in the Hidatsa tradition. As well as her sons and daughters, Philomena raised her grandchildren, Doyle Lyons and Nicholas, Kyle, Camilla, Jessica, Dallas, and Byron Grinnell, Jr. in her household. She enjoyed working with children and was skilled in making quilts, cooking traditional meals, and traveling. She went to Seattle, WA with her husband and children and Montana to visit relatives at Crow Agency, MT. She was especially proud of her grand-daughter Sabrina, grandson Brandon and great-grand-daughters Zaysha, Ticalyon, Eva, Ivee, Simya, Addie, Mia, Kaela, Ophelia, Omeara, Olivia, Motzah-wea, Aria and great-grandsons Red Eagle, Jared, Josiah, David, Jr., Azdon Allen, Kraig, Benny, Blade, and Maurius.

Philomena was preceded in death by her husband Benjamin; son, Stewart Allen; daughter, Bernadine; grandson, Nicholas; brothers, Matthew, Sr., Hugh, Herman, Henry, Leroy, Bryan, Robert, Sr., Reynolds, Nathaniel and sister's, Amelia and Karen.

Philomena is survived by her brother, Thomas Youngbird, Jr. and her children, Calvin (Cheryl), Byron, Sr. (Leigh), James (Nina) daughter Madeline and grandchildren Kyle(Thana) Grinnell, Dallas (Ivanda) Grinnell, Camilla (Dave)Malchoff, Jessica (Dennis) Howling Wolf, Byron Jr. (Crystal)Grinnell.