Cornell Kirk, 39, of Oberon, ND, passed away on Monday, March 7, 2022 in Grand Forks, ND.

Dutes was born on December 7, 1982 in Grand Forks, ND to the late Cornelius and Marla (Littlewind) Kirk.  Cornell Larry Kirk grew up and resided in the Crow Hill district on the Spirit Lake Nation.  He is the baby of the family.  He attended Tati Topa School up until the 8th grade.  After that he chose to continue learning his traditional ways from his grandparents Ida and Ralph Little Owl and his dad taught him his own unique ways of singing and making hand drums and drumsticks.  From his skills he was taught, he traveled many places and was very proud to have met and sang with the best on the pow wow trail.  He was very proud of placing and singing in contests at different pow wows, from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Connecticut and back home to Bismarck, North Dakota.  He couldn’t wait to get home so he could show his sister his joys and happiness from how he voiced himself proudly at the powwows; bringing his winnings home and the goodies for his grandbabies.

In his past times he also loved to attend rodeos, you usually could find him behind the chutes, in his words,” taking care of the stock and working”.  He always talked about having his own little farm and horses with a corral behind his sister’s house for him and his grandchildren to raise the animals.  He was very proud to call himself Grandpa, he loved his babies.  In his downtime his favorite thing to do was watch TV, watching his favorite shows, the PBR and old westerns.  A good part of his life he dealt with his many health issues.  Elvis Thumb has been a big part of his life in the recent years, he enjoyed the time he spent with Elvis and Elvis’s family.  He gained the whole family within them and loved them dearly.

Cornell has such a big heart.  He enjoyed taking care of the family and enjoyed his time with his favorite nieces, Ulanda, Maylene and Miranda.  Teaching them how to live on their own, he is the best uncle in the world.  He was proud to have met his special friend, Denise and loved his step kids like they were his own, Avery and Kazsidi. His big baby Sugz, he always said Marlaila (sugz) Leftbear held a special place in his heart  During the short time we got to be blessed with Cornell’s time here on earth, he met many people and gained many family and we all will miss him dearly.

Missing him until the day we meet again, his loving family includes his sister Michelle Two Hearts and brother Marlo Two Hearts, also his adopted brother and sister Denver Littlewind and Meada Scott Jetty, his very close bros Audie Swiftbird Littlewind, Dion Stitch Jackson, Lionel Porky Littlewind Dunn, aunt Renita Bud Shaw, grandmother Helena Little Ghost, two very special grandsons Marcahl Leftbear and Marcus (Beba) Curly Jr., grandson Evan Jetty, three very special nieces Ulanda “Sweeterz” (Alan) Twohearts, Miranda Alberts and Maylene (baby Layla) Twohearts.

Proceeded in death by his parents, grandparents Little Owl and grandparents Littlewind (Wannatan), brother Fabian P. Littlewind, special bros Aaron Littlewind Dunn & Laverne Bundy Littlewind, special little grandson Martez Wayne Curly and many other family members, cousins, uncles and aunts. Sorry if we forgot to name anyone, just too many to name.  Sorry it’s not intentional, please forgive me as this is the hardest thing I’ve done.  He is greatly missed and very much loved.

 

Cornell’s Wake will be Sunday from 5:00PM-7:00PM followed by a Rosary Service at 7:00PM all at Crow Hill Rec Center, Ft. Totten, ND.

Friends wishing to join the procession from New Rockford to Ft Totten may gather on the St. Jerome’s road, Fort Totten, prior to 4:15PM.

A Funeral Service will be held Monday, March 14, 2022 at 10:00AM at Crow Hill Rec Center, Ft. Totten, ND.

His Burial will be at the St. Jerome’s Catholic Cemetery, Fort Totten, ND, in the spring.