Roberta Jean (Staples) Wind, 74 years young, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, June 22, 2017 from the Sanford Hospital in Bemidji, MN.  Roberta was born in Cass Lake, MN on February 13th, 1943, the daughter of Charles and Margaret (Charwood) Staples, Sr.

Berta was born and raised in the Cass Lake/Mission area.  She lived with her family in the Cass Lake/Mission area until they moved to Minneapolis in the early 1970’s.  Berta and her family returned to Cass Lake area in the late 1970’s where her and her siblings worked as the Leech Lake Band of Objiwe Ambulance EMT crew for quite a few years.  Berta worked at the food distribution center from the early 1980’s until she she started working at the Palace Casino Gift Shop.  Berta loved spending time with her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren her two great great grandchildren along with going to the casino next door to her house where she enjoyed playing her horse race slot game.  Berta raised her daughter Terri’s kids after she passed away and also took care of her granddaughter Susan for the past 18 years, right up until her passing.  Berta loved football as she had Vikings football boards going every year and loved watching the Minnesota Twins.  Berta also played softball with the Mission Tornados.  She enjoyed bowling and listening to her country music while she visited with her family.  Berta attended the Episcopal Church in Cass Lake and sang with the Ojibwe Hymn Singers for years until she lost her voice due to medical issues.  She is deeply loved by her son Joe, and many others and her presence will be missed dearly by many.

Berta has been reunited with her parents; Margaret and Charles Staples, Sr., her daughter; Terri Staples, brothers; Richard Staples, Charles Staples, Jr. and Samuel Staples, sisters; Catherine “Mish” Adams, Cecelia “Bone” Drouillard, Naomi “Oma” Countryman, Beatrice “Betty” Staples and Delores “Dee” Morrow, special nephew; Daniel “Dom” Kingbird, several nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Those left behind to cherish her memory are her son; Joe (Shelly) Wind of Cass Lake, daughter; Deanna Wind of Cass Lake, brother; Patrick “Slaptoes” (Carol) Staples of Cass Lake, sister; Barbara (Jimmy) Perleberg of Cass Lake, special granddaughters; Terri Wind, Anna Wind, Susan Morris and Paisley Staples, special grandson; Chandler Staples, 14 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, two great great grandsons, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and many many friends.

A wake for Berta will begin at 7:00 p.m., Saturday, June 24th and continue until her 1:00 p.m. service on Monday, June 26th all being held at the Mission Community Center in Mission/Cass Lake, MN.  Pastor Mark R. Olson will officiate.  Those helping to lay Roberta to rest are Darryl Drouillard, Michael Staples, Kenneth Staples, Cody Wind, Aaron Wind and Sam Staples, Jr.  Alternate pallbearers are William Kingbird, Arnold Kingbird and Jimmy Crandall.  Her honorary pallbearers are Deanna Wind, Sally Pemberton, Susie Roy, Rocky Cook, Barbara Perleberg, Roberta Norby, Patricia Staples, Jean Roper, Nikki Kingbird, Cherilyn Staples, Jen Kingbird, Shelly Pemberton, Alaina Wind, Bitsy Kingbird, Susan Morris, Michelle Morris, Kristi Wind, Della Kingbird, Kelly Wind, Karla Wind, Kaylyn Ness, Jenelle and Jarrod Mankie.  Interment will be in the Mission Cemetery following her Monday services.

Berta’s care has been entrusted to Northern Peace Funeral Home of Walker.  Online condolences for the family may be left at www.northernpeace.com