Irene Rose Benais

Irene Rose Benais, age 54, of Red Lake, MN, began her journey on Saturday, August 3, 2019, at the Sanford Broadway Medical Center in Fargo, ND, with her family by her side.

Irene was born on September 30, 1964, in Red Lake, MN, the daughter of the late James and Dorothy (Weiss) Benais.  She was of the eagle clan and was raised in Red Lake, MN.  She went to Intermountain Tribal Boarding School in Utah.  Afterwards, she went to Northland Technical College in Thief River Falls, MN, and then to Bemidji State University in Bemidji, MN.  She worked for the sheriff’s office and then for tribal police as a dispatcher and then became a liaison between tribal and federal police.  She then worked surveillance for the Cass Lake, MN, casino.  In her free time, she loved to garden, collect garden gnomes and eagles, take and develop her own photography, go to the casino and play keno, play cards, fish, go on road trips, and most of all play with her grandchildren.

Irene will be greeted by her parents, James and Dorothy Benais; brother, Sonny Benais; and granddaughter, Taleigha.  Those left to cherish her memory are her partner of over 30 years, Mike Pierre; sons, Llewellyn and Lyle Benais; daughters, Koren (Paris Greene) and Kendra (Mike Whitefeather) Cloud; grandchildren, Kiana, Jason, Lydia, Lyle, Serenity, Austin, Angela, Elliana, and Lamya; brother, George Benais; and sisters, Deb (Louis) Hegstrom, Agnes Jourdan, and Alberta Benais; as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other extended family members.

The wake for Irene will being at 2:00 pm on Wednesday, August 7, 2019, at the Little Rock Community Center in Red Lake, MN, and will continue until the Catholic service at 11:00 am on Friday, August 9, 2019. Pallbearers for Irene will be, Dylan Benais, Paul Sayers, Paris Greene, Mike Whitefeather,

James Roper, and Emilio Mendoza. Her honorary pallbearers are all of her family and friends. Father Jerry Rogers will officiate.  Burial will be in the Benais Family Burial Grounds, Little Rock/ Bigstone, MN.

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

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