Mimi Karen Real Bird

Mimi Karen Pickett-Real Bird, 68, went on to the other side camp to join her beloved son and mother.

Biláp’ihée (Other Beaver, given by Dorothy Yellowmule), was a grandchild of Mark and Florence (Medicine Tail) Real Bird and Joseph and Winona (Other Medicine) Pickett, born to Margo Real Bird and Joe Pickett on August 13, 1957, in Crow Agency, MT. 

A member of the Whistling Water and Child of the Bad War Deeds Clan, she spent her formative years along the river bend beyond the Medicine Tail Coulee with her brothers Curtis Ross and Barry Johnson and what would eventually add up to 45 maternal first cousins. Her unique name came from her mother’s good friend, Mimi Tate of Wyoming, with whom Margo and her growing family came to work the Tate family ranch. Mimi Tate remained a lifelong friend of Margo and her children. 

In her youth, Mimi attended Crow Agency Public School. As a child, the family recalls that she loved to play with Barbies, swim the Little Bighorn River, and ride horses. They remember a fashionable gal dressed in the latest clothing trends. Like her family, she took part in sweat lodge ceremonies, Sundance, and the Native American Church. She was an original Peyote Cowgirl, as the young girls would say. Through this upbringing and close family kinship, Mimi developed a wide knowledge base of the history of the family, Crow culture, and as a result, she was an avid storyteller able to recall these teachings and share with family and friends. She learned to bead and sew from her mother and aunts and made many elk tooth dresses, earrings, and other such items. 

She attended Hardin and St. Labre for high school until she eventually graduated from Riverside Indian School in Anadarko, OK. Class of 1975. Upon graduation, she attended Ricksburg College followed by Little Bighorn College to study business until her return to “the loop” to have the first of three children, a daughter, Nina Lynn, followed by a second daughter, Diane Holly, and a son, Jordan “Wolfy”. 

In 1995, she was selected to attend the Special Olympics Opening Ceremony in Connecticut along with several of her close relatives to represent the Crow Tribe. One cousin humorously recalls Mimi telling of this time, “Mimi, did you see President Clinton?” Mimi replied, “Dressed in my finest elk tooth dress, beadwork and hair braided neatly, I rode in the parade, and that day, President Clinton saw me!” She was well known for her beauty, grace, and long hair, as she was taught, like so many young Crow women, not to cut it. This led to her being selected to pose for Messengers for Health as her hair carried beauty, strength, and power. 

A meticulous woman, Mimi kept her home tidy, her clothes washed and starched and neatly pressed and hung. She was often counted on for her excellent dishes. Her “cookie salad” was a family favorite. She would make other tasty desserts out of commodities and cook from scratch.

A true daughter of the Real Bird matriarch lineage, she was a loving and tender woman. She expressed love to others in the only way she could by taking in those downtrodden and hurting, just as the Christian faith she embraced during adulthood instructed her. As a woman of faith, she often would pray for her family and friends.  

As the family navigates this difficult season, we recall Mimi’s humor as she would encourage us with her sayings such as, “I’ll take care of that little deal right there” or “not too shabby”. We will remember always the sweet way she simply told us, “Aww, I love you”. 

Mimi is preceded in death by her parents; son, Jordan “Wolfy” Real Bird; brothers, Emmerson Pickett and Corn Little Light; granddaughter, Debra Joy; and family, Charlie, Pius, Martha, Floyd, Edison, George, James and Lorraine Real Bird. Nellie, Wayne, Veda, Harry, Connie Moccasin, Robert Pickett, Ernestine Birdinground, Louise Three Irons, Burdette, Sampson and Isaac Birdinground. 

She is survived by her children, Nina, Holly (Jimeno) Leider, John Wallace, Jack, Lucy Lee and Jess Real Bird, Neil Costa, Calvin Leider, Jr.; her first grandson, Tater Morgan, whom she raised as her own; grandchildren, Shakira, Laila, Finley, Coulee, Shane, Hillary, Maggie, Mark, Ira, Isabell, Emmalee, Kailan, Tyrin, Tylee, Tatum, Jordan Jr, Madison, Rosabelle, Skylar, Baily, Hoshke, Kally Ellsworth and Brittney Smith. Aldean (Leo) Good Luck, Jr. and Daleen Big Hair; great-grandchildren, Leon, David, Lawrence, Heidi Gabriella, Edward, Brooklyn, Victor, Ramona, Reia, Bonnie Margo, and Tylen; siblings, Curtis Ross, Barry Johnson, Shawn Riley, Joyce and Lana Moccasin, Helen Crooked Arm, Loretta Johnson, Janice (Leo) Hudetz, Lena and Ellabeth Little Light, Marlene Falls Down, Ursala (Barry) Russel, JD (Jolauna) Pickett, Leatrice Pickett, Lora Pickett, Sam Pickett, Kitty Bell (Eugene) Fox, Orrin (Diane) Pickett, Robert Clarence Pickett, Eric (Casey) Birdinground, Andrea Lee, Barbara, Elsie, Ricky and Eugene, Wilford, Gilbert “Popcorn” (Kathy), Carmelita, Quinten, Jennifer and Janet Birdinground; nieces/nephews, Crystal (Jordan) Whiteman, Cotton, Rayma, Nolan, Santee (Joy), Beth, Delcey, Rainee, Noah; paternal aunts, Laura Pickett and Annie Beth Real Bird; paternal uncles, Lloyd Pickett, Gale and Clarence (Joselyn) Three Irons, Mark (Cheri) Real Bird; Real Bird children, Lanny, Natalie, Rhea, Girl, Gordon, Henry (Alma), Kennard (Diane), Jim (Katie) Birdie, Nicole, Shawn, Tim (Gaynell) Real Bird and Doris Plain Feather; good friends/relatives, Wesley Jefferson and Gerald Black, Randine Fitzpatrick, Helen Caplette. The family gives special thanks to her daughter, Judy Wagner, and granddaughter Lark Real Bird for their unwavering support. 

Extended Family: Maternal side: Real Bird, Moccasin, Martha Real Bird-Little Light children, Medicine Crow, Medicine Tail, Howel Hoops Family, Not Afraid, Deer Nose, Onion, Tobacco, Fire Bear, Little Nest, Anderson, Bird Hat, Bad Horse/Covers Up, Don’t Mix, Leider, Round Face, Bear all the Time. Paternal side: Pickett, Other Medicine, Pretty Paint, Calf Crop, High Nose (Fitzpatrick), Morrison, High Hawk, and the Long Time Sleeping and Weasel Fat families of the Kainai Band in Canada.

Our family has endured much this year; if during our grief we have forgotten anything, we ask your forgiveness. 

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