Gertrude Jean Head

Gertrude Jean Head, age 73, of Bemidji, MN, passed away peacefully and journeyed to the spirit world, on Monday, March 13, 2023, at the Red Lake Hospital, with her loving family by her side.

A visitation will be held on Friday, March 17, at 5:00 p.m. at Olson Schwartz Funeral Home following with funeral services on March 17, at 7:00 p.m. at Olson Schwartz Funeral Home.  Interment will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Red Lake, Minnesota at a later date.

Gertrude was born in Red Lake, MN to Nathan Head and Rose (McKenzie) Head.  She attended St. Mary’s Mission School in Red Lake, Minnesota and she graduated in 1968 from St. Benedict’s High School in St. Joseph, Minnesota.  Gertie attended the Minneapolis School of Business and she completed a Secretarial Program in 1969.  She then began her career working at the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  During her years in Minneapolis Gertie also worked at the Department of Agriculture, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  She relocated to Santa Barbara, California and worked for the University of California Santa Barbara for three years.  Gertie then moved back to Bemidji, and she worked at the Indian Health Service for 36 years.  She retired in July of 2011.  During her career Gertie was a stellar employee who always performed her duties to perfection.  Everyone who worked with Gertie knew that she performed her work with the utmost care.

During her lifetime Gertie enjoyed going to the casinos and visiting with her friends.  She was an avid reader who always kept up with state and national news.  She also enjoyed solving crossword puzzles and Sudako.  Her favorite pastime above all in her post retirement years was spending time with her special friend, Elijah Tibbetts.

She was preceded in death by her father, Nathan Head, her mother, Rose (McKenzie) Head, brothers Nathan (Joe) Head, Jr., Roger (Bucky) Head, and Roderick (Deacon) Head; sisters, Glendoris Smith, Barbara Dolson, Beverly Head, Celeste Beaulieu and her longtime partner, Martin Papp.

She is survived by her brother, Marvin Head, sisters, Karen Neadeau, Mary Head, and Ramona (Joe) Plumer and many nieces and nephews.

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