Sewell Sherwood Tibbetts

Sewell Sherwood "Sig" Tibbetts, 77, of Cloquet died peacefully in his home Thursday, March 12, 2009 on the Fond du Lac Reservation surrounded by his family. Sewell had remained steadfast to the enjoyments of his life while he fought a courageous battle with cancer over the last several months. Sewell was born on January 11, 1932, the youngest of James and Nellie Tibbetts' nine children. He was raised in Ball Club, Minn. on the Leech Lake Reservation until attending Flandreau Indian School in South Dakota in 1946. Following his graduation, Sewell enlisted in the Army and served from 1951 to 1954. He was a paratrooper with the 5th Regimental Combat Team and served in Korea. After combat Sewell returned to the Ball Club area before moving to the Fond du Lac Reservation where he worked at the former Indian hospital. He met his beloved wife, Doris "Dottie" Whitebird shortly thereafter. Sewell and Dottie spent the rest of their lives together. Sewell was employed by the Carlton County Highway Department for 25 years before his retirement in 1995. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, trapping, ricing, gardening, raising poultry, bingo, carving, cribbage, and his cat. Sewells' friendly nature and warm heart will be deeply missed by many people. Sewell was preceded in death by his wife, Doris; his parents; brothers, James, Franklin, Jesse, and Burnham; sisters, Della Barnes and Gladys Tibbetts; daughter, Marie Tibbetts; and step-son, Gerald Novacinski. He is survived by his children, Lee (Peggy Klinga) of Cloquet, Jeffrey (Sherry) of Barnum and Beth (Junior) Diver of Cloquet; step-children, Bunny (Kenneth) Jaakola, Abby (Earl Erkkila) Volkert and Maryanne (Donald) Erickson all of Cloquet; sisters, Nettie "Girly" Grauman and Delores (Conky) Lindberg both of Ball Club; and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Visitation was held on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 in Atkins-Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th St. in Cloquet. Military Honors were accorded by the Cloquet Combined Honor Guard.