Also known as Aahdu-Xiiri.
Bernice was born at
Fort Berthold Indian Reservation, Independence, North Dakota, USA, on October 20, 1920.
1 She was the daughter of
Chester Smith and
Zora Charlotte Jones. She married
Victor Mandan circa 1937.
1 Bernice Smith married
Victor Three Irons Jr. circa 1955; Many years after her 1st. marriage Bernice remarried and to Victor Three Irons until his death in 1981.
2,1 Bernice Smith died on March 25, 2006 at age 85; She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 271, Myron Johnson Post of Mandaree and the VFW Auxiliary Post 9061. Bernice was also a member of the Goose Society. Her many joys in life were to quilt, attend Pow-wows, beadwork, visit people. play bingo, attend rodeo's and share stories as told to her many years ago. Bernice was especially fond of participating in and helping with Sundances. Bernice was very proud of her five sons that were in the military service and of the fact that all the elder five sons had served couragously in and returned from Vietnam. She was survived by seven (7) children, Victor G. of Hill City South Dakota, Gilson and Arthur Thomas both of New Town, Orville Sam of Bismarck, Cedric Red Feather of Nebraska, Victoria Sue (David) Davis of Rapid City, South Dakota and Valarian R. Three Irons, of Brookings, South Dakota. Brothers: Charles B. Grinnell and Fred Gunn. Bernice also adopted June Lockwood as her daughter and as her sons: Alfred Obes and Sam Westfall. She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister Anna Louise Wicker, Alma (Kills Thunder) Iron Head, Ann (Kills Thunder) Prodenciado, Rhondina (Kills Thunder) Favel, her brothers: Richard Smith and Ben Kills Thunder Jr. and her children Farrel Jean and Merlin Roy Mandan and adopted father Ben Kills Thunder Sr. Wake Service will be at the Water Chief Hall in Mandaree, ND on March 28th at 5:00 pm. Funeral Service at Water Chief Hall in Mandaree, ND on March 29th at 10am. Officiating will be Father Stephan Krantz, OSB with internment at the Smith Family Cemetery(West of Wendell & Arvell White's home)/ Senior Pallbearers are Quincee Baker and Edwin Benson. Active Pallbearers are Richard Mandan, Frank Grady Jr., Ted White, Donovan Likes Eagle, Sheldon Knight, Joe Bear, Thomas Mandan, Sam Mandan, Benji Blake Jr., Todd Moquino, and Richard Deane. She was buried on March 29, 2006 at
Smith Family Cemetery, rural Mandaree, McKenzie Co., North Dakota, USA.