Bernadette Rouwalk Byrd

Bernadette Rouwalk Byrd, 57, died on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage, Alaska, of natural causes. A celebration of Bernadette's life will be held once it is safe to gather again after the COVID-19 crisis passes. Bernadette Rouwalk was born on Nov. 15, 1962 in Gallup, N.M., to Donald Dean Rouwalk (Pawnee) and Alyce Jane Kellywood Rouwalk (Navajo). She was born into the Navajo Kiyaa'anii Clan (Towering House Clan), born for the Skeedee (Wolf) Band of Pawnee Indians. Bernadette's loving father Don died in 1972, a loss she never forgot. She spent her childhood in Albuquerque, N.M., with her mother and three sisters, Michele, Donna and Caroline. Bernadette graduated from Sandia High School in 1980 and attended the University of New Mexico. Her early adult years were spent in Albuquerque and Window Rock, Ariz., where she had her daughter Alicia Montoya (38), and son Charles Montoya (37), with her first husband, Richard Montoya. She returned to Albuquerque after her divorce, met and married Terry Byrd from Kentucky. Together they had two sons, Andrew Byrd (30) and Justin Byrd (22). They resided in Kirtland, N.M., a few years. Throughout her life Bernadette was employed as a hair dresser, a bank teller, a U.S. government contractor and finally a federal employee with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) within the U.S. Dept. of the Interior. At the time of her death she was a General Legal and Kindred Administrator for the BIA. In 2001 she and her family moved to Anchorage. Bernadette and Terry Byrd divorced in 2016. In 2015, Bernadette suffered from a long illness attributed to diverticulitis. With the help of her family and very good friends she recovered but her health was never the same. Bernadette will be missed by her mother, Alyce Rouwalk Lynn; stepfather, Ron Lynn; sisters, Michele Meiners (spouse Kent Meiners), Donna Rouwalk and Caroline Rouwalk (partner Danny Diaz); children, Alicia Montoya (spouse Amanda Opeka), Charles Montoya, Andrew Byrd (partner Rainna Stock) and Justin Byrd; grandchildren, Rajker, Wyatt; and a baby granddaughter on the way (all Andrew Byrd's children); her niece and many nephews; many cousins; and her many friends across the U.S. Bernadette gave so much love to all those around her. Most of all, she loved her mother, her children and grandchildren. She was known as "Mama" Byrd among her many friends because she always gave love and support freely to those who needed it. She was a strong member of her Anchorage community and touched many lives. She will be known forever for her joyful laugh, delicious cooking and love of scary movies.