Mary Lou Sitting Bear (Midewia Midigua Mahgush) “Buffalo Woman In The Water” was born on September 26, 1950, to Francis and Christine Young in Stanley, North Dakota.

Mary Lou, along with her siblings, was raised in the Parshall-Lucky Mound area. Growing up, she enjoyed listening to music, traditional dancing, going to powwows with her family, and spending time learning from her grandmother, Emma Bearstail.

Mary attended Wahpeton Grade School, Flandreau High School, and obtained a degree in Secretarial Science from Ft. Berthold Community College.

On March 30, 1971, Mary gave birth to her first child, Jonathon Young. She proudly raised her son, went to college, helped her parents at home, and worked simultaneously as a young mother.

On December 12, 1981, Mary married the love of her life, Harry Sitting Bear, who she met while attending Flandreau. They, along with Jonathon made their home at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, California. Emmalene, Catlin, and Tawny were born shortly after and were raised on base.

In 1988, Harry was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, and Mary and Harry, and their children returned home to the Ft. Berthold Reservation in North Dakota and made a home in the Four Bears area.

In 1990, Mary gave birth to her youngest child, Christine.

After she returned home, Mary was proactive in her community, holding positions on the Four Bears Community Board as President, Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer. She also worked on the Election Board and worked alongside her sister Karen at the Four Bears Casino as well as a Teacher’s Assistant at Parshall Head Start.

Mary enjoyed visiting with friends and family, watching movies with her family, going on dates and road trips with her husband, taking care of her many plants, shopping for her family and friends, cooking, and trying her luck occasionally at the Four Bears Casino; either at bingo or slots. She also enjoyed “morning coffee hour” with her friends, the late Martha White, Roberta Crows Breast, and several others.

Above all things, Mary believed in cherishing family and her faith. She was a very proud grandmother to all her grandchildren and doted on all of them. She passed on her strong will and sense of humor to all her children.  Mary instilled in all her children the teachings of her faith, the duty to care for others in need, forgiveness, and to always do what is right no matter how hard it may be.

Mary and Harry celebrated 40 years of marriage on December 12th. She was able to see her, and her husband’s lifelong dream fulfilled when their new home was built on their land, and they were able to enjoy it together before she passed on.

In the last 15 years of her life, Mary Lou fought several rounds with cancer along with other health conditions. She bravely went through many surgeries and long hospital stays, but always found a way to smile and laugh, and cheer up those around her through all those difficult times. On December 30, 2021, Mary Lou, left this earthly life at a Bismarck Hospital with her family at her side.

Her family will remember her as a courageous, resilient, graceful Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Aunt, Sister, and dear friend.  She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. One of Mary Lou’s expressed last wishes was to will her name, Midewia Midigua Mahgush, to her granddaughter, Xandria.

Mary Lou is survived by her husband, Harry Sitting Bear; children,  Jonathan (Tanya) Young, Emmalene Sitting Bear, Catlin (Niya) Sitting Bear, Tawny Sitting Bear, and Christine Sitting Bear; grandchildren, Jasper, Sapphire, Elijah, Alphonse, Amari, Xandria, and adopted grandson Chante; siblings, John (Lori) Young, Karen Walks, and Norma Wolf; and nephews, Darrell, JP, Justin, Roger, Garcia, Mark, Denny, Delvin, Clinton, Gaylon, Richard, Ricky, Jamie.

Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents, Francis and Christine; m maternal grandparents, John and Emma Bearstail; paternal grandmother, Ruth Chief On Top; sister, Sharon Yackytooahnipah; brothers, James (Juanita) Young, and Richard (Joyce) Young; and nieces, Sandra and Jennifer.

Mary Lou’s wake was held on Monday, January 3, 2022, beginning at 6 p.m. at Parshall-Lucky Mound Veterans Memorial Hall, Parshall and her funeral on  Tuesday, January 4, 2022, at 11 a.m., at the memorial hall. Her burial took place at Memorial Congregational Cemetery, rural Parshall.  Bernadine Young Bird served as Senior Pallbearer.