Jennifer Ann Benson Swift Bird

Jennifer Ann Vassar Benson Swift Bird age 50, passed away January 17, 2018 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
    She was born September 9, 1967 in Roosevelt, Utah, to Jewel Dushane Benson (Uintah Ute) and Daniel Vasser (Assiniboin Sioux).
    She attended Union High School and graduated from West High School in Salt Lake City. She then attended Haskell Institute in Kansas, Chadron State College in Nebraska and University of South Dakota. She had an Associates in Liberal Arts, then pursued a degree in Special Education. She married Joseph Swift Bird and had Francesca Swift Bird, later divorced.
    Jennifer was a long time Sundancer and participated in sweats. She enjoyed fancy dancing and powwows; she was the Fort Duchesne Fourth of July Powwow Queen. Hobbies were beading, drawing, playing flute, writing poetry, bike riding, modeling, acting and her greatest joy in life was spending time with her grandson, Kaeden.
    Jennifer is survived by daughter, Francesca Rose Swift Bird (Omali Vanterpool), grandson, Kaeden Vanterpool; mother Jewel Dushane Benson, sister, Virginia (Herbert) Sam; brothers, Hamilton Sumner Benson, Keith (Shannah) Montes; cousins, Lyman, Jackie, Mary Ankerpont, April Stanley, Algene & Eric Washington, and numerous relatives.
    She was preceded in death by her younger sister DanEtta Mae Vassar who died in infancy, father Daniel Vassar, stepfather Hamilton Benson, grandparents Edna Provo Dushane, Lyman "Bill" Dushane, Etta Vassar Apodaca, great grandparents Helen Pigeon, and Sumner Provo (who was a Sundance and Bear dance chief).
    Funeral services will be held on Thursday, January 25, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at the Hullinger Mortuary.  A visitation will be held from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday at the mortuary.  
    Burial in the Ft. Duchesne Cemetery.
   There will be a luncheon at the Ft. Duchesne Gym following the burial.