Deborah Pearl Drift, 53, of Deer River, MN, passed away on Sunday, April 8, 2018 at her residence.

Deborah was born to David Villebrun and Joyce Marie Conner on September 12, 1964 in Minneapolis, MN. Deborah grew up and attended school in Minneapolis. After graduating she went on to earn a degree in Accounting and Business from the American Indian OIC. She also attended St. Paul Technical College earning a degree in Culinary Arts and the Leech Lake Tribal College, working toward a Dietician's Degree.

Deborah was a very artistic person and her talent shone when she was sewing, embroidering, crafting and painting. She enjoyed gardening in her spare time. Deborah also enjoyed the outdoors. She and her long-time partner in life, Michael Cronin, would often go fishing together and would take the grandchildren with them on their adventures.

Deborah was a great mother and grandmother. In her life, her family and her grandchildren were her life passion. Her family loved her just as fiercely and she will be dearly missed.

Deborah was preceded in death by her parents; her step-father Rodney Skadshiem; her sister, Judy Drift; her brother Ernie Drift; and her nephew, Devery Drift.

She is survived by her daughters-Nicole Drift and Elyce Drift; her son Christopher Drift; long time life partner Michael Cronin; sisters-Kelly Lumbar and Carol Donohue; uncles-Daniel, David, John and Paul Connor; aunties-Marybelle and Laura Isham and Lorraine and Ester Connor; nieces and nephews-Christie and Trisha Drift, Dereck Lowery, GeWaden and MeDazway Dunkley; and grandchildren-Cecelia Drift, Maximus and Vivian Wade, Rosalie Drift, Robert Gibbs Jr. and Harley Brown Jr., Kaleb Brown, Nevada Urritia, and Sereena Ragstad.

Traditional Services will be held on Thursday, April 12, 2018 at 10:00AM at the Nett Lake Government and Services Center, Nett Lake, MN, where the Wake will begin at 4:00PM on Wednesday April, 11, 2018. Steven Jackson will be the Spiritual Leader and Gene Goodsky the Spiritual Advisor. Casket Bearers are: Mark Isham, Chirs Isham, Ed Isham, Jeff Isham, Derek Lowery, and Brian Porter. Honorary Casket Bearers are: Chiris Drift, Daniel Connor, David Connor, John Connor and Paul Connor. To leave an online condolence visit www.mlakerfuneralhome.com