Birdell's life will be remembered at a wake service at St. Catherine's Hall on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 at 7:00 P.M. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday August 7, 2013 at St. Catherine's followed by the burial at St. Matthews Cemetery in Veblen SD. Her pallbearers are David Sanchez, Kent Takehara, Rain Shepherd, Thomas Fayant, Ian Seaboy, Brent Starr, Kenyon Budack, Prosper Thunder Hawk, with alternates Michael Sierra, Eric Siert and TJ Backman. Honorary pallbearers are Darlene Kitto, Katie McKay, Bonnie Thompson, Benji Thompson, Maryann Daily, LaVonne Ortley, June Adams, David Takehara, Marge Gilpin, Robert Armell Sr., Mickey Armell, Pierre Armell, Troy Armell, Jeffrey Armell and Irene Nelson. Organist will be Kay Bursheim, with special music by Tim White and Elena Wilson.

Birdell (Starr) Armell passed away on Sunday, August 4, 2013 at Sanford Hospital in Fargo, ND at 3:11pm. Birdell was born on September 7th, 1930 in rural Veblen SD to Louis Starr and Marion (Bird) Starr. She often told her family stories of growing up "in the old days" in Veblen. Birdell had five brothers; John Starr (WWII Veteran), Elroy Starr (Korean War Veteran), Vincent Starr, Louis Starr Jr. and Robert Starr (Vietnam Era Veteran). She had four sisters; Matilda Siert, Ruth Budack, Audrey Starr and Joanette Takehara. Robert Starr and Joanette Takehara are her only surviving siblings.
Birdell attended school in Sisseton, Tekakwitha, Orphanage, Wahpeton Indian School and Stephan Catholic School. She attended college at Haskell Indian College in Lawrence, KS. She married Cyrus White and they had five children; Tim White, Dane White (deceased), Jody Rios, Joan White and Mary White Country. After relocating to Chicago in 1961, she married Prosper "Sonny" Armell. To this union was born Gayle Armell, Shari Armell and Marcel Armell. Birdell has a total of twelve grandchildren and eleven great grandchildren.
She had many jobs in her life. She was a nurse's aide, teacher's aide, worked for JOM and was the kitchen manager at Dakota Sioux Casino before retiring in 1991. Some of her favorite hobbies included sewing, reading many books and cooking. Her favorite pastimes were listening to music, watching game shows and visiting with family and friends.