Adalei Blue Thunder

Adalei Jase Blue Thunder, stillborn daughter of Marisa Benoist and Luther Blue Thunder, of Eagle Butte, passed away Thursday, July 16, 2015, at Sanford Health in Sioux Falls.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m, MDT, Friday, July 24, 2015 at the Old Agency Community Building in Eagle Butte with Mother Margaret Watson officiating. Burial followed in the Eagle Butte City Cemetery.  Wake services were held at 7:00 p.m., MDT, Thursday, July 23, 2015 at the Old Agency Community Building with a procession from the 4 mile corner at 4:00 p.m., MDT. 

Adalei Jase Blue Thunder was born on July 16, 2015 at Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD.  Adalei went to be with the Lord on that day.

Adalei was loved from the moment her family learned of her existence, and everyone was eagerly awaiting her birth.  Her mommy and daddy wanted a special and unique name for their baby girl.  Quinn Don Benoist would constantly ask Marisa, “So auntie, how is little Adalei doing today?”  Adalei then became her name.  Wakiyela Cikala “Little Dove” was the Lakota name given to Adalei by her grandpa, Russell Benoist.

Although our precious baby girl went home to be with the Lord, we will keep her forever in our hearts, and she will always be loved and missed.

Baby Adalei is survived by her mommy and daddy, Marisa Joelle Benoist and Luther Blue Thunder of Eagle Butte; her maternal grandparents, Russell and Cordelia Benoist of Eagle Butte; her paternal grandparents, Danny and Valerie Curley, of Eagle Butte; her four sisters:  Lakota Rose, Cheyenne and Fantasia Blue Thunder of Pierre, and Mackenzie Iron Shell of Mission; her great-grandmothers:  Diane Brown Otter of McLaughlin and Betty Handley of Rapid City; her auntie and uncle, Travis and Phyllis Benoist of Pablo, MT; and her numerous cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents.

She was preceded in death by her paternal family:  Courtney A. “KoKo” Curley and Harold “Buca” Blue Thunder Jr., her grandparents: Harold Blue Thunder, Sr., Mabel Blue Thunder and Rose Stewart; her maternal family: Candelaria “Conde” Peralta, her grandparents:  Chet Condon, Mildred Benway, Donovin and Rita Benoist, Douglas Benoist, Ellen Ward, Rev. Moses and Leona Flying By, Dale and Adele Little Dog, and Rev. Leslie and Henrietta Bobtail Bear.

Luce Funeral Chapel of Eagle Butte has been entrusted with Adalei’s arrangements.