Talon Waloke LaClaire
December 10, 1988 ~ December 29, 2022
Talon J. Waloke LaClaire Wambli S-Ake, 34, of Cherry Creek, passed away, Thursday, December 29, 2022, in British Columbia, Canada.
Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. MST, Saturday, January 28, 2023, at the Blue Gym, Cherry Creek. Burial will follow in the UCC Cemetery, Cherry Creek. A wake service will be 7:00 p.m. MST, Friday, January 27, 2023, at the gym, with a procession from the hill east of town at 4:00 p.m.
Talon “Wanbli Sake” Waloke-LaClaire was born on December 10, 1988 to Dana LaClaire and April Waloke in Rapid City, SD. His Great-Grandfather Frank helped name him Wanbli Sake, meaning Eagle Talon and would address him Wanbli la (Baby Eagle).
Talon lived in Rapid City where he made his own song and learned the Lakota flag song which he would sing to his Great-Grandfather Frank when we went back to Cherry Creek. It was important to him to show he was a Lakota hoksila and could speak and sing it. Talon attended the Mother Butler Youth Development Program along with his brothers and sister while they lived in Rapid City. He was part of a dance group, and he had lots of fun dancing. That summer Talon was chosen as the Cherry Creek Little Brave, which he was so proud to be.
The family moved back to Cherry Creek to spend time with Great-Grandpa Frank. Talon attended Red Scaffold and Cherry Creek Head Start. He made new friends and had a happy time, graduating from Cherry Creek Head Start. He attended Dupree Kindergarten and graduated from there. Then he attended Takini School from 1st grade till 12th grade. Talon enjoyed his younger years playing with his cousins at the creeks and hills in Cherry Creek, he grass danced with his cousins at pow-wows. He participated in all of the Takini School’s events with his classmates like Halloween, Christmas, Easter Programs, Field Trips and then some, he graduated 8th grade there. When he was 15 years old, he played young Crazy Horse in a History Channel Documentary called “Who Killed Crazy Horse” which Grandpa Lloyd Bald Eagle made happen. The family was so proud of him to have an opportunity like that. Talon participated in basketball during his junior high and high school years. He had the opportunity of being the Junior Class Prince/Royalty in his junior year and he was chosen to also be the Homecoming King in his senior year. He enjoyed the company of his peers and many cousins throughout his growing up years, they played in the creeks and the hills, rode bikes and just walked around the community living life at home. Talon graduated high school at Takini in 2007.
After high school he stayed at home for a bit and spent time in Rapid City with his sister Heidi and met Pierette Rave and from this union his son Spirit Beau was born. Talon worked at various places trying out miscellaneous jobs. To his dismay, he served time in prison to learn and do his time, experiencing cultural practices, enhancing his artistic drawing skills and making friends while he was there. Upon his release he tried his hand at custodial duties and other odd jobs. Talon met Christina Joseph from Nitinaht, Canada BC, and they eventually ended up being together and getting married. They moved to Canada where they had two beautiful little girls, Wohpe Patrichia and Wamniomni skawin Bernice. He always shared pictures from messenger and sent them home to his family, he loved the beautiful forest lands and loved his little girls so much and wanted to stay close to them. Talon was always kind, friendly and a happy person. He continually spoke Lakota to his mom and sang songs in Lakota to her, he had such a good heart, He loved making people happy, he loved and is loved by all his family very much as he was the baby of the family. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Talon is survived by his parents, April Waloke and Dana LaClaire; son, Spirit Beau; wife, Christina; little daughters, Wohpe and Wamniomni skawin; older sisters and families: Shantoya (Delbert) Bruguier, Cadyn, Cayde, Coltyn, Payge (Floyd) and baby Juniper, Hunter and Bo Champ, big sister Heidi, Dyanisis, Layla, Dayanara and babies Emerald and Beau, sister Raynee (Scott) Stewart, Kheanna, Victoria, Atticus, Nakylee, Azaria and Mina; older brothers: Kel Waloke and son Artorreus. Chastyn Waloke and sons Kobe, Tokala, Makhasa and baby Rain; aunt, Darlene (Rodney); cousins: Sheena (Rigo) Loa, and kids: Alejandro, Camila, Emily, Rosalyn and Isaac; uncle, Jeryn Big Eagle (Roberta) and family; aunt, Josie Smith; and many loving family members and friends he was close to.
Talon journeys on to join his older brother Tyson Beau, Great-Grandpa Frank and Great Unci Edith, grandparents: Maurice and Clementine Big Eagle, LeRoy and Victoria LaClaire, Uncle Darrel LaClaire, Aunt Maria Washburn, cousins: Vincent, Tyson Jace, and Tyler LaClaire and many more relatives and friends.
We, his family, appreciate and are very thankful to all who befriended him in his life and helped him at any time, enjoyed his company, laughed with him and made life beautiful with him during his time on earth! Thank you all for coming and supporting and helping our family during this very difficult time. Wophila Thank Unkeniciyapi!
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Talen’s arrangements.
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Brother, we might have missed days, months, years, my respect and love for you remains the same…
God bless your journey…
We miss you…
Until we see you again..
Tok'sa Aké…