Thurman Little Wounded, Sr.

Thurman Little Wounded, Sr., 56, of Dupree, passed away Saturday, January 23, 2016 at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m, MST, Friday, January 29, 2016 at the Dupree Multipurpose Building with Pastor Pauline Webb presiding. Burial was held at  2:30 p.m., MST, Friday, January 29, 2016 at Pine Lawn Memorial Park, Rapid City, SD. A wake service was held at 7:00 p.m., MST, Thursday, January 28, 2016 at the Dupree Multipurpose Building, with a procession from the 4-mile east of Eagle Butte at 4:00 p.m.

Thurman Little Wounded was born on August 18, 1959 in Faith, South Dakota to Nathan David Little Wounded and Flora Louise (White Feather) Little Wounded.

Thurman grew up and attended school at the Dupree Public School from elementary up until his graduation from high school on May 23, 1978 in Dupree, South Dakota.

While growing up, Thurman liked to play baseball, go hunting, fishing, and spend time with his uncles and grandparents in the country; where he rode horses, hunted and fished. In his teen years he participated in the Dupree Rodeo Club and loved being around horses. In the summer months he kept himself busy with odds and ends jobs and was always on the go.

Thurman loved listening to country music, powwow, and reading. He also enjoyed going to the country whenever time allowed as it was his favorite place to be. Aside from playing softball in his younger years, he also played pool and became part of the pool league in Eagle Butte.

Thurman especially loved spending time and having fun with his children, grandchildren and his many other family members and friends. He was always sure to be joking and teasing those he knew best! There was always a joke and a handshake to those he met as well. He had a wonderful nature and made sure he always tried to help those in need. He stressed the importance of education and hard work to his younger family members.

After his high school graduation, Thurman went to work on the railroad, and later worked at the Elderly Nutrition Center as a cook. In October 1990, he started working with the Cheyenne River Housing Authority where he worked his way up from janitor to maintenance man. During that time, in June of 1999, he was part of a crew who went to Pine Ridge to help the Tornado victims repair their homes. He worked until retirement in May of 2011.  

After his retirement and after shooting all the deer and catching all the fish in Thunder Butte River, (J) he decided to start working at the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Property and Supply in November 2011 as a maintenance man, where he worked until his passing.

While his children were growing up, Thurman served on the 7^th Generation Youth Council as a Youth Advisor for the Dupree community where he helped youth come together for positive activities and to keep out of mischief. Through this organization the kids were able to purchase two basketball and volleyball nets. In 1998 he helped chaperone his daughter Karmen’s trip to Washington D.C. for Close Up through the Dupree School. Also, in May 2015, he, his wife Lee, and son Noah accompanied their daughter Tristan to Knoxville, TN where she participated in Destination Imagination through the Dupree School. Thurman was very proud of all his children’s and family’s accomplishments.

Thurman is survived by his wife, Lee (Bear Eagle) Little Wounded, Dupree; children: Jonathan Little Wounded, Eagle Butte, Karri Little Wounded, Eagle Butte, Karmen Little Wounded, Rapid City, Stephanie Little Wounded, Dupree, Thurman Little Wounded, Jr. (Cory DeRoin Little Wounded), Red Rock, OK, Tristan Little Wounded, Dupree, Noah Little Wounded, Dupree; step-children: CJ, Beau, Charles, and Emily; grandchildren: Jorden, Neidon, and Baby Kaylee; numerous grandkids he loved very much; siblings: Patty Little Wounded, Eagle Butte, Carol Rave, Bellingham, WA, Ruthy Little Wounded, Minneapolis, MN, Karen Little Wounded, Eagle Butte, Dorthy Little Wounded, Rapid City, JoLyn Little Wounded, Rapid City, and James Little Wounded, Dupree.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Nathan and Flora Little Wounded; grandchildren, Trevor Little Wounded and Sheyenne Little Wounded; mother-in-law, Cece Baumeister; and many other family members that he loved.

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