Wanbli Charging Eagle

Wanbli L. Charging Eagle, 35, of Red Scaffold passed away, Wednesday, September 27, 2017 in Los Angeles, CA.

Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., MDT, Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at Takini School, Takini, SD with Rev. Gerald Yellow Hawk and Deacon Harold Condon presiding. Traditional services were led by Jerome LeBeaux. Burial followed in the UCC Cemetery, Cherry Creek. Wake services was held at 7:00 p.m., Sunday, October 8 and Monday, October 9, 2017 at the school. A procession from the Hwy 34 and Takini Road junction meet 4:00 p.m., Sunday.

Wanbli Leroy Charging Eagle was born in Bismarck, ND on February 18, 1982 to Tom and Whitney Charging Eagle. He spent his early years in Spearfish, SD where his dad went to school. He and his parents moved home to Red Scaffold, SD when his dad began working at the Red Scaffold Day School. He attended school in Spearfish, SD, Eagle Butte, SD, Chamberlain, SD, St. Francis Indian School and Takini School. He stayed several years with his Auntie Val then with his Grandma Lorraine and Lala Steve so he could continue attending school at Takini School. He graduated from Takini School in 2000. After that, he moved to Bismarck, ND so he could attend United Tribes Technical College.

Wanbli was also an accomplished basketball player. He began his basketball playing career at Red Scaffold Day School on the tiny tot team called the Smurfs. His dad used to teasingly call them the “M” and “O” teams. He played all four years of his high school years. He was highly skilled in three point shots. He often entered into and won three-man basketball tournaments with Duriel Widow and a couple of others.

Wanbli began dancing grass as soon as he could walk. Though his parents always worked through the school year, he went on the pow wow trail with them every summer. They traveled extensively throughout the United States and Canada. He soon began winning as a junior grass dancer. He continued dancing consistently throughout his teen years and developing and perfecting his style. He entered into the adult categories dancing against some of his idols. He was fortunate to begin excelling and winning as an adult.

Wanbli began singing and began with the drum group at Takini School, Young Nation. He sang with such drum groups as Eagle Creek, Midnite Express, Iron Boy, Young Buffalo Horse, Smokeytown, Crazy Boy, The Boyz, Motown, Young Kingbird, Little Otter, Blackbear Crossing, Standing Horse, Bad Nation, Eagle Mountain Sharp Shooter, Pipestone and most notably with Eyabay. He often made songs and shared them with drum groups. He became very close with his brother, Terry St. John and was devastated with his loss.

He got many great opportunities throughout his young life to travel and experience different cultures, people and places. One summer when he was 12, he traveled to Hawaii to perform. He was a part of the Takini dance club and the Oyate Cikala dance group in Eagle Butte. He also performed in a ballet production with Tommy Christian and others. He did more than many people have in his short life than most people do.

Wanbli learned well from his Lala Steve about material wealth. He always tried to share with others and help when needed. He gave away much of his star quilts and jackets that he won and rarely kept anything himself. His Lala Steve always believed that nobody could take anything with them when they left this world. He was much like his father who always had a strong connection with children.

Wanbli suffered the loss of many loved ones in his life including his grandma, lala, dad, mother, cousin and many others. He lived a hard life mourning these losses but surviving on his own. He had many friends throughout the country who took care of him and the family is forever grateful to all of those who took him in and took care of him.

He is survived by two sons, Cashton Leroy Charging Eagle of Oneida, WI, and Joe In the Woods of Sioux Falls, SD; one brother, Steve Charging Eagl;e and one sister, Wetu Charging Eagle. On his maternal side (Feather Necklace Tiospaye), he is survived by his grandmother, Mabel Ann Phillips, Iron Lightning, SD; his grandfather, Ed Poitra of Salt Lake City, UT; aunts, Michelle Chasing Hawk of Wagner, SD and Diane Primeaux of Grand Forks, ND; uncles, Wiyaka Eagle Hunter of Iron Lightning, SD and Brian LaBelle of Sisseton, SD. There are also numerous other aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces.

On his paternal side (Tasunke Witko Tiospaye), he is survived by one grandmother, Lois Chasing Hawk of Red Scaffold, SD; four aunts: Beatrice Charging Eagle of Cherry Creek, SD, Geraldine Condon of Red Scaffold, SD, Stephanie Charging Eagle of Red Scaffold, SD and Valarie Charging Eagle of Kyle, SD; and one uncle, Richard Charging Eagle of Eagle Butte, SD. He has numerous other aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and grandchildren.

He is also survived by relatives of the Fights the Thunder Tiospaye (Tasunke Witko descendants), many hunka relatives including Lisa Stately, Opie Day-BeDeau, the Good Eagle family, the High Eagle family, the Kinew family, the White family, the Bearstail family, the Cleveland family, the Hindsleys and many others that are too numerous to list.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom Charging Eagle and Whitney Poitra-Charging Eagle, his great grandmother and grandfather, Louis and Faith Traversie, his grandparents, Lorraine and Steve Charging Eagle, uncle Chaske Johns and cousin Kerwin Condon.

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