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Edith Mae (LaPointe) Bickerstaff, age 79, of Santee, NE passed away in her home Thursday, January 26, 2012. Funeral services will be at the Oyate Oyanke Community Center in Santee, NE on Monday, January 30th, 2012 at 1 PM. She will be at the center for visitation to begin at 5 PM on Friday, January 27th, 2012 continuing through Monday at 1 PM. Evening services will be held on: Friday, January 27, 2012 at 8 PM, Saturday, January 28, 2012 at 7 PM, and Sunday, January 29th, 2012 at 7 PM. Burial will be in the Catholic Cemetery, Santee, NE. The Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, is in charge of arrangements. Pallbearers will be: Rodney Bickerstaff, Melvin Pike, Wyatt Thomas Jr., Gene Hawk, Alonzo Denny, Kevin Campbell, Don LaPointe Jr., and Anthony Johnson. Honorary Pallbearers will be all Sundancers and Santee Community Members. She will be truly missed at all Sundances on the Santee Land.
Wakanhdi Ota Win: Lots of Lightning Woman
Edith Mae Bickerstaff was born on January 21, 1933 to Laura Mae Jones and Virgil LaPointe in Winnebago, NE. She entered into eternal life on January 26, 2012 at her home in rural Niobrara, NE. She attended school until the 10th grade and finished her education at Nebraska Indian Community College with an Associate Degree of Arts.
She married Wylie "Pete" Bickerstaff in 1975.
She worked as a CHR for many years at the Santee Health Center before working at Santee Community School as a Custodian Janitor for 17 years. She also worked at the Nebraska Indian Community College before moving on to working at the Ohiya Casino before she fully retired.
Edith was a member of the American Indian Movement in the 70's, she was a veteran of the Wounded Knee (reign of terror) standoff. She devoted her life living as a traditional woman. She started Sundancing at a young age when Sundance wasn't allowed and danced until she was 73 years of age. She believed that living a Dakota way of life was the only way to be free inside. She also believed and respected the ways of the sacred pipe. Until the day of her passing, she prayed for everyone else even at the time of her Journey through this battle she endured with Cancer. She held her Pipe close to her heart through all times in her life.
She is survived by her Aunt; Dorothy Lunderman, her brothers: Kenneth (Marcella) LaPointe, Clarence (Carmen) LaPointe, Donald (Diane) LaPointe, a hunka Sister Martha (John) Campbell, and a very special relative Thelma (Ron) Thomas. Five children: Winona Enyard, Carl (Pansy) Thomas, Rodney Thomas Sr, Harlan Thomas and Wyatt (Lorene) Thomas. Grandchildren she raised: Erinn Thomas, Monie Tommie, Rodney Thomas Jr, Raymond Thomas. Many other Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren and Great Great Grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Wylie Bickerstaff, her parents- Laura and Virgil Lapointe. Two brothers: Harold LaPointe and Curtis Frazier. 3 children: Merle Gene Thomas, Rudolph Merle Thomas Jr, and Gloria Jean Fuller and numerous grandchildren.
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