Lori Dawn “Anpo Wicahpi Win” (Morning Star Woman) White Face, age 51, was born on April 19th, 1973 in Pine Ridge, SD to Lenora Apple and Barney White Face. She made her journey to the Spirit World on November 26th, 2024.
Lori grew up in Kyle, South Dakota, with her siblings, countless cousins, and relatives. As a child, she enjoyed fishing, walking the hills around her home, playing basketball, and spending time with her family. Lori attended Pine Ridge High School in Pine Ridge, SD, where she graduated as a Valedictorian in May 1991. Lori was both a scholar and athlete, playing basketball and volleyball and excelling as a runner on the cross-country and track teams, making it to the South Dakota State Track and Cross-Country Meet Competitions in all four years of high school. In her senior year, she was crowned homecoming queen. Lori received numerous scholar awards, notably the South Dakota Governor’s Academic Excellence Award, which recognizes the academic achievements of the best and brightest students. She received her award from the late SD Governor, George Mickelson. As a high school student, Lori was a friend to everyone and an inspiration to her younger siblings.
Lori attended Chadron State College in Chadron, Nebraska, as a full-time student, all while holding down two jobs, and raising her son. She graduated summa cum laude in 1998 with a degree in Criminal Justice. Lori was known as an intellectual and was passionate about making the world a better place. She always stood by those who were on the margins of society. Lori’s down-to-earth demeanor, humor, hard work, and relentless perseverance opened doors for tribal youth groups, family, and friends. Lori broke barriers with her kindness, generosity, humility and creativity to accomplish what was thought of as unaccomplishable. She was passionate and outspoken about LGBTQIA2S+, politics, youth, and tribal matters.
Lori loved mountain biking, hiking with her children, animals (especially her cats), listening to music, reading, solving puzzles, and spending time with her family.
She is survived by her mother, Lenora Apple; father, Barney White Face; her children, Tristan Richards, Angel Richards, and James Anderson; siblings, Alethea Johnson (Derek), Stephanie White Face, Jackie Solano (John), Bernadette Toscano (Fernando), Lisa White Face (Erin), Kevin White Face (Casey), Rebecca Dixon (Jermey), Megan White Face (Paul High Horse), Kimberly Under Baggage, and Cameron Apple; aunties, Sharon Apple and Roberta Wounded Head; uncles, Frank Apple (Jocelyn) and Donald Apple; cousin, Charity White Face and family; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Lori was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Edna Short Horn (her parents Sadie Janis & Frank Short Horn); maternal grandfather, Leroy Apple (his parents Grace Two Crow & Frank Apple); paternal grandmother, Jessie Ghost Bear (her parents Charles Ghost Bear & mother Big Bear “grandma Spider”); paternal grandfather, Joseph White Face (his parents Thomas White Face & Susie Cross); uncles, Issac White Face Sr. and Melvin White Face; aunts, Winifred Janis White Face and JoAnn White Face; cousins, Celeste Apple, Sunday Eagle Louse, Steven Yellow Cloud, Duane “Dewey “Yellow Cloud, and Gerald “Nipsy” White Face Jr.; and numerous nephews and nieces.
Pallbearers will be Cory Short Horn, Preston Apple, Jonah Slavik, Charlie Anaya, Dean Two Crow, and Roger Yellow Cloud.
Honorary pallbearers will be all Friends & Relatives.
Wake Services: Two-night wake services with the first night starting at 2:00 PM on Thursday, December 12, 2024 at the House of Prayer Church in Kyle, SD. Second night starting at 11:00 AM, Friday, December 13, 2024 at the Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Kyle, SD. Evening services being held at 7:00 PM each night.
Funeral Services: 10:00 AM, Saturday, December 14, 2024 at the Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church in Kyle, SD.
Officiating: Mona Vocu and Mother Michelle Dayton
Traditional Lakota Services: All Spiritual Leaders Welcome
Burial Services: St. Barnabas Episcopal Cemetery, Kyle, SD.
Arrangements entrusted with the Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD