Graveside services for 68-year old Donald Tibbets are Wed, Dec 13, 2023 at 11:30 at St Peter’s Catholic Cemetery in Manderson, SD, with Fr Ron Seminara, SJ, and Joyce Tibbitts officiating.
Visitation precedes the serves at 10:00 at the Sioux Funeral home in Pine Ridge, SD.
Online condolences may be left at siouxfuneralhome.com
Donald Edwin Tibbitts was born on Jan 28, 1955 in Rosebud, SD to Theodore “Red” Tibbitts and Irene (Crazy Thunder) Tibbitts. Donald made his journey to the Spirit World on Dec 7, 2023 at the Avera St Mary’s Hospital in Pierre, SD.
Donald’s childhood was spent mainly at Ft. Yates, Pierre, and Rosebud. He graduated from Red Cloud Indian School in 1976. His interests were hunting, fishing, and camping.
Donald served in the US Army with basic training at Ft Leonard Wood, MO, and duty stations in Hawaii.
After the military, he worked for the federal Bureau of Land Management for 18 years. His first job was in Dillon, MT, followed by Fargo, Minot, and Dickinson – all in North Dakota, where he spent 12 years.
Later in life, Donald worked on the Pine Ridge Reservation as a janitor at both Red Cloud School and Rockyford School.
His love of animals was lifelong. He left behind 6 dogs that his niece Emily has graciously found homes for.
Donald is survived by his cousins Norma Tibbitts, Robert Pille, Tony Tibbitts, John Tibbits, Morris Brewer, Scott Brewer, Roger Thunder Hawk, and Quentin Pille; and numerous other relatives.
Donald was preceded in death by his mother Irene (Crazy Thunder) Tibbitts; father Theodore Tibbitts; and brother William “Billy” Tibbitts.
Pallbearers will be Robert Pille, Tony Tibbitts, John Tibbitts, Morris Brewer, Scott Brewer, and Morgan Tibbitts.
Honorary pallbearers will be All Friends & Relatives.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD