Funeral services for 53-year old Howard “Nubbs” Bad Milk Jr are Thurs, May 11, 2023 at 10:00 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pine Ridge, SD, with Fathers Brad Held, SJ, and Edmund Yainao, SJ, officiating.
Burial is at the Bad Milk Family Cemetery in Manderson, SD
A one-night wake service starts Wed, May 10, at 1:00 Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Pine Ridge with evening services at 5:30.
Online condolences may be left at siouxfuneralhome.com.
Howard James “Nubbs” Bad Milk Jr “Tatanka Ohanko”was born to Howard Sr and Anna Bad Milk at Pine Ridge Hospital January 27, 1971. Howard lost his struggle to diabetes and joined his beloved mother while resting peacefully on May 2, 2023.
Nubbs spent his early life in Pine Ridge at Old Crazy Horse with his parents and his two siblings, Marge & Brenda. He attended school in Pine Ridge and he graduated as a Thorpe in 1990.
He was very proud to be a Thorpe and easily made friends. He admired his upper classmates and enjoyed several basketball and football victories throughout high school.
In 1989, he met Tammy Ecoffey and they were married in 1991. Together they welcomed 6 children from their union: Terra, Tricia, Charles, Breanna, Aloni, and Nevaeh.
In 1992, he graduated from United Tribes Technical College with a certificate in Carpentry. He also attended University of New Mexico and Oklahoma State University.
Nubbs held several positions in his lifetime. He worked as a Carpenter, Laborer, Head Start Assistant, Little League coach, Dorm Assistant, referee and housekeeper.
He was blessed with two more children, Eden and Brandon. In 2020, another son was born, Wanikiyan. Nubbs raised Wanikiyan with help from his family. Wanikiyan was always by his side.
If you knew Nubbs, you knew that he was always joking or teasing. He was a loyal friend who always provided good conversation and dedicated friendships. He was a faithful Pittsburgh Steelers fan and loved music and softball. It was not uncommon to see him dancing, biting his tongue and holding his thumbs out moving to the music.
Nubbs volunteered to be the Little League coach and was a mentor for many of the boys. He believed in his team wholeheartedly and you would often hear him yelling from the dugout or arguing with officials for his team.
Nubbs was most proud of and adored his children and grandchildren and their accomplishments. He always had a picture to share or a story to tell about them.
He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. Until we meet again, we will cherish our memories of laughter and good times.
Nubbs is survived by his father Howard Bad Milk Sr; Sisters Marge Whirlwind Horse (Arlin) and Brenda Bad Milk (Stanton); his children Terra Nordman (Avery), Eden Rodriguez, Tricia Bad Milk (Jared), Charles Bad Milk, Breanna (Colin) Whirlwind Soldier, Brandon Winters, Aloni Bad Milk, Nevaeh Bad Milk, and Wanikiyan Badmilk.
He is also survived by his Grandchildren Gloria, Tegan, Ezra, Sawyer, Shiloh, Connie Jo, Elijah Jr, Payden, Aubreelynn, Ryker, Canon, Brynleigh, Weston, KathyAnn, Tavonni, Nayla, Kaida, Jerel, and CJ; Nieces Angel Farmer (Sam) and Alyssa (Terrel) Mae Whirlwind Horse; Nephews Elijah Whirlwind Horse (Krysti) and Donnie Jo (Robbie) Whirlwind Horse; Aunts Theresa Little Bear and Joann Testerman; Uncles Percy Little Bear and Richard Bad Milk; and numerous cousins.
Debbs was preceded in death by his mother Anna Bad Milk; sister Baby Anne Bad Milk; Maternal Grandparents Nick and Edith Little Bear; Paternal Grandparents Charlie and Marjorie Bad Milk; Aunts Evelyn LaDeaux, Coletta Swalley, and Beverly Bad Milk; Uncles Ben Little Bear; numerous other uncles who passed before he was born; cousins Bruce Bad Milk, Daniel Bad Milk, Dana Wike; his best friend Albert Long; and his dear friends Junior Pond, Bryan Brewer, Jeff Big Crow, and Gregg Brewer.
Pallbearers will be Elijah Whirlwind Horse Sr, Donnie Whirlwind Horse, Vince Lafferty, Gregg Ponds, Brent Brewer, Tony Brewer Sr, Don Gummer Janis, Kevin Apple, Corey Brown, and Josh Apple.
Honorary Pallbearers are his closest friends and family, the class of Pine Ridge 1989 & 1990, residents of Old Crazy Horse, Laverne LeBeaux family, Jamie Big Crow family, Rich Little Bear family, Tiny DeCorey Family, Rol Brafford family, Long Family, Doug Patton, Mike Carlow Jr, Tanner Pierce, Carter Dixon, Rob “Dilly Dilly” Tyon, Elise Tymes, Betty Waters, Margaret Gates and girls, and the staff at Pine Ridge Dialysis.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge.