Funeral Services for 65-year old InaMae (Sounding Side) Espinosa are Thurs, April 14, 2022 at 1:00 at Brother Rene Hall in Oglala, SD, with Pastors Elton Yellow Boy, Leon Schwartz, and Eric Sutton officiating.
Burial is at the Espinosa Family Cemetery, Lakeside Road in Oglala
A one-wake service starts Wednesday, April 13, at 3:30 also at Brother Rene Hall in Oglala, SD.
*** The family asks that everyone follow the guidelines of precautions against the spread of COVID 19. Masks and Social Distancing are required.
InaMae (Sounding Side) Espinosa was born on September 12, 1956 in Pine Ridge, SD to Louise Blacksmith and Phillip Sounding Side, Sr. Ina made her journey to the Spirit World on April 7, 2022 at the Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City, SD. Ina was the second oldest daughter of Louise and lived most of her life in Oglala, SD.
Ina’s Lakota name is “Kinyan Cu Win,” which means ‘Comes Flying Back Woman.’ This name was given to Ina by her maternal grandmother, Edna Loafer-Blacksmith, in honor of her son, Franklin Blacksmith, who was a US Army Paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division, the Screaming Eagles.
Ina attended Loneman School in Oglala, SD up to the 8th grade and then attended high school in Burley, Idaho, where she stayed with a foster family while in school. Ina fell in love with her foster brother and named her oldest son after him, Brent.
Ina was an artist. She won best of show at the Northern Plains Tribal Arts Show in Sioux Falls, SD in 1996 for her buffalo hide parfleche bag. Ina also made the traditional clothing, weapons, and accessories used in the Dances with Wolves movie in 1990. Over the years, Ina has made artwork and artifacts that can be found all over the world in private collections and on display in museums.
Ina loved the Lord and followed His commandments. She was a devout Christian and a member of the Pentecostal Body of Christ Church. Ina read the Bible, prayed every day, and sang the most beautiful gospel songs.
Ina loved her children and cherished her grandchildren. Ina was a good relative and sister to all.
Ina is survived by her son, Shawn Espinosa (Partner Marietta and sons, Dante and Cody), Shane (Cecelia Jealous of Him and daughters, Ivy & Oshea Espinosa) Espinosa, Juan Espinosa (Partner Avril and children, Tashana, Juan, Jr., & Christian), Adam (Heidi Martin) Espinosa, Jr. (son, Adam Espinosa, III), and Kina Brings Plenty (Partner Jennay); daughters, Carly Rose Espinosa (Partner Ben and children, Hunter and Lovie) and Lorelei (Jose Villarreal) Espinosa; grandsons, Jonathan Sounding Side, Brett Sounding Side, Isaiah Not Help Him, and Kalel Pond; granddaughters, BreeAnn and Britney Sounding Side, and Aidan Pond; nieces, Gracie and Ambrosia Long Soldier, Tiana Warrior, Tiaunne and Dakota Duffy, Chaylee, Emonee, and Shawnee Pourier; nephews, Xanthus Arapahoe, Darryl Jr. and Sean Duffy, and Tyson Warrior; sisters, Fedelia (Bob) Cross and family and Marian Poor Bear and family; and her adopted sister, Sharon Yellow Boy.
Ina was preceded in death by mother, Louise Blacksmith; father, Phillip Sounding Side, Sr.; children, Brent and Shelly Sounding Side and Maria and Christian Espinosa; brothers, Leon, Allen, Sr., and Alton Long Soldier and Phillip Sounding Side, Jr.; sisters, Priscilla and Verlene Long Soldier; nephews, Alvin Iron Cloud, III, Allen Long Soldier, Jr. and Clayton Warrior; husband, Adam Espinosa, Sr.; and Special Friend, Dave Brings Plenty.
Pallbearers will be Larry Belitz, Wayne Flood, Jr., Rekal Plenty Wounds, Delane Blacksmith, Warren Cross, Gilbert “Hoksila” Blacksmith, and Wylie Janis.
Grandson Pallbearers will be Jonathon Sounding Side, Christian Espinosa, Juan Espinosa, Jr., Dante Espinosa, Cody Espinosa, Isaiah Not Help Him, Kalel Pond, Hunter Pipe On Head, and Adam Espinosa III.
Honorary pallbearers will be Mary Belle Black Feather-Poor Bear, Best friend Mariah Young-Poor Bear, Nadine Morrison, Jesse Sanchez, Corrine Brave, Mitch Zephier, Sonya Holy Eagle, Rosie Freier, Michael Lekberg, Helen Flood and family, Vonn Bear Eagle and family, Tom Cross and family, Pastor Al Sutton and family, Brian Wright, “Happy Jack” Stands, Nora Rowland and family, Tony Long Soldier and family, Robert Cross and family, Fred and Janet Stands and family, Santos Chormbers, Jerry Sounding Side, Enoch and Della Brings Plenty, Tim White Face, Mary White Face and family, Sirius Black Elk, Tina Buckman and family, “Ray-Ray” Tobacco, Loveletta Iron Horse, Lillian Good Shield and family, Mary Young Bear and family, David and Ella Lays Bad, Christine Lajtay and family, Mary Condon, Colin and Sharon Condon, Colleen Condon, Hope Condon, Tammy Condon, Travis Condon, Dora Good Plume, James and Evangeline Fast Horse, Gilson Ten Fingers and Karen Long, Roger and Loretta Bissonette, Hugh John and Jewel Blacksmith, Larry and Jackie Blacksmith, Stewart Kozall, Candy Red Cloud, Pipe on Head Family, Hunts Family, Black Feather Family, American Horse Family, Ten Finger Family, Mercado Family, Red Cloud Heritage Center Staff, All Pentecostal Body of Christ Church members, All Blacksmith families, All Cheyenne River Mniconjou Relatives, and All Friends & Relatives.
Arrangements entrusted with Sioux Funeral Home of Pine Ridge, SD